– My own English translation of a Dutch original
‘He finally gets it himself too’, many readers might think. But of course I have a rejoinder to that! What we have here is a distorted view. It depends a lot on the subject.
On some subjects, like (largely Dutch) politics or mass media, I nearly almost write negatively. It's always the others who do it all wrong, and I always know better. But there's a simple reason: about the many good and reasonable matters, I simply don't write! Examples: in a democratic society the interaction between citizen and authorities is usually conducted in a reasonable manner; legal security is rather good; freedom of press is reasonably operative; people do not land in prison because of their opinion.
Only when I see things that are not OK, like self-censorship, shallowness and a lack of objectivity in mass media, miscarriages of justice, a government that doesn't listen to its citizens, a house of representatives that does not pick up signals from society; then I respond.
That means it is always negative and critical. But that is the consequence of my choice of topics.
With
music,
which is also a pet subject for me, it is exactly the other way
round. Music I find horrible, I will simply turn off. Music that leaves me cold,
but which is bearable, I often leave on, as background music while working
or driving. Or after a while I may look for something else.
But I don't write about it. So anything I write about music is rarely negative.
On the contrary.
Music I think is fantastic, that affects me emotionally deep inside, music of which
I feel it makes my whole life worth while, even if nothing good or pleasant or
enjoyable is ever to be expected:
that's what I like to write about.
Intermediate situations exist. I also like to write about language phenomena. My inclination to write then springs from enthusiasm, but it doesn't ring out. I write about languages I find beautiful or interesting, but then I describe things as they happen to be, how things are structured, function or came to be. The tone is fairly neutral.
I felt it was important and useful to point out this distorted view. And I did, so this article ends here.
Addendum 18 June 2008:
As a result of this Usenet posting
by Reinier Post
I add a link to this view held by Bob Sutton, entitled
Strong Opinions, Weakly Held.
I feel a strong affinity with that idea.
Translated by R. Harmsen, copyright © 2008.