Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
I happen to know--because I have inside information--that Ricochet has many members who have never left a comment. That's fine, of course. The beauty of the Internet is that it's not like Thanksgiving dinner with your in-laws. No one will get mad at you on the drive home because you just sat in front of the television the whole time and you didn't say a single word to Uncle Herbert, even though he drove all the way from Branson, Mo., and can't you make an effort with my family even once, just once a year?
But is there anyone out there who actually wants to join the conversation, but is just feeling a bit shy? If so, let me jump in with my superb hostess skills. Let's imagine this is a party, and you're the shy guest who's standing on the edge of the group, looking like you'd actually like to join in the conversation, but aren't quite sure how to begin. At this point I'll notice that, and because I have superb hostess skills, I'll say something that tactfully draws you in without focusing too much attention on you or embarrassing you. Something really graceful and socially-skilled.
So, we're imagining that I've just said that really socially-skilled thing, the thing that just puts you at ease and makes you feel completely at home. (No idea what that actually is, but other members are welcome to volunteer their ideas.)
You take it from here. To make it easier, let's pretend that we're all already on the third bowl of cranberry punch.
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
"Go talk to your Uncle Kenneth. It'll be OK this time, honest. Go on, git."
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Uncle Kenneth will never hear the end of it from me if he causes another scene this year.
May '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
I'm already throwing the conversation off track, but I can't resist following on the Uncle Kenneth theme: Has everyone seen how Randy Quaid (better known as the famous Cousin Eddie) has gone rogue and is seeking asylum in Canada?
May '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Yes, yes, Matthew, but shush. See Claire, this is where that warehouse full of hats and tees come in handy. People will do anything for a commemorative t-shirt. Even just some beads. See Girls Gone Wild.
Hand out party favors, woman.
Oct '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Claire,
After following Ricochet for months, I have been shamed into becoming a member just to say hello from rainy Nova Scotia. Thank-you for the invitation.
Oct '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
While I certainly am the silent type, your exceptional hostess skills have compelled me to at least give a brief introduction. I'm a Norwegian conservative currently living in Australia, and am working in the field of business analysis. In a few years, I expect to transfer to an office in the U.S. (and eventually become a citizen).
Ayn Rand was my "gateway drug" into the Right, though over the years I've moved closer to the classical liberalism of Hayek and Thatcher. In fact, I discovered Ricochet after having watched your interview on Thatcher on Uncommon Knowledge.
In any case, this is now my favourite political website, and I especially appreciate the Ricochet podcast. A big thanks to all the contributors!
May '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Welcome! So have Australian politics really become the staring contest that my admittedly shallow understanding suggests?
Edited on October 26, 2010 at 2:57pmMay '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Well, while I rarely feel I have something to contribute to the discussion, I shall pipe up this once. I greatly enjoy reading this site, and the comments are actually decent (!). Possibly my favourite feature.
Jul '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Good Morning Claire,
I love the Ricochet Podcast but the blog intimidates me. There I said it. Ok its not the blog its because I don’t type or spell all that well.
Thanks for the invite.
See now I feel better. :-)
May '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Erik Martinsen: While I certainly am the silent type, your exceptional hostess skills have compelled me to at least give a brief introduction. I'm a Norwegian conservative currently living in Australia, and am working in the field of business analysis. In a few years, I expect to transfer to an office in the U.S. (and eventually become a citizen).
Ayn Rand was my "gateway drug" into the Right, though over the years I've moved closer to the classical liberalism of Hayek and Thatcher. In fact, I discovered Ricochet after having watched your interview on Thatcher on Uncommon Knowledge.
In any case, this is now my favourite political website, and I especially appreciate the Ricochet podcast. A big thanks to all the contributors! · Oct 26 at 5:48am
See, Claire, the hair-straightening pays dividends.
Still wondering if we can have both a Norwegian and Swede on the same thread after the Obama Nobel debacle (Andrea doen't even speak Norwegian far as I know, just Russian and Swedish). As a Dane, I'm neutral. An honest broker. You can trust me, I'm not like all the rest.
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
This made my morning.
How fun to see all your new "faces", Boymoose, Erik, Joules, and Michael! I hope now that Claire has broken the spell of shyness, that you all will join the conversation regularly. This is a party, after all, and it's always so delightful to speak to new people. I'm excited to meet the other silent party guests.
Edited on October 26, 2010 at 4:10pmOct '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Superb hostess skills, indeed. I actually had sent Claire an email regarding an article she wrote a while back and she introduced me to Ricochet then. I was totally taken aback because who actually expects authors to respond and so I retreated to my shy enclave. But now I'm on, so hopefully I'll be learning.
Oct '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
This rang a bell with me, too, for a late-night TV rerun of "The Fountainhead" sparked my enthusiasm years (and years) ago.
Claire, this is my second contribution, and I won't have a lot of time. But if Ricochet can develop into an on-line version of what I remember The Philadelphia Society was in the late 60s - with a lot of thoughtful, back-and-forth discussion of foundational issues - it will become a great venue for testing one's ideas in a friendly crucible.
May '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Claire, not only are you the Queen of Ricochet, you're the Dolley Madison, too!
I've said before that I feel like a butter knife speaking to a chainsaw when posting a comment. It can be intimidating.
Nonetheless, Ricochet's effort to preserve genial conversation is more than worthy of support. I am happy to pay the monthly dues and be part of it.
May '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
I thought the same thing, Casey. A few months ago, I sent John Yoo a private e-mail with a legal question and he wrote a few e-mails back that clearly had time and thought invested. I will never forget it.
May '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Kennedy Smith
Erik Martinsen: While I certainly am the silent type, your exceptional hostess skills have compelled me to at least give a brief introduction. I'm a Norwegian conservative currently living in Australia, and am working in the field of business analysis. In a few years, I expect to transfer to an office in the U.S. (and eventually become a citizen). ...
See, Claire, the hair-straightening pays dividends.
Still wondering if we can have both a Norwegian and Swede on the same thread after the Obama Nobel debacle (Andrea doen't even speak Norwegian far as I know, just Russian and Swedish). As a Dane, I'm neutral. An honest broker. You can trust me, I'm not like all the rest. · Oct 26 at 7:02am
Hair straightening? If you're noticing women's hair, Kennedy, I'm going to start wondering about your "mom's" romance novels.
Degrees are in Russian and Spanish, studied French, Swedish and Hebrew. Hack at all of them.
Welcome, Erik. I love Australia, but America is better. Good choice. ;-)
May '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Come now, Joy. I don't bite unless you ask very nicely. Let your freak flag fly (confining it to certain terms and conditions). If you build it, they will come.
Though I too am often baffled because everyone took the good points ahead of me. Doesn't stop me weighing in with complete hack nonsense, dammit.
Oct '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Claire,
Thank you for your kind invitation. Because I am rarely at the computer, I generally find myself late to the party as now. Greetings from beautiful North Alabama.
Sep '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Kinda shy, myself. But I had been curious about how you knew of Branson, Mo., if not thruogh the usual connection. So Uncle Herbert is from Branson. Hope he enjoyed the Thanksgiving dinner...
Jun '10
Re: Silent Members, Please Say Hello!
Boymoose: Good Morning Claire,
I love the Ricochet Podcast but the blog intimidates me. There I said it. Ok its not the blog its because I don’t type or spell all that well.
Thanks for the invite.
See now I feel better. :-) · Oct 26 at 6:36am
Hoo cairs bout spellin' yest spit it out!