A comment on how Tilson’s words affected me.
After four years of busting my ass in engineering
classes and going to countless career events and interviews, I’ve finally tied
down a job for after graduation. Above average starting salary and a pretty
nice signing bonus. My life will soon take on a serious change. I wonder now if
the things I’m so passionate about currently and have been passionate about
throughout college will still be that important to me in the future. Once I’m
finally financially independent and one day when I have kids of my own can
ensure that they get the best education available, will I be aware of the
economic disparity that plagues the education system? Will I even remember what
that childhood was like for me?
Whitney Tilson gives me hope that I will. Although in
a comfortable life of his own, he still cares about this issue. He comes off so
fatherly. Caring, concerned, firm and, at times, a little jaded.
“In a world filled with endless, cheap, mind-rotting
entertainment via hundreds of TV channels (heavily weighted toward 24/7 sports,
cartoons and other junk) the internet, video games, music and movies, I’m
firmly convinced that nearly all children will spend every waking hour messing
around with these activities and wasting their lives…”
He uses strong detailed diction. I can hear him as a
frustrated parent, “every waking hour!” It makes me smile, that he’s so
passionate. But he’s not just an angry, frustrated parent. He’s an intelligent
philanthropist. With every claim he makes, there’s support to go with it.
“Lest you think I’m perpetuating stereotypes about
American youth, check out this data about how they spend their time…”
This claim/support pattern to his writing gives him
merit and authority. I trust Tilson’s opinions. It is not blind passion and
frustration. Its clear-sighted, level-headed thinking. His passion is not lost
in his blogging however, and he gets this across by select use of italics and
the shouting favorite, CAPS LOCK.
“It depicts lots of stressed-out, overworked kids… As
a nation, our real problem is EXACTLY the opposite!”
“For more on how Chinese (and Indian) youth are just
HUSTLING a lot more than American youth are, I highly recommend a great
documentary…”
He starts this particular post by establishing his
authority and personal relationship with the issue.
“It’s hilarious, hyperbolic and provocative, and will
surely provoke strong emptions, especially among people (like my wife and me)
raising young children.”
He’s a father. First and foremost. And although he’s
paying “three private school tuitions” as mentioned in another recent post of
his, he maintains an awareness of the problem that is school reform in America.
His blog is intelligent and passionate and personal. Three things I’m certain
you need to have in order to move the heart of any reader.
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