Norm's profile of me

Posted on December 4, 2004 by Sophie Masson
Posted in Uncategorized

This is only a quick word as I'm in Sydney at Literature Board meetings and other literary business, but thought some of you might like to read my profile at Norm Geras' wonderful blog, here It was very interesting answering the questions--and one I'd like to throw open for general discussion too is the one that asks whether one would consider having a relationship with someone whose politics differs radically from your own (you can see how I've answered it on the profile.) It seems to me that judging people on their politics has to some extent replaced prejudice against say, race or ethnicity, when it comes to relationships--at least in the abstract. Update: I've improved the link so it now takes you directly to the profile.

6 Comments

  1. Mark Bahnisch
    December 4, 2004

    Sophie, I don't think it's a species of prejudice. My partner and I have discussed this question - which is an interesting one - and both of us have had relationships in the past with people far more conservative than us. I think it's a good indicator of general values and outlook. So, my answer would be "no".

  2. Mark Bahnisch
    December 4, 2004

    ps - I think it would only be a factor if you're really interested in/passionate about your politics. Most people aren't.

  3. Mark Bahnisch
    December 4, 2004

    ps - I think it would only be a factor if you're really interested in/passionate about your politics. Most people aren't.

  4. Mary
    December 4, 2004

    The interview is scrolling down fairly fast... see http://normblog.typepad.com/normblog/2004/12/the_normblog_pr.html for the exact post.

  5. TimT
    December 4, 2004

    Good choice of favourite poem. Yeats I count as my favourite poet; but my favourite poem would have to be The Fairy Queen by Edmund Spenser. Don't normally get into long poems, but every single word in that poem is absolutely gorgeous.

  6. Jacques Chester
    December 5, 2004

    I was discussing this elsewhere recently:

    "I'll let you in on the secret that makes it possible. Liberals Have Feelings Too. While this statement comes across as the title of a children's book, and while it also means different things in different countries, it remains true.

    Let me clear this up with a short categorisation. I talked about falling in with a person because you agreed. You discussed falling in with a person with whom you disagreed. Neither of us has mentioned the scenario where only one of the partners is politically involved.

    My point in all three cases is that political persuasion alone cannot form a stable basis for relating. While it can grease or gum the wheels, it cannot be the kintetic energy conveyed in the wheels, of the wheels, by the wheels.

    I mean I've loved all sorts of women. Some of them had my politics. Some of them have not. Some of them I've strongly disagreed with.

    I suppose what I'm trying to say is, if you're having a relationship, politics could matter. But sometimes you're not having relationship; sometimes you're just in love."