I am writing what is painfully obvious to most people who read this site: the number of contributions has dwindled from 3/week to maybe 3/month.
My understanding of the purpose behind the creation of this blog is that it was designed to provide a forum for Democrat, Republican, or other as well as member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or other, to converse in a non contentious manner the state of the country and the world of politics.
The thing about this that makes me smile is that this site always makes me think of some of our best friends in the world, who happen to not be members of the same church, and who are also not politically minded. I smile because the first time we met them they shook our hands and introduced themselves as "Hi, I'm ____ and I don't talk about religion or politics." Ha! Can you get a better conversation starter than that?
Of course we asked what the story was behind getting those declarations over at the first introduction was, and we were told that every time this couple ever talked religion or politics with any friends....after a while they had a hard time being friends. Too much emotion got embroiled from belief systems to the point where the relationship was no longer viable.
I smile because this site, from the creation of its title onwards, embraces discussion of politics, and mentions religion from time to time.
So now that the contributions have become increasingly sparse, as have the comments, I wonder if perhaps a little too much emotion has gotten invested here. Are people not contributing or commenting because they are working longer hours, they are on vacation, they have final exams, they have lives outside of the blogging world? Or has this site morphed into something where people don't feel like contributing posts or comments to because they don't want to feel a personal attack for their political view?
These are just a few of my thoughts. What do you think?
Blogging: Not for the faint of heart
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24 comments:
Honestly, I think there is less conversation simply because there are fewer blog posts. Y'all posters should get off yo' backsides and post more often so us plebeian commentors (I refuse to use the word "commentator" - such a lame overcomplication) can, well, comment. :)
You have a point about talking politics hurting friendships. I actually don't talk politics with anyone in my ward because I don't want it to become an issue.
But, yes, posters - please write more! There's lots to talk about!
Amen! Most of the blog postpeople suck! That is at posting. I think Amy is about the only of the "called" postpeople that remembers this site exsists.
Actually, I think what really happened is that the liberals on here started realizing that their views aren't very rational and have since become conservative. And now that we are all conservative there is nothing to argue about:)
Rest assured, Matt, that is absolutely not the case. :)
I will talk politics to everyone and anyone that wants to. I am not interested in ramming my opinions down anyone's throat, but particularly as a left-leaning Mormon, I like to challenge people's views and have them challenge mine.
Frankly, if a friend is going to take offense to a rational political discussion between two people with differing views, I'm not sure how much value I would place on such a friendship in the first place. :)
I haven't been reading or commenting for the past little while because I had finals and then I had to recover from finals. Now that grades are rolling in and they're not bad, I'm back in the game.
Well, I most assuredly do have a life outside this blog ;) and I've been trying not to neglect my personal blog in favor of this one (which I was doing for awhile). Trouble is, now I'm neglecting this blog in favor of my personal blog! Two blogs and 2.5 kids is a lot to keep tabs on...
Also, I will say that I love discussion, but argument that feels like it's for the sake of argument is just not my cup of tea. (There's one way I differ wildly from my husband, BBD!) I have truthfully been a little discouraged at the tone of some of the comments, and at the liberal vs. conservative mindset that I think I sort of came here hoping to escape. I want to learn from people, but I had to step back because I was just getting frustrated and feeling like my opinions are neither wanted nor valued.
I don't want to only talk to people who agree with me, but I do have limited time and energy and I just plain don't want to feel like I'm wasting it circling the drain if we're not only never going to agree, but we enjoy needling each other and picking fights.
So there's my story. Mike and Kevin were never very "present" on the blog, so I feel like there wasn't as much of a "moderate" voice as I would have hoped. Makes me feel kind of all alone, and I get to do enough of being the Token Wacky Mormon in my real life that I didn't want to have to do it here too. It's exhausting!
I think we need to have another current events post where we talk about whatever.
I don't mind a little buttin' heads, I think it makes for a more enjoyable blog site. The posts that have little head butting consequently have few posts.
Often, the heated debates cause me to think the most! I just make it a point for myself to get over it if I am offended, as we are all just sharing opinions.
Wizzle, I don't blame you for putting off this blog with your 2.5 kids. We have 2 and man they are a lot of work!
