I grew up in Nova Scotia, a backwater by the sea. A place where we talked to anybody and pretty much everybody. You help your neighbour there too, just because it's the right thing to do.
Then I came here to Ottawa where nobody talks to anybody, and your neighbour is someone that you avoid eye contact with for decades if necessary.
And yes it sucks.
Great article Walt. I would like to say that I would share your pickle anytime - but there is no way to write that in the proper spirit. LOL
That’s probably about the only place it’s still safe to do that - every online search or comment is being scrutinized by big tech to see if it contains any “subversive” thoughts - then either removed or passed on to the authorities.
I fear free speech is now a relic of the past - it’s not coming back.
I love Walter's work whether it be an article or his "America This Week" podcast with Matt Taibbi because he puts into words what many of us are seeing and experiencing on a daily basis in a country that's seems to have gone nuts. Keep up the great work!
I like this essay very much. It's kind of a priceless precious moment from my years as a teen growing up in central California, a place full of transplanted Texans and "Okies," with descendants of Armenian Genocide survivors and a huge slice of Mexican culture thrown in. My European born spouse says it's really the Midwest in California. But we natives still recognize Wild West in our roots. People are polite by custom because once upon a time being rude to the wrong person at the drinking fountain might have gotten your foot shot off.
My only problem now is that there are two Walter Kirn Substack publications now besides your wonderful weekly chat with Matt and a column in Bari's Free Press. I'm a paid subscriber to 3 out of 4, keep this up and there will soon be another. You have many fans out here, some I know would surprise you.
The article was written before or inspired by the Hamilton 68 conversation you just had with Matt Taibbi?
I thought it was a brilliant insight of the new American relationship in the conversation, and I'm wondering if it was already on your mind for a piece, or all written since Friday.
The world is a more interesting place with you in it Walter.
I grew up and live in Toronto. It's a bastion of capital D diversity, where there's a good mix of new-etiquette strivers and normie live and let livers. Professionally and socially I tend to walk amidst the former, and increasingly I find it hard to be unguarded even around my extended family.
And I completely relate to Kirn's keen description of "probing" a stranger's ideological temperaments with ambiguous statements about the "state of things."
It makes me think of the cryptic slang gays used to use to suss out fellow travellers in public, when being outed could prove fatal.
When so-and-so who got "cancelled" comes up in conversation with a new acquaintance, I'll sometimes lob that, that person was merely "postponed", to see the reaction if it's safe to continue. If it's grim agreement, that's a NO. If they crack a smile, there might be an opening for genuine conversation.
I subscribed to your blog because I liked your insights on Matt Taibbi's podcast, but you have shown yourself to be an a$$hole. I completely disagree with you. Ugh
I grew up in Nova Scotia, a backwater by the sea. A place where we talked to anybody and pretty much everybody. You help your neighbour there too, just because it's the right thing to do.
Then I came here to Ottawa where nobody talks to anybody, and your neighbour is someone that you avoid eye contact with for decades if necessary.
And yes it sucks.
Great article Walt. I would like to say that I would share your pickle anytime - but there is no way to write that in the proper spirit. LOL
Walter,
That’s probably about the only place it’s still safe to do that - every online search or comment is being scrutinized by big tech to see if it contains any “subversive” thoughts - then either removed or passed on to the authorities.
I fear free speech is now a relic of the past - it’s not coming back.
Another fantastic missive, Walter. You write like a river streams: smoothly, and with crackle.
Bravo.
I love Walter's work whether it be an article or his "America This Week" podcast with Matt Taibbi because he puts into words what many of us are seeing and experiencing on a daily basis in a country that's seems to have gone nuts. Keep up the great work!
I like this essay very much. It's kind of a priceless precious moment from my years as a teen growing up in central California, a place full of transplanted Texans and "Okies," with descendants of Armenian Genocide survivors and a huge slice of Mexican culture thrown in. My European born spouse says it's really the Midwest in California. But we natives still recognize Wild West in our roots. People are polite by custom because once upon a time being rude to the wrong person at the drinking fountain might have gotten your foot shot off.
My only problem now is that there are two Walter Kirn Substack publications now besides your wonderful weekly chat with Matt and a column in Bari's Free Press. I'm a paid subscriber to 3 out of 4, keep this up and there will soon be another. You have many fans out here, some I know would surprise you.
A great American voice: hopeful, yet tempered.
Big, big smile. Thanks!
The article was written before or inspired by the Hamilton 68 conversation you just had with Matt Taibbi?
I thought it was a brilliant insight of the new American relationship in the conversation, and I'm wondering if it was already on your mind for a piece, or all written since Friday.
The world is a more interesting place with you in it Walter.
What a lovely, rhythmic piece this is. Thanks for sharing it here.
I grew up and live in Toronto. It's a bastion of capital D diversity, where there's a good mix of new-etiquette strivers and normie live and let livers. Professionally and socially I tend to walk amidst the former, and increasingly I find it hard to be unguarded even around my extended family.
And I completely relate to Kirn's keen description of "probing" a stranger's ideological temperaments with ambiguous statements about the "state of things."
It makes me think of the cryptic slang gays used to use to suss out fellow travellers in public, when being outed could prove fatal.
When so-and-so who got "cancelled" comes up in conversation with a new acquaintance, I'll sometimes lob that, that person was merely "postponed", to see the reaction if it's safe to continue. If it's grim agreement, that's a NO. If they crack a smile, there might be an opening for genuine conversation.
What did the breeze ever do to you?
youd make a fine uncle ben walter. just. saying. look. _JC
Thanks, I'm in. How frequently do you envision you'll be publishing?
Fried pickles are a not-thing trying to be a thing.
I subscribed to your blog because I liked your insights on Matt Taibbi's podcast, but you have shown yourself to be an a$$hole. I completely disagree with you. Ugh