 ethernightthe sky is falling, so they say |
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| September 30th, 2008 | 01:05 pm |
I find myself reacting to talk of the current alleged economic crisis the same way that I do about things like the presidential election, global warming, or the war on Iraq. Namely, by shutting off and hurriedly fleeing from even the slightest whiff of the topic. This surprises me, because generally speaking I find economics fascinating.
This made me realize that it is not the topic itself that repels me in cases like these, but rather the tone of the discussion surrounding it. The shrill panic, the complete confidence of absolutely everyone who has an opinion on the topic of their grasp on the vast and complex subject matter, and the ease with which they feel licensed to place blame on the people who -- well, what do you know? -- they happen to already dislike.
Any conversation I happen across on a topic of this nature seems statistically guaranteed to be free of facts, of unbiased analysis, of any substance whatsoever. Engaging in such discourse is an exercise in anti-information, and I have better things with which to fill my gray matter.
So, next time you see me suddenly vanish when discussion of a topical issue comes up, please understand it is not that I fail to realize the importance of the situation, nor that I lack thoughts on the subject.
Honestly, it's not me; it's you.
This made me realize that it is not the topic itself that repels me in cases like these, but rather the tone of the discussion surrounding it. The shrill panic, the complete confidence of absolutely everyone who has an opinion on the topic of their grasp on the vast and complex subject matter, and the ease with which they feel licensed to place blame on the people who -- well, what do you know? -- they happen to already dislike.
Any conversation I happen across on a topic of this nature seems statistically guaranteed to be free of facts, of unbiased analysis, of any substance whatsoever. Engaging in such discourse is an exercise in anti-information, and I have better things with which to fill my gray matter.
So, next time you see me suddenly vanish when discussion of a topical issue comes up, please understand it is not that I fail to realize the importance of the situation, nor that I lack thoughts on the subject.
Honestly, it's not me; it's you.
mood:  cynical
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I feel you. I keep hearing people say things very confidently, and then I wonder, "Well, how do you know that?" Uncertain whether or not I'll like the answer, I tend to nod along and mentally sidestep the conversation entirely.
My roommate has been watching C-SPAN relentlessly. It's been interesting listening to his take on things because as a grad student in economics he has a more complicated understanding of what's going on than most folks, and at least he has the sense to know that it is extremely complicated. But since there is absolutely nothing I could do to react one way or another to whatever what is going to happen, I'm doing my best to just move along with life and watch.
My roommate has been watching C-SPAN relentlessly. It's been interesting listening to his take on things because as a grad student in economics he has a more complicated understanding of what's going on than most folks, and at least he has the sense to know that it is extremely complicated. But since there is absolutely nothing I could do to react one way or another to whatever what is going to happen, I'm doing my best to just move along with life and watch.
