Jan 25, 2012 2
Perhaps Yours Are Not the Eyes for These Posts
When you read these posts, you may say to yourself, “What the hell is this stuff? What’s he getting at? How can anyone take this seriously?”
These posts may be meaningless, absurd, and frivolous to you.
But maybe I’m not talking to you.
Think about a time you heard a song that you found horrible, or a movie that was ridiculously sentimental or preposterously plotted.
Maybe it just wasn’t meant for you.
As writers, it behooves us to think clearly about our audience. For whom are we writing?
As readers, it behooves us to think about ourselves and, when confronted with something that does not speak to us, or even disturbs and insults us, to consider that other possible self for whom it would be soothing, inspiring or enjoyable.
Enlightenment lies on the path between this person (this person, right here) and that person.
Addendum: On Twitter I follow a number of people with whom I disagree. Every time they post something appalling, I think about unfollowing them. I don’t, because I don’t want to close the door on the otherness they embody; I don’t want to live in world that is merely a painstakingly constructed reflection of myself, my biases, and my dreams.