Friday, November 14, 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.

3 comments:

Fat Chick said...

+lollipop goldstein: I very much appreciate the directions!

I believe that happiness is both a choice and a consequence. Each of us makes a series of decisions, and the results either make our lives better, worse, or maintain the status quo. How one chooses to respond emotionally is, I believe, a conscious decision. I was reminded of this in speaking with an acquaintance this week. She does not approve of my decision to start a family, and criticizes me for it. Yet, she is very unhappy, as she is single and childless and 10 years older than me. I feel for her, but on the other hand, this is her life and her choices that are making her miserable! I'm just glad I'm not stuck.

Brenda said...

+fat chick--I couldn't agree more!

I believe that the word "deserve" is thrown around with too little thought. I got some very good news today and the nurse, in her attempt to congratulate me said something akin to "This is such wonderful news. You have been through so much. You absolutely deserve this." My thoughts: "Yes, and so do a lot of people who share the same journey that I do, and those that walk a different journey."

Baby Smiling In Back Seat said...

+brenda: What's funny is that in situations where people actually don't deserve something, everyone fails to point that out.

"Congratulations on the promotion, but you know that there were several people who worked a lot harder than you did and would have done a better job."

Instead, people mostly think that to themselves or say it behind the person's back.