A question

[mmcirvin]

Why do people read whole books that are nothing but tub-thumping for political opinions that they already have?

Or do people actually read these books, rather than just buying them as gifts, or in bulk quantities to inflate the sales numbers?

I read blogs that are like this way more than I ought to. Sometimes I do some tub-thumping on my own blog. But I get dissatisfied with them to the extent that they just preach to the choir instead of telling me something I don't know. And my reaction to the phrase "You must read this article" is almost always to run away.

Comments

[lots42.livejournal.com]

Many reasons:

1) Backup for arguments. "And so, MyEternalHero said that on June Eighth, Clinton ate an entire hampster."

2) Because one agrees with the opinions. I like reading conservative stories.

3) Entertaining. Rush, or his ghost writers, tell good stories.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

You guys should read what P. J. O'Rourke has to say about this matter.

[mmcirvin.livejournal.com]

Backup for arguments is certainly a reason I read the political blogs. But the ones that keep me coming back without feeling dirty about it are the ones that either (a) are funny, or (b) have at some point managed to change my mind about something, or made a well-argued college try at it.

[jvandenberg.livejournal.com]

I'd like to do an experiment, but I think it would be too much effort for me to do it. I'd like to subscribe to a whole bunch of blogs from all across the political spectrum. Then, I'd remove the names, and try and argue that the position in each of them was wrong, using only reasoned arguments and empirical evidence. I'd include myself in it too, except that arguing with yourself is kinda creepy. That way, you would fairly rapidly find the flaws in most political positions.

Also, it's 3:50 am here, so I am not expecting to be coherent.

[avocado123.livejournal.com]

People are inherently insecure about their opinions, so when they read their opinions -- in a book! in print! wowie zowie! -- then that proves their opinions are worthwhile.

Recently, a lot of anti-Michael Moore sites have shown up, and their facts are usually hysterical right-wing rhetoric, almost completely without exception. These sites clearly acknowledge the reader has already decided about Moore, and they're either preaching to the choir or trying to piss you off, depending on your view. No actual information is ever revealed.

The few left-wing political books I've read were the same: 200 pages reading about what I already knew. Occasionally I was embarassed that someone who shared my politics exhibited such low standards, and to an international audience, no less.