Monday Rant: It's a Matter of Opinion

Nothing gets me more worked up than double standards. These things can be found everywhere in society. Politics, news, within our own families and even within the online beer community. Believe it or not, the possibilities are endless.

I missed the latest edition of The Session at the beginning of the month, but there was a ton of ripples made by a certain blogger and their respective post. Why there were ripples I can't seem to figure out. I don't really feel like naming names on this matter. I just feel the need to speak out on the reactions that took place. Isn't the entire point of all the beer bloggers partaking in The Session topic each month to respectfully discuss the chosen topic?

Such topics leave it open for the exchanging of opinions on certain matters. As humans we have the choice to agree with said opinion or not. Maybe my parents were insane, but I was taught to respectfully disagree with someone that thought differently than I. Not attempt to humiliate and outcast. Believe it or not. As stubborn as I am that's how I was raised. Sometimes it's tough to accept an opinion you don't agree with. I get that.

In some cases people lash out at those that say things that they don't always agree with. That's exactly what happened over the past week with the previously mentioned blogger and those that reacted to it. Personally, I don't always agree with what said blogger says. The same can be said for many facets of life. We all have our own personal views.

The topic for the latest Session was women in beer. Said blogger wrote about how he doesn't enjoy drinking with women or that's how I interpreted it, at least. If that's what this person thinks, so be it. If a woman wants to have a beer in a local pub and chooses to interact with me while doing so I have no problem at all. If you're human and enjoy drinking and talking about beer I'll enjoy your presence. As for women in the brewing industry, I don't really care who makes the beer I drink. If the beer is good I shall enjoy it regardless. Still, given the track record of society it would have been rare to see a woman brewing. So, having women in this industry is a cool and interesting microcosm of how society has developed over time in a positive way. That's just my take.

I believe that when someone starts making an example of, criticizing or outcasting those that disagree with them it just looks idiotic to me,. In essence, those that criticize are doing the very thing they're accusing the person presenting the opinion or view of. Last week, people lauded the blogger for apparently "judging others." What did they do to rectify this situation? Judge the blogger. One hell of an example some of you set.

If The Session can no longer be an open forum for intellectual and respectful discourse as evident by the actions of last week I have to seriously reconsider my participation in the project at the beginning of each month. If we can't except the views of other blogger what the hell is the point to writing those posts every month?

That's my rant. Now, back to enjoying and learning about our favorite beverage.