Decent and thoughtful people can still make mistakes... and, because they are decent and thoughtful, they admit to them and carry on. I admire and respect your candor and honesty.
And besides, the very traits you demonstrated in this post--humility and honesty and ownership--are things Trump would neither understand nor undertake. And I like that.
Your response to a grave error in judgement is exactly why I remain a paying subscriber. Your knowledge and analysis are always thought provoking. Thanks for all you do.
Your apology is more than accepted. As with probably most of your readers, I was both hopeful and skeptical about your post. And it didn't really sound quite like you. Too certain, a little defensive, depending upon assertion and authority rather than logical discourse. All the things you usually don't do.
It's a good reminder to all of us. Civilization, and civilized discourse, are based on the willing restraint of our often powerful emotions. Emotions can be useful data points, otherwise we would lose what makes us distinctively human. They can tell us something that mere information might not. But they have to be measured against other metrics- logic, facts, alternative hypotheses- in order to be useful. That matters in our personal lives as well.
And one last thing. I think the point of your Substack is not to be a guru or cult leader. It is to be an observer and commentator. You are that, and a very good one. Sometimes you will make mistakes, which is nothing to be ashamed of. It's the price we all pay for trying to say something useful. It will happen again, because... that's just what happens. But probably not the same mistake.
Just FYI: you, and “this publication,” did not “train” us to ask for evidence. We already knew to ask for evidence because we were products of public education.
Sometimes we put trust in others that is not deserved. Over time you become cautious. I'm 70, and I'm not going to disparage someone who's writing I value, on the basis that they did something I've also done in the past. All we can do is learn over our lives. And in a sense, Trump is dead. Brain dead at least...
There is something seriously wrong with Trump that is being covered up. Maybe the sources really thought he was dead, maybe not. It’s possible that Trump doesn’t have long to live and he knows it. He could be out to exact revenge on his perceived enemies while he still has time and doesn’t care about the long term consequences since he won’t be around.
Don't sweat it too much. You had a scoop from trusted sources and could have been the first to report what we might have had a reason to be highly concerned about... a cover-up. Most with 1/2 a brain would have and should have taken it with a heavy grain of salt, but it was reasonable to share. No harm done.
Your crow was well prepared. Thank you for your acknowledgement and apology. I've worked for many years as a fundraiser for public media, so I've seen good reporters up-close. What they do is a very specific art and one I would never presume to do. I look forward to your essays in the future.
Could not have said it better. I have started The Sovereign Individual not because I want to but because you put it in front of me and it's clear that I should. All your pieces fit together to make what is happening understandable. The piece you did on this book pushes that understanding forward. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I tresaure your essays.
Well, you have me an evening of giddy hopefulness, so no harm done to this reader at least! I thought it was too good to be true that one person out of an entire world wishing for this man's demise would know the secret of his death, but weirder things have happened. And he really does look like absolute hell and he is disappearing for days at at a time. Most likely soon you can write a thoughtful piece on a truly Trump-free world.
I hear you. It is difficult to adequately describe the visceral rush I felt when reading his post. The intensity of my reaction shocked me, frankly. Like a crushing migraine transforming, in a handful of minutes, into a full body rush of sublime joy and relief. It only lasted a few minutes before I reflexively distanced myself from it and returned to a more grounded state.
It troubles me that 1: the news of someone's death could make me feel so good; and 2: that I was completely surprised by my own reaction.
I don't think you should be surprised at your reaction or feel any guilt. He is a cancer on humanity, no different than the dictators we've previously watched from afar, wishing that the citizens of other countries didn't have to suffer because of one horrific man. The harm he's done and his political movement will continue to do, not just to our country but the entire world, outweighs our "shared humanity."
I am so relieved that you did not listen to those telling you that it didn't matter and you should just shrug it off and that you did not fall back on blaming the source and not acknowledging your acceptance of it. I was afraid that I'd have to be disappointed and lose trust and respect for you. I do not. I have more now. Thank you for living up to who I thought you were.
Lesson learned: stay in your lane. You move forward by returning to what makes you great and unique. We move forward with you on the reestablished path.
I appreciate your mea culpa, but you were right about a cover up. He was missing for a week. If your source thought he expired, that points to an incapacitated president. Where was he? Who was posting on his behalf? Who was running the country? He doesn’t read, so he’s just signing whatever they put in front of him. This should be a bigger scandal.
Character is not about never being wrong but recognizing it and correcting. Well done and welcome back :)
Decent and thoughtful people can still make mistakes... and, because they are decent and thoughtful, they admit to them and carry on. I admire and respect your candor and honesty.
And besides, the very traits you demonstrated in this post--humility and honesty and ownership--are things Trump would neither understand nor undertake. And I like that.
