I have mornings in which I am deluded into thinking I might know a thing or two.
This is one of those mornings.
This morning, I am deluded into thinking I might know a thing or two about the regular readers of this blog. Not just the folks who read the blog and leave comments, but also the folks who read the blog on a regular basis but don’t leave comments.
Specifically, I am pretty darn sure most — perhaps all — of the regular readers of this blog are fairly above average in both consideration for the feelings and well being of others, and in intelligence. In other words, I feel many people around the world, if given the chance, would consider the regular readers of this blog to be elites of at least one sort or another.
Before you scoff at my description of you, go and read the comments left on this blog over the last year. I have. And they are by and large remarkable comments not only for showing both intelligence and depth of insight, but also for showing consideration for the feelings and well being of others. Or you could go read the blogs of the regular commenters — which I have done, too — and you will see the same things: Intelligence, depth of insight, consideration for the feelings and well being of others.
The regular commenters on this blog are above average in those and perhaps other traits, and they therefore constitute an elite of one sort or another. Moreover, there is no reason to suppose the people who read this blog but do not comment are substantially different from those who do comment. So, I think it’s fair to suggest this blog attracts an elite.
What I’ve said about you is not meant to flatter. I have a reason for pointing out these things.
Dana Hunter is organizing a Carnival of Elitist Bastards and you, you elite reader, are invited and encouraged to submit an article or two — or a hundred — to it.
Simply write an article on the value of artistic, scientific, or intellectual elites to society (or on the prejudice against such elites), post the article to your blog, and then send the article link to Dana at elitistbastardscarnival [at] gmail [dot] com.
You will not only help a first time carnival get off to a dazzling start, but you will also be doing a genuinely good thing.
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5 responses so far ↓
Brian // May 15, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Interesting thoughts Paul. As one of your regular readers, but not commentators, I don’t consider myself an elite. Primarily because reading the daily newspaper, following current events via the internet and reading three or more books every week is normal to me. I love knowledge for knowledge’s sake and I enjoy expanding my mind. Just because I write poetry and post pictures of kittens and flowers rather than expound on the critical issues of day, also doesn’t mean that I’m not an elite.
I detest labels because labels are/have and always will be used to divide and conquer societies. The question that I have always had is why do so many people prefer to live in ignorance and fear? I’m a student of history, but by no means a complete history, but one lesson is clear.
Democracy and freedom is a rare and precious thing and the death of that freedom will come if we cannot resolve to accept our differences and work together to solve the great issues of our times. Energy, food, environment, disease; if we don’t step up and focus our talents and passion on the world as a whole, then we will all fall into the mud together.
Being an elite doesn’t mean knowing more than someone else, it should mean doing more with that knowledge to affect positive change for all.
Dana Hunter // May 15, 2008 at 11:46 pm
Dana here. Paul’s right. You folks really are elite. If you don’t believe us, compare the calibre of your comments to the comments found on newspaper blogs and other more public forums.
You can help raise the level of our public discourse from the subgutter of stupidity in which it currently resides. All you have to do is celebrate your own intelligence.
You don’t have to be erudite or loquacious. You don’t have to be particularly learned or expert. Just say what you think. What do you think about the dumbing down of the media? Education? Politics? Why do you suppose America celebrates jocks, but not genius?
Write about what delights you. Do you read science tomes for pleasure? Avoid Survivor in favor of Nova? What do you do that causes the folks around you to roll their eyes and say, “You know too much!”
Are you a wine snob? Cigar afficianado? Horticulturalist? Gourmand? All of us has at least one interest that might be considered elite. Talk about it. Educate the rest of us Elitist Bastards. Let us learn something new.
Saving the world is a noble goal. Savoring it may be just as important. As Elitist Bastards, I think we can manage both.
Be proud, my darlings. You are the wise and the wonderful visitors to Cafe Philos, and that says a lot about your elitist credentials.
Dana Hunter // May 15, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Oh, and Brian? After that comment, if you don’t write something for us, I will weep. Just warning you.
Nita // May 16, 2008 at 2:26 am
Brian, I agree with you and by the way your comment is brilliant!
Also the more I think of this, the more I realise that this is an American problem. I did say earlier that in India “elite” is a bad word, but at the same time “elites” are revered and sucked up to. Experts are believed no matter what. This may sound contradictory, but if you live in India you will know what I mean. For example the recent fiasco of the BRT in India happened because the “elite” academicians were entrusted with the project and the ground engineers who knew the actual problems were told to get lost…as in India we think of “elites” as gods. So while we pay lip service to criticism of “elites” we also suck up to them and lap up everything they say.
So you see either extreme is bad and therefore I am with Brian. I do not consider myself an “elite” but a down to earth person…just lucky to be more educated than my countrymen and women. I am skeptical whenever someone says he/she knows it all because I think true knowledge can come only with humility.
lirone // May 16, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Perhaps the slogan should be “elitism for all?”
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