Shocked and appalled

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Part of the price one pays for being an editor is having to read occasional letters from crackpots.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Part of the price one pays for being an editor is having to read occasional letters from crackpots. In my case, most seem to be from right-wing Colonel Blimp types (always male for some reason) who are shocked – shocked and appalled! – that I have criticized capitalism or defended socialism.

I have a small checklist to evaluate them. I’ve never received a letter with all of these features, but today one came very close.

  • Starts out more or less politely, quickly descends into insults
  • Includes at least one paragraph of pseudo-scientific gibberish to illustrate some totally incomprehensible point
  • Includes long quotes from something I wrote, to illustrate my depravity and/or ignorance
  • In case I missed the point, highlights parts of those quotes in multiple colors
  • Adds more emphasis by putting some sentences (sometimes even entire paragraphs) in CAPITAL LETTERS
  • Challenges me to a public debate (probably because it’s illegal to challenge me to a duel)
  • Compares me to Hitler, Mao, or  Stalin – usually all three
  • Says I want the whole world to be like North Korea
  • Brags about his vastly superior knowledge and/or experience of the real world, where real people can see right through idiots like me
  • Quotes Churchill (sometimes others, but usually Churchill) on the evils of socialism
  • Says I am a hypocrite for not giving away all my worldly goods
  • Predicts, correctly, that I won’t publish his crackpot letter

This is why god made spam filters.

—–
Ian

More from the editor’s notebook…

8 Comments

  • actually I would criticize rather all those many disgusting consequences and details in context with “capitalism” — where people see and feel what it means for them — (than just repeat crude statements that capitalism is bad) 

  • Ian I like this list, it sums up the stock responses of people who out of, I guess, a deep personal insecurity cling on to the predominant socio-political system of their time, absolutely unable to think out of the box so to speak.

  • Stupidity and arrogance cannot prevail. Blood sucking capitalism and capitalists will have to be extinct sooner than later if the world is to sustain. You are a catalyst; please continue your efforts for CHANGE for a better world, that is what sensible and responsible people desire! We are the majority, yes 99.9%!

  • Stupidity and arrogance cannot prevail. Blood sucking capitalism and capitalists will have to be extinct sooner than later if the world is to sustain. You are a catalyst; please continue your efforts for CHANGE for a better world, that is what sensible and responsible people desire! We are the majority, yes 99.9%!