I think I've just earned a pile of Brownie Points. Our wedding anniversary is 9 August, so, almost eight months ahead, I've just booked a table at a Michelin-starred restaurant in deepest Devon. Mrs NQS is a sucker for fine dining, so the news was very well received. Like a bloke who's just played a shrewd hand of cards I could sense a big stack of points being pushed my way. Excellent.
As a younger man I would have said derogatory things about fine dining. Namby-pamby little plates of pretentious art food, I might have said, sneering. Give me a plateful of proper grub, I might have added. Well, that was before my elder son grew into a chef, and I actually tried some of that pretentious art food...
Wow!
This illustrates a common trait in human thinking. So often we seem able to hold very firm opinions on things we know little or nothing about; on people we know little or nothing about. For some reason we can't see anything wrong with it, yet surely this must be where bigotry is born? For example, only a bigot would think ill of bird 'photographers' who completely obliterate the viewing slot of the only hide from which the rarity is visible by filling it shoulder to shoulder all day long. Don't call them selfish oafs. No. Try it first and then judge, I say.
On a different note...
Once in a while, in Blogland, you see a post appear and then when you look again it's gone. Deleted. [Sometimes that happens to a whole blog, but we're not going there] Perhaps, after a re-read, the blogger feels the post is a little inflammatory or opinionated or something, and thinks better of it. I've done it myself. Is this a good thing? Or is it better to just leave it, and hang the consequences? Personally I think it's a good thing. There are people out there who don't give a monkey's what they say, how they say it, or what effect it has on others. Some might call them 'uncompromising' and 'fearless'. I would use other adjectives, but because I don't want to delete this post I won't.
I suppose I must apologise once again for yet another blog post sans birdy content.
Yup, guilty as charged. Deleted. Thought better of it, far too opinionated. That is, Gav, you were referring to my deletion of course...
ReplyDeleteBut I'm glad I got to read it before it vanished, Steve! I love the mix of individuals who make up my virtual friends, and enjoy all their opinions. But we each have to live with what we publish. So, as a cyclist might say: chapeau!
DeleteGav, don't be so hard on yourself (or others) for being brave enough to be individual. There are many spheres of opinion where such behaviour is counter-productive. Having views on the wonders of our natural world is not one of them. Suppression, so what? A great post and plenty to think about (catalyst for a blog entry from Ramsgate?) - Have a great Christmas & New Year - Dyl
ReplyDeleteThanks Dyl. I am happy to be an individual, and to have opinions, but do moderate their expression because I realise that my viewpoint is not necessarily the only valid one. Also I have no desire to wind anyone up - that's not how I work. That said, with some facets of our various hobbies/interests it is very hard not to have a little poke sometimes. It's only if I feel I've strayed into 'unwise' or 'offensive' that I have the retrospective urge to delete things.
DeleteRe the 'blog entry from Ramsgate' reference. I'm curious, what's that about? Something to do with the suppression post?
PS. Looking forward to seeing how you get on with your MkIV goals!
Personally. I thought that Steve's, now removed post, made perfect sense and was an example of somebody expressing a personal opinion about a facet of modern day birdwatchers/photographers. I thought that he was wrong to feel embarrassed at having an alternative opinion, that's what free speech is supposed to be about. Too many bloggers and Forums these days have little cliques of like minded friends that gang up on people with alternative views, thankfully there is still Dylan and his blog, where he says it how he feels and how it is.
ReplyDeleteDerek - kind words indeed. I've offered my views on the bigger picture in a post on my blog. See what you think. Dyl
DeleteCheers Derek, one outcome of this little round of posts and comments that I've taken to heart is the sound advice you offered over on Steve's blog: write and post in the morning, when the head is clear and the conscience is working properly. I expect I'll still find myself writing in the evening, but at least sometimes I'll try and hold off publishing until next day. Wise words.
Delete