I realized I had this problem, and how much it could cost me, a few months ago.
I was going to write a small column for a newspaper made by students from my faculty. The subject was a delicate one, and the positon I would argue against was strongly popular among one of the colors in the faculty. I already saw the irrationality in the old false dillemas and the groupthink that guided most color politics, and I thought I could use a chance to criticize the “movement” as well as the specific cause.
I wrote a text with a strongly ironical introduction. I showed it to my father, and he said “This is going to get you in trouble with these people in the future. You probably don’t want that.” My first reaction was something like this. But as I thought about it, I realized there was no need for provoking the “greens”. It would accomplish nothing and would possibly gain enemies. I rewrote that first paragraph, and the tone of the text changed completely, without removing or changing a single argument. When it was published, I even received compliments from one of the “greens”.
Since then, I’m careful about what I say, and more so about what I write. I think one thing aggravates the problem you described: when we write something, we can “hear” the specific tone we would use to say that, but the reader can’t. Normal statements may seem ironic, and ironic statements may seem to carry much more criticism than intended.
Very, very good post.
I realized I had this problem, and how much it could cost me, a few months ago.
I was going to write a small column for a newspaper made by students from my faculty. The subject was a delicate one, and the positon I would argue against was strongly popular among one of the colors in the faculty. I already saw the irrationality in the old false dillemas and the groupthink that guided most color politics, and I thought I could use a chance to criticize the “movement” as well as the specific cause.
I wrote a text with a strongly ironical introduction. I showed it to my father, and he said “This is going to get you in trouble with these people in the future. You probably don’t want that.” My first reaction was something like this. But as I thought about it, I realized there was no need for provoking the “greens”. It would accomplish nothing and would possibly gain enemies. I rewrote that first paragraph, and the tone of the text changed completely, without removing or changing a single argument. When it was published, I even received compliments from one of the “greens”.
Since then, I’m careful about what I say, and more so about what I write. I think one thing aggravates the problem you described: when we write something, we can “hear” the specific tone we would use to say that, but the reader can’t. Normal statements may seem ironic, and ironic statements may seem to carry much more criticism than intended.
-- Edited for markdown syntax correction.