#5- Blogging is...well...hard work
Guys like Brandon Vogt, Dr. Taylor Marshall and Devin Rose have been blogging for a LONG TIME. They are blogging beasts. People like Pat V. and myself are relatively new to the blogosphere. Yet somehow Pat and I require bi-monthly blogging sabbaticals. If we can't find our debit cards, we take a break. What is going on with us (sorry Pat)?I will admit that I started this blog posting every half an hour. =Overkill. I guess that is why me joints hurt so much.
#4- People Act Weird On-line
With me, what you see is what you get. Any joke you see me write here, I would tell anyone in person--to their face. Boo-yah! In fact, I have. I like to laugh and make people laugh. I like to have serious conversation sprinkled with satire. I like to respect other people's opinions.Enter "on-line world".
I've run into some interesting humanoids to put it mildly. They will tell you things like "you don't love your children", "you are sowing division", or "that post was junk". My personal favorite is the person who "rooms a round the internet correctinging everyone's blogging post" (DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH THAT LAST PHRASE--IT WAS DONE ON PURPOSE FOR YOUR DISCOMFORT--TURN YOUR COMPUTER OFF AND GO UNWIND). Last but definitely not least, I LOVE Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous. The greatest thing since bread that cannot slice. Particularly the stand-up-and-show-em "Anonymous". It is just so darn...courageous...to be "anonymous" and all. Real bullet-takers, they are.
#3- You Can Meet Great People and Do Great Things
Besides meeting dozens of charitable, inspiring and faithful people, I have the great honor of gathering together a group of 20-30 somethings who will tell their Catholic story to a generation in dire need of it. I'm passionate about this project (Undoing Babel). One thing I know: this project would not be possible without blogging, social media, etc. Moreover, its success will depend on it.
Thank you, internet. Thank you.
#2- You Can Write Some Good Stuff
My most popular post this year was Anti-Catholicism Exposed: Three Types of Hate. I will tell you, though, that I much preferred the follow up to that post: Anti-Catholicism Antidote: Of Gods and Men and Us. When I wrote that post, I felt like I was doing something genuinely good, promoting real, genuine charity, and fostering the right kinds of attitudes. Sometimes I can come across as a little snarky (sardonic, yes--and where the two words are co-extensive, I agree). I honestly do not mean to be, and I think that had I been a cradle Catholic, the term would stick. However, this blog is about "Why I'm Catholic and other things about that...". Period. The "why" is historical not just rhetorical. There are websites out there for you to learn "100 generic reasons the Catholic Church is ________". This blog is about understanding those reasons within my personal history. Within that context, there will be room for laughing and the occasional no-holds-bar conflict.
Why?
Because that is my story. It is who I am. It is how I roll and how it went. You cannot confront inculcated ways of living, a religion antithetical to Catholicism, and sentiments that disavow the most basic Catholic notions without an occasional sledge hammer. Like I said, I'm the kind of guy who likes to laugh while I am working. (for all of those afraid of clowns, close your browser now!)
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| Me, if I were a clown |
#1- I Still Prefer Old Media Like...
Oxygen. It is a great medium for conversation. It allows for (1) eye contact, (2) a hand-shake, (3) body-language, and (4) the chance of following up the conversation with a choice beverage.
Telephones. I can hear your voice, you can hear mine. We talk in full sentences. I can tell if I hurt your feelings. I may even get to know you.
Nevertheless, new media is cool. Tru dat. Happy New Year!
What have you learned this year blogging or reading blogs?
