30-04-2009 - Playing dirty. It has been disappointing to see post-election racial attacks and character assassinations in the blogs. As well-intentioned we may be, we may jump into the fray without carefully thinking through the various implications of our statements. We sometimes display more emotion than logic, make sweeping charges beyond what we reasonably support, fail to adequately document our assertions, and, in general, fail to do the homework necessary to make our challenges credible. *Wake up, Belinda. You are drooling on your keyboard!* We need to ask ourselves what we are trying to accomplish. Are we trying to release pent-up resentment? Are we trying to belittle our opponent? Or are we trying to convince the other person to our way of thinking? Probably a little of all the aforementioned. We are human, after all. Well, you lot are – I think. Hehe. Such ill-considered actions can, however, be counter-productive for our cause, doncha think? There are so many more subtle ways to make our point. Which reminds me – I should try ‘subtle’ sometimes too. And here endeth the really boring lesson. Perhaps a good old-fashioned mud-wrestling session is the way to go! I’m off to calm down by listening to my ‘new’ favourite song: ‘Sieze the Day’ by Avenged Sevenfold. Again. See ya.