Your response to a grave error in judgement is exactly why I remain a paying subscriber. Your knowledge and analysis are always thought provoking. Thanks for all you do.
You own it, you move on. Respect for the way you have handled it, sir.
Appreciate your self-awareness and ability to own a mistake. I wish all of us embraced such qualities.
Mike,
Your apology is more than accepted. As with probably most of your readers, I was both hopeful and skeptical about your post. And it didn't really sound quite like you. Too certain, a little defensive, depending upon assertion and authority rather than logical discourse. All the things you usually don't do.
It's a good reminder to all of us. Civilization, and civilized discourse, are based on the willing restraint of our often powerful emotions. Emotions can be useful data points, otherwise we would lose what makes us distinctively human. They can tell us something that mere information might not. But they have to be measured against other metrics- logic, facts, alternative hypotheses- in order to be useful. That matters in our personal lives as well.
And one last thing. I think the point of your Substack is not to be a guru or cult leader. It is to be an observer and commentator. You are that, and a very good one. Sometimes you will make mistakes, which is nothing to be ashamed of. It's the price we all pay for trying to say something useful. It will happen again, because... that's just what happens. But probably not the same mistake.
Keep it up, Mike.
Just FYI: you, and “this publication,” did not “train” us to ask for evidence. We already knew to ask for evidence because we were products of public education.
I'd have to say that's very dependent on the quality of your public education.
Sometimes we put trust in others that is not deserved. Over time you become cautious. I'm 70, and I'm not going to disparage someone who's writing I value, on the basis that they did something I've also done in the past. All we can do is learn over our lives. And in a sense, Trump is dead. Brain dead at least...
There is something seriously wrong with Trump that is being covered up. Maybe the sources really thought he was dead, maybe not. It’s possible that Trump doesn’t have long to live and he knows it. He could be out to exact revenge on his perceived enemies while he still has time and doesn’t care about the long term consequences since he won’t be around.
Don't sweat it too much. You had a scoop from trusted sources and could have been the first to report what we might have had a reason to be highly concerned about... a cover-up. Most with 1/2 a brain would have and should have taken it with a heavy grain of salt, but it was reasonable to share. No harm done.
Your crow was well prepared. Thank you for your acknowledgement and apology. I've worked for many years as a fundraiser for public media, so I've seen good reporters up-close. What they do is a very specific art and one I would never presume to do. I look forward to your essays in the future.
Could not have said it better. I have started The Sovereign Individual not because I want to but because you put it in front of me and it's clear that I should. All your pieces fit together to make what is happening understandable. The piece you did on this book pushes that understanding forward. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. I tresaure your essays.
Well, you have me an evening of giddy hopefulness, so no harm done to this reader at least! I thought it was too good to be true that one person out of an entire world wishing for this man's demise would know the secret of his death, but weirder things have happened. And he really does look like absolute hell and he is disappearing for days at at a time. Most likely soon you can write a thoughtful piece on a truly Trump-free world.
I hear you. It is difficult to adequately describe the visceral rush I felt when reading his post. The intensity of my reaction shocked me, frankly. Like a crushing migraine transforming, in a handful of minutes, into a full body rush of sublime joy and relief. It only lasted a few minutes before I reflexively distanced myself from it and returned to a more grounded state.
It troubles me that 1: the news of someone's death could make me feel so good; and 2: that I was completely surprised by my own reaction.
You think you know yourself...
I don't think you should be surprised at your reaction or feel any guilt. He is a cancer on humanity, no different than the dictators we've previously watched from afar, wishing that the citizens of other countries didn't have to suffer because of one horrific man. The harm he's done and his political movement will continue to do, not just to our country but the entire world, outweighs our "shared humanity."
"Gave" me an evening. Ugh.
Gave me such a happy evening as well. Don't worry too much about incorrect auto text - I think most of us can read through it these days.
To err is human; to forgive, divine.
Glad you are back, Mike!
I am so relieved that you did not listen to those telling you that it didn't matter and you should just shrug it off and that you did not fall back on blaming the source and not acknowledging your acceptance of it. I was afraid that I'd have to be disappointed and lose trust and respect for you. I do not. I have more now. Thank you for living up to who I thought you were.
Thank you.
Apology accepted.
Lesson learned: stay in your lane. You move forward by returning to what makes you great and unique. We move forward with you on the reestablished path.
Page turned.
Next chapter
I appreciate your mea culpa, but you were right about a cover up. He was missing for a week. If your source thought he expired, that points to an incapacitated president. Where was he? Who was posting on his behalf? Who was running the country? He doesn’t read, so he’s just signing whatever they put in front of him. This should be a bigger scandal.