Conversational bullies
Do people think you are a good listener? It is a real skill to be able to just listen, to encourage, to draw people out - so congrats. But often, the term comes from people who are talkers, who don’t listen. The conversation/monologue has to be all about them; in fact, they rush to complete your sentences, just to move things along. And when in a crowd, they just crank up the volume and steamroll over everyone. The columnist Doug Larson said: “Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d have preferred to talk.” Unfortunately, the reality is that while most people do want to be understood, they don’t really care about pausing to understand you. Do a search, there are a number of interesting threads on this, including the book The Art of Shutting the F*ck Up. Do try to listen more.
Easy terrorism
The news is still an almost continuous cycle of coverage of the 15 killed by an assumed terrorist in New Orleans several days ago. Once in a while coverage slides in something like "Israel’s army bombs the so-called “humanitarian zone” of al-Mawasi in southern Gaza, killing at least 12 Palestinians."
Also a terrible tragedy, but not as relatable. New Orleans is closer, and it was just in a crowd in the street. A crowd that was innocent of any wrongdoing, and not even of a particular ethnic group. It was an attack not done by terrorists from another country, not by one of Trump’s criminal illegal immigrants, but by a single person, born in the US, and an army vet. We all too easily see that this could happen to us, so the act has instilled fear and terror in people - which was the point.
People try to keep some distance by saying that these terrorists are not like us, none of us could do this. But right-wing extremism in the US affects everyday Americans. And they can be influenced by the propaganda of a group such as ISIS, blaming that foreign influence on any local radicalization. Unfortunately, that type of revolutionary behaviour and anarchy has been normalized here. And events like the Gaza conflict could fuel IS and al-Qaida revival, security experts warn -link
Finally, these activities don‘t need an arsenal of guns, or a commandeered plane. Using an ordinary vehicle like this, ramming a crowd to kill and instill terror, is a tactic promoted by ISIS. That’s the fear that spreads, that anybody could do this, anywhere, anytime.
My New Year’s Aspirations
I’ve chosen this terminology as being a gentler commitment than ‘resolution’, more as targets I am aiming for. They are focused on being less of a consumer and more of a creator, as that makes me feel better. So, a cut back on doom-scrolling of the news, fewer long and mediocre video series just to pass the time, less time buried in fantasy novels, and not as many hours spent working an imaginary farm in a game. I dusted out my keyboard and found some piano books. And hooked it up to some synthesizer programs and music production software. I signed up with a local nature group again, so hopefully more socializing walks with people, creating social links. An ongoing commitment to continue my twice a week podcasts, weekly Sunday posts, maybe some short stories. A new course found, for re-starting my Urban Sketching. These are the aspirations I keep in mind, my focus for the ‘todo’ at the start of a day and the ‘done’ at the end. It’s working so far.
Liberal issues
Trudeau returned last Friday from his reflections on what he wants to be when he grows up. He has not spoken, but his national Liberal caucus will hold a special meeting next Wednesday.
Whatever.
He's been mute since Christmas, and it's moot now what he decides or when. The Liberal party is toast, and the Conservatives will win, likely by a landslide. The official opposition might be the Bloc Quebecois, led by Yves-Francois Blanchet. I hope so; he is smarter and more articulate than Poilievre.
(These posts seem a little gloomy - maybe it’s the cold weather.)