Comments on: The nature of the internet

By: george

george — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:45:55 +0000

Sholers, this post absolutely warmed my heart. I am so thankful that you allow us a window into your journey with your words. Looking back along the path of the last seven years (and further!) I smile at the footsteps we shared. I have always tried to be temperate with my words, and the words of Baha’u'llah you shared serve to galvanize my resolve. I feel privileged to call you a friend, and I look forward to three weeks from now when I cross paths with someone very special to both of us, with whom you’ve already shared time along this golden road.

By: sholeh

sholeh — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:37:25 +0000

Great advice, Leila, I forgot to mention how important it is to think about how your actions may affect others, and to have some sort of review process before posting.

By: leila

leila — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:55:26 +0000

sometimes if i feel ambivalent about whether i SHOULD post about something, even if i really WANT to post about it, i ask someone else. someone who’s way more conservative about these things than i am. it’s mainly shaun.

living at home with my parents for the next few months, i have been given an unequivocal DON’T MENTION US mandate. they said they don’t want to “open my morning’s newspaper and read about what silly thing i did the day before.”

this is totally fair enough, and a reminder of limits and wisdom when publishing anything at all on the internet. it’s often a reason to be creative if one is restraining oneself, because i could totally vent and swear and opine as much as the next blogger, if i didn’t consider EVERY SINGLE TIME i write.

this is an important thing to write about, sholeh. thanks for mentioning it. also, the quotes. they are lovely and, as always, a comforting reminder of what high standards we have to aim for.

love from leila

By: sholeh

sholeh — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:57:32 +0000

Steve: exactly! It is so much easier to say something when you don’t have to face that person.

Heidi: wow, thank you! You know, some days I’m really not in a good space, but I write anyway. I do it because it helps me get out of that space, or because I know that my audience deserves a new post, or whatever. I just read your archives…you have a gift for writing…keep it up.

Duane: another lurker! Thank you for your comment. I love that different age groups are blogging/writing now…especially my parent’s generation. Y’all have a heck of a lot more stories than I do!

Barmak & Elliot: Thanks guys. Glad you liked it

By: Elliott

Elliott — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:34:31 +0000

Yup Sholeh. Good call, and good quotes, for sure.

By: Barmak Kusha

Barmak Kusha — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:10:59 +0000

Thanks Sholeh. Wow. 7 years and more! Great great quotes.. Themselves like the Water of Life for my day today. your brother, barmak

By: Duane L Herrmann

Duane L Herrmann — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:38:52 +0000

I have come, I have read, I have responded. I don’t write in my blog often (I can’t even remember the address, but it took me five years to learn my website address). As my kids say while shaking their heads in disbelief: “Dad, you are so OLD!” Well, there’s nothing I can do about that.
A blog can be a service, if its content is positive. I’ll try to do more, but I’ve also been writing some books, and that takes a bit of time, as well as my paying job, childre, grand children, etc.
Keep up the good work.

By: heidi

heidi — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 06:10:20 +0000

I don’t write in my blog much, but I often intend to more. Before I write, I want to be in a good space and hopefully communicate something worth reading while also being respectful. So yesterday I was thinking about Baha’u'llah’s words, “The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds.” Then I thought about all these blogs I enjoy so much, and my own poor neglected little journal. What first came to mind is that some blogs are so beneficial to read, to connect with other people all over the world, to share our insights, strength and frailties, hope and happiness, that the act of writing in them can be a good deed. And I thank you for sharing these thoughts and Writings that will help me meditate on this further, especially thinking about the question of justice in terms of blogs. Very cool. Actually, thank you in general for all the beautiful poems and thoughts you write and share that I’ve been quietly appreciating for a few years.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:10:56 +0000

A nice set of quotations worth reading over and over again. Thanks for posting them!

In my co-op house, I’ve discovered that even well-intentioned notes get misinterpreted. I’ve also discovered that I communicate differently when I have to look at the person in the eye. If I need to write something critical, maybe I need to get in the habit of visualizing the person reacting to my words. Hmmm…