A Tale of Anonymity and Appreciation

Thank you

Artwork: Akane Yabushita

Yesterday, someone told me that as I comment on the government, it was only right that I should reveal my identity. If I didn’t do so, they said, they would not stay.

And my first reaction was surprise, followed by small tinges of reactivity (“what?”), but then later, sadness.

I responded that I respected them and thanked them for their contributions but failed to see how I was on par with their demands of public officials, and the ultimatum surprised me.

To be clear, I never set out to be a political commentator. Never set out to be a Substack commentator. And had never even set out to be on Reddit for politics.

My space here on Substack is small. This world and that around it is still new to me.

But the government’s activities after being voted in office got my attention, and I felt/feel a duty to contribute in my own weird way (hopefully not JD Vance weird!) Often I could see patterns or pre-empt moves and felt it would help. I believed in information and believed that if the truth prevailed, our country would be better for it. I started as Mountain Tui and continued it because it started to feel natural and comfortable.

Does that make me a bad person, or wrong? I’m not sure.

I try to make my articles stand for themselves and like many writers, find sources, do research, review and analyse. I often spend hours like a fool to compile data - often in far too long posts (I’m working on that! Thanks for bearing with me!) - because I hope it helps*. I don’t want to only rant because I think my role is to inform too.

*Help is a nebulous concept but it’s there - stuck in my throat. I’m trying to work through what it means too. But it’s possibly related to seeing what happened to countries like the UK affected by poison / misinformation (Brexit), and thereby wanting to somehow protect our country and people from that too. I find so much beauty in NZ and in its people.

But it’s not because it’s “Mountain Tui” that the posts might hold any interest - but perhaps, it’s the intensive work behind the scenes to point out the obvious, document policies, find facts, reveal background, or in some cases, pre-empt.

It’s the meticulous research and connecting the dots I try to do to add value to readers - although I’m definitely not above a good rant and give myself the permission to do so too: Simeon Brown's Insanity

To summarise, I felt somewhat taken aback and didn’t feel that just because I spend many hours choosing to be a fool in a small space, that I owe anyone on their terms. The left is frequently judgemental and that’s what makes us the best moralists, but with a weakness of shooting our own side far too easily, and putting off others - something I’ve often hinted at and what I fear if/when a left leaning government comes back into power.

Related reading: Why The Left Has Been Stupid

Silver, bright linings

One thing this event helped me do though was take a closer look at the list of subscribers on Mountain Tui, and realise how many have chosen to support this very small space.

And as I read and re-read messages I received from subscribers, which I don’t always respond to mainly out of embarrassment, I just wanted to say thank you to all those who are here.

Seeing how many have cared enough to write, to be present, to offer comment, and to even offer support is something that I deeply cherish, even if I have been too reticent to say so.

I read every message I receive, and each time I feel gratitude for your kind sentiment/s.

Yes, it’s true that I could disappear because I’m a nobody called “Mountain Tui” but the gratitude, feelings and motivation I have are real.

Cheers,

Tui