"Unicorns aren’t real and have never been real in a physical sense. But when I say ‘unicorn’ everyone knows what I’m talking about. This is how they’re real: we all think about them more or less the same way. And they continue to ‘exist’ in this sense because the idea of a unicorn is totally awesome, and pleasant to think about (and doodle, and tattoo), so even though there’s no rational reason for us to continue using the brainspace dedicated to knowing what unicorns are, we still keep it lodged up in there. It’s nonsense, but it helps us communicate with other people. Politics is like a unicorn because it’s a collection of unreal things that we all agree to recognize, mostly because doing so beats not doing so."

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Politics is a unicorn #1: Introduction

Mike Barthel is one of the brightest thinkers I know of on the internet (and a really, really fine writer), and for the rest of the week he’s going to be “explor[ing] the ways politics isn’t rational or real—and why that’s OK—for the public, the government, and the media”.

(via tropdetout)

Well, I think this is pretty stupid and I don’t care if I’m the only one who thinks so. Comparing politics to the idea of unicorns is gimicky and not giving either body much credit. Both are rational and both are real in the world, and I don’t need anyone to Okay my belief in either.

Did that sound bitter? It was meant to be. I’m sick of these kinds of comparisons. I hate ‘em.

In fake news, I’m launching a shoddy side business selling faulty napkins. Be on the lookout for sad looking people with messy faces.