Beware the Philodox My Friends

Now I’m fully aware that you might be thinking that I’ve taken up where Lewis Carroll left off with this title. Or perhaps you could imagine that I’m pitching an idea for a sci-fi film. Alas, neither is true. It simply is, as stated, a warning.

We are surrounded by the philodoxical pontificators who are for the most part, if not a danger to our society, they are the destroyers of our inner peace.

Definition: a philodox is one who has an excessive and dogmatic love of their own opinions.

I’m sure that might just ring a few bells for a number of us. And of course we might all, at times, be a little philodoxical…a little committed to sharing our opinions in a manner that reflects both our passion, knowledge and skill. A little too smug about how ‘right’ we are when it comes to our favourite subjects. But the true philodox is not just your average bloviator. (pretentious windbag speaking too long about little). They are individuals who have taken the right to free speech as their license to inflict their unwarranted opinions on everyone. And more often than not they are the negative nay-sayers who generally just let us know what is wrong with the world, the society, the government, teenagers, old people, health systems, welfare….you get my drift.

The last week has seen the flourishing of the philodoxes. While Australia is grieving for the lives lost at Bondi, for the inconceivable horrors played out on our own shores we then be further battered by the rising tide of blowhards.

There they are, front and centre with their opinions flowing from slathering lips blaming all and sundry. Experts they are, allegedly in all fields. They know what the police should have done, where ASIO and the government failed, how this threat went unrealised and how this tragedy could have been prevented. And perhaps some of what is said may have relevance and could be considered if the ideas were not delivered with such poison. Why have many political figures used this moment to point-score, the media to try the ‘gotcha question’ and factions within factions to ramp up their rotten rhetoric?

I have no answer to that question. I don’t know why the philodoxes must swing the limelight their way and spew their meanness. It’s not the time. It’s certainly not the circumstance. Australians feel wounded, we are experiencing loss, not only grieving for the loss of lives but the loss of our innocence, perhaps even feeling guilt at our complacency. We need to sit quietly for a bit, to take it in, to come to a conclusion about how we might move forward as individuals, as communities. We need to take time to listen to erudite discussions, ideas from experts and experienced professionals in a myriad of fields. From the quiet listening we might just be able to form an opinion worth sharing.

But the blowhard makes all the noise, take all the oxygen. They appeal to some and rile a minority to espouse the same baying for blood. The rest of us are devastated by the ranting. But the philodox wants a win, no matter the cost. They thrive on pushing their one-sided diatribe no matter the impact. They love their opinions more those to whom they spruik.

So dear readers beware the sermoniser whose tirade gives an easy solution to a crisis, step away from the haranguer who verbally mauls those different from themselves and close your ears against the attack on common human decency.

May this time of the year for all of us be devoid of the philodox, full of peace and deep kindness.

Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.

Albert Einstein