[Rant] Why in the world do I want to allow some unvetted scribbler to control and manipulate the narrative of my consciousness for extended periods of time through a novel? Most novel writers seem to be intellectual and moral midgets with agendas unworthy of extended engagement. Why do I want to allow them one nanosecond of my unfettered attention? What can the upside possibly be? It’s like drinking partially treated effluent from a sewage treatment plant. It might be just fine and even have an enchanting tang, but why take that risk when the pure sparkling stream of actual reality awaits?
Actual lived experience seems much more relevant. And as far as reading, at least history, say, is rooted in lived experience and can be vetted against other histories, however much any given history text can be distorted by half-truths. Nonfiction is rich enough literature for me (actual nonfiction like travel writing, not projected nonsense nominally inspired by reality) and, if I want drive-by changes in consciousness, there’s always good short-form poetry and short essays (not stories) by classic authors who have stood the test of time. But letting half-wit modern novelists (perhaps with political agendas) take the steering wheel of my internal narrative for a few hours, or even several minutes? Nope. Same with movies and immersive games.
I suspect this part of the Democratic Party’s initiative to engage men (this is the NYT, you know)? Is their strategy to somehow get Actual Straight Men (ASM) to read fictional narratives written by professional writers in 2025 with little real life experiences relevant to their ASM lives and thus, magically, change their ASM worldviews? ASMs with actual real world responsibilities and lived experiences are going to read fantasy literature from the NYC literary subculture of 2025 and actually change their ASM worldviews to be consistent with Democratic Party theology? Really?
Actual lived experience seems much more relevant. And as far as reading, at least history, say, is rooted in lived experience and can be vetted against other histories, however much any given history text can be distorted by half-truths. Nonfiction is rich enough literature for me (actual nonfiction like travel writing, not projected nonsense nominally inspired by reality) and, if I want drive-by changes in consciousness, there’s always good short-form poetry and short essays (not stories) by classic authors who have stood the test of time. But letting half-wit modern novelists (perhaps with political agendas) take the steering wheel of my internal narrative for a few hours, or even several minutes? Nope. Same with movies and immersive games.
I suspect this part of the Democratic Party’s initiative to engage men (this is the NYT, you know)? Is their strategy to somehow get Actual Straight Men (ASM) to read fictional narratives written by professional writers in 2025 with little real life experiences relevant to their ASM lives and thus, magically, change their ASM worldviews? ASMs with actual real world responsibilities and lived experiences are going to read fantasy literature from the NYC literary subculture of 2025 and actually change their ASM worldviews to be consistent with Democratic Party theology? Really?