Kirk, I loved your blog, and I’m sorry it’s gone.

But you’ve hit on it — there’s too much bias right now. While yours was one of the most measured, thoughtful blogs on topics I didn’t always agree with, you were smart to see it as a potential road block. I myself have at times written things, including tweets, that I think will come back to bite me.

Just because you’re not writing about politics doesn’t mean you can’t channel that energy elsewhere. You’re much too good a writer to stop.

And you do have a lovely wife and nice life. Good for you for seeing the blessings in front of you. 🙂

But I’ve taken the blog down. I’ve been unemployed or underemployed for nearly a decade now, and I’ve been disappointed so many times that the very idea of job-hunting stomps on my soul. I’m afraid to take a chance on people disagreeing with my politics while they are considering me for a job. I had an actual meat-space former colleague unfriend me on Facebook because he disagreed with me on healthcare policy. So now I deny myself a writing outlet that I used to love.

I used to tell myself that I wouldn’t want to work for someone who would disqualify me because of my politics — but that’s nonsense, on two levels. First, in the short-run at least, I would much rather have a job that I hate than be unemployed. (Thirty years ago I would have said the opposite.) Second, there may be very few people who would consciously pass me over because of my politics, but there are a hell of a lot more who would disagree however mildly with my politics, then subconsciously look for other reasons to chose someone else. And there are always plenty of someone elses.

I’m trying to find a way to end this comment on a positive note — I guess I’ll fall back on the old reliable, a gratitude list. I’m safe and healthy and in love with my wife. We have a comfortable house in a nice neighborhood with a five-figure mortgage (and no other debt). We have healthcare coverage through my wife’s employer. We’re not nearly as well prepared for retirement as we should be at our age, but we’re not missing payments on anything. There are 7 billion people in the world, and 6 billion or more of them would trade places with me in a heartbeat.

So there’s that.

Oh, I totally agree, Devon. There are things I don’t think we should abide, and like you, mine is the environment and basic human needs. Luckily, the only client opposition I’ve had to overlook is their own loud proclamations on social media — things I think are ill-informed and short-sighted. Their “rah rah” for their side is so unprofessional. But unless they’re directly mentioning things I oppose vehemently, I’m able to overlook.

I wonder if I should sometimes. Such a fine line we walk these days.

Good point, Devon.

It is quite a temptation, isn’t it? I haven’t ever discussed politics with clients, though one hinted at her affiliation recently (and I did agree with it). But I let it slide as she was clearly trying hard not to talk about it.

I sometimes share my opinion on Twitter, though only my knee-jerk reaction, which probably isn’t the best kind of opinion. On Facebook, I will like something, but I try VERY hard not to say anything. Many of my friends don’t share my views. And frankly, many of them don’t mind telling everyone all too frequently how stupid my party is. Why I hold my tongue: I won’t be the one to ruin a friendship over something as ridiculous as politics.

Mind you, if they want to put politics over friendship, I’m happy to leave their orbit (and I have on five occasions this week alone). I won’t put up with people who refuse to use facts (or believe them) or people who find it okay, as adults, to resort to name-calling.

Correction: I decided NOT to remind my neighbor that I work in media.

Business wise, on election day 2008 Favorite Editor left a voicemail to discuss an assignment. I called her back and apologized for missing her call and told her I’d been voting. She expressed her excitement about the history that could be made that night. Then she said, “Oh. Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I have no idea if you share the same opinion.” I said, “I do—even if it means I’ll lose a good Senator.”

Yes. I know I’ve been a bit too active on Twitter lately. Thankfully I’ve seen dozens of my editors and clients doing the same, and thankfully we tend to share the same beliefs. That said, in the last day or two I’ve been trying to “like” more than “retweet” political tweets (ones that I can’t ignore, that is) so I don’t clutter my feed with too many polarizing tweets. And then Jenn goes and tweets something I have to respond to….LOL!