[Dean's World] Dean: Man I'm Proud of Our Contributors

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Dean:
Man I'm Proud of Our Contributors
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1162421651.shtml


   I have from the beginning consciously sought intellectual diversity
   among Dean's World contributors.

   Yes, I know that word "diversity" annoys some of you on the right, but
   get over it. When "diversity" is a code word for quotas and artificial
   numbers-balancing, it's bad. But when it's about the liberal tradition
   of hearing multiple voices and perspectives stated intelligently it's
   a good thing.

   I have never told a contributor what to write about or what position
   to take, and I never will. I've occasionally invited or encouraged a
   contributor to write about something, but even then I've always
   respected it when they've said "nah, I'll pass."

   I honestly believe that this sort of editorial policy--which frees up
   talented writers to write about whatever they are passionate about, at
   whatever length they choose--produces great results. At least, it
   produces great results when you make sure to bring on board people who
   can write a coherent declarative sentence and who know how to properly
   use a spell checker.

   Dean's World contributors consistently wow me. Just take the recent
   spate of essays people posted on how they'll vote in next week's
   election. Did I ask them to do that? No. Did I tell them who they
   should support? No. They were required to do nothing but live by the
   usually-unspoken but constant rule: whatever position you take, stand
   ready to defend it.

   Even if it's me you disagree with.

   There's only one thing that would make me shudder with horror. I have
   nightmares that start like this: one day I open up Dean's World and
   find an article that says something like, "Issue of the Day: On the
   left, Ali Eteraz! On the right, Kevin Dombrowski!" [shudder, shudder,
   shudder]

   Not that I'm picking on those two in particular because I'm not. In
   fact name any two Dean's World contributors and force them into that
   same ridiculous "On the left/On the right" bulls**t and it will be a
   sure sign that it's time to put Dean's World out to pasture. I may
   fall short in my best ideals semi-regularly, but that would be a
   complete and total failure in my eyes.

   All that said, however, I find it fascinating that in the recent spate
   of "Who I'm voting for and why" postings, it came down roughly evenly:
   people supporting Democrats, people supporting Republicans, people
   supporting split-ticket voting, and people expressing apathy and
   frustration at the whole process.

   Man, that's a beautiful thing so far as I'm concerned. That's what
   REAL intellectual diversity looks like.

   Except of course for Dave Schuler, whom everbody knows is always wrong
   about everything.