I was touched by most of the comments upon yesterday's blogpost - "Sometimes". People can be so nice, so thoughtful.
One comment stood out for me. It came from Bonnie in Missouri, USA. She articulated one of the best and most powerful features of blogging - seeing it as a vehicle for better understanding between nations and individuals. When we communicate through blogging we by-pass official channels of international discourse. We are ordinary citizens just getting along and learning about each other. That's surely a very good thing and a little anarchic too.
Bonnie said:-
"You find a lot in blogs today but for me I most appreciate the opportunities they give us all. There is so much in this world today to be concerned about but I feel if only we could all reach out to one another on a personal level as we see done in blogs that possibly we could cross some of the barriers that are put in front of us today. Blogs bring us together across the world and show us that no matter where we live or what we believe we are all more alike than different."
Of course there are many specific blog categories out there producing blogs that are purely informational or instructional. Blogs about cooking, cars or craftwork. Blogs about astronomy, astrology or antiques. Such blogs have their place but they are very different from the general blogs that I and no doubt Bonnie prefer - blogs in which people reveal themselves and reflect on the circumstances of their lives.
I commenced my blog in 2006; not far behind you.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy writing my blog and I enjoy reading the blogs of others - of those whom I follow.
However, I'm not a stalker...I make sure you are aware of my presence! ;)
Yes you do Lee - even though you are a timid, retiring young maiden who wouldn't normally say boo! to a goose.
DeleteWow. I am humbled by your kind words YP, thank you. And you are correct, I do prefer blogs that tell a story of the wonderful, everyday people of this world. In my opinion it is people that make this world worth living whether it is your neighbor next door or your neighbor on the other side of the world. I am grateful for all the bloggers out there that are willing to share a little of themselves and in turn help to bring us all together.
ReplyDeleteHang on Bonnie! With a remark like that I may have to make another post built around your thoughts!
DeleteWhile I have met many wonderful people through blogging, and it heartens and strengthens me on a personal level, if you go outside the bubble of like-minded people it can be an eye-opener. Not everyone is nice, not everyone is friendly, not everyone is in agreement with basic ideas of compassion and right and wrong. This has been in even greater evidence since Trump's ascension. Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I am reeling from the misinformation, cherry-picking of facts, and lack of empathy from some blogs whose writers look like decent people until you scratch the surface.
ReplyDeleteNow I've gone and gotten political, which I try hard not to do. It's getting more difficult to avoid it all the time. If we do not speak up, who will?
Your rider is worthy of note Jenny. However, I think of the old saying - "Birds of a feather flock together" and that's how bloggers seem to cluster. You are right that there are some unpleasant ignoramuses out there in the blogosphere.
DeleteAnd many bloggers cause us to stop and reflect . New info is given for us to use in our reflection.
ReplyDeleteThat's true Red. It would be boring if we were all the same.
DeleteSorry I missed your post of yesterday, Mr. Pudding. But I have read it now and I echo what you say. Thanks for a little ray of sunshine whenever I read you.
ReplyDeleteHello Mr C. I am gratified that you have enjoyed my contributions to the science of blogging.
DeleteSorry I also missed your blog yesterday. Congratulations Neil and thank you! I started reading your blog after reading your comments on other blogs and I enjoyed your sense of humour. Then I stayed on because of your sencerity, your humanity and for your excellent writing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bonnie "we are more alike than different".
Greetings Maria x
Thanks for being my only known Italian visitor. I very much admire your ability to connect with a blog that is not written in your first language Maria.
DeleteJenny has pointed out that not everyone is kind and friendly or has the same understanding about basic ideas such as compassion and right and wrong. I can see what she means by the "bubble", but I think if we read blog posts and - sometimes even more important! - other comments thoroughly, we become soon aware of such differences.
ReplyDeleteOn your blog, you have not been afraid to express controversial views and opinions, and you have had some comments that were definitely not friendly and not in agreement.
Not everyone is like me - when I don't agree, more often than not, I leave it at that and do not say much (or anything) about the subject. That is cowardly of me, I know.
Another example is Pat's blog (Weaver of Grass). Her readers all really like her (otherwise they would not be reading her blog), but between them, they often have VERY different opinions and also voice them.
That is certainly a good thing, as long as decency is maintained and people do not throw obscenities at each other or start discriminating someone for their different views.
For me, reading blogs from people all over the world means I get a glimpse into what the world is like for them. Most of them live completely different from my way of life; often, it seems very exotic to me what they do and how they spend their time. But even more often, like Bonnie and Maria have said, I find similarities between us.
Thank you for this characteristically well-considered response Meike and thank you for your friendship and support through the months and years we have known each other. It means a lot to me and it also means a lot that the spirit of Fred Fox is watching over you in your apartment.
DeleteRead yesterdays comment.
ReplyDeleteAlphie
Your wish is my command.
DeleteI wonder if blogs take the place of old-fashioned pen pals?
ReplyDeleteI believe you are right CG. There's something of pen pal companionship about it all.
DeleteI like Coppa's comments. Maybe blogging is like having penpals. Thanks for your comments yesterday. It is disturbing to think you and others have commented on my blog and they have not appeared in my mail inbox of spam (which I check regularly). I only introduced comment moderation as I was getting a lot of comments in Chinese or from bogus bloggers. Maybe it's time to undo that and trust most comments will be genuine.
ReplyDeleteUpdate... Problem solved. I had 120 comments awaiting moderation. For some reason they had not ended up in my email but within the blog settings!
DeleteOh. I am so glad that you got to the root of this ADDY. You were not being ignored after all!
DeleteThank you for alerting me to this. Your comments have been found and published!!
DeleteMy comment would have been a combination of the comments of Jenny O and Meike. As a person who has, more than once, disagreed with you and said so, I value the fact that we have been able to disagree and move on to the next subject. We have agreed much more than we have disagreed.
ReplyDeleteI like that too Graham. I like the fact that you are prepared to challenge points or ideas with which you disagree. What a sad world this would be if we were all yes men (and women).
DeleteWe agree on a lot of things, Mr. Pudding. Most things, I would say. I think most of your long-time readers think deeply (as you do), value family and friends (as you do), respect the natural resources and fight to preserve what we have and pass it on as our legacy. I think you and I try very hard not to discuss political things too much although at times, the stupidity and mistrust and downright horridness or our leaders ..... well, sometimes we just can't hold it in any more!
ReplyDeleteAs you know, one of my worse faults as a person who comments on your lovely blog is that......I talk too much!
Oh that is a relief Mama Thyme... I thought there was a big BUT coming but there wasn't!
DeleteI prefer personal blogs, too. I'm always interested in what people are doing and how they're living their lives. I love reading people's reflections about things and accounts of their days. As you said, there's a sense of commonality.
ReplyDeleteThere used to be a "Next Blog" facility on the top bar. I sometimes clicked on it to find myself looking at hobby blogs, religious blogs or other specific subject blogs. Not my cup of tea at all.
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