I’m reading this academic text on good parenting, because I’m a nerd and I buy books about things I’m not even doing if they’re interesting and recommended by someone whose tastes I trust and like

there’s so much good stuff here, there really is but like,

the author clearly took no pains at all to try to represent the argument of the “other side” with intellectual honesty

and maybe if she did she’d still have good arguments against it

but it’s like really distracting to read something that just says “And they do this to lower wages and build up capitalist industry” and it just moves on and I’m like wait, no, I don’t think that’s why day cares are started and could you back that up please holy shit that was kind of big deal to just throw out there also since when are you an economist as well as a psychologist holy shit

And the book is really interesting and has some good points but it’s just like

You know how when people say your argument can only be as strong as the argument you are up against so like if someone says “All cats are blue” that’s a pretty weak argument so even if I say, “Nuh uh, this cat” and I’m right but that doesn’t say much for me because that first argument was pretty dumb. And so if you’re arguing against an opponent, especially one with a lot of clout, the best thing to do is to represent your opponent in their best strongest form so that when you argue against them your argument is that much stronger?

The author of this book has clearly never been told that.

And it’s the kind of thing where I’m inclined to do a full review at the end of all my feelings but 1. I don’t feel qualified because I do not have a doctorate in psychology like the author and 2. it would be silly because this isn’t some viral text that everyone is reading, it’s semi-obscure so like I’d just be talking to myself

But like this is when I miss school, because I want to be sitting with a professor right now, or the author herself, and just be like BUT WHAT ABOUT-

And not because I think I’d necessarily be right or wrong, but because I genuinely want to know her answer. And the answer of the opposition. And stuff.