I was inspired to write this after reading yet another diary on society’s views on gender and advertising, and how they played into recent events elsewhere.
I don’t deny that was part of what happened, and indeed the trigger for many.
But for me, this was and is about communities, shared values, how we get along, lost opportunities, and new opportunities.
Many folks, myself included, assumed that place wasn’t just a political blog, but it was a political netroots community. Our community. We joined because we enjoyed the atmosphere and the amenities and the neighbors. We socialized and accepted the community’s norms of conduct as our norms. As it grew, things changed.
Looking at it from that perspective, here’s my parable, about The Neighborhood.
The Neighborhood
One day someone started a discussion about the new billboard in the neighborhood. Now, we’d always had billboards. Some were annoying, like dropping fruit. Some were clever. But pretty much all of them spoke to a theme that fit the community and its purpose. But this new one was like the crass ones down the road. Sure, we all drove by those other ones on our way to work, or traveling. Heck, even those were pretty tame by comparison to some of those other billboards out there, or in Europe.
But all the same, that person felt that this was our neighborhood, and it was just fine without that new billboard, and questioned if it was a good thing that the billboard was right here. That person was fine with it being down the road, with the others of its kind, but felt it was out of place here.
Many people agreed that the billboard was okay, but didn’t fit the character of the neighborhood. Others said it and its ilk were disturbing and should all disappear. Still others used the product the billboard advertised, or similar ones, and were concerned. Some even cried censorship. The rhetoric heated.
The neighborhood leader, who was responsible for selling the billboard space, stopped by. He’d been listening to some of this ruckus, and getting phone calls from a few on all sides. He informed everyone that this was his neighborhood, and it was his call on what went up on his billboards. People were free to live in the neighborhood, as he had given them each a barren plot of land and some roads and infrastructure. Some had paid a small amount, but most folks lived their for free.
Of course, the neighborhood wasn’t a large barren plot with infrastructure anymore. It was a thriving place, with all sorts of fancy buildings. Some were constructed by the leader, or the sub-leaders he had appointed. But the vast majority, including some very wondrous plazas and gardens and villas and mansions and estates were constructed by others in the neighborhood. It was whispered that indeed, most of the most beautiful parts of the neighborhood had nothing to do with the leader or his appointees.
The leader then lashed out at those criticizing the odd-fitting billboard, and questioning him for putting it up. When the community discussed this, there were many, many upset people who felt the leader went too far with labeling so many as troublemakers. The leader saw this, and partially retracted his criticism, reminding folks of what he had said before, but claiming he only meant his hostility for a smaller subset.
Whether criticized or not, this was a rude awakening for many in the neighborhood. It wasn’t their neighborhood. They knew this of course, but had always felt the leader had constructed the neighborhood for everyone. But the leader said to them all he was only really concerned with three areas of the neighborhood. Everyone was welcome to deal with the rest of the neighborhood, but that’s not why the neighborhood was founded.
Oh, and the odd billboard was staying. Except it got even less fitting in with the notions some had about what fit the neighborhood.
Some were disappointed, and decided to look for another neighborhood. To be sure, it would have to be a smaller neighborhood, and probably offer fewer of the special treasures only found in such a large neighborhood.
At the same time, what had been a simmering shouting match erupted into an all-out neighborhood war and various groups ran around egging those who had criticized the ad, the leader, or the neighborhood. Some of those people were in turn egged.
The leader did nothing, and went back to his favorite three parts of the neighborhood, leaving the chaos behind.
More people moved out in disgust. Others stayed. No one reason can explain why each chose as they did. Some didn’t leave, but rather vowed to stay and clean up the neighborhood. Some decided the amenities of the neighborhood were to be found nowhere else, and settled in, a little weary from the egg throwing. Some were proud of the leaders actions, others were saddened, still others ashamed.
Some built houses in other neighborhoods, while keeping their old one. Others packed up everything and vowed never to return. Some severed all lines of communication, others call their old friends daily. Still others drive through the old neighborhood when they can.
But it never looks quite the same as it used to.
