Book Discussion of "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder" - Page 3

[BassaiDai]

Thank you for clarifying for me.

I think whatevr motivated to write the title to this thread, the thing that we see when we click into "Books, Music, and Other Media" is *seen*.

And FELT by people.

As a liberal, coming from a long line of Irish Catholic liberals on my mother's side of the family, I felt defensive.

As I said, I love Mothering Magazine and always wanted to be part of a community of parents who all read hip 'zines like Mothering.

[Momtwice]

Originally Posted by numom499

well even though I totally disagreed with th book "Bottlefeeding without Guilt" I still read it, because I like to know what the other side is up to

I bottlefed my first and breastfed my second, and that bitter, angry woman did not speak for me or my experience. Back to your regularly scheduled thread...

[Mom4tot]

Originally Posted by DaryLLL

Actually, I believe it is quite common, in book discussions in libraries and universities, to discuss biographical information about an author, as well as how his previous "work" compares to the book under discussion.

Why doesn't the OP give us a little review of Liberalism is a Mental Disorder and her opinion of why she thinks this book is important to attempt to discuss? It's obvious few if anyone here has read it. If she thinks it is good enough to start a thread about on a mostly liberal website, perhaps she'd like to tell us why.

B/c frankly, as a liberal, I am taking the title of the book a wee bit personally. Saying: liberalism is a mental disorder is just a tick away from saying liberals have mental problems and that would be against the UA as "casting aspersion."

I thought that was the idea behind starting a book thread? Sharing your experience of the book, why others would enjoy it and why you think it's 'good'. I don't have enough reading time to read things that are so obviously go against my ideals or experience, "to know what the other side is up to."

[Mom4tot]

Originally Posted by caloli

numom, I think you knew exactly what response your post was going to get. Why act surprised? It's like going to a republican website and saying 'hey, I'm writing an essay about how conservatives are mentally imcompetent - what do you think?' You already know that most people here are liberals and will defend their choice. I'm not sure what your aim in posting this was, except to stir up a little trouble. It's not like you didn't know a calm, happy discourse about the book wasn't going to happen.

:

[the_lissa]

I agree with DaryLLL. I was an English and History major in UNiversity. In both disciplines, any book discussed was discussed in context of the time and of the author and his life and his biases. Seems par for the course.

[JessicaS]

I resent name calling, I dislike generalizing, spreading hate and a mean attitude, and I REALLY hate people making nasty racist comments on the air and being applauded as "good Americans." (though that was Limbaugh)

I dislike all of the "Shock Jocks" who vomit nastiness into their microphones and spread hate like a disease.

It does not really suit a gentle parenting board BECAUSE of the nastiness being applauded, gentle parenting doesn't just mean you are nice to your child, they will still see you make a bad example being nasty elsewhere. It is a lifestyle choice and shock jocks and "hate the other guy" sort of attitude doesn't fit into that.

I completely understand being angry or upset about important issues but a general nasty attitude all of the time I am not going to listen to.

I would certainly not buy a book from such a person. I am a book whore but I don't support such attitudes.

[Danelle78]

Originally Posted by abimommy

I resent name calling, I dislike generalizing, spreading hate and a mean attitude, and I REALLY hate people making nasty racist comments on the air and being applauded as "good Americans." (though that was Limbaugh)
...

I would certainly not buy a book from such a person. I am a book whore but I don't support such attitudes.

:

I certainly won't be checking this one out, esp after reading his website.

[cathe]

Well said Abimommy

[sohj]

Originally Posted by joesmom

....The most important lesson one can learn about posting on a message board is: "Remember Where You Are." This does not mean to hide your true self, or to lie about your convictions- just have some courtesy for the majority of the members. ...

Very much like "Know Your Audience", the first "rule" of writing that my 7th grade english teacher wrote on the blackboard.

On the topic of the OP, I picked up the book in the bookstore, opened it at random a couple of times, read a few pages (I read fast) and shuddered and went on to something else. I think I came out of the bookstore that day with the Angela Davis Interview Book, Abolition Democracy: Beyond Prisons, Torture, and Empire. (...which was very interesting and well-written, by the way.)

[tracymom]

Originally Posted by abimommy

It does not really suit a gentle parenting board BECAUSE of the nastiness being applauded, gentle parenting doesn't just mean you are nice to your child, they will still see you make a bad example being nasty elsewhere. It is a lifestyle choice and shock jocks and "hate the other guy" sort of attitude doesn't fit into that.

[messy mama]

Originally Posted by numom499

yes, I have listened to him occasionally...I have never heard wha you mentioned above. If I heard what you claim he said, of course I would turn it off.

But you just said you "like to know what the other side is up to", so why wouldn't you keep listening. According to you, even if you disagree with his hate speeches, you should still listen. :

[Janelovesmax]

Have I been living under a rock? I don't even know who this guy is...From what I understand, I'm better off?

[BigYellowAndUgly]

It has nothing to do with gentle living.

Hate mongering, I'd say.

I think, considering the limit to our time, we could do well to avoid people who try to paint such a large group of people with such a broad and unflattering brush.

[Jillmarie]

Okay, I am a dyed-in-the-wool democrat, from a long line of the same.

That being said, I think it is absolutely imperitive that I do my best to see things from "the other side". I have been fortunate enough to have many intense, thoughtful, sometimes in credibly infuriating yet informative discussions with friends, neighbors and relations who are staunchly conservative (politically, not socially. I won't engage in discussion with people who demonize others) and I have to say I've really benefitted from those talks. It's made me see things from a broader perspective and helped me to clarify my own thinking.

Books like this however have nothing to do with "seeing how the other guy thinks". That's nonsense. It's a passive aggressive way to make others feel small, yourself feel big while not taking an iota of responsibility for it.

Just callin' it like it is. I'm all for free discussion.....and I will say that I know some pretty hard-core conservatives, all of whom are totally fed up with this administration because they are anything but.

Anyway, that's my two cents.

Jill