Really appreciate this view-expanding essay. Thanks. I'm puzzled by one phrase though: "down-in-the-much". I got as far as "mouth" but that doesn't seem quite right either. Help?
Thank you very much for this interesting and stimulating article.
I agree with the premise that our social circle has the greatest influence on how we react to news. It is something I have pondered about for a long time, when, in the UK, where I have always lived, people continue to vote for the same old parties, even when they know it will not be to their advantage. Going over to ‘ the other side’ would so change your view of yourself it could take a long time to become reconciled. I have never done this, so I don’t know how it feels.
I also agree that the media has an undue influence on our views. It is easy to be angry about Putin shutting down the independent press but here in the UK the state doesn’t have to do that. Money has bought up opinion. However, this current Government still feels it has to ‘ have a go’ at ‘lefty journalists. And judges , of course. This does seem to be a key step in the destruction of democracy. Whether it is really serious here or not I do not know.
I now seem to rely on individual writers and not publications for something which gets near to my own world view. I try to read other views, as far as elevating blood pressure will allow.
I take your point about realising that everybody ( perhaps not quite everybody!) believes sincerely in their own reality. It is a good explanation. But what I wanted to ask you about is ‘facts’ . Are there none? Is everything relative. This is of particular concern when I read about the war in Ukraine. I don’t mean I want to know about tactical decisions. That would be stupid. But sometimes the many vague political words from spokesmen which tell you nothing drive me mad.
Anyway, thank you once again for the newsletter. I look forward to it every week and enjoy it enormously. It has many ‘facts’ and is intellectually stimulating and challenging.
Really appreciate this view-expanding essay. Thanks. I'm puzzled by one phrase though: "down-in-the-much". I got as far as "mouth" but that doesn't seem quite right either. Help?
Thank you very much for this interesting and stimulating article.
I agree with the premise that our social circle has the greatest influence on how we react to news. It is something I have pondered about for a long time, when, in the UK, where I have always lived, people continue to vote for the same old parties, even when they know it will not be to their advantage. Going over to ‘ the other side’ would so change your view of yourself it could take a long time to become reconciled. I have never done this, so I don’t know how it feels.
I also agree that the media has an undue influence on our views. It is easy to be angry about Putin shutting down the independent press but here in the UK the state doesn’t have to do that. Money has bought up opinion. However, this current Government still feels it has to ‘ have a go’ at ‘lefty journalists. And judges , of course. This does seem to be a key step in the destruction of democracy. Whether it is really serious here or not I do not know.
I now seem to rely on individual writers and not publications for something which gets near to my own world view. I try to read other views, as far as elevating blood pressure will allow.
I take your point about realising that everybody ( perhaps not quite everybody!) believes sincerely in their own reality. It is a good explanation. But what I wanted to ask you about is ‘facts’ . Are there none? Is everything relative. This is of particular concern when I read about the war in Ukraine. I don’t mean I want to know about tactical decisions. That would be stupid. But sometimes the many vague political words from spokesmen which tell you nothing drive me mad.
Anyway, thank you once again for the newsletter. I look forward to it every week and enjoy it enormously. It has many ‘facts’ and is intellectually stimulating and challenging.