never write an article while angry

All males eventually figure out from experience not to shave while angry, but it’s also probably a good idea never to write an article while angry. The latest proof of that comes from RON ROSENBAUM’S DYSPEPTICALLY WRITTEN SLATE ARTICLE on Arendt and Heidegger.

For instance:

“To my mind, the use of the phrase banality of evil is an almost infallible sign of shallow thinkers attempting to seem intellectually sophisticated. Come on, people: It’s a bankrupt phrase, a subprime phrase, a Dr. Phil-level phrase masquerading as a profound contrarianism. Oooh, so daring! Evil comes not only in the form of mustache-twirling Snidely Whiplash types, but in the form of paper pushers who followed evil orders.“

Shout, shout, shout.

Later in the article, he actually says “Duh!”, another bad sign, and a bad tactic if you want people to focus on what you’re saying rather than trying to bully them into emotional consensus on the issue.

I find it very important, in discussion, to leave people room to decide whether to agree or not. The attempt to force your interlocutor’s hand by portraying all alternatives to your own view in advance as obviously ridiculous is simply a trait of unlikable people, not a sign of passionate intellectual commitment. It always strikes me as a fear of honest give-and-take.

At this point, I’m also not sure of the value of the “Heidegger was a Nazi!” refrain. No kidding, he was a Nazi.