A good writer doesn't just stir up discontent and express opinions, a good writer changes the way their readers think. You shouldn't add in statements like "in my opinion" or "I think" because those statements don't belong in serious literature.
Oh ya?
I think maybe you're writing these guys off a little too easily. If you're not persuading them then you're not doing a good enough job as a writer. Instead of getting upset about it try to increase your skill as a writer.
OK.
You also said once you thought all people were good people and if you just sit them down and explain things to them they'll come around, but you don't seem to be doing that very much.
I said this?
Some people are hard to work with but that just means if you win them over you've done an even more impressive job.
Mm, well, I've debated often about at what point to cut off the line. There comes a certain point where if you start explaining things too much, it ruins the quality of your piece or the argument you are presenting. You start thinking of the most absurd, illogical reactions to your article, and try to rebut them, and therefore go in "defensive" mode. I refer to it as catering to the lowest common denominator. Sometimes I slip and start doing this but I quickly stop myself anymore. Well, I just try to present my concept as clear as possible and try to present positive ideologies ... it usually gets through. But I can't get through to everyone. There are 5 million different irrational paths people can take and only one rational one. I can't go in and think of all bad paths and show people why they are irrational/wrong. My guiding principle is to counter any argument against my argument that is likely to "endure." The major, mainstream arguments that might start getting spread around about me or my arguments ... of which calling me a "feminist apologist" won't be.
You're right though, I've done very little explaining about my position on MRA in the past round of posts. It's largely because I've done a lot of explaining through all my articles already. I would have to go through all of my experiences, all the hate mails I've gotten from these men, all the nasty comments, all of their articles I find contemptible ... and on and on. There are very clear patterns in all of them, from Fred Reed to random posters on internet forums - men who hate engagement rings, who make snide comments about women especially attractive women, and on and on. No, I do not think it is just a "2%" thing of mens rights activists. Just about all of them, including Objectivists on this board, exhibit the type of traits I see in these men that I simply do not like.
Well, anyway, I mostly stopped explaining because I decided to can them and their movement awhile ago. I just don't care; they don't have much influence anyway. They just popped up to make (try to) make my life a little more miserable recently. But, it doesn't really matter. I have lots of things in my treasure chest; I'm just getting started. I have enemies before I have even really taken off. Ha!
