No Reason to Worry About What you Write About

Blog Away

Published on March 1, 2006 By JillUser In Blogging

After reading a lot of the responses to the recent activity her on JU I felt compelled to defend a few things about the site. First of all, I am sick to death of people claiming there should be some fear about what you write about in your blogs. If you really believe that, you haven't been paying attention.

Sure, you can't Title your blog 'So-n-So on JU is a @#$%'. You can't make your article about what an asshole some blogger, admin or Brad is. You can however make complaints about whoever you want in your article. Brad is more open minded about criticism than most people around. You just can't come on his site and make personal attacks. If that is unreasonable to you, than yeah, you do have to worry about what you write about on JU or you need to go somewhere else to blog.

If you want to write about how you like to have sex with barnyard animals, go right ahead. Label it adult content and blog away. People have blogged about many different things that are considered outrageous by many. Look how many people blog about illegal drug use, different sex acts, etc. They haven't been censored or booted.

If you think that refraining from personally attacking Brad or other admins is 'walking on eggshells' then yes, you do have to worry about what you write. Again, this is not an unreasonable request. Common decency is expected, no, demanded. If you can't handle that, too bad.

Finally, like TW pointed out in her blog, JU isn't 'fair' in the respect that all bloggers aren't created equal. There are different access levels. There are people who have earned some leway here and others who have done quite the opposite. This is something that is present throughout the real world too.

When I began blogging here I wasn't up front about my real world identity. I didn't lie about anything, I just didn't devulge anythint. I did this because I wanted to earn my own friends or enemies on my own merit. I didn't want people sucking up to me or hating me because I am Brad's wife. I think it worked out well because the people who met me before they knew who I 'really' was treat me the same now as they did before but I do think new bloggers who know my identity often weigh their responses differently.

Luckily, most bloggers here treat each other with common courtesy. Things get heated every once in a while but it rarely devolves to personal attacks. Brad doesn't ask for kudos or sucking up. He doesn't even ask that you refrain from challenging things he says. He only expects that you do it in a respectful manner and not make it into a personal attack. If you think that is too much to ask then I argue you are the one being unreasonable.

Comments (Page 2)

dharmagrl

on Mar 01, 2006

I've never walked on eggshells. I've never had to stop and think 'should I say this? Should I use this title or not?" out of fear of getting exiled or warned to behave. I've been here for 2 years and I've NEVER worried about what I should say/have said to Brad or Karma or anyone else. If you choose your words carefully, you can have a pretty heated debate (or argument) without ever cussing or being demeaning to the other person (people). It's not just about the words, though, it's about the tone and attitude too. I haven't seen anyone get banished for being decent to other people. I HAVE seen people kicked off for cussing and being a complete horses ass, and they really went for it in a big way. I've also seen people reinstated AFTER they've been a total buttmunch to Brad and to other bloggers - Myrrander is a good example of that. He was pretty mean to a few people, but Brad reinstated him after only a couple of days, I believe. So, that about blows the 'Brad's really sensitive and we have to watch what we say' right out of the water, because that's not the way it is. Of course, that's only my opinion - but we all know I'm right, right? Good.

JillUser

on Mar 01, 2006

I treat him respectfully due to his status as admin and owner of the site. I think that's a separate thing from personal respect.

Agreed. That wasn't clear in what you wrote previously.

There is no valuation of seniority here TW

My apologies...I'm slow. What does that mean?

That means being here a long time doesn't grant you any privelges. You don't get a higher user status just for being here a long time.

PS - As Simon Cowell would say, "I'm not being rude, I'm just being honest." Hehe. Seriously, though, I'm not trying to trash anyone, just attempting to lay my cards out on the table.

I have a lot of respect for Simon Cowell. I have respect for that. He has been rude though but when he was called on it in the case of Mandisa, he apologized. That is the sort of thing that earns respect. Some people, like Simon-EoIC, won't ever apologize or back down. I don't have any respect for that.

Of course, that's only my opinion - but we all know I'm right, right? Good.

Absolutely K!

Texas Wahine

on Mar 01, 2006

That means being here a long time doesn't grant you any privelges. You don't get a higher user status just for being here a long time.

Oh yeah, I know that. My thinking was just that I've been here long enough that if I were going to be noticed and upgraded to "glad you're here" status it would have already happened.

He has been rude though but when he was called on it in the case of Mandisa, he apologized.

He's been really nasty this season. He often says things that really need to be said, but the way he says them can be so hateful. Although, Paula's so syrupy that you kinda look forward to Simon's biting remarks.

Some people, like Simon-EoIC, won't ever apologize or back down. I don't have any respect for that.

I can understand that. I too gain respect for people who are willing to admit when they're wrong and apologize.

Myrrander

on Mar 01, 2006

I don't understand the leeway, personally, some folks been grounded as much as me and are "Power Users," yes, that's LW I'm talking about. *grin* It doesn't much matter, but why is a never-grounded hella-writer like Texas Wahine not a power user when LW is? It comes down to politics. The most distasteful conservative can advance here while the most acceptable liberal stays at level one. That's why LW is a power user and a great writer like Brandie is not. It's not a bitch about things, just something that amuses me.

