COLUMN: Kontos seeks to further divide, not close it

By Lisa Pett
Special to the Metro Wire

Dan Kontos is sad because no local liberal is brave enough to pick up his pseudo-intellectual gauntlet.

He enjoys discussions based on “facts and reality.” What he fails to mention is the petty, aggressive manner in which he attempts to engage, all while mildly pleading for mutual respect and civility.

His links are often specious, confirmation-biased laden claptrap. He blames social media and the “liberal” media of dereliction of duty while preaching “personal responsibility” and fishing for a Colmes to his Hannity.

He thinks he sounds civil and engaging. From his perspective, I can see why. His position in society protects him from a lot of the issues on which he opines. From his very comfortable seat, I can see why he’s ready to lob “truth bombs” at the Point/Plover Metro Wire’s top Facebook fans.

I’ve taken the challenge once or twice when I had the time and energy to respond. But his appeal for a liberal foil is a kind of Sealioning. He isn’t seeking honest, fair debate. He’s looking for a liberal whipping post. He obviously thinks he’s very smart and wants everyone to know it. He can pepper in quotes from Shakespeare and Martin Luther King, Jr. but his opinions are anything but benign. 

What I have learned after years of constant political banter is that a lot of people who claim to want to debate are doing so in bad faith. They don’t want to listen to your arguments. They want you to listen to theirs. And change YOUR mind, not theirs. 

Frankly, I don’t have the time or energy to put in a sustained effort for someone who refuses to do the same. He’s very conservative. I’m very liberal. Each of us sits on the opposite ends of a very wide spectrum. He and I are just a tiny, vocal minority. The world isn’t more divided, it’s just that the minorities at the opposing ends of the spectrum are getting more strident out of fear.

I’m not going to engage in the kind of political spectacle being played out on the PPMW’s Facebook comments section where the baying masses cry for blood like they’re watching the virtual combat of some keyboard gladiators. I’ve got better things to do with my time. 

And until the Facebook Peanut Gallery at the PPMW cleans up their act, I feel that Danny may just have to play by himself in his opinionated sandbox.

Lisa Pett lives with her family in Hull.