Comments on: Accountability of Blogging

By: A Good Word « Pastor Patrick’s Brain

A Good Word « Pastor Patrick’s Brain — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:34:41 +0000

[...] Good Word 25 09 2007 My thanks to Steven for posting this entry on the accountability of blogging. When I read the message posted by Rick Holland at the [...]

By: Nathaniel Kwak

Nathaniel Kwak — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:20:53 +0000

stinkin encouraging and challenging post, steven. Thanks for it. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Gotta constantly be checking the heart, even when the intentions start off as good.

By: Nath @ Reformed Geek

Nath @ Reformed Geek — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:24:00 +0000

You raise a very important point in this article Steven. We continually need to check our hearts and motives before we hit the publish button. Blogs can be absolutely brilliant for spiritual growth or they can encourage pride and lead a blogger into sin.

Thanks also for the privilege of being in your Favorites list…

By: ASE

ASE — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:32:44 +0000

More important than our "web identity", who we are in the internet, or how we project ourselves in the net; I think it's more important to worry about the content, the ideas, the meaning of the message we want to publish and also how we do it. World-class magazine "The Economist" does not publishes the author's or editor's names of the articles. The reason they argue here for this anonimity, is an also masterful way of expressing the point:

The main reason for anonymity, however, is a belief that what is written is more important than who writes it. As Geoffrey Crowther, editor from 1938 to 1956, put it, anonymity keeps the editor "not the master but the servant of something far greater than himself. You can call that ancestor-worship if you wish, but it gives to the paper an astonishing momentum of thought and principle."

By: mcclaud

mcclaud — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 03:32:24 +0000

My blog is actually how I really feel about things. I find that if you try to cover up your intentions or feelings when blogging, it begins to sound artificial, and then later, you really don’t want to post anymore. Mostly because you start to feel paranoid about who reads your blog.

I can’t really unload at work. I can’t really unload with some of my RL friends. So I unload and let my online audience read it and determine for themselves how they feel. Note that I do swear and I do use labels. But I don’t expect anyone to really care or read into it.

I don’t just let any comment through, though, because I get a lot of s0-called Christian people who swear at me and say the most unbelievable things (for followers of Christ). Some of them are funny, but I spare people from their insanity sometimes and keep their comment to myself.

Just be yourself, and don’t try to impress or coddle people.

By: Yun

Yun — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 01:04:38 +0000

“I imagine that… this is similar to the incredible accountability that comes for preachers…”

S. Hong, M.Div…?

By: stevenhong

stevenhong — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:23:06 +0000

Gregfish,

Thanks for your thoughts. Like you, blogging has been a good exercise for my own growth.
For private journaling, however, I tried to switch to my computer, but recently went back to old-fashion pen and paper. At least for me, something about the mode makes it more conducive for recording those private thoughts with honestly. I think it has to do with the inability to hit backspace and erase the first thoughts that come to mind (which I do a lot).

By: jennifer lee

jennifer lee — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 22:17:10 +0000

i love what tia just said. and it’s perfectly true for me too…
“But for a glimpse of my real heart, don’t read my blog. Talk to my parents.”

By: Kau

Kau — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:05:40 +0000

I really appreciate the measure of accountability you get from blogging, its what caused me to start doing it again,

but I think we all can use any reminders to be cautious. Me especially.

Thanks for the post

By: tia

tia — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:45:31 +0000

That’s so true:
1. Just because it’s printed & posted doesn’t mean it’s authoritative.
2. Blogs aren’t the clearest means of discerning character. For instance, I tend to write more often about the aim rather than the attained . . . & because of that, my actual application is often miles & miles behind what I know to be true. But for a glimpse of my real heart, don’t read my blog. Talk to my parents.