This is not directed at anyone who frequents this blog, but I was thinking and wanted to get the thoughts down.
A blog is a place where a person is expressing his/her own views of the world they inhabit. More often than not, the blogs I visit are not trying to force their views on me, nor are they negative in any way. These are the blogs I chose to visit. I know there are other blogs out there. I choose not to visit them. They are not political views I agree with, or they aren't religious views I agree with, or, they just don't interest me. I find I appreciate blogs much like the one I keep.
Yes, blogs are public--they are out there for the entire world to see. However, they are also personal. My blog is a place for me to collect my thoughts, record what is happening in my life, and keep a record of my girls' growing years. I don't mind sharing these things with those of you who visit me. In fact, I love to share them with you, you are one of the reasons I began the blog to begin with.
The public nature of blogs means anyone anywhere in the world can visit them. This is an incredible thing. I am astounded that with all the blogs there are that people would choose to visit ones they don't agree with. Jessie brought a blog to my attention today and asked that I please visit and leave supportive comments. I visited the blog and it was a lovely site. I was taken aback by all the negative comments the lady had received regarding her posts.
The posts this lady made were her personal opinions, feelings and ideas. She was NOT trying to sway people in either direction (politically speaking), yet people who did not agree with her political views, or the views she expressed were very harsh in their judgement of her. This upsets me for many reasons.
First, why in the world would you choose to visit a blog that did not share your views of the world? I guess to become enlightened as to what else was out there, but that brings up another point. If you are visiting to try to learn others' view points, why would you criticize those points in the comments?
Second, what gives you the right to judge another being? Has someone visited your blog and left negative comments so you are "returning" the favor by leaving negative comments for them? The Bible states (to the best of my memory) "Judge not lest you be judged." So often, many people leaving negative comments are "God fearing Christians". How is leaving negative comments at all a Christian act?
Finally, there are places you can go to vent your rhetoric. In fact, they invite these types of negativity. Why in the world would you go to someone's personal blog and ream them when you can go to one of the VERY public blogs and vent to your heart's content?
Let's face it, blogs are indeed public, but many are more public than others. I would guess less than twenty people read my blog in any given day. Less than twenty. That's it. Other blogs recieve hundreds or even thousands of hits a day.
If you want to be negative (again, this applies to none of you) take it to a more public forum that welcomes that type of commentary. Leave the more personal blogs alone!
7 comments:
Very well said!
I have been lucky that even when I've written controversial posts the comments I've received have been thought-provoking, not attacking.
I do visit blogs that espouse views that are much different than my own. The only time I've left comments that were in disagreement with the opinion of the blogger was when the blogger asked for a debate. Debating is one thing, attacking and slandering are entirely another.
Well said!! I, too, hate it when you see someone getting slammed. I don't understand it. There is a difference between giving an opinion and smacking someone in the face. Not to mention, if you opinion differs from the host, why not just move on? Not visiting that blog certainly makes more sense than being obnoxious. Then again there are those who just like to hear themselves talk...or type as the case may be.
Unfortunately people get all excited when sitting behind the computer and tend to forget their manners and seem to grow some cohones that they normally wouldn't have face to face. This is one of the elements of blogging on a site like this. Anyone can comment. I think Myspace.com has a neat set up that allows only friends to comment. So if you want to post a comment you first have to ask permission to be a friend. That would eliminate negative feedback.
Nice post Rach.
Ron has made a good point about the need for manners, especially when there are not the nuiances of facial expressions and gestures that can soften a difficult comment.
Blogging demands boundaries and discipline too. Rach, your comment about refraining from criticism is so important, especially if one is truly trying to understand a different mindset. I visit a number of blogs that 'challenge' my thinking, and I'm always grateful for the experience. Ultimately, I learn that people have the same needs, but just use different tools to express them.
I agree 100% Why would you ever visit a site that just made your blood boil? Where is the fun in that? I guess some people just like drama
I agree completely! Very well said.
I completely agree! Very well said!
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