Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
You Miss Me Yet?
Apparently, you do!
Last week, I received a charming e-mail from Troy Senik—the secret to charm, my friends, is lavish flattery—telling me that I was much missed on Ricochet and asking if I might consider visiting now and again. Just by coincidence, the next e-mail in my spam folder (sorry, Troy, I’ve adjusted the filter now), was titled “WIN HIM BACK—EVEN IF HE’S ALREADY WITH SOMEONE ELSE.” Applying the wisdom from e-mail B to e-mail A, I prudently waited 48 hours to answer.
It worked! Troy was even keener on me than before. (My ex received a brisk memo explaining how much I now charge per word.)
The funny thing is that I’ve been thinking of you, too. I don’t know about you, but the latest round of violence in the Holy Land has rendered my social media universe almost uninhabitable. I’d rather seal myself in a meat locker with nothing but a Fechshrift on Discipline and Punish—published by the University of Minnesota Department of Communication Studies—than spend time on Facebook and Twitter these days. For those of you who are snuggled in some kind of social media cordon sanitaire and have missed this latest worldwide illiterate-hateful-ungrammatical-unreasoned-three-minute-hate (extended remix, on a repeat loop), consider this article, if only out of academic curiosity. (It’s not the article, but the comments below, that make it so special.)
So anyway, I was looking at that the other day and thinking, “You know, someone should really invent a social media site on which thoughtful people of good faith commit to discussing the events of the day politely, respectfully and grammatically; a site that’s strictly policed to ensure these high standards of etiquette are upheld.” Then I slapped my forehead, feeling much as I do when I take the clean clothes from the washer and then absentmindedly put them right back in the machine, pressing “Wash.”
Wait! I did that already!
Anyway, much has happened since last you and I spent time together. My cats and I have decamped from Istanbul. We’re now living in Paris, about half a mile from my father’s apartment, and it’s wonderful to have what’s left of the family in the same city. I have much to report from France (as usual everyone else has it all wrong), but that’s a subject for future posts. Longtime Claire Berlinski fans may, however, enjoy this account of one of my latest adventures, reproduced here, after going viral around the globe, in German, Italian, and Feminist:
So my cats knocked the handle off my bedroom door and I’m locked in my bedroom now. Nothing left to try but to Tweet this drama.
— Claire Berlinski (@ClaireBerlinski) June 25, 2014
To judge from the media firestorm to which it gave rise, getting locked in my bedroom by my cats was the most popular thing I’ve ever done. (Do note that the way the story was reported affirms my assertion that journalists always get everything wrong. Entertain yourself for a few minutes by spotting and counting the factual errors. Then think about these standards of accuracy applied to a real news story. It won’t seem so funny then.)
So for now, this thread is open to all who wish 1) to tell me just how much they missed me and how overjoyed they are to see my smiling face; b) talk about how journalists always get it wrong; and c) complain that the rest of the Internet is just a sewer.
Happy days are here again! Big kisses to you all! It’s good to be home!
Published in General
Welcome back Claire!
But you have moved from a closet-Islamist State to a Socialist State, both of which seem to have anti-Jewish mobs in the streets?
Next stop England, where, err, Red Ed is next in line to be Prime Minister and Charles is next in line for the throne. What could possibly go wrong?
You could try America, where we would never, ever, elect a Socialist President who never slanders Islam… oh, wait!
Claire, welcome back! Glad you are in Paris. Always love your perspective.
Cod bless him, Son of Spengler recovered it for 2.0: Claire’s Tips.
Thanks Mike!
I see you nonetheless stayed after I left. Disturbing lack of loyalty there, I might add.
Well, at this rate who knows? Your flight could get diverted to Paris. Or you might not have a flight. Anyway, thanks!
YAY! Guruforhire!
Uh .. guys? How do I turn off this e-mail notification thing? That’s really annoying. It was nice the first time and flattering the first hundred times, but now it’s turning me off.
Not a lack of loyalty, just stubbornness – a trait noted by many an ex-girlfriend.
It’s rather like the story of Hachiko, except that you’re still alive and I’d knew you’d come back!
Huh. I was going to say hi and thanks personally to everyone who left a comment, but the commenting system seems to be a bit … slow. I take it this is a known problem, not me? The spirit is willing, guys.
Account, Notifications, uncheck the Receive Alerts via E-Mail checkbox.
As you have seen, -2.0 has a ways to go before it’s ready for public consumption. You can be sure that those that have stayed through the transition until your triumphant return are really hard-core fans.
Thank you!
Likewise, Susan!
Awww. It’s completely mutual, I assure you. xxx
Claire,
This is certainly an unexpected pleasure!
I’m especially pleased to hear that you’re in Paris, close to your father. First and foremost because I’m among those who believe your sojourn in Istanbul persisted well past what prudence would suggest, but also because I occasionally re-watch your interviews with your father on YouTube and am always charmed when you call him “Pop.” People who have such a relationship should be in proximity, I think.
Oh, and I renamed myself at a certain point, in reference to a conversation you, Midge, your father and I had. You’re both still wrong about Monty Hall, though.
Yes, this is my way of saying “welcome back!”
Yes, we did miss you. Immensely. Welcome back!
Claire,
Love to have you back! You have always been my favorite commentator. Glad you are able to be close to family in Paris, and welcome back to your Ricochet Family.
Though I’m late to the Welcome Back Party, WELCOME BACK, CLAIRE! Your posts will add back insights, clarity, wisdom and humor that all of us have missed for way too long!
Hmm. It’s getting a bit redundant to say so, but yes–we missed you a lot. I am so very glad that you are back and that you are in Paris, so that we can all worry less about you.
Happy days are here again!! Welcome back.
Welcome Back Claire!
Wheeee!!!
So good to see you are back in the Ricochet fold again, (safe and sound). Welcome back.
Those rules are great except by the time I cut my post in half, read it outloud and then reread it…i usually just delete the whole thing. That may be a perk though not a bug.
It’s not redundant, it’s great! This is like getting to hear what everyone will say at my funeral, only I don’t have to die. I’m loving it sooooooo much.
(That’s me, liking all your comments, by the way. I see it doesn’t tell you who liked the comment, but that’s okay–it’s me.)
Okay, if anyone who said something nice doesn’t at least have a “like” after the comment, it’s not because I’ve forgotten my manners: It’s because this system confuses me a bit and I didn’t like the sight of “unlike” after a nice compliment, so I tried to make it go “like” again and then couldn’t remember whether the result was good or bad and then gave up for fear of double-unliking something and making someone cry. If you like it, it says “like,” right? But you can’t press “like” twice, because that’s, like, like a double negative, right?
Actually it does tell you. I can see that you like my 2 prior comments – show up in the notices.