We are Men of Action

It’s hard to say whether this is what we’ve become, or if this particular beast has been slouching toward Bethlehem for a very, very long time.

We have lenses that magnify it.

Oh, there were lenses with the beast all along. But the Internet, that great social equalizer as long as you have a device and an Internet connection, that’s the lens of all lenses. It puts the theses-writers and pamphleteers to shame. Because now each and every one of us can spout off our nonsense and it doesn’t cost us a thing. Except time.

And boy do we have time. Clay Shirky talks about cognitive surplus. We’re cognitive surplussing left and right, and in all dimensions.



But that brings me to today’s comic strip: Truth to Power vs Lies to Weasels. Both have existed since the beast began lumbering, and to varying degrees, Truth wins and Lies wins.

The lenses we have today don’t increase the chance of either side winning. They just make both sides really, really loud.

And what’s important is to be right. And if you’re wrong what’s important is that somewhere, somehow, the person who is right did something wrong, and is thus wrong as well.



No matter this finger-pointing, virtue-signalling, or social justice warrior-ing doesn’t really fix the problem at hand – what’s important is to score those all-important points through the lenses everyone else builds their perceptions on.

Because perception is what counts these days. I look like I’m doing Something, so that’s enough.

What did you do in the war, daddy?

I was right on the Internet, son.

[Hero worshipping intensifies]

But doing  Something is important these days. Because to do nothing means You. Are. Hitler. Or at least one of his minions.

This is going to get quoted at you. A lot:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

And it is powerful. It calls for action.

Action. Not “Something” that signals virtue or wags fingers or being right on the Internet.

Action.

Look for action in those who use it.

Action is hard to find.