Actually, I think I agree with you on this. Moldbug generally affects a kind of ironic, gen-x-y style that is not typical of reactionaries–and perhaps is even antithetical to them (hence, e.g., Auster’s “frankly brutal criticisms”). There was an interesting exchange at Abu Muqawama’s blog, many moons ago. It went like this:

*Anon visitor*:

Mencius: there’s a distinct undertone in all of your writings, both here and at UR, that you don’t want people to take you seriously. Do you not want the responsibility and the consequences of making your ideas (which I think are generally sound) a reality? Is it safer to stay in the land of make believe?

*Mencius Moldbug*:

Visitor, that’s the first time here someone has said something genuinely hurtful to me!

My answer is that my primary fidelity is to the truth, and the truth is that in the present real world my perspective will not be “taken seriously” however it is presented. Hence, if I played it like the Cato Institute, and presented myself in a way that made it appear that influential policymakers were considering or might consider isolationism, etc, I would be misinforming anyone who actually does read my posts. This would be an act of genuine, rather than symbolic, irresponsibility.

I much prefer the symbolic irresponsibility, because I feel it more faithfully expresses the utter futility of action. Until this futility is broadly accepted, there is no possibility of any actual change. Washington does not need another intellectual who pretends to matter, but doesn’t. It already has plenty of those. Before any regime can be changed, the present one must be entirely renounced and held in contempt – in short, withdrawn from consent. There are other tools besides mockery for this, but few better.

*Anon visitor*:

Mencius,
You are correct that your recommendations will not be accepted by those in power or those seeking power. Your fidelity is, as you say, to the truth. But what you call symbolic irresponsibility is an excuse. We are all responsible for our actions and the gifts bestowed upon us. Your gift happens to be an uncanny ability to separate truth from lie in the political realm. With your knowledge, you owe a duty to society at large to educate. You are shirking this responsibility. You do a disservice both to yourself and to the truth by trolling the CNAS blog (and various other blogs) and speaking truth to power when it makes no difference. The battle is fought in the hearts and minds of individuals, not groups. You started on the right path at UR but grew both the length and verbosity of your posts to scare away any sort of popularity, and stopped responding to comments.

It’s not too late to get back on track.

“Mencius Moldbug”:

Visitor,

I hate to say it, but you’ve found the secret to chiding me into submission. Please don’t spread it around.

” If Moldbug wanted salvation he wouldn’t live in San Francisco.”

Maybe it’s living there that inclines him to think on such matters, if he does. (“… he delivered Lot out of the destruction of the cities wherein he had dwelt.”)

I believe MM has a young child, a daughter. That often affects one’s perspective.