As a comrade of the pretention-caller in question, I was directed to this forum (not by the girl in question however- this post has done the Macrob rounds). Having read your old Xanga myself for a couple of years now (and no, I don't know you personally, so don't assume that anything here is some indepth attack against you), I was extremely amused at the clashing of real life and 'people on the internet'. Needless to say, I quickly registered with this forum in a state of great anticipation and hysterical laughter.
Why did you automatically assume that your 'political views' - or at least faith in basic economic theories - are being attacked, rather than your general demeanour on the Internet? I know for a fact that this girl was not referring to any supposed political stance. While (in my readings anyway) you have occasionally written vaguely about political and economic theories, you often wrote more in depth about your academic interests. It was in fact the air of blind faith and arrogance that she (and I, and other readers of your old Xanga/your posts on various blogs) detected from you that she was referring to.
Yes, we know that we could have exited the page at any time, but to be frank your comments are often hilarious. 'Pretentious' is probably not the right word, but as the girl does not know you personally, she certainly didn't feel the need to search for a precise description as to her thoughts on someone who - to her- exists only on the internet.
However, I feel that you unconsciously proved her point, by interpreting her reply to be iconoclastic (where politics is substituted for religion). Nothing I have read from you has shown any interest in real-life, non-theoretical politics; for you to set up the situation as though she has assaulted a great passion of yours only made for more hilarity.
Also, on the 'typical artsy Macrob lefty' comment- I can only assume one of the following:
a) You were speaking out of blind anger or desperate defence; or
b) You don't know many Macrob girls.
I myself study politics at Macrob. I would say that the majority of students are centrist, in support of a free market and other policies designed to facilitate trade liberalisation (but currently still working on whether they are swayed more by Keynesian economic arguments or by the vulnerable faces of violence, poverty, environmental degradation etc etc). The minority with more extreme political views tend to fall to the right, not the left; for example, there are at least two Young Liberals studying year 12 politics this year, but not a single member of Young Labor or any other affiliated group. By resorting to stereotypes in your accusations, you severely damage any levels of credibility you may have had.
The sweet irony is that the girl in question could not care less about any of the above.
So maybe think about how you might be perceived next time, instead of laughing it off.
Of course, there is a good chance that you will dismiss this, too. If that is the case, then all I can say is that it is truly your folly.
florallover
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