This weekend I was seeing some friends of mine in the city and one asked my if I was still writing this blog. I said yeah, my interest comes and goes, but I do enjoy doing it, reading the others, feeling like a part of the "blogtopia".
He said in reading the blog (keep in mind he is a baseball fan, not so much baseball card fan) that he can tell I am censoring myself, and kinda gave the impression that that may be why my interest and passion for this sometimes wane.
I agree, but don't know what to do to remedy the situation. After doing this for 6 months now, and reading a lot of my predecessors for what is more than a year now, I get to feel like the other writers are more than anonymous opinions and cardboard comments. I think in reading you get to know a lot about the other bloggers and you really do start to feel a sense of community. While I may not be able to pick most of you out of a lineup - I do consider us all friends in a way. And when you are a member of a community, you try to act within its unspoken rules. Try to be a decent person.
Not to say I'm not a decent dude - I feel I am A one if you ask me. But here is another thing I know about myself. I've got a dirty mouth. I try not to really curse on here so much. I've got an awful sense of humor. Not talking about "what do Mayflowers bring?" here... I make fun of massacres, all kinds of people (myself included) and don't get me started on religion.
I try to be a good citizen, and seeing as this isn't really a "personal" blog so to speak, I try to keep most of that out of here. If I were starting fresh, things might be different, but I don't want to say something here to offend someone that I already feel a bit of a kinship with.
I feel that most of you out there are adult enough that if you see something you don't like, you'd stop reading, remove from the blogroll, stop trading, whatever it may be. But I also don't want to start a fire (not that I am even sure I have enough of a readership to do so). But you know what, when I see something lame - I say my god that's queer. I don't really hate gay people, I am very pro gay rights to marry, adopt, live a normal life with everyday rights. This doesn't stop me from calling my friend a fag.
But how does everyone else feel about this? Do any of you find yourselves censoring yourselves here (or on your own blogs or comments you leave?). I know my intentions can often be confused. The purpose of language is to be understood... I know that changing how I express my ideas I can still get my point across, but I also don't know that I should or have to.
I'm not really sure where this is all going. It's just something that I was thinking about. Don't know that I have a point or that anything would change. I just know that besides for a F Bomb or 2 at SCU or a Craigslist idiot here and there, this is really a PG rating community. Do baseball cards really lend themselves to anything else? I'm not sure. Not saying that I wanna go NC-17 here, but I know that everything I type (and then erase) isn't always something I feel many people would want to read, or be comfortable doing so. But do I do this for me or you?
I Don't know.
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6 comments:
I say, be yourself. There is plenty of room for all kinds of different personalities in the community.
If you still feel apprehensive about doing that on this blog, given the six month history, start a second blog.
In the end, it's all about you and what you want to accomplish or vent about or whatever. Be true to yourself.
Based on what you've said, I'm probably more conservative than you (both politically and with regard to language). That being said, go for whatever you want. If you want to make dead baby jokes about the Washington Nationals, go for it. If someone doesn't like what you say, that's fine. I think our society has become way too concerned with making sure that everyone talks and thinks in a nice and proper manner. As long as you're not getting personal about it, don't worry about it.
If you want to call somebody a fat balding middle-aged white guy as an insult (instead of calling them a fag), it won't hurt my feelings.
I also say that the best way to be true is to "be you."
For me though, that's easier said than done...I find myself using sarcasm all the time, whether it's in day to day conversation, during my lectures in class, whatever. Unfortunately, sarcasm really doesn't work in type - in fact, I've posted many sarcastic comments that people mistook (I think I might have made that word up?) for my real feelings.
That said, I don't think there is a "PG" rating (or any other) that is particularly appropriate for cards. Sure, sports cards have the reputation for being for kids/teens, but how many kids do you EVER see buying cards in the card aisle at the big box stores? Exactly.
I find I censor myself all the time. I know from hearing from some readers that they and their kids read my humble blog. That stopped me right there from doing some things I would normally do. I tend to go off on what my wife calls "Dennis Miller Moments"... I've stopped doing that on Waxaholic. For better of for worse.
Steve
Be yourself. As long as you are comfortable with what you right.....who gives a shit what anyone else thinks. (of course I just deleted 2 lines that might have been taken wrongly)
Totally agree with the writing and sarcasm.....I am much more at home doing public speaking versus writing.
Duane
If you want a wide audience, I think some censorship is required. Kids do read it and some people in general are offended by foul language or whatever.
But you have to balance that with what a blog is all about -- saying exactly what you feel on whatever topic you're talking about.
I've censored myself a couple of times (about other things -- I'm not much of a curser, but certainly have the sarcastic streak). But my blog is pretty much who I am. If you do decide to go all out, I know I won't agree with everything you say, but again, that's your prerogative.
With the history you have in this blog already, maybe Steve's suggestion is good -- start a second one. But if you find your heart's not in both, then go with what interests you.
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