When I write an article, it’s because I hold a certain perspective. Impliedly, I do NOT subscribe to the contrary perspective. So why would I waste any time writing about THAT, too? So that I can do your thinking FOR YOU? Thaw your frozen brain, shake off the atrophy and do your own thinking.
I’ve said it several times, I don’t “bite” troll baits like “If you’re really smart, then comment on this” or “If you don’t want to be called this and that, then write about this and that.”
I write what I want to write and accept no obligation to “balance” myself. I am an advocate. Of course I am biased. If you want neutral then read “Pepe and Pilar.” Find a Grade 2 kid and borrow his copy.
In the freemarket of ideas, ideators exchange views, not wrestle with one another. So the rule is, whatever idea you come across, take it or leave it. The best idea DOESN’T win, it just attracts more believers which you need to win away from it with a better idea. If you can’t handle that challenge because you lack the capability to compose your own thoughts, then do everybody a favor and get off the internet.
My law students are the most challenging interactors, they can almost “borderline manipulate” me because they ask such intelligent questions, demanding no answers—and when I don’t answer them, they can PROVE they have even better answers than mine. Unfortunately, we do our exchange in class so you miss all this world-class exchange! If you follow Facebook school of law, occasionally they pop up in the comments section.
In contrast, troll bait is so pedantic and yokellish—while comically attempting to sound profound—that reading them for pure amusement almost rises to the level of a legitimate thing to do. But I still won’t waste any time engaging them. Aren’t I doing that right now? NO, because I did not answer the troll on the wall for his personal delight. I addressed him in a post for mine.
I write mostly to inspire the youth. I want them to know that as someone with less days in front of me than behind me now, I’m trying to “hand off” to them the responsibility to keep the intelligent national debate going.
I wish all the youth were like my fictional student Deema, but it should encourage them that the real life Deema is only just younger than me (a little) and she’s actually doing the same thing I’m doing, empowering the youth—especially young women. Same thing with Kata, Cabo, Hannah, Juan and Jack.
Even so, don’t let anyone--including us--give you a role model. Choose one for yourself. Then just study his or her template of thinking, but design your own. The internet is the new intellectual playground, and trolls the new playground bully. So like me don’t let bullies push you off the swing or seesaw. Waste no time engaging them.
Waste no time posting silly things, too. Apply your mammalian brain, not your primitive reptilian one. Mind your post content--compose it yourself--don't just borrow somebody else's cheap idea. Learn how to make thought-provoking memes, invest time learning graphic apps so you can make attractive pubmats to enhance your message and help you grab readership. Bottomline: ALWAYS MAKE AN EFFORT. Never settle for the path of least resistance. You are young, you have the talent, the intelligence and tons of time.
Trolls don’t hold a candle to you..
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