That's a good point, Matt - the more "controversial" posts are, well, by definition, more controversial and they get us talking more! Maybe someone needs to get really audacious and post something outrageously inflammatory, or McCain or Obama need to be caught with a hooker. Actually, that wouldn't really be unusual - this is politics in America...
I do get "offended" too easily - always have, and though I'm better as an adult I guess I will always have this tendency. It's just hard sometimes to intentionally seek out an environment I know might not be entirely warm and fuzzy when I already spend my days policing unreasonable belligerents! Poor me, I know. :)
Well, I for one have been busy - I think what it really boils down to, as Wizzle mentioned, is a mix of both - Moving twice in two months (the second move is in 2 weeks) relocating to a new country, finishing school, finishing two jobs...it gets pretty intense - but, that will all be done by..the end of June then my wife and I will be on our own in a foreign country where no one speaks our language - I can promise you, this blog will be one of my major english communications then.
Also, lets be honest, we all get on each other's nerves sometimes, and, for me, that is sometimes a bit more than I can handle more than a couple of times a week - but I still think it's a great Blog, and I value it - I'm getting ready to post again this week - peace out.
Would one of the posters please create a thread on the Supreme Court ruling that just came down? Should turn into a good conversation...
My answer comes in two parts. First, I realized I could not continue putting in as much time, especially compared to some folks who can comment three times during the day before I can even check the site! Second, I got a girlfriend! I hope everyone can understand. I will try to do better, because Rick reached out to me.
Rick, I just want to let you know that you could never get on my nerves.
How does the blog cycle work here? It seems like there used to be posts about every three days and there was a rotation of posters. Now it's as if there is no routine or rotation.
By the power vested in me, I hereby appoint B.B.D. and Stephanie as official postpeople. Hey, somebody had to do it. I don't even know if Mike knows this site is still running.
Hee hee. I second that. :) (not sure if anyone else would though)
Well, that would indeed keep the left/right ratio intact. Honey, what do you think?
Sheesh, do you guys all think this blog is a democracy, or what? "Well, it's an anarcho-syndicalist commune..."
Reference anyone? I'll make you cookies!
Wizzle, since I gave you the quote, I won't give away the source.
I'm down with posting if the powers that be are similarly down. This isn't my blog; I don't get to decide. :)
I'm still here. Honestly, I'm the type that gets fed up with other people not doing something and thus I stop doing it too. So when we went through a time where I posted three consecutive times and sent out e-mails that nobody responded to, I just stopped. This is actually the first time I've checked this blog in about two weeks. I'm ready to get back on board if everybody else is.
I do think that some changes need to be made. We need more posters so we aren't relying on just six people with obviously busy lives. We need to expand our topics to include not just the easy-to-get-people-riled-up-over or the "hot button" issues. I think that we can have news threads. I think that religion needs to be able to be freely and openly discussed, which I thought was the case until Amy yelled at somebody for talking religion instead of politics. I guess that we'll see what happens...
Well, I don't check my email for this blog because I have had problems since the beginning being able to sign in to it. :/ I've gotten a new password from Mike more than once, but eventually I just gave up on that particular facet of the operation, so I only see what goes on here at Teh Blog.
I think we could add in another couple of posters without upsetting our karma too much (of course, if we make two of our most regular commentors into contributors, we will only have like, 3 readers left...
What? "yelled"? Ok, thats weird. Joel, I was trying to nicely suggest they get back to topic instead of attacking religions, which is against the rules of this blog.
I'm up for adding BBD and Steph as posters. I'm sure they have plenty of topics for the rest of us to rehash in the comments thread.
I honestly don't care about trying to keep a balance between RIGHT and LEFT political sides. I don't think that all the liberals are liberal on every issue, and the same could be said of the "conservatives" joel and kws. Having moderates or whatever just adds to conversation.
kay, Mike - Make them Posters - Byt he way, Wizzle - Monty Python and the Holy Grail - I'll epect those cookies, because I know you can get them to me!
Oh, all right smarty pants! I know you eat chocolate so get ready for some treats. :)
Mike, I was on your personal blog recently and noticed you have current posts there. Why not here? What's going on homeslice? You gotta represnt! (Mike, the Merkleys are in our ward. It's a small world in bloghopping:)
And she did! Rachael, you rule. Those cookies ruled too. Thanks :)
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