It's been five days since this went up, and I just wanted to jump in and remark how absolutely bonkers almost all of these comments are to me. I *never* imagined anyone would be such a “degré zéro” reader as to take this piece for some sort of prompt to share their first-order convictions about who should be elected president of the United States. Unbelievable.
This piece was wonderful but requires careful reading. Wer lesen kann ist im Vorteil.
I consider it somewhat courageous to have published it to content-consumers, many of whom are not (or no longer) equipped to accommodate things like this. It amuses me somewhat to imagine you watching half in chagrin, half thinking "good riddance", when you shed subscribers who only speed-read the essay, then half in celebration and half in disappointment when you acquired new subscribers, who you strongly suspect are interested only in adding what they consider to be an eccentric philosopher who loves Kamala to their sash of merit badges.
Actually, Justin, that's the first thing I'd imagine, and not just because I'm one of those who 'shared.' Or are you teasing, as part of this dialectical exercise? Looking forward to more.....
“In 👏 our 👏 honest 👏 view, 👏 JSR 👏 has 👏simply 👏 drifted 👏 too 👏 far 👏 from 👏 the 👏 mainstream 👏 of 👏 political 👏 debate 👏 to 👏warrant 👏 a 👏 place 👏 at 👏 the 👏 table.”
I may not be the most astute reader, so forgive me. This piece appears to be a dialectic, weighing whether the lesser of two evils is still evil, while both voices seem to agree about the inanity of electoral politics. And people are unsubscribing because…it failed to deliver an unequivocal stance? Are my fellow citizens really so infantile? (Don’t answer that, I already know the answer, but it’s still crazy to me.) One thing that I’m still puzzled by is that the editors in the comments are suggesting that there’s something that we readers have not detected yet. I would hate to insult the Hinternet folks by demanding they come right out and spoon feed it to us. But maybe a hint? As in: are you saying there’s more to come, or are you saying I need to read more carefully?
In any case, I enjoyed reading the dialectic, even if I’m not the sharpest reader, and see no reason to cancel my subscription. Thank you!
I'd say you are definitely among our sharper readers, Mark! This is an excellent summary of what you've just read. As for hints, just be patient and it will all come clear in due time.
Just trying to reach a wider audience -- and also an opportunity for me to work on my somewhat rusted Russian skills. We'll be doing more multilingual pieces in the future.
A shame to see that a number of principled Hinternet subscribers are pulling the plug over this turn of events. If it’s any consolation, I’m pleased to announce that each and every member of my own Editorial Board has now committed to sign up for a subscription. And their numbers are Legion.
I continue to be mystified by how many people just don't get it. Of course he's doing something! Of course there isn't a shadowy cabal of hinternet staff endorsing Kamala Harris! How can you be so stupid? Do you just vomit back up anything that doesn't make its point immediately clear?
Your founder is completely right and you are imperialist/supremacist/klansmen/scumbag/imbeciles. Like others said, would unsubscribe if you hadn't features his rebuttal (still considering it). Really shocked.
I'm quite confused why this piece is generating angry or supportive responses. Some people endorsed Kamala Harris for president, and one person didn't, and none of this will have any effect on the outcome. So, why the dudgeon?
Especially given that this is like the writing equivalent of an escape room. Another clue is coming!
Even your supreme leader Pope Francis has endorsed the "lesser of two evils" Kamala Harris. Hilarious coming from the guy who leads the group that likes to fuck alter boys and then tries to brush it under the rug. Perhaps we are tired of the too clever by half, kayfabe intellectualism that dangles a "plot twist' in the faces of their adoring acolytes. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we are hunkered down and trying our best to fend off a full-on Christo-fascist attack. Oh, and please don't compliment Trump by calling him a pussy.
I'm pretty sure that the Hinterland is, and has always been, nothing but "too clever by a half, kayfabe intellectualism". That's sort of the whole fun of the thing! If you're not into that--fair enough!--but then why read this in the first place? It'd be rather churlish to complain that a monster truck show was too loud.
It's been five days since this went up, and I just wanted to jump in and remark how absolutely bonkers almost all of these comments are to me. I *never* imagined anyone would be such a “degré zéro” reader as to take this piece for some sort of prompt to share their first-order convictions about who should be elected president of the United States. Unbelievable.
This piece was wonderful but requires careful reading. Wer lesen kann ist im Vorteil.
I consider it somewhat courageous to have published it to content-consumers, many of whom are not (or no longer) equipped to accommodate things like this. It amuses me somewhat to imagine you watching half in chagrin, half thinking "good riddance", when you shed subscribers who only speed-read the essay, then half in celebration and half in disappointment when you acquired new subscribers, who you strongly suspect are interested only in adding what they consider to be an eccentric philosopher who loves Kamala to their sash of merit badges.
