Taiwan is a charming backwater. It mattered in the 1950s.
If the erudite global Taiwanese are not focused on cross-strait issues other than making as much money as possible, then what do we think about the concerned foreigners? Real neocons have strong opinions on a number of hotspots in the world. Anyone that just focuses on Taiwan would be seen as a paid-off lobbyist or a person with a special interest bias.
That Turton focuses solely on cross-Strait issues again and again through blogging makes him not only an amateur, but a bore.
It is great to have specialised blogs, but Taiwan politics and Taiwan mountain biking and Taiwan food? Why not have guest writers, roundtable chats, infographics (for people that don`t want to read shit), and delve into other Asian matters?
Short answer: means more chiefs and some people want to be the big guy in a small pond.
I loved VFT when I could learn about cool places to visit, tips on travel, anecdotes etc. Very good links, source of info for sure. Just too unbalanced as a political writer and his biases were obvious. I miss the old blog which was full of inside pointers and funny stories. It was witty, not angry.
I actually liked to read his blog, there were more than few times we were on the opposite sides of the fence when it comes to TP, but I knew he read well into the subject and respected him.
I have no doubt I could sit down with a beer with Michael with no animosity whatsoever. Discuss TP and agree on some things and disagree on others.
What an absolute shame the reason (apparently) for closing down was supporters of his own blog couldn’t do the same with regards Presidents Trumps administration.
Yeah, maybe he took my advice LOL and is entering a realpolitik work situation. Somehow I doubt it though.
Complaining about free stuff? I never asked for it to be free. I will tell you this much. I would donate maybe 2 dollars per year—about as much as the analysis is worth!
Being right, or even self consistent, is not a major consideration in blogging. Being interesting is what matters.
Haters gonna hate. You can’t please everyone. But even the haters give you free publicity by hating on you. So no need to pander. Just be interesting. Interesting at all costs.
Learn wisdom from the ways of a seedling. A seedling which is never hardened off through stressful situations will never become a strong productive plant. — Stephen Sigmund
Learn wisdom from the ways of a seedling. A seedling which is never hardened off through stressful situations will never become a strong productive plant. — Stephen Sigmund
