Friday, October 24, 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.

5 comments:

Victoria said...

I spent an hour this afternoon with a friend who is expecting his first baby girl next week and who is fighting a brain cancer which recently started to grow again. He is afraid, and he is HERE - right now. What I felt is that being here is much more important than being afraid.

Lollipop Goldstein said...

+Seastar: that is truly heartbreaking--the situation.

My observation is that it feels so good to read a book that's familiar. I have these great new books to read right now and I set everything aside to read an old favourite. And it feel so good to be in that space and remember reading the words the first time.

Victoria said...

+lollipop - I think I didn't share with the right tone about my friend. Yes, his situation is frightening but right now more heart warming than heart breaking. All involved are hanging onto hope and to each other.

I'm wondering what old favorite book you are reading. Like you I love reading books I've cherished before, and do savor the memories not jus tof hte stories but of the reading before.

Anonymous said...

It's Saturday, but I'm jumping on board. As I took my walk this morning, I was happy to note at the end of the first block, three of the four corners had Obama signs in the yard. I live in a traditionally Republican stronghold. I have never seen so many Democratic presidential candidate signs here- we are close to a 1:1 ratio.
Book: since the age of 13, I reread Pride and Prejudice at least once a year. I usually grant myself a whole weekend to read it cover to cover and do nothing else (except, of course, the requisite eat, sleep & pee). Another favorite that I reread is "Winona's Web" - seastar - you might find some comfort inside its pages.

Victoria said...

+Terry M - THanks for the refernce to Winona's Web - can always use another good book. And the Obama signs, we've been enjoying them too, though in our neighborhod they are majority signs. My husband and I got silly in the car on the way back from early voting - calling out "Bad House!' everytime we saw Republican signs and "Good House!" everytime we saw Obama signs. It was a funny poltically incorrect moment that made me realize we are truly hoping about this election.