David Yamane

Why I Almost Abandoned My Effort to Bring Light and Turn Down the Heat on Guns (Light Over Heat #49)

What was supposed to be a brief hiatus from my “Light Over Heat” YouTube channel almost became permanent. This video explains why.

A lot of it had to do with my feeling like I was talking into a void, and a lot of that feeling had to do with negative responses I have been receiving to the proposal for my book, Gun Curious: A Journey into America’s Evolving Culture of Firearms.

In this video I read from some of those responses so you can get an idea of the uphill battle I am fighting to publish a book that tries to turn down the heat on the great gun debates in America and occupy the vast but (I now realize) lonely middle ground.

12 comments

  1. I’d suspected there wasn’t much of a book-buying audience for your type of work. Most people want to read affirmations of their current beliefs, not to be challenged in them.

    I do believe, however, there is a broad yearning for your calm, reasoning approach. Folks are sick of the stridency on both extremes of the gun issue.

    Like

    Reply

  2. I think many bloggers feel this way too after reading negative comments. It is maybe part of why so many young people have awful mental health after using social media. Bullying, negative comments. See the J. Haidt article/series on this. Google “After Babel Haidt social media” https://jonathanhaidt.substack.com/
    Chin up, Dr. Y.
    Sincerely yours,
    Lee Foullon 941-483-0209 FEEL FREE to leave a voicemail!
    (thinks of new signature)
    Practice Gratitude!
    Pratiquez la gratitude !
    https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg ________________________________

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. David, did you ask for any “friendly” reviews before you sent it out to the publishers. Sounds to me like you got rat-***ked by reviewers who were hopeless anti-gun ideologues from the quotes in your podcast. But could you get another sociologist like Jennifer or someone you normally work with to take a look?

    My wife Meena, who taught English at a community college, for 20 years, sometimes finds stuff in my writing that isn’t what I meant but could put off readers. I’m not trying to add to your frustration but wonder if a review by someone like Carlson would help. Unless you already did that.

    I’m reading Ryan Busse’s book right now and at times he has a way of saying stuff that makes my hair catch fire, even though I am generally sympathetic to some of his criticisms of the gun industry. But I’ll read it to the finish line. If I had reviewed his book, I would have toned some of it down. I’ve read Adam Winkler’s “Gunfight” and some of Jake Charles and his colleague’s work and although it is somewhat critical, it is sound and objective so one just has to agree or disagree, but not get one’s head exploding.

    I can’t imagine you being that off base in your book but I’ve not seen it and a few times in your podcasts, when you justifiably tell people that 99.999% of us never cross paths with evil, I can see some on the other team sputtering. Just because…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Don’t give up the ship! You will get what you get if you keep submitting your book to these triggered intellectuals whose depth of knowledge stops with “Anybody who likes guns is a baby killer.” Your work appeals to those in the middle – but if the middle doesn’t see it, it can’t gain any traction. Don’t let the bastards wear you down!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. I would buy your book as soon as it comes out. I should note that I am a fiercely liberal, both politically and socially, gun owner. The notion that “liberals” are all absolutely anti-gun, is quite inaccurate. I am a meditation instructor but I’m also certified as a firearms instructor and I do teach basics to friends and family at no charge. I find a number of my liberal friends reaching out to me for instruction to avoid the hateful rhetoric that they often encounter at the gun ranges where classes are taught. The divisiveness is a terrible shame. Your work is very thoughtful, well researched, and informative, and I do hope that you continue.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.