I value blogging as a means of clarifying my own thoughts, keeping myself honest, and adding my voice to the dialog about what it means to be human in first few years of this new millennium. Still, there is much that disturbs me about the blogging community. Here is my mild-mannered rant:
- I hate it when we flame each other. Why do we do this? A real dialog presupposes respect. I do not share the opinions of many people whose blog I read. I do not read them to find people that are the same; I read them because they are different. They make me think and feel. I refuse to flame them because I chose to visit their sites.
- Personal bickering has no place in this forum. I do not edit comments. I refuse to delete anything that my readers post with the exception of advertisements (I deleted one comment about flat-screen televisions) and hate mail. I will delete anything that is openly hostile to any group (even those with which I disagree or have criticized), or uses inappropriate epithets (my call here). Yours is the right to call me an ass. I'll even give you the space to do it. I do ask that you be respectful in your critiques.
- I don't judge people. I question actions. I ask that we take responsibility for our decisions and not pretend that our pain, illness, the time of the month or Christ on a pony are at fault for what we write. I wrote the words in my blog. I am their author. I am responsible. Sometimes I overstate or do not edit well. I take full responsibility for that. Please do the same when commenting or when writing. I think that civility is becoming an endangered species. I run a civil blog, even if it can be somewhat opinionated.
- I admit that I am a leftist, love my country, love my lady and my daughters, have severe anxiety and depression, love to laugh till I cry and see others do the same. I don't understand the world, but am fascinated by it. Life is a great dance and I am a klutz, still I'm trying, very trying at times. I have a pet snake, love MM's St Bernies, listen to jazz, rock, and just about anything that moves me. I consider Blues to be what we will hear in heaven. I wonder what we did as a country for God to have judged us so harshly as to impose four more years of W as president. I'm an opinionated SOB that will fight to the death for your right to call me an idiot. I like hot sex, a good meal, beautiful music, passion of all sorts, walking, riding my bike, playing my music, and being with my beloved. If you can't get next to it, don't read my blog. I won't be hurt if you choose not to. I don't write it for you, I write it for me.
- But having said that... If you do read it I am deeply appreciative and hope that I will act in a way that validates your confidence. If I entertain you, good. If I help you to think about something, good. If I move you, good. If I become your friend, that is the best.
OK... Enough ranting. That did feel good, though.
Thanks for reading. I don't know why I have been so much thinking about God in the past several days. I am certain that it is not over. Just know that you, dear and gentle reader, are greatly appreciated by the Dancing Fool.