Myrrander

on Mar 01, 2006

P.S. I've always said that JU should be advertised as a conservative blog site where liberals can post. That's honest. It's OK even. But don't advance troublemakers at the expense of good writers. That's not good. Be honest. This is a conservative website where liberal viewpoints are tolerated. That's grand! It makes JU better than Redstate.org et al. It's a good niche to have. Just be honest about it, and say up front that conservatives will advance in the power structure much faster than any liberal. It at least shows us our place up front so we can keep to it. Because if LW is a power user, then Brandie deserves to be one, for quality, quantity, and lack of trouble making.

Draginol

on Mar 01, 2006

I doubt Brad cares too much for me. I've been blogging here for over a year without a single raise in status, which means Brad doesn't really give a shit whether I stay or go. That's fine. I don't think it will hurt his feelings to know that he doesn't give me warm fuzzies either.

I don't really have an opinion one way or the other on you. I've been online long enough to know that it's difficult to judge someone from what they write, particularly personality-wise. People are rarely the same in "real life" what they're like online.

JillUser

on Mar 01, 2006

Myr, you couldn't be more wrong. Political affiliation has nothing to with status . Stevendadelus has elite access and he is VERY LIBERAL. TW rarely ever even ventures into political matters so your claim regarding her vs LW is totally unwarranted and misguided.

JU is about so much more than politics. There are people of all walks her blogging about anything in their life they want to blog about.

It's not a bitch about things, just something that amuses me.

You say a lot of things that amuse me too

Draginol

on Mar 01, 2006

I didn't raise LW's access so I can't speak to that. However, there are plenty of "liberals" who have good access too. Stevenandalous has had high access for a long time. There were a few others who have faded off over time who had very very high access.

Two of my closest friends are very liberal (one of which is probably to the left of you, Myrrander). I don't really care what someone's political leanings are in terms of deciding whether I like them or not or enjoy their writings or not.

Texas Wahine

on Mar 01, 2006

Myrrander: I sincerely don't deserve your glowing review or your advocacy, but I appreciate it. It's very, very sweet.

Draginol:

Hehe. That baffles me. I mean, I'm sure that's true for lots of people, although I hope no one gets the impression that I'm fake or different in RL than I am here. My blog is a journal as much as it is anything.

There were a few others who have faded off over time who had very very high access.

Kingbee

Myrrander

on Mar 01, 2006

right on, it isn't something I feel worthy of arguing about. You folks have been friendly enough to me, so grand. Steven and Kingbee don't stir the pot often, it seems pretty safe to raise them as token liberal elites. But it's all good, I'm not trying to pick a fight with anyone.

Your wife is a gem, Brad. I know you know this, but I want to say it anyway.

Cheers.

Myrrander

on Mar 01, 2006

(one of which is probably to the left of you, Myrrander).

I doubt that. But gimme his addy so I can read him to make sure. I'm always up for learning something new.

Draginol

on Mar 01, 2006

What I mean is how we present ourselves on-line can be very different from how we are in person because in person there are a lot more cues. You can't see body language, expressions, etc. on-line. In person, I tend to be pretty "goofy". But that doesn't translate on-line, especially if you're busy and only have time to state things briefly.

Draginol

on Mar 01, 2006

Well I can assure you *I* would not have raised LW's access above Citizen. I agree with most of her opinions but she had crossed the line too many times to get up there.

People who are really into politics tend to let it dominate them. On JU, I talk about politics a lot, but in "real life", I don't really give much of a crap one way or the other. So I'm sure from your perspective, promotions and many other things are politically motivated. But they're not. At the end of the day, people who write good stuff who seem stable make it up.

If you hadn't flipped out so many times in the past, you'd already be higher in access. You write good things and then you go into some sort of bipolar mode for a few days and write crazy things. In some ways, you're a left-wing version of LW.

Myrrander

on Mar 01, 2006

Thanks, I'm glad to know that. Maybe you give me awhile and I'll prove better. I am very much like LW and that's why we've butted heads so often. This wasn't a plea for higher access, just a musing. But now you've held out the carrot, so perhaps I'll chomp at it.

JillUser

on Mar 01, 2006

Your wife is a gem, Brad. I know you know this, but I want to say it anyway.

~blushes~ Aw shucks Myr. That was sweet.

Thanks, I'm glad to know that. Maybe you give me awhile and I'll prove better.

This is something that I love about you Myr. You could have gotten really defensive when Brad said you 'flipped out' but instead you took it as the constructive criticism that it was meant to be. I wish Marcie would take a page from your book. We all have issues. Some of us are honest with ourselves about those issues and don't mind getting constructive criticism (although it is a bitter pill to take sometimes) and others rather just get flippant and stick their heads in the sand. I'm glad you aren't one of the latter Myr.

You are always welcome on my blog Myr. Even when you just want to pop in to disagree with me

That's the spice of life afterall.

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