Comments on: Down With (Micro) Tyranny! http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/ Firedoglake weblog Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:49:36 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: TomR http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1948004 TomR Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:18:38 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1948004 <p>I think I have a knee-jerk reaction to people sometimes when I don’t understand something they’ve done (i.e. thinking they “acted stupidly”). So, I find if I take a few moments to reframe my thinking, I can handle the situation more tactfully.</p> <p>I understand the need to fight that initial impulse to act snarkily or shame a person unnecessarily. The secondary benefit to understanding and calling out rightwingers when they use manipulation tactics is to keep ourselves in check to make sure we’re not also engaging in that emotionally abusive behavior.</p> <p>I will point out that, while this self-help kind of discussion can be useful to those of us who have consciences, there are those out there (sociopaths) who have impaired consciences and can at best only mimic this behavior. We are not all the same deep down, much as we’d like to believe it.</p> <p>- Tom</p> I think I have a knee-jerk reaction to people sometimes when I don’t understand something they’ve done (i.e. thinking they “acted stupidly”). So, I find if I take a few moments to reframe my thinking, I can handle the situation more tactfully.

I understand the need to fight that initial impulse to act snarkily or shame a person unnecessarily. The secondary benefit to understanding and calling out rightwingers when they use manipulation tactics is to keep ourselves in check to make sure we’re not also engaging in that emotionally abusive behavior.

I will point out that, while this self-help kind of discussion can be useful to those of us who have consciences, there are those out there (sociopaths) who have impaired consciences and can at best only mimic this behavior. We are not all the same deep down, much as we’d like to believe it.

- Tom

]]> By: VictorLaszlo http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947961 VictorLaszlo Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:55:09 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947961 <p>Thanks for this. This is important stuff.</p> Thanks for this. This is important stuff.

]]> By: VJBinCT http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947737 VJBinCT Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:29:13 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947737 <p>Yup, I’m a VUP (Very Unimportant Person).</p> <p>This is an opportunity for bumpersticker makers everywhere to make a killing.</p> Yup, I’m a VUP (Very Unimportant Person).

This is an opportunity for bumpersticker makers everywhere to make a killing.

]]> By: DavidKaib http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947736 DavidKaib Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:23:52 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947736 <p>How about “we are all important” (and no one is the center of the universe)?</p> How about “we are all important” (and no one is the center of the universe)?

]]> By: sporkovat http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947735 sporkovat Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:22:55 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947735 <blockquote><p> We make more time for friends, we are happier and more secure, we treat others with respect and dignity, and, just maybe, they no longer feel like Very Unimportant Persons. <em>So they vote.</em></p></blockquote> <p>???</p> <p>what is the point of diminishing micro-tyrannies, and then voting for a tyrant?</p>

We make more time for friends, we are happier and more secure, we treat others with respect and dignity, and, just maybe, they no longer feel like Very Unimportant Persons. So they vote.

???

what is the point of diminishing micro-tyrannies, and then voting for a tyrant?

]]> By: stratonike http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947733 stratonike Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:12:29 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947733 <p>Isn’t there something between “You’re not important” and “You’re the center of the universe”? That seems to be the median we lack. Humility does not preclude action.</p> Isn’t there something between “You’re not important” and “You’re the center of the universe”? That seems to be the median we lack. Humility does not preclude action.

]]> By: ratfood http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947727 ratfood Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:47:43 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947727 <p>I was reading the portion of that Utah Phillips interview in which he compares becoming a pacifist to a person admitting to being an alcoholic and dedicating themselves to resisting that impulse, acknowledging that one has the potential for violence and being committed to finding alternatives.</p> <p>Good stuff.</p> I was reading the portion of that Utah Phillips interview in which he compares becoming a pacifist to a person admitting to being an alcoholic and dedicating themselves to resisting that impulse, acknowledging that one has the potential for violence and being committed to finding alternatives.

Good stuff.

]]> By: ratfood http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947725 ratfood Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:40:54 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947725 <p>You VIPs can have the couches, floor’s good enough for me.:)</p> You VIPs can have the couches, floor’s good enough for me.:)

]]> By: SouthernDragon http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947724 SouthernDragon Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:35:19 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947724 <p>If she shows up with the pooches I’m history. Lookin’ for me? look for the puppers.</p> If she shows up with the pooches I’m history. Lookin’ for me? look for the puppers.

]]> By: SouthernDragon http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947723 SouthernDragon Sun, 02 Aug 2009 17:32:32 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/08/02/down-with-micro-tyranny/#comment-1947723 <p>Aw, shit, all the fainting couches are taken.</p> Aw, shit, all the fainting couches are taken.

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