Boundaries- Things You Can’t Write About
“Sane and intelligent human beings are like all other human beings, and carefully and cautiously and diligently conceal their private real opinions from the world and give out fictitious ones in their stead for general consumption.”
Mark Twain
“I am not one of those who in expressing opinions confine themselves to facts.”
Mark Twain
“Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinions in good men is but knowledge in the making.”
John Milton
Listen closely and you’ll hear the echoes of the words that once lived upon this page. Less than two minutes ago there were 659 words residing here on my screen. Those 659 words told a story…poorly and consequently paid the price for their poor construction. So though it filled me with some dismay I nuked them one and all.
There are boundaries in blogging but the lines that demarcate those boundaries are not uniform nor will they ever be. Those lines are based upon subjective decisions that the authors work out with themselves and others. Sometimes they evolve over time…mine have.
But there is a distinction between establishing boundaries and choosing not to write about topics. I mention this because someone asked why I don’t write about politics and religion anymore. The answer I gave them is that I haven’t given up on those. They don’t exist behind one of the imaginary lines I mentioned earlier.
In theory it might be smarter not to write about them because they can cause trouble. There is a certain amount of acrimony sometimes arises from such things. And in theory if I want to build a community than acrimony isn’t really what I want, or at least not for the community I am thinking of.
But that is not really what has slowed those posts down. The blame for that lies in a lack of interest on my part. I haven’t felt a need or reason to write about those things but I expect that it won’t be long before I do so again.
Some of those posts turn out to be my favorites because they have led to much learning and growth and that is always welcome.
Leon Noone May 4, 2011 at 12:49 pm
G’Day Jack,
I always feel that maybe the attraction of Mark Twain’s writing is that he says, with wit, charm and disarming candour what lots of us are thinking. He seems to have the words we lack.
Perhaps the great Robert Gunning summed it up when he told us, “write to express not to impress.”
Make sure you have fun
Regards
Leon
Columbiarose May 4, 2011 at 11:55 am
This sounds like the factors in deciding whether to express a truth that might hurt… Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If you can write within those bounds about politics or religion, I’d like to read it. Regardless, I won’t bite.
Columbiarose May 4, 2011 at 7:55 pm
This sounds like the factors in deciding whether to express a truth that might hurt… Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? If you can write within those bounds about politics or religion, I’d like to read it. Regardless, I won’t bite.
Michael Suddard May 4, 2011 at 7:03 am
Sometimes boundaries are made to be pushed and broken in writing. Whether it be a new word created by the blogger because others just didn’t work right or come to mind.
As for the blog, I enjoy reading about your children and your take on average every day living (i.e. parking lots at big box stores). Do I come here for politics? Not so much as I don’t expect it here or at least that much. I visit other blogs and newspaper sites for that.
But that being said about politics, would I enjoy reading Jack B’s machinations about politics on this blog? Probably but even if I didn’t then there is lots of other stuff to read about and enjoy on the blog. I’ve come to realize as a reader the only person who controls the blog content is the blogger himself/herself. Blogs are whatever the blogger makes them to be and no one else can dictate what their blog can or cannot contain. That is one of the best things about blogs unlike newspapers, the ability of the writer to control what they publish or not publish.
Michael Suddard May 4, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Sometimes boundaries are made to be pushed and broken in writing. Whether it be a new word created by the blogger because others just didn’t work right or come to mind.
As for the blog, I enjoy reading about your children and your take on average every day living (i.e. parking lots at big box stores). Do I come here for politics? Not so much as I don’t expect it here or at least that much. I visit other blogs and newspaper sites for that.
But that being said about politics, would I enjoy reading Jack B’s machinations about politics on this blog? Probably but even if I didn’t then there is lots of other stuff to read about and enjoy on the blog. I’ve come to realize as a reader the only person who controls the blog content is the blogger himself/herself. Blogs are whatever the blogger makes them to be and no one else can dictate what their blog can or cannot contain. That is one of the best things about blogs unlike newspapers, the ability of the writer to control what they publish or not publish.
Leon Noone May 4, 2011 at 4:49 am
G’Day Jack,
I always feel that maybe the attraction of Mark Twain’s writing is that he says, with wit, charm and disarming candour what lots of us are thinking. He seems to have the words we lack.
Perhaps the great Robert Gunning summed it up when he told us, “write to express not to impress.”
Make sure you have fun
Regards
Leon
Carina Clark May 3, 2011 at 4:56 pm
That sounds like a well thought and self aware assessment – something that everyone can learn from.
The JackB May 3, 2011 at 9:01 pm
Maybe. I just try to think about how my writing affects those I care most about.
Carina Clark May 4, 2011 at 12:56 am
That sounds like a well thought and self aware assessment – something that everyone can learn from.
The JackB May 4, 2011 at 5:01 am
Maybe. I just try to think about how my writing affects those I care most about.
Stan Faryna May 3, 2011 at 1:10 pm
I would really enjoy reading about how you teach your children about the sacred.
The JackB May 3, 2011 at 9:02 pm
That is a good topic. I’ll cover it- can’t say when but probably soon.
Stan Faryna May 3, 2011 at 9:10 pm
I would really enjoy reading about how you teach your children about the sacred.
The JackB May 4, 2011 at 5:02 am
That is a good topic. I’ll cover it- can’t say when but probably soon.