Comments on: Here and there

By: Matthew

Matthew — Mon, 07 Jun 2004 05:01:34 +0000

good point Digitaleus

By: Deborah

Deborah — Sun, 06 Jun 2004 13:13:25 +0000

Ladies need less stupid patronising lines in songs.

By: Digitaleus

Digitaleus — Sun, 06 Jun 2004 05:05:03 +0000

The problem with instance text-based media such as blogs, IM, and e-mail is that they make it too easy to quickly send curt responses that have large scope of misinterpretation, and because they are naturally archived for a time, make it much easier to catalogue wrongs.

As such, one should be very careful about admonishing people in such media, as it is much more like to offend than teach. For an action to truly have a noble intentions, it must go hand in hand with a critical assessment of its likely outcome.

In short: it’s much easier to effectively challenge someone you’re looking them in the eye at the time. That said, we needn’t always choose the easiest path.

By: Sternum

Sternum — Fri, 04 Jun 2004 02:48:36 +0000

Likewise, when I question things like “eco-justice” groups, etc. I know you can handle it Matt. However, unlike John, I would criticise strangers on their blogs.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 04 Jun 2004 02:42:44 +0000

Good comments John. I appreciate you speaking your mind here and elsewhere. Sharpens. Like I said, I’m not really thinking of blog criticsm. The phrase “mutual admiration society” also popped into my head earlier today.

By: John

John — Fri, 04 Jun 2004 02:36:49 +0000

I do vilify some things that you write, but not all the things that you write, only where I disagree with you or want to challenge your thinking. I try to use humour as much as possible even when being serious, especially to make serious points, because hopefully you will appreciate that humour if not the point of it. however, this can be misread, so I am sorry if it seems like a put down or anything like that. It is not. I will try to be less confrontational and more encouraging of the good things I see on your blog. I would also not challenge you so forwardly if I didn’t know you so well and you didn’t know me so well. I wouldn’t do so to a complete stranger on their own blog.

I don’t subscribe to the mutual admiration society that is blogging. I rarely see any challenging posts on any blogs especially where challenge is needed. True friends challenge their friends to get closer to the truth, they don’t subsidise error or sit by and do nothing. If you are going to put something forward in a public forum be prepared to discuss it in a public forum.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 04 Jun 2004 01:57:16 +0000

Not sure what you mean with “questioning each other in more serious discussions”.

By: k

Fri, 04 Jun 2004 01:53:39 +0000

i have noticed within the parts of your group of friends that i am familiar with that it seems to be the way they all enjoy interacting: mocking each other when joking and questioning each other in more serious discussions. from the outside it seems like not much fun really.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 04 Jun 2004 01:13:17 +0000

O I didn’t mean on the blog particularly. And I’m not crying myself to sleep each night. More of an observation than a complaint.

By: Sternum

Sternum — Fri, 04 Jun 2004 01:11:24 +0000

If your friends think what you are doing is not a great idea, then what is wrong with them saying that? I would expect my friends to do the same, especially when I am a confessing member of the Reformed Church and am expected to live a life that reflects that. If my Christian friends confronted me on an issue I can see nothing wrong with my having to defend what I do with scripture and reformed doctrines. Your friends don’t love you any less for these things, do they?