Comments on A Very Nearly Tea: Controversy at the Carnival, round two

That's too bad. I didn't follow her blog regularl...

2007-06-06T10:17:29.458-07:00

That's too bad. I didn't follow her blog regularly, but read it occasionally. She said she enjoys writing and blogging is a nice outlet for that!

I hope she just decided to pursue other interests rather than that something necessitating her exit from blogging. I always worry a little when people just disappear.

I had decided to start following Eireann's blog af...

2007-06-06T08:59:26.233-07:00

I had decided to start following Eireann's blog after this flared up, and now she's quit blogging, apparently. Oh well.

Thanks, Angela. And I appreciated your thoughts o...

2007-05-23T07:50:46.155-07:00

Thanks, Angela. And I appreciated your thoughts on the issue. They are here, for anyone interested.

I am on the tail end of this conversation, but wan...

2007-05-23T05:25:09.976-07:00

I am on the tail end of this conversation, but wanted to say I agree with your post. As one who homeschools for secular reasons and frequents many of these blogs for their educational content, I am saddened with the response.
I do agree that one can still have a strong faith and opinions and NOT be rude to others whose faith,or lack of it, differs.
I chose another route, and blogged about it yesterday.

Thanks, Alasandra. You make a good point about th...

2007-05-22T19:07:55.691-07:00

Thanks, Alasandra. You make a good point about the cultural thing. I hadn't thought about that, but I know I read posts with limited profanity now and again, but barely notice it. My husband is Australian, and while his language has tamed considerably since moving here, I am used to that sort of language.

I've read a number of unschoolers posts, although more back when I hosted the CoH last because hers was a new blog for me. I've never had issues with people I disagree with.

I enjoyed reading your post.I do want to point som...

2007-05-22T13:33:14.314-07:00

I enjoyed reading your post.

I do want to point something out to everyone. I enjoy School of Thought, so I have read most of the post, and yes some contain profanity (hard to explain but to me it's not offensive it's more a cultural thing - she reminds me of Nuala Anne in Andrew Greely's books.), but when Eireann started submitting post to the CoH I noticed something right away. All her submissions were on homeschooling and non had objectionable content. She apparently took the time and trouble to make sure the post she submitted wouldn't offend anyone.

I really think if you are going to host a CoH you should link to all submissions as long as they aren't objectionable are totally Off topic.

People you have a back button, if you find a blog objectionable don't read it, but it's not your place to decide if others can/should read it.

I also link to blogs I don't agree with 100%. I link to one science blog because his post on science are interesting. His attitude toward homeschoolers on the other hand is irritating.

Thanks for a really great post on the subject.

That whole Nazi mom thing got edited out after my ...

2007-05-17T02:50:33.469-07:00

That whole Nazi mom thing got edited out after my original post got way longer than intended and I decided it was only tangential, anyway. Ironically, I have difficulty getting HSB blogs to load, and yours is one of the few I bother with.

I agree that HSB can link to what they want, as I stated at the start, just as unschooler and the rest can refuse to link to Christians, the carnival and all of HSB.

With this being a carnival, I feel the editor in general should be careful about exercising that right or perhaps decline to host.

A little rewording of the rejection, and most of this post wouldn't have been. It is something I noticed a long time ago and decided to drop numerous times. Merely pointing out their audience and their linking policy (whether it is published or not, I know they have to have a policy regarding what they will link) would have sufficed. That bit about guarding my "safety" as opposed to the offensiveness of the blog in question rubs me personally the wrong way.

What I find interesting is that in all of this is that the only person in my comments who has so far defended HSB's stance is an atheist. All of us Christians who are so opposed to the free exchange of ideas seem to agree that the post should have remained. Maybe with a warning about the content of other posts (which would have probably driven more traffic, anyway!).

Hello, it's me again...I just went and read Tia's ...

2007-05-17T00:21:09.761-07:00

Hello, it's me again...
I just went and read Tia's Re: in last week's COH comments, and I can understand what she did based on the fact that she, as HSB Editor, is looking out for everyone who has a blog on HSB... adults and children.

