Prior to DOGE shutting off my government travel card, I used to go to climate conferences full of pundits. I never went to Davos or COP or any of the big ones (those were for my big boss), but I had some of the same reactions as you. It could feel like a lot of people talking in a room to hear themselves talk. It was a big adjustment coming from working in factories where the whole job there was to get things off the line. And this isn’t to say there wasn’t some benefit to conferences — day-to-day factory stuff is rarely strategic — but it could veer into an echo chamber quickly.
I find myself thinking this morning about the banality of evil. Not that punditry is evil, per se, though sometimes the messages are. But it sure is boring. Like, really, really boring and self-satisfied. And increasingly I'm finding most cultural criticism that I encounter the same. I'm so TIRED of reading takes (or writing takes, honestly) on what other people are actually *doing*. I just want to be doing things. Anything, really, though mostly walking in the woods where there's no punditry or critique or people or politics, only trees.
I realize this is slightly misanthropic on my part, but there we are.
I love this column. I think Buttigieg and others are actually auditioning for the NYT op-ed page.
I am really clueless about interactions with people, but I will talk policy, as opposed to politics, with anyone. Also planning to volunteer for a church supper, I’ve donated supermarket cards and food, but I still feel like I’m not doing enough.
As far as “identity politics “, what these pundits don’t seem to understand is that more and more people are falling into marginalized groups. Even white people.
The centrist model is doomed, as well as being morally reprehensible.
“Or put differently, if you consider yourself a Democrat, why are you spending your wild and precious political life shouting and gesticulating about what “Democrats” should do? Just do that thing! And invite others to do it with you!”
So much this!
I’m in my second project of 2025 now that I really wish someone with more experience, know how, time, knowledge, etc, would do (I’ve actually been wishing/hoping someone else would do this particular thing since at least April, and am kicking myself for waiting this long and not just starting earlier).
But both of these projects are important to *me* (and others, as I’ve quickly learned in both cases), and no one else is doing them (to my knowledge), so I am. We learn as we go, we pull others in, we try not to do actual harm, and we do our best. The first project was a raging success, which we’re still reaping rewards for (it wrapped up in May). Hoping this new endeavor goes as well.
I think an interesting case study of a pundit "doing something" is Nicholas Kristof. He quit his cushy job at the NYT to run for governor of Oregon, despite the fact that he was registered to vote and paid taxes in New York. (He did own property in OR.) Oh, and he'd never held any other political office before. He was ruled ineligible due to not fulfilling the state's residency requirements, and almost immediately went back to his job at the NYT. Real "I alone can fix it" pundit brain there, if you ask me.
Prior to DOGE shutting off my government travel card, I used to go to climate conferences full of pundits. I never went to Davos or COP or any of the big ones (those were for my big boss), but I had some of the same reactions as you. It could feel like a lot of people talking in a room to hear themselves talk. It was a big adjustment coming from working in factories where the whole job there was to get things off the line. And this isn’t to say there wasn’t some benefit to conferences — day-to-day factory stuff is rarely strategic — but it could veer into an echo chamber quickly.
I find myself thinking this morning about the banality of evil. Not that punditry is evil, per se, though sometimes the messages are. But it sure is boring. Like, really, really boring and self-satisfied. And increasingly I'm finding most cultural criticism that I encounter the same. I'm so TIRED of reading takes (or writing takes, honestly) on what other people are actually *doing*. I just want to be doing things. Anything, really, though mostly walking in the woods where there's no punditry or critique or people or politics, only trees.
I realize this is slightly misanthropic on my part, but there we are.
Silver Jews ftw!
I love this column. I think Buttigieg and others are actually auditioning for the NYT op-ed page.
I am really clueless about interactions with people, but I will talk policy, as opposed to politics, with anyone. Also planning to volunteer for a church supper, I’ve donated supermarket cards and food, but I still feel like I’m not doing enough.
As far as “identity politics “, what these pundits don’t seem to understand is that more and more people are falling into marginalized groups. Even white people.
The centrist model is doomed, as well as being morally reprehensible.
“Or put differently, if you consider yourself a Democrat, why are you spending your wild and precious political life shouting and gesticulating about what “Democrats” should do? Just do that thing! And invite others to do it with you!”
So much this!
I’m in my second project of 2025 now that I really wish someone with more experience, know how, time, knowledge, etc, would do (I’ve actually been wishing/hoping someone else would do this particular thing since at least April, and am kicking myself for waiting this long and not just starting earlier).
But both of these projects are important to *me* (and others, as I’ve quickly learned in both cases), and no one else is doing them (to my knowledge), so I am. We learn as we go, we pull others in, we try not to do actual harm, and we do our best. The first project was a raging success, which we’re still reaping rewards for (it wrapped up in May). Hoping this new endeavor goes as well.
If not you? Who? If not now? When?
I think an interesting case study of a pundit "doing something" is Nicholas Kristof. He quit his cushy job at the NYT to run for governor of Oregon, despite the fact that he was registered to vote and paid taxes in New York. (He did own property in OR.) Oh, and he'd never held any other political office before. He was ruled ineligible due to not fulfilling the state's residency requirements, and almost immediately went back to his job at the NYT. Real "I alone can fix it" pundit brain there, if you ask me.