A bit more writing and a bit less ‘debating’?
This is a site essentially about writing. The clue is in the
title. I’ve personally found the Cloud and its members
hugely helpful to me as my writing has developed. It is also as
good a social networking site as any I’ve come across.
The Cloud’s key joys are that a) we can talk of what we will and
b) that we meet, virtually, a wonderful range of characters who
offer a fantastic variety of writing and life experience.
As one Clouder has already said, for writers any subject is a
legitimate subject for discussion. However, I wonder if things
might be getting out of balance. There are plenty of sites on
which those who know they’re right (or that others are wrong) can
do their blogging dance of the deaf with those who disagree on
politics, religion etc. And where, if they wish, they can indulge
the bad manners of attacking the person rather than what he or
she has written.
This may be good ‘cut and thrust’ but it’s ultimately
unsatisfying — can anyone remember a single Clouder’s view
changing as a result of the rather bitter exchanges we’ve
witnessed recently? This may be because changing someone’s
viewpoint may not have been the aim. It often appeared more like
a wish simply to defeat someone or have the last word.
How different it is when it’s about our writing. Time after time, my views of what I’m trying to write have changed partially or completely when others have been good enough to read and offer comments.
Most of us joined, in part at least, to improve our writing and to offer mutual support to other writers. Subjects, such as politics and religion are hugely important but I suggest that as writers, we try to illustrate how they impact our lives and the lives of others through our writing. Or by creating stories to make our arguments (the moral tale can still be a great read). As writers, we might get more from it than we do from doing what we can all manage rather too easily, namely rehearsing our inflexible opinions in public.
Enough! I’ve already gone on too long.
40 Comments
For me, I care that there are children among Clouders. Young minds are impressionable and much of the doom-laden dogma we see posted is sending them a message of despair. There's too much of that on other networking sites and in times like these, young people need encouragement and hope.
There have been countless times when people have tried to end a blog, or ban certain subjects. The question I would ask is: why can't people just avoid a blog if they don't wish to get involved?
I don't support censorship - people can talk about whatever they want to and if no one else is interested, the blog disappears in the undergrowth very soon; but if it gets nasty and personal and disrespectful, I wonder. When the heavy guns come out, others stay away in droves. I sometimes think there's too much talking and not enough listening. Or too much telling and not enough showing.
This isn't directed at any particular blog, btw - there have been many over the years and as I say, I don't read them once they start kicking off because I find it too painful; the few lines that appear on the front page give me enough of an idea of what's going on.
On the flip side, watching how they pan out does give insight into human nature and relationships!
Anyway, back to work for me. Bills to pay.
I'm all for good manners and as Pim says, 'showing' your views through a thought-provoking story well-told, can be more effective in swaying people to your point of view than any amount of thumping. And I like the initial cartoon. And the 'dance of the deaf' :)
I agree with Ron that we can all avoid certain blogs if we don't fancy them. But what upsets me about some of these discussions, and makes me back away from them pronto (in common with others who've mentioned it here), is when they get personal and the Cloudy equivalent of two people squaring up to each other outside a pub after closing time. Because then the antagonism seems to spread all over the Cloud like a, um, cloud.
I must add, though, that I have even seen critiques of someone's work degenerate into a slanging match and name-calling, so quite honestly I don't think any area of the Cloud can be relied upon to be completely peaceful and rational.
Fantastic cartoon, by the way!
Good question Pim, and lots of worthy clouders have given replies that I agree with. But, as writers, it is not only any subject that is suitable for us to read, it is our reactions to those topics that is as important. How can we write about anything or anyone if we are not aware.
This is a writing site and there are places to discuss that - aren't blogs meant to be personal? Are we expected to only write about the rejection slips, the agents or how our writing is going? It would get very boring.
There have been some very funny blogd, moving ones and annoying ones, just like life. Hopefully if we ignore the unpleasant people they will go away.
The children who join Cloud are usually very well read, and are talented writers. I too care, like Amarantha about the children and would hope that cloud could be a site that gives encouragement and hope - they are more likely to be published than me.....:)
Can I just add that no one is an expert...we are all here to learn, published or unpublished ...
Happy writing, clouders :)
Blogs of various content are here to enjoy or ignore at our discernment as Spangles pointed out. After the great editing event on the norwegian blog, I told myself that I would ignore the contentious ones and sit on my hands...
That lasted a week or so, With any group as diverse as this one has to be. we find a wide variety of experiences and opinions to play with.
I find some posts irresistable and respond to the provocation in kind.
Some who I have crossed words with I have ended up respecting much more after the discourse. Others, the opposite.
Terry, AlanP, Both Mikes, Ron blanco, have posted astonishingly sage and valid points which have allowed me to introspect and reconsider my first impression of them and the points they make.
Others, the opposite.
I hope the debates continue to stimilate, annoy, insult and provoke us into thinking things other than our normal thoughts.
..and as Ron Blanco said, inspire us to create that which we might not have.....
Orf to the Duck and Dive for a few jars of scrumpy, a laugh and some great conversation with some friends and ghosts.....
Tres Dull to some....Reason du etre for others......
Prop
As for the blogs - I tend to steer clear of the more political ones on the whole. If I can feel the blood pressure rise, I delete what I have written and walk away - life is simply too short.
Looking forward to another pleasant season on the Cloud. It always comes around again, however bleak it may seem at the time. I've made some jolly good friends and learnt some jolly good things. On balance, it's a plus in my life.
Nothing is ever perfect, but cheer up, people: it could be a hell of a lot worse.
Scanning through some of the comments above I'm sad to read that some youngsters have had a bit of a roasting regards to their work. (I've obviously missed them) I've never looked at ages on this site. People are people.
I know this site requests that you be 18 or over to join but it's a writing site and I for one am quite happy for youngsters to join. (young in mind or young in age, makes no odds to me).
I find this cloud world is a family that loves, bickers, lets loose it's fury on subjects sometimes but a choppy sea soon settles and tornado's and thunderstorms soon blow themselves out - eventually. But always loves again.
I continue to learn so much from this site. Reading others thoughts and opinions helps me create more rounded charactors where I have difficulty. I've usually had very good critique from fellow clouders who've taken the trouble to read my help requests and point out what I'm doing wrong so that I've been able to try and put it right.
Yes, I agree, this place is one of the most civilised I've visited. I also agree that due to it's naturally high standards, the odd bickering stands out more.
Love
Nibs
:o)
But hey, I don't think I have seen crits where the comments have gotten personal, even if the blogs have; but then if we ever manage to publish, we will no doubt have to face the slings and arrows of literary critics who are paid to be smart - so perhaps we should just see this as another lesson to be learned on the cloud.
If I'm contributing my time to under cover 'agents' or trolls I'm out of here too
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