December 7 - Today is my first anniversary on DKos, after 750+ comments this is my first diary and I finally have something to say to you ALL: Publishing the first diary is more difficult than I figured, but I always responded to deadline pressure. So far I have probably written about ten diary drafts, but none of them worthy (in my mind) of a FIRST diary. Now with this out, I should feel free to publish more stuff without internal pressure about quality. Interestingly enough, "quality" is a main theme in the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, which I am slowly reading for the first time right now (I highly recommend). In this introductory piece I'm keeping it light, but I probably have some heavy things to say in comments and future diaries. I work weekdays so I'll drop back in when I have a minute throughout the day. Let's jump the shark, ehm, squiggle de Kos!
I would like to begin saying, "Thank you" to you all for the comunity so far. Like many people, the last year has had ups and downs for me both on DKos and in life; participating here inspired me to begin processing, refining my positions, learning about history & current events, and helped me feel like I could give back as well. Most here have been friendly and supportive and there are days I feel like together we can do anything we set our minds on.
Disclosure: I am not, nor have I ever been, a democrat, even though most of my votes might indicate otherwise. Part of that is because I always lived "outside the box" and never figured out how to get inside, in fact I don't even WANT to get in, now. That doesn't mean I don't play well with others, in fact I think it helps me to identify with anybody. Who hasn't felt on the "outside" at some point, in some situation, in their life? Looking back on my life and college experiences I discovered recently that, put most simply:
My ongoing personal life project: What I like to call "Outgroup Studies" or studies of the "other". I conceptualize it as anything not: white, male, hetero, christian, culturally mainstream, or popular: ie. anything having to do with women's studies, LGBT, race/ethnicity, or even 2nd Ammendment supporters on a Democratic blog. Essentially, being marginalized and "power-down" inspires rhetorical innovation that the "dominant" group would never discover. My theory is that: if all the folks on the outside of the box got together, anything is possible because we would vastly out-number those left inside. Plus, the most creative ideas, IMO, don't come from within the system, but rather from without.
(from a recent message from me to The Grand Wazoo)
That's right, the day I signed up here I found the (previously unknown to me) DKos RKBA group (a great group of intelligent folks, IMO) and joined immediately. My perspective about the second ammendment had, in the last few years, evolved from a "fine for you, not for me*" attitude to a more "hands on" learning mode (will diary about that another time).
*The "fine for you, not for me" philosophy is my socially liberal side retaining personal control while granting permission for others to do what they need to do - In the spirit of Immanuel Kant, do that thing that you would have become universal law; such that anyone in the same circumstances/situation should do that same thing and it should be sustainable and not infringe upon the rights of others. For example, as a man I can't have an abortion (it's not for me) and I feel it is up to women to decide for themselves (fine for you). If more people could detach personal feelings from wanting to impose them on others, politicians could solve actual problems instead of getting caught up in managing others and the RKBA threads would have less vitriol as well. They're on OUR side, really.
Once I felt comfortable with the armed liberals (even hosted KV at my home for Netroots Nation) I looked around more and found many other thought provoking diarists, some of whom even wrote exactly what I was thinking! Still leery of groups, I looked for individuals to "follow". For several months after getting T.U. status I lurked about without commenting or using the rec/hr comment options much at all (now I feel like I over-use the rec some days). I followed without joining The Class Warfare Newsletter and Exposing ALEC (everyone should know what that is, IMO). Eventually I found that some of my favorites diarists and commenters are Team DFH, a term with which I was unfamiliar, but now know describes who I am, and apparently always was. Yup, I'm a non-violent hippie with a gun and an attitude j/k, my attitude is fine. ;)
One thing I have realized in some exchanges (read: disagreements) here is that I am also self-destructively principled and unconventional, which makes it difficult for me to understand some forms of compromise. For example, I don't carry a cell phone (I don't NEED one and those companies suck), I don't have a 401K (BANKS, need I say more?), I ride a motorcycle as my main vehicle in Minnesota (efficient and FUN), and I have never been married (yet I'm in a heterosexual registered Domestic Partnership for over 16 years). It's weird, I know, but I don't want to support destructive companies or OLD ideas that aren't working to my satisfaction. Instead I look for the best NEW ideas I can find. I have yet to fully engage with ethnic and gender issues (must have somewhre new to go), except for native peoples with whom I feel some kinship and have personal experience from northern Minnesota. Actually, here on the GOS I guess I have reached the point where my interests have exceeded my ability to keep up, but I will keep working because, by and large, people here are wonderful, even though we sometimes forget that.
8:26 AM PT: Wow, recommended, I am really honored
updated ALEC link: http://www.dailykos.com/...
Thanks Azazello!
8:28 AM PT: Getting the hang of this update thing. I want to also mention
Doc (aka Translator). He is one intelligent and educated fellow and one of my role models for behavior here. If you haven't read him, I would highly recommend it.