Not of the Mainstream

Markos Moulistas (founder of the Daily Kos) had an interesting take on the use of MSM by some of those in the blogosphere when referring to the mainstream media. Markos argues that we should not distance ourselves from the mainstream, but embrace it, thereby pushing right wing pundits to the fringe. I don't agree. He supports his comments by pointing out that blogs have more power than ever, are representative of what a democracy should look like, etc etc etc. All this is true, but I don't want to be the mainstream . . . life on the fringe is better. . .gives a clearer picture of things. Mainstream is boring, boring, boring stuff. I was disappointed that many progressive blogs are failing to acknowledge the current crisis in the Philippines or the recent detainment of the activists. This should have been news considering the Philippines is in lock step with US policies concerning "terror". I digress. In my own sequestered world, otherwise known as the life of the mind, I am reminded by peers through anonymous reviews that I am not mainstream enough . . . too fringe . . .too "stubbornly unreflective." The peer review process is a lot like posting scathing, derisive comments on someone's blog, just cause you know you will never have to meet the person or actually have a decent conversation with them. Anonymity makes people assholes. Instead of wallowing in my own deflated ego today, I've decided to embrace this outlaw status in my field -- one governed by idealogues worshipping at the temple of all that is diverse and complex. Fuck em.