Why write?

Also: welcome new subscribers

My kids were telling me of an Internet personality whose advice to other aspiring Internet personalities might be summarised as, “Never say anything controversial. Never let any of your real self show. If you do, people will dislike you.”

Afterwards, I thought of another possibility: you can be a deeply polarising Internet figure whom people either love or hate, in which case at least half your followers will think you are the new Messiah, while the other half will think you are the Devil incarnate and abuse you constantly.

This depressed me somewhat. What if I don’t want to be either extreme?

I don’t write to be loved. I don’t write for people to agree with me. But I also don’t want to polarise people, or push emotional buttons. I really dislike my buttons being pushed, perhaps because I am an emotional person.

I want to be considered and balanced.

I’ve evidently touched a nerve with my recent post on the Voice—perhaps some of you subscribed to me because you liked what I wrote, perhaps some of you hate me—but welcome all, regardless.

When I was a girl, I wanted everyone to like me, but I discovered as I got older that this was a ridiculous aim. If—to be “liked”—I have to refrain from saying anything anyone disagrees with, I’d rather be respected than liked.

I have realised, over the past few years, that what really matters to me is the idea of seeking truth. I accept that we may never find truth, but I am going to try my best to get there.

If I can’t speak on things that matter to me, and if I’m not allowed to speak up in the face of what I see as injustice towards someone I care about, I find it very difficult. I care about the rule of law and freedom of speech, as a result. We can only find the truth through working together, and discussing different views.

I don’t have to agree with someone to be friends with them. In fact, I like being friends with people who have very different cultural, religious, or political views from me. I would find it very boring to be friends with people who were similar to me.

If you’re wondering what makes me tick: it’s my family, my friends, my interest in the law and in the world generally, and my general fascination with humanity.

So, for new subscribers, here are some indicative posts:

• Commentator on problems with private law and academia more generally;

• Discussions of living with disability and various other issues, but not being a victim;

• Crazy family history, including cheeky convicts and Indigenous ancestry;

• Author of fantasy fiction;

• Partial convert to Judaism over 20 years ago, never finished the process, but remains interested and observant in some regards;

• Consumer of fiction and popular culture; and

• Union member and legal historian.

Please be aware that I don’t fit into a simple box. I tend to ask questions. This sometimes annoys people, other than Rabbi Alex at

Exploring Torah Together

, who seems to enjoy the questions, even if I had an obsession about scapegoats recently. Because GOATS! Oh, I forgot to mention the animal law obsession, along with the obsession about remedies law, and the obsessions about many other things.

I am not perfect, and never purport to be so. The point of writing is to think things out, and let other people comment on what I write.

I don’t expect you to like me. I don’t expect me to agree with me. I really hope that I make you think, and inform you about things you’ve never thought about before.

Which reminds me. ZEBRAS. Must do a post on why you should never pat a zebra. And yes, I am entirely serious. WATCH THIS STRIPED SPACE…

Photo by Hans Veth on Unsplash