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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
There’s nothing wrong with being wrong; that’s how we learn. As long as we’re open to acknowledging, accepting and understanding our errors. That’s an expansion of awareness, of consciousness, which, in the end, is the name of the game. Not staying in one’s lane is not necessarily an error, either. Your pieces are always deeply thoughtful, interesting, and provocative. I took your claim seriously because I take you to be a serious individual. I still do.
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.
Appreciate your self-awareness and ability to own a mistake. I wish all of us embraced such qualities.
You own it, you move on. Respect for the way you have handled it, sir.
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.
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...
"Gave" me an evening. Ugh.
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.
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.
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.
it would be nice to know the details of how you were deceived, and why you believed what you heard.
Unnecessary
Maybe, but I'm still curious
There’s nothing wrong with being wrong; that’s how we learn. As long as we’re open to acknowledging, accepting and understanding our errors. That’s an expansion of awareness, of consciousness, which, in the end, is the name of the game. Not staying in one’s lane is not necessarily an error, either. Your pieces are always deeply thoughtful, interesting, and provocative. I took your claim seriously because I take you to be a serious individual. I still do.
To err is human; to forgive, divine.
Glad you are back, Mike!
By standing by you, I learned something about myself too. A lesson for many. Welcome back.
Missing that long was not normal.
Mary Trump noted his absence.
…..(Don’t tell anyone … shhh… looks left and right…
I hoped you were correct OH I SO hoped….)