20 May 05 The Riots Need Not Continue, Folks …

I posted this to Running Scared a little bit ago …

The Riots Need Not Continue, Folks …

If you take a look on Google News, you’ll see there have been riots over most of North America and the European Union over the past few weeks. (It’s okay if you didn’t notice.) Riots haven’t erupted in Asia, but I think that’s because of the difference in ASCII character sets.

And so, I feel it is my civil duty to placate the panicky populace which has evidently been clamoring for my return to the pages of Running Scared, by assuring them that yes, the Midwestern Pinko Liberal still lives and breathes.

Unfortunately, the reason that this particular Midwestern Pinko Liberal is writing this post is to let y’all know that I’m going to take a brief, official hiatus from contributing to Running Scared.

Let the world not descend into nuclear chaos.

In all seriousness, nothing exceptionally serious is behind the hiatus — I basically am taking a break for two reasons.

First, I’m finding I need to focus the various resources of my life (time, energy, etc.) elsewhere on various projects â€” both personal, business, and health â€” that will better my life in the long run, and worsen my life if neglected. I turn 31 in a few months, and I’ve been realizing the ship of my life is going in somewhat the right direction, but needs some concerted attention for a few course corrections. I just got done with a job change to a much nicer employer, for example, and now I need to focus on a few other improvements in my life.

Second, I’ve found lately that my voice in political commentary seems to be fading somewhat. I find myself doing what in the old days of Usenet used to be called a “me too” post — namely, taking an issue that is already being well-commented upon in the blogosphere and just agreeing with the prevailing blogosphere sentiment. I also seem to be experiencing something that, for lack of a better word, I’ll call “hatred fatigue” â€” namely that, after over five years of abhorring almost every single action, day in and day out, the Bush Administration and neoconservative movement takes, there’s a part of my brain which is simply screaming “I can’t stand it anymore!” — it not being Bush and neocons, but instead the sheer weight of continued pessimism and fear. I’m hoping some time away will help recharge my writing, and more importantly recharge my will to revolt (and find things revolting).

I value this community a lot, and I also very much value the opportunity to be able to write something which people will actually read and comment upon â€” the blogosphere may give everyone a soapbox, but that doesn’t mean a crowd will form around every one. I think that’s a testament to the talent and unique voices of my fellow authors here, and I feel honored to be in their company. Or, to cut short the mushiness, I will be back.
See y’all in, probably, a few months …