| I am retiring from Left in the West and taking a vacation from blogging. And this time I mean it. Well, maybe except for a few parting shots...
The decision has been percolating for months. I'm tired of my bottomless RSS feed. I'm tired of watching Twitter and Facebook scroll by. I'm tired of combing the Internet for something to write about two, three times a day, every day, whether I feel like writing or not. I'm tired of the ravenous, insatiable trolls, the toxicity that the isolated, anonymity the Internet abets, and all of the stupid little rules we had to make to contain it. But most of all, I need to move on. I need the time and attention back. My job's contract is up at the end of this year, and I'm planning on taking the winter off, doing odd-jobs around the house, and mulling over my options.
Blogging has been a thrill, and it's been a grind. I'll always value the opportunity blogging gave me as a political outsider to have a voice, and have folks listen, push back, create dialog about government and power. But most of all, I'll value the friendships I formed among the activists, politicians, and media I met along the way. There are horrible people in politics, but there are many good-hearted idealists of all ideologies, too, enough to create a tenuous balance. The one solace I have in the wake of these midterm elections is knowing that a few friends of mine with conservative views and honest hearts are happy today. I'd name all these friends here, but not only is there not enough room, but I don't want to stain their reputations by associating them with me in print.
And of the friends I've made on the way, I feel especially connected to my comrades-at-keyboards, the denizens of mothers' basements across the state, the vibrant, eclectic, and combative pajama-clad members of the Montana blogsphere. To Pogie, Wulfgar!, Shane Mason, JC, Cowgirl, Dave Crisp, Ed Kemmick, Cece, Gregg Smith, Eric Coobs, and Mark and Steve Tokarski I owe thanks for their links and comments and observations and support and occasional barbs. Of all the rightie bloggers, none's infuriated me more than Dave Budge; and that fury's driven me to clarify my views, question my beliefs, and work harder at understanding progressivism, all good things - although, to tell the truth, if I ever met him at a bar, I don't know if I'd slug him or buy him a beer. Probably both. Thanks to Pete Talbot for being a good Missoula friend always willing to listen to my bullsh*t and for picking up the slack at the b'birds. A special shout-out goes to jhwygirl and her complete takeover of my first blog, 4&20 blackbirds. If there's one thing I can clearly claim to be proud of, it's convincing her to blog. Montana's a better place for it.
But the one person I owe most of my thanks to is Matt Singer. He got me into this mess in the first place. He told me to start a blog, guided me through the political landscape, and showed me how people can matter in politics. Hanging out with Matt brought me to door-knocking and phone-banking and organizing. He's been like a mentor to me, and a good friend, too, always free with his couch and beer. Plus he happens to be the hardest-working gun-totin', rootin-tootin-est cowpoke activist thar is, bar none! Thanks, Matt.
One thing I think I can say is that I tried to write every post with honesty. I avoided rumors and never made sh*t up. I never wrote a word on anybody else's behalf. I never traded posts for favors. I tried to be the best Jay Stevens I could, and tell you exactly what I thought. I hope it served you well.
So...what about those "parting shots" I mentioned? I thought I'd just write a few last, contemplative posts to leave you with, a kind of last snapshot standing outside the fully packed family wagon before I climb in and drive off...
Update: Just to be clear, I am not quitting progressive politics or writing about politics. Just the daily grind of blogging, and here at LiTW. I live in Pennsylvania; it was always a fool's errand to try to keep up with local Montana politics from here... |
