Communicator (communicator) wrote,
Communicator
communicator

Nobody likes a smart arse

As it is 5 years since the invasion of Iraq, there have been many posts from lefties this week about how being 'right' about it has conferred no benefit, nor being wrong any loss of face or status.

Crooked Timber (one of several)

Jim Henley (this one is a sarcastic 'So many publications have expressed such overwhelming interest in the perspectives of those of us who opposed the Iraq War when it had a chance of doing good ... everyone recognizes that the opinions of those of us who were right about Iraq then are crucial to formulating sane, just policy now.')

This also applies to the inevitable collapses and disasters that follow deregulation and money-first capitalism, the housing and credit bubbles. No doubt it will also apply to peak oil and global warming. When we are hip-deep in seawater, eating rats, those who said it would never happen will be slapping each other on the back.

I see it a lot in my job, and all over really. Those who cannot see the future, seem more effective in the present. I think this is because they can concentrate on fitting their words to the exigencies of the current moment. Meanwhile, those who try to be accurate are often wrong, because they are only human, and then they get on other people's nerves even if they are right.

And I imagine it will always be this way. On to the next war!
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  • Phew what a scorcher

    I see Gove has backed down on climate change and it's back in the curriculum again.

  • GCSE Computer Science

    My book is now for sale

  • LJ Settings

    At the moment I have set up this journal so that only friends can comment. I hate doing this, but I was just getting too much Russian spam.