Why Liberals Do Like That

It's endlessly fascinating to watch the Left shoot itself in the foot by their compulsion to "express their feelings" about affairs like Milo Yiannopoulos's upcoming book. People keep pointing out to them that such reactions are counterproductive; obviously Milo's book has gotten a heap of free publicity since it was announced yesterday, but they really can't seem to help themselves.

It occurs to me that this could be related to another long-standing observation about the leftist-mindset: liberals, people have often observed, judge policies by their inputs while conservatives judge them by their outputs. For instance, liberals will lament when not enough is being spent on something they like, such as education; conservatives prefer spending as little as possible, but are upset when the results are unsatisfactory.

It's a matter of short-term thinking, I suggest. If you only see as far as the good feeling you get when you do something with good intentions (or, in the case of their heads exploding over Milo's book, expressive intentions), then the actual results don't matter. Thus, they not only won't take advice on ending (e.g.) protests that only make them less popular with voters, they won't even see the point. They don't see the protest as a means to an end, but as an end in itself.

Surprising that they ever win elections at all.

The Banned Lad

"Why, Milo, old chum! Has my mind me forsook,
Or is that your dear phizz on a best-selling book?
How did you get such fame and such cel-eb-rit-y?"
"Oh didn't you hear how they banned me," said he.

"You were studying English and drama and stuff
With an eye to be some kind of theater buff.
Now you're jetting around, talking on the TV!"
"Yes, that's what you do when they ban you," said he.

"Back in school you were shy and reserved, not inclined
To outrageous ideas. Now you speaking your mind
Makes a feminist screech like a flipping banshee!"
"True, your confidence grows when they ban you," said he.

"And those garms never came out of Selfridge's aisles,
That's a Savile Row suit like the uppercrust styles!
You've got personal trainers and hench arm can-dy!"
"Consolations there are, when they ban you," said he.

"At Manchester you were obscure, I recall,
No one noticed you left; but this thing at DePaul!
Your fans crashed their ratings on Facebook, with glee!"
"Well, you win lots of friends when they ban you," said he.

"I wish I had your followers, watching my back,
And six-figure advances, and fame!" "Come on, jack!
A blog that does take-offs on Thomas Har-dy?
You're kidding me, right? No one bans that," said he.

(Note: suggestions about Milo's pre-notoriety lifestyle are pure speculation on my part and not at all probable.--JMT)