Actually, Justin, that's the first thing I'd imagine, and not just because I'm one of those who 'shared.' Or are you teasing, as part of this dialectical exercise? Looking forward to more.....
“In 👏 our 👏 honest 👏 view, 👏 JSR 👏 has 👏simply 👏 drifted 👏 too 👏 far 👏 from 👏 the 👏 mainstream 👏 of 👏 political 👏 debate 👏 to 👏warrant 👏 a 👏 place 👏 at 👏 the 👏 table.”
I may not be the most astute reader, so forgive me. This piece appears to be a dialectic, weighing whether the lesser of two evils is still evil, while both voices seem to agree about the inanity of electoral politics. And people are unsubscribing because…it failed to deliver an unequivocal stance? Are my fellow citizens really so infantile? (Don’t answer that, I already know the answer, but it’s still crazy to me.) One thing that I’m still puzzled by is that the editors in the comments are suggesting that there’s something that we readers have not detected yet. I would hate to insult the Hinternet folks by demanding they come right out and spoon feed it to us. But maybe a hint? As in: are you saying there’s more to come, or are you saying I need to read more carefully?
In any case, I enjoyed reading the dialectic, even if I’m not the sharpest reader, and see no reason to cancel my subscription. Thank you!
I'd say you are definitely among our sharper readers, Mark! This is an excellent summary of what you've just read. As for hints, just be patient and it will all come clear in due time.
Cool, thanks. I’m also puzzled as to why it somebody took the time to translate the piece to Russian. Perhaps that will become more clear, too.
Just trying to reach a wider audience -- and also an opportunity for me to work on my somewhat rusted Russian skills. We'll be doing more multilingual pieces in the future.
I’m going to refrain from unsubscribing for now in the hope that this is some elaborate hoax.
"...Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?"
I think a cranky, dyspeptic vote for Kamala is an entirely reasonable position.
Unsubscribed lol
My god, Justin, you’ve riled them up with this one!
A shame to see that a number of principled Hinternet subscribers are pulling the plug over this turn of events. If it’s any consolation, I’m pleased to announce that each and every member of my own Editorial Board has now committed to sign up for a subscription. And their numbers are Legion.
Best piece yet. lol. just lol. Gotta watch those daemons. You start letting them write pieces and pretty soon they think they have true agency.
The piece was great, but the comment section is a riot (even if the unsubscribe comments are just part of the act and not actual adult babies).
I continue to be mystified by how many people just don't get it. Of course he's doing something! Of course there isn't a shadowy cabal of hinternet staff endorsing Kamala Harris! How can you be so stupid? Do you just vomit back up anything that doesn't make its point immediately clear?
Your founder is completely right and you are imperialist/supremacist/klansmen/scumbag/imbeciles. Like others said, would unsubscribe if you hadn't features his rebuttal (still considering it). Really shocked.
Am...am I reading uber-highbrow satire? How many levels of meta is this? And why is there a rabbit talking to me about the time? I'm scared
The Hinternet is not what you think it is!
I'm quite confused why this piece is generating angry or supportive responses. Some people endorsed Kamala Harris for president, and one person didn't, and none of this will have any effect on the outcome. So, why the dudgeon?
Especially given that this is like the writing equivalent of an escape room. Another clue is coming!
Some people, one person...some person, one people...let's remember that the hydra has only one body, after all
Even your supreme leader Pope Francis has endorsed the "lesser of two evils" Kamala Harris. Hilarious coming from the guy who leads the group that likes to fuck alter boys and then tries to brush it under the rug. Perhaps we are tired of the too clever by half, kayfabe intellectualism that dangles a "plot twist' in the faces of their adoring acolytes. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we are hunkered down and trying our best to fend off a full-on Christo-fascist attack. Oh, and please don't compliment Trump by calling him a pussy.
I'm pretty sure that the Hinterland is, and has always been, nothing but "too clever by a half, kayfabe intellectualism". That's sort of the whole fun of the thing! If you're not into that--fair enough!--but then why read this in the first place? It'd be rather churlish to complain that a monster truck show was too loud.
Very touching — another thin-skinned acolyte in defense of their idol. I’m sure JSR and Co. are capable of self defense.
My comrade, I agreed with you! I even quoted your wisdom. And please don't draw attention to my thin skin. Mosquitos read this, you know.
You can fear not! The stench you have from Monster Truck Shows will keep them away!
As they used to say in the olden days of Usenet, C|N>K.
Hey, if our hosts can be cryptic, so can we! And no, Google won't help with this one, it gets lost in the land of binomial coefficients.