Friday, September 12, 2008

True View Friday Open Thread


We did this last week and now we're doing it again. It's your turn to give us a glimpse into your world. Every Friday we will ask you to start the conversation by asking you two questions:

What do you believe?
and
What have you observed or noticed this week as you've walked through your world?

Your thoughts can either reflect inward, stating something you believe strongly or is commentary on your own experience or your thoughts can move outward, retelling something you've noticed or observed (a particular interaction with another person, the way you resolved a conflict, a wonderful connection) as you went through your week. You can also ask a question that is either directed towards all people or something you truly wish to understand about a community.

I like to think of this open thread similar to a two-dimensional Christmas advent calendar (so says the Jewish lady) where you peel back the little windows and you get a glimpse of the house underneath. Each comment is a small window in a world that is uniquely and wonderfully your own. And if you notice something amazing inside a comment, connect with the writer and let them know.

If you are stuck, try beginning your sentence with "I believe..." and then explain your reasons behind the thought.

In addition to providing a view into your world, please respond to a thought that someone else threw into the conversation by adding a (+) before the commentor's sign-off name and then adding your thoughts. In other words, when you open a new comment box, write

+lollipop goldstein--

and then your comment (eg. +lollipop goldstein--in asking us to present what we believed has opened a huge, messy can of worms*).

As I've already stated in the comment manifesto, all thoughts should be respectful. Points-of-view are, by definition, very personal and one person's thoughts are not meant to reflect everyone's thoughts within a community. Comments that attack another person, are hateful in nature, or are seen as simply picking a fight and not starting a conversation will be deleted.

So give us a glimpse into your world and teach us something new about your corner of the blogosphere. What do you believe? What have you observed? What do you want to ask? In other words, how do you view the world?


* This is probably true, but if we're not willing to talk out the hard topics, open our hearts to another person's world, listen, and build that bridge, there is little point to this site.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

My heart and mind can not be separated. I think with both-always.
This week two of my children's school teacher's asked me to "please join your child at home as they work on their project. Help them with the ideas and concepts, but don't DO the actual work with them."
I don't understand. Conceptualizing and brain storming are work. I assume the teachers are asking me to be non-biased and, if needed, hands off.
I simply can not. I am not their teacher; I am their mother and with this comes my heart and my mind.
I simply can not separate the two.

Lori Lavender Luz said...

I've noticed that, politically, people tend to come to their conclusions first and then find the evidence to lead to their conclusions.

And that's completely backward.

http://tinyurl.com/54ojve

Victoria said...

I believe I will never completely get how different people are in our ways of processing events, especially difficult ones. I LOVED the loop here yesterday on September 11 memories and found myself wanting to talk and talk about that day and my feelings around it. Many of my friends - 3D and cyber - reported wanting to remember in silence and that they have no words. I want to judge that and understand that it is much better that I do not judge - any more than I want them judging me. The diversity of human kind continues to startle me.

Victoria said...

+ averyopenbook - I always thought that the teachers who asked me not to DO the work just meant not to give the child exact words or write them down or actually solve the math problem. I definitely was not detached from my daughters' learning, and learn they did.

+and yes lori - good reminder - evidence before conclusions in all things.

Anonymous said...

I believe that those who have the intelligence to get by with little effort also have the potential to do incredible things. Just imagine if someone like that would put in the effort to apply themselves to their fullest ability...

THAT is how history is made.

Anonymous said...

+lori...You're spot on about people jumping to conclusions before they take the time to educate themselves about situations. Especially politically. It seems to me that the world would be a much better place if people would care enough to take the time to make up their own minds and form an individual opinion.