https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/june-18-2023

6)Perhaps we humans need to stop relying (sometimes solely) on typing out our opinions and thoughts to people and engage with them in more face-to-face conversations; reacquaint ourselves with the varied nuances of in-person, civil discourse. Maybe then, actual, real, honest discussions and debates will diminish the caustic and violent polarity that now exists in our world - not just the US but everywhere - and we can begin to see more clearly the humanity in others.

5) Getting cut off in traffic by an oblivious driver can set off the same rage and anger to one whose beliefs have been challenged in an exchange on any of the social media sites. The only margin for restraint is the send button, and if there is pushback to whatever comes cascading out of the mouth or keyboard of this kind of individual, this criticism is met with even more rage and anger and fatuous commentary about 1st Amendment rights being trampled.

4)but in these environments, there is always a way to temper the conversation where the tone is mostly civil. I think there is generally a desire to keep things pleasant for oneself and others.

However, in social media - not unlike being in traffic - there is an immediacy to every thought and emotion, with little restraint to temper any feeling or word.

3)
In more immediate contexts of sharing ideas with others or in casual groups, I notice most people engaged in conversations are fairly respectful of others, even when they disagree. There are always nuances in voice tone and volume, facial expressions, body language and even the pacing of the conversation that convey attitudes about what people are saying and hearing - from the dubious to the credible -

2) But for the letter that did make it to these pages, one assumes that the writers spent considerable time and effort to be succinct and pithy in the points they wanted to make, or in the arguments they brought up against what they read. Even in the act of placing their letters in an envelope to mail, there were several points along the way in which these people could still make some refinements to the points they wrote, so as to have the best chance at being published.

1) Musings of a social media user.

I remember as a pre-teen enjoying reading the Op-Ed pages (after the comics and Dear Abby) in our local newspaper. There were usually a half dozen Letters to the Editor about the topics of the day, or responses to particular articles. These letters that actually made it to the LttE were distilled from probably hundreds of other letters that didn't make it - either due to irrelevant content or space limitations.

I wonder how many Kennedys are waiting in the wings to reproach and disavow their misguided relative?

Today's GQP, incapable of governing or legislating policies that help Americans, can only resort to performative grandstanding.
Constant.
Performative.
Grandstanding.

I saw that too

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1162158609

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1162158609

The back story on Ellsberg is fascinating. Heard the broadcast of his story on NPR - well worth the listen~ https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/june-16-2023

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