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.
A Dissenting Voice
I want to ask you a question. Do you gravitate to news that agrees with your point of view, be it political or other? Do you want to hear the dissenting voice? How important, as a Ricochet paying customer, is it important to you? While Ricochet promotes itself as a conservative blog, we know that the many members that make up this site are from varying backgrounds, to say the least.
We have all faiths or no faith, we have different education levels, incomes levels, political views. This site is promoted as primarily politically-leaning, yet we enjoy poets, photographers, comedians, artists, doctors, lawyers, journalists, TV personalities, military, and so forth. What makes it such an interesting site is there is a community atmosphere, where all views are welcome. You get to know personalities, personal challenges. We even pray for each other – that’s right. There are groups within groups, on every interest you can imagine. It’s all monitored by a code of conduct – called respect. The sky is the limit with regards to topic and discussion, but there are no personal attacks allowed. People become friends, and support each other.
A case in point is the support of @TitusTechera and his summer in America, a citizen of Romania. His trip was funded by members who wanted Titus to come to America. We wanted to share with him who we are, and show how much we value him. What would Ricochet be without Titus? Another example is our @Claire. I fell in love with her books, her talent, her writing by accident. My sister found her book Menace in Europe, in a pile of used books in a thrift shop in Amish country, small-town America (sorry Claire). She saw the book, bought other things, went back to her car, got out of the car and went back in and bought the book. She could not forget the cover or the story. My sister read it in amazement and shipped it to me in FL. She said you have to read this book!!
Since then, I’ve read Claire’s books, passed them to others, just recently lent a couple her book on Menace, and have followed her ever since. Many at Ricochet got behind her and encouraged her to write a sequel. It’s going to be great. We “Go funded” her project without hesitation, as both investors and donators. We wanted to be a part of it, her experience as a journalist writing it. That is why I invested and I do not regret it. A Ricochet member flew to Paris @KateBraestrup and watched her cats while she was on assignment for the book. This is what Ricochet is about. It’s political, it’s fiery sometimes, and its personal. I love (literally) the people on this site. I have yet to go to a Ricochet meet up, but can’t wait.
This brings me to my topic. What is important to you as a reader, writer, commenter in the framework of a conservative, mainly political leaning blog? Do digressing voices have value? How much value? If you are a Christian, do you want to hear from an atheist? If you are leaning alt-right, do you value the left-leaning conservative opinion? If you love history, do you feel an obligation to share your knowledge? To teach new generations, new members of Ricochet?
I am disturbed by several things. I voted for Trump in the primary, but I wanted Ted Cruz. I rode the wave, because to me Hillary was worse. I don’t regret that. To date, I am 50/50 on Trump, but it is a new presidency and there has been a lot to deal with in the post-Obama election period. Our country has problems that need fixing. So do other countries, that have for the most part, relied on the US to fix them. I also am disturbed by the press, what makes up our American journalists. I would love to see Hannity on the Rachel Maddow show. I want to see ideas duked out, rather than protests in the street that yield nothing but burned out Starbucks. The Milo thing, for example. To expose his ideas in the light of day deserves a forum, what a great idea, yet many denied that. Why?
I want to know if Ricochet members want that forum, the dissenting voice, informative posts where you learn something that completely surprises you, good or bad, and you want more? Or do you want to hear from people like you, who agree with you? Are you quick to criticize a digressing view? I am. I want to criticize less and learn more. I want to learn period. I want to hear from everyone.
Freedom of Speech – we may not have it one day.
Published in General
I, personally, very much enjoy digressing views. I do not, however, like them from people who are not open to being wrong or argue in bad faith. I used to check out CNN and NYT a lot more often, now it’s nearly impossible for me to make it through an entire article.
Any food for thought from any honest contributor is very much welcome, in any field from politics to random happenings.
Amen.
Again. Amen.
Amen and Preach! That said, I disagree with most of this post as a narcissist who didn’t write it.
Seriously, this idea of censoring those with marginal differences as your ideological foe is the very reason I no longer consider myself Liberal. And while it rears it’s head here at Rico once in a while, this place is still a bastion of well-articulated free thought. One where I find myself happily disagreeing with those whom were cast as my enemy — in that, Rico has done more to change my political outlook than any book or politician.
In short: if you’re going to argue politics, always do it with a Conservative — because they know what they’re talking about.
Maybe I’m in the minority or maybe it is just the ‘worst of times’ but the gap between right and left seems more like an ocean. I used to listen to NPR regularly, I like certain things. They’ve always had a left bias but it seems so acute now. Ditto for most entertainment, tv and movies. I guess what I am saying is I have less patience for ‘opposing views’ than I once did. Either because those views are crazy or because I’ve become a curmudgeon, I shut down most things I disagree with right away.
Life is too short to get mired in nonsense. And NO, I don’t have all the answers.
so are you agreeing that we need a more
Then isn’t it all the more important to listen to other opinions? I hear you about NPR – you are right. You say “I shun”. That is what concerns me on both sides and Ricochet.
Could I raise a point of order? Is “digressing” the right word? I’ve never heard it used as an adjective. Should it be “dissenting”? Did you mean contrary or just wandering off topic?
You’re right of course…
I guess I just meant my B.S. meter is turned all the way to sensitive. I could never wall myself off and listen to only right leaning stuff but I don’t stay with it as long either.
Listen, always. Entertain, well, that’s a whole other ball of wax. Therein lies the rub of where debate and censorship begins or ends, I suppose.
It is impossible to argue with a Liberal, because increasingly these days they do not think, they feel. They don’t argue ideas and policies, they label you racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. ad nauseam. I have no problem arguing ideas, and I think that’s what we do best here.
