Blogging
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Blogging or technically, web logging, is basically like an online journal or diary – blogs may contain random thoughts, songs, poems, forwarded emails and re-posted articles or as it goes these days, blogsites may take on a specific topic or theme like Post Secret.
I realize that in maintaining a personal blog and deciding to talk / write about certain controversial topics like sex, morality, politics and religion, you open up yourself for potential confrontation or debate. When I was going through the comments on my Keeping the Faith entry and the messages that came on my Friendster inbox regarding the same, a friend who I was chatting with mentioned that that’s how it is when you’re writing – you can be writing objectively but sound judgmental.
In journalism, the writer needs to be careful with his/her words unless s/he intends to start a catfight or a libel suit. In blogging, I realize I can’t always be politically correct with the stuff I write about. While it is always my credo to maintain balance on my writing, parties may still feel offended – and as I observed, these offended are usually the ones who are not willing to be put in equal standing with the others.
People who know me can attest that I have a lot of thoughts regarding religion, morality, relationships and sexuality. What I have to say may challenge orthodox or traditional concepts especially here in the Philippines – where people like to pretend they’re uptight and conservative.
But I do not care. My friends who have come to me to consult with their problems regarding the mentioned topics usually get the answers they are looking for. I do not force upon them biased or traditional concepts and get all judgmental. I give them different answers because I know each person is unique and will think and act differently. That is why it helps that I have an open mind. Do not however equate open mindedness with blind acceptance. I have my own set of morals and nothing will shake it off. I just know how to adapt to different types of people when they come to me with their problems. This way, they find the answers they need. Actually, and usually, people confiding problems are just looking for people who could echo the answers they’ve already figured out by themselves.
For me, tradition and orthodoxy cause most of the complications to personal problems most of the time. What does society suggest that a battered / emotionally abused wife to do? Pray over it? Stay with the husband and hope for change?
What do parents do when their teenage daughters get pregnant? Marry them off quickly before the neighbors start noticing the slight figure change? Send the girl back to province where no one knows her and stop her schooling?
Sounds familiar? That’s because that’s how it goes here. To hell with your feelings and decisions as long as you don’t embarrass the family.
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Blogging or technically, web logging, is basically like an online journal or diary – blogs may contain random thoughts, songs, poems, forwarded emails and re-posted articles or as it goes these days, blogsites may take on a specific topic or theme like Post Secret.
I realize that in maintaining a personal blog and deciding to talk / write about certain controversial topics like sex, morality, politics and religion, you open up yourself for potential confrontation or debate. When I was going through the comments on my Keeping the Faith entry and the messages that came on my Friendster inbox regarding the same, a friend who I was chatting with mentioned that that’s how it is when you’re writing – you can be writing objectively but sound judgmental.
In journalism, the writer needs to be careful with his/her words unless s/he intends to start a catfight or a libel suit. In blogging, I realize I can’t always be politically correct with the stuff I write about. While it is always my credo to maintain balance on my writing, parties may still feel offended – and as I observed, these offended are usually the ones who are not willing to be put in equal standing with the others.
People who know me can attest that I have a lot of thoughts regarding religion, morality, relationships and sexuality. What I have to say may challenge orthodox or traditional concepts especially here in the Philippines – where people like to pretend they’re uptight and conservative.
But I do not care. My friends who have come to me to consult with their problems regarding the mentioned topics usually get the answers they are looking for. I do not force upon them biased or traditional concepts and get all judgmental. I give them different answers because I know each person is unique and will think and act differently. That is why it helps that I have an open mind. Do not however equate open mindedness with blind acceptance. I have my own set of morals and nothing will shake it off. I just know how to adapt to different types of people when they come to me with their problems. This way, they find the answers they need. Actually, and usually, people confiding problems are just looking for people who could echo the answers they’ve already figured out by themselves.
For me, tradition and orthodoxy cause most of the complications to personal problems most of the time. What does society suggest that a battered / emotionally abused wife to do? Pray over it? Stay with the husband and hope for change?
What do parents do when their teenage daughters get pregnant? Marry them off quickly before the neighbors start noticing the slight figure change? Send the girl back to province where no one knows her and stop her schooling?
Sounds familiar? That’s because that’s how it goes here. To hell with your feelings and decisions as long as you don’t embarrass the family.
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