Justin
Moderator Emeritus
So last week I was out carousing with some co-workers, drinking some adult beverages and having a good time. After hitting a couple of establishments, a group of us ended up at Waffle House.
By this time it was about 3am.
One of those among our group is a (quite liberal) reporter, and she mentioned something about liking Michael Moore. For some reason mentioning his name around me tends to release a string of invective that would be nigh on unprintable here. She looked at me, and asked, in all seriousness 'What is it about him that you don't like about him or Bowling for Columbine.'
I take a deep breath, try to collect my thoughts, and bring the blood pressure under control.
Then launch into a calm, rational explanation about why Michael Moore is nothing more than a shyster, hitting upon many of the facts that debunk nearly everything in BFC.
The discussion went from there, with the four of us talking about the various topics in BFC (surprisingly I was the only one at the table who'd seen the movie.)
From there we moved onto the American gun culture, Canadian gun culture, etc.
While there was no instant conversion, I think that the conversation went really well, and that one person who likes Moore will look at his work with a more critical eye from now on.
I've always been afraid to do face-to-face talks about guns and such, afraid that I'd just sort of resort to half-remembered soundbites, and that I'd come off as some sort of half-baked froot loop but that didn't happen here.
By this time it was about 3am.
One of those among our group is a (quite liberal) reporter, and she mentioned something about liking Michael Moore. For some reason mentioning his name around me tends to release a string of invective that would be nigh on unprintable here. She looked at me, and asked, in all seriousness 'What is it about him that you don't like about him or Bowling for Columbine.'
I take a deep breath, try to collect my thoughts, and bring the blood pressure under control.
Then launch into a calm, rational explanation about why Michael Moore is nothing more than a shyster, hitting upon many of the facts that debunk nearly everything in BFC.
The discussion went from there, with the four of us talking about the various topics in BFC (surprisingly I was the only one at the table who'd seen the movie.)
From there we moved onto the American gun culture, Canadian gun culture, etc.
While there was no instant conversion, I think that the conversation went really well, and that one person who likes Moore will look at his work with a more critical eye from now on.
I've always been afraid to do face-to-face talks about guns and such, afraid that I'd just sort of resort to half-remembered soundbites, and that I'd come off as some sort of half-baked froot loop but that didn't happen here.
