Do you have a fear of blogging? Be it publishing entries on your own blog or commenting on others.
Now I don’t want to get off on a rant here…
But I am one that enjoys disagreement, debate, civil discourse and often times this is an invigorating thing. My father is very similar and one could argue if one were so inclined, that our relationship is based on civil discourse. Because of this I find that often times I enjoy engaging in conversations on controversial topics. I have mentioned this before regarding the old adage of the two topics you are never supposed to talk with people about; religion & politics.
Of course these are my two favorite subjects to engage others in because of the passion they exhibit when presenting their points of view. They are topics that can illicit debate that shakes the very foundation of what truth is and what it isn’t.
I am sure there are times that I should be choosing my words more wisely than I do. There are times when I just get diarrhea of the mouth and words, phrases, sentences and whole paragraphs flow from my lips or fingers as it were that should never have seen the light of day. That’s part of my personality, just like my father. My mother has learned that she is not responsible for what my father says and has tried to not be embarrassed by him. I don’t want my wife to have to feel that way because in many respects I do represent her to the world.
There are times to speak up and reveal or affirm a truth that is being attacked. There are issues that are near and dear to everyone’s heart that should not be suppressed. But there should be a use of caution when expressing these views. It is a rather difficult task to balance this.
So I say, don’t be afraid. Be bold but also be humble. And that is the rub. That is the precarious walk along that ever narrowing balance beam of the free expression of thought. When one over takes the other, no matter the result, you lose.
Of course that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.
Do you have a fear of blogging? Why?
Posted by price at February 16, 2005 09:02 AMI didn't have a fear of blogging until yesterday when everyone was posting the CNN article of bloggers getting fired.
Posted by: chris at February 16, 2005 01:08 PMJeff,
I have a few fears of blogging. The first is that I fear that blogging - and by that I mean reading blogs and posting on ours in an endless virtue-less cycle - becomes an obsession which excludes all else. I think this says more about my personality than blogging, but there it is anyway. I was like this with newsgroups back in the day. The second is my fear that blogging has revealed me to be a writer of little to no ability. I've always wanted to write regularly, but it turns out that I lack the talent. This is sort of frustrating, but I take heart in the fact that it others lack of talent doesn't stop them from blogging. Dabretman actually made the point that the best blogs are just people who blog their lives and do it honestly. I have to agree with him in a way.
I do have to say that I enjoy the civil discourse (yours is probably the best disagreement we get on our blog, and you haven't commented in a while - I hope we didn't offend) as well. I think that's what keeps me posting.
Cheers!
--j
Chris,
That’s just downright wrong, same as getting fired for being a smoker. I leave work at work, but never leave home at home. Home is where I live 24/7 and nothing work can do will ever trump my relationships at home. I hope you are blessed in the same way.
Jay,
Flattery will get you………..well it gets you a very big thank you. I appreciate your comment about your own blog and my participation therein. The main reason for my absence from commenting has been a lack of time to properly dismantle your points of view. (just kidding) I don’t get offended easily, but the name calling does turn me off; referring to our President as a Shrub does little to add to the veracity of your arguments.
I certainly understand the fear of obsession. When we spend most of our time behind a computer, you lose that human interaction that we are naturally drawn to desire. This lends itself quite well to falling into patterns that bring us that relationship, even if it is over the web. That’s actually how I met my wife!
As for your talent less writing style, we have much in common there or at least the perception of our own writing. I appreciate you sharing your fears. In proclaiming our weaknesses we fulfill exactly what I was talking about in being bold and humble. May you be plagued with both in your continued adventure through this world.
Posted by: Jeff Price at February 17, 2005 02:17 PM