That said, what brought me to Ricochet in the first place was the presence of so many people who believe what I do and think like I do. They are few and far between here in Deep Blue Country. They keep me sane.
RB, you got that right – a Me Too, with a hearty Amen.
Personally, I do not understand why someone from the Left (I don’t mean left-center, I mean LEFT) would want to pay money to post on here. I suppose, reaching deep inside my head, I don’t want them here.
There are probably 1.7 billions sites where they can go and say horrible things about the Right. Why must they come here and Troll us? Does anyone here go there and Troll them? I know I never have. It’s like arguing with children (and I don’t do that either) because that is what the majority of them seem to be: immature brats.
There are places I go – CNN.com, WaPo, NYT, etc. – when I need to hear both sides of an issue, and I do it every day. But you know what? There are many sides to the right-view, too. Just listen to the discussions on Ricochet about General Flynn and Milo and Steve Bannon and so on. THAT is why I come here – to hear the many views of the Right side.
I can go almost anywhere else to hear snot-nosed bratty sore-losers; I’d rather not hear it here.
Found long ago that Merit is of lasting value when running The Gauntlet of conflicting and oppressive tendencies of Group Think of which come in under many banners.
Of late, so many are given to burst into illogical rants when questioned which applies across the spectrum, whilst no productive end is handy, which should be simple. It has become a Self Degrading Sport and why that is not easily seen speaks poorly to all.
Listening and digesting information prior to speaking is a lost art. But it sells a lot, So, Buyer Beware.
I can identify completely with this. What we call the left, progressives, are so deeply misguided and engaged in and clinging to knowably false narratives that it’s stressful to see them so naively spread through so much expansive media. Moreover, the real world is so complex that we all can come to some vague understanding only being exposed to knowledgable observers of many of the world’s larger pieces, so we should not feel guilty for not listening to people who give no evidence of knowing or caring about much beyond their own sense of moral superiority.
I look for different viewpoints as a means of determining what my viewpoint is. Good arguments are good arguments. If my arguments don’t hold up, maybe my viewpoint shouldn’t either.
I don’t bother much with the NYT anymore. There is too much pontificating in their “news.” Opinions are for the opinion page and they can’t seem to help themselves.
There really is no basis for an extended discussion if all parties are in complete agreement. At the same time if there aren’t some commonalities there can be no basis for constructive dialogue. So while I seek out opposing views and do try to initiate conversations with left leaning folks around me I do find the most productive interchanges to be with those who have different takes but not too different. If we are diametrically opposed to each other the leap is so great we just wind up being cemented into prior viewpoints. Maybe there is some value there but I think I think I learn more from those whose arguments cause me to modify my prior conclusions. I find that frequently on Ricochet. I also do frequent news and websites that I find mildly offensive just to keep current on their methods and arguments. I find that to be unpleasant but necessary. And sometimes I accidentally learn something.
There are degrees of dissent. I value those on Ricochet with whom I disagree, but much more so when they are people who I have learned to respect in other ways. I don’t want Ricochet to become a debate between far left and far right, I want it to remain a debate between the far right and the center right, between the conservatives and libertarians, the religious right and the secular right. Only there can I find valuable insights that I may have missed.
When I encounter bleeding heart statists, their arguments come from a place that I just no longer value. That doesn’t mean I can’t listen, but they have no real chance at swaying me. I have already rejected most of what they believe in.
Great post, FSC! It got me to thinking that I listen and read from the left much less often. Their points are so predictable and unimaginative, that I get tired of hearing the same things, over and over again. Unless I know that someone on the left has something new to offer, I just can’t be bothered. It’s such a shame . . .
This is my POV in a nutshell, also. I am willing to listen to those who would argue in good faith. But I am done reading and listening to the smug Left Wing spewings of the media elite.
I also believe that once one starts noticing the bias inherent in media such as NPR (and yes, Fox News) it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore it. The bias becomes more and more irritating. And after a time, one shuts them off – which is exactly what I’ve done with both NPR and, to a lesser degree, Fox. (Bret Baier still manages to remain pretty even-handed.)
Dissent was my first thought. The definition of dissenting is: “hold or express opinions that are at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially expressed.”
Then I thought the definition of digressing was a better fit. You are right, however and I am going to change it. Thanks.
Can you give some examples ? Interesting statement.
This is true and why many have tuned it all out. In the process, could we miss things of (great) importance because we inadvertently become part of the Group Think?
I agree – I don’t think a die-hard liberal would care for Ricochet. I saw this just now:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/george-w-bush-opens-up-on-trumps-war-with-the-media-russia-and-travel-ban/ar-AAnxiv7?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp
Does he have a point? Freedom to agree or disagree is a product of a free society? Are we losing that given the mood in the country (and in the White House)?
I do the same, and I’m wondering if its a slippery slope. If we start tuning each other out, how do we hold others accountable? See the Bush interview below:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/george-w-bush-opens-up-on-trumps-war-with-the-media-russia-and-travel-ban/ar-AAnxiv7?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp
That’s a fair take – my thoughts lean toward the same – what worries me is the amount of extremism even among conservatives where, when we’re so focused on liberals, we don’t recognize problems hidden within our own.
“The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie–deliberate, contrived and dishonest–but the myth–persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the cliches of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” JFK 1962 commencement speech.
Who knew he was describing fake news?
It looks like President Bush Jr. is missing the point in that interview (reading the text not watching the video). He says “It’s kind of hard to tell others to have an independent free press when we’re not willing to have one ourselves”, which I think everyone would agree with. The point the Right is ticked off about is how much of an obvious agenda the media has, and that they don’t actually bring up many fair points outside of that agenda if any.