The Nature of Contemporary Discourse

A made-up dialogue inspired by real events.


Me: I think Blair should be tried for war crimes. HG Wells said that "a time will come when a politician who has willfully made war and promoted international dissension will be as sure of the dock and much surer of the noose than a private homicide. It is not reasonable that those who gamble with men's lives should not stake their own".*

Him: HG Wells also described Stalin as "the most loyal, kind and trustworthy man he'd ever met".**

Me: Yes. I don't agree with him on that. I also disagree with him on eugenics.

Him: So why are you quoting him approvingly?

Me: Because I approve of the thing I'm quoting.

Him: Quoting HG Wells approvingly is a tacit endorsement of Stalin.

Me: Is it also a tacit invention of the time machine?

Him: [no reply]


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* I don't have this at my fingertips. I looked it up.

** This isn't actually what HG Wells said. My interlocutor didn't have it at his fingertips or look it up.