Of course, she may have done the same thing had it been her personal blog, I don't know. I do think she tried to not make it a big controversy and handle it as best she could.
Tough call.
I read unschooler's comments and opinions of me - someone she doesn't know in the slightest - based on a few words in a post.
Whether you believe it or not... what comes around goes around... er, better yet... O; What you sow, that shall you reap?

Tough call, like I said.
I do think it is a shame that the blogger who was offended was actually wanting to find out more about unschooling and found what she considered objectionable.
I know that I browse homeschool blogs to glean insight or info on other ideas and methods. That is one good thing about the COH, isn't it???
ok... NOW enough said, I think.
-J

Oh sheesh...It's kinda' funny that I caught this p...

2007-05-16T23:59:35.949-07:00

Oh sheesh...
It's kinda' funny that I caught this post. I guess I'm outta the loop... funny thing is that I am one of the posts from last week's Carnival that unschooler blamed for boycotting the COH in the first place.

I didn't know about the submission rejection, just that after she exposed me as "whatever" on her blog, she felt the need to sensationalize it and post about it at least 1 more time, and maybe 2.
That and the outrage over the post not being accepted seems to conflict with the whole assertion of "Actually, I'm not blogging for readers either. I started my blog for me. Selfish? Yes. Honest? Yes.
So read it or don't. I could care less. ", though, doesn't it??

I am still getting a reader or 2 coming from the posts she did in RE: to my post on "back-talking", and I noticed there is a new one.

I understand that she, as an atheist, doesn't include Child Training for the Lord 101 as curriculum in her homeschool, but her boycott is the same thing as if I got upset because there were submissions included on the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling - or unschooling, etc., because I integrate the Heart of Wisdom approach in our homeschool. Some - many - homeschoolers integrate a Christian faith into their teaching, and it should be expected that they include it as a natural part of their homeschooling, in their homes, their teaching, and even on their blogs.

I am not sure that I would have declined her submission. It is the COH, not the CoChristianH. I understand HSB's stand, though, and I do agree with Ed on the premise that "it's my blog, and I'll link if I want to...", but I think I would have rejected or accepted based on the merit of the submission and added a warning. I, as an adult, can decide based on the content of the post if I want to read other posts authored by this individual.

Ok, this is long enough!
I'm working on those submissions for you...
ttys... J
homeschoolblogger.com/JacqueDixonSoulRestES

Since I dropped the bomb on the whole COH gag, I g...

2007-05-16T15:22:07.697-07:00

Since I dropped the bomb on the whole COH gag, I guess I should elaborate on my previous comment.

Here's the skinny...I blog about whatever I please. Blogging is my zen. Religion and church & state topics are my hot button right now. Blogging about them...in whatever manner I see fit is my right.

I enjoy sarcasm and the occasional profane term should be expected. I could really care less about whether some people feel that it makes me look ignorant. Ignorance is not saying what you really mean because you may offend a reader or two.

BTW...I'm not blogging for traffic. Traffic is idiot science and numbers mean nothing in the end. Actually, I'm not blogging for readers either. I started my blog for me. Selfish? Yes. Honest? Yes.

So read it or don't. I could care less. I'm not being disrespectful or rude...I'm just being honest. I'm sorry if I didn't construct a properly poised comment. I hate being fake.

I think the most disturbing thing is summed up in ...

2007-05-16T13:20:56.423-07:00

I think the most disturbing thing is summed up in this sentence: "If you are at risk of losing your faith based on a blog post, maybe you should rethink this whole internet thing."

Why do Christians feel so threatened by other views? Perhaps their churches aren't doing a good job educating them about the facts of our faith. It is sad that these folks feel this way because they certainly can't go out into the world at all.

I tend to agree, Ed. I don't understand the need ...

2007-05-16T10:55:33.399-07:00

I tend to agree, Ed. I don't understand the need to control content on other blogs. I don't particularly care what either side links to or doesn't link to...but they are doing the same thing whether they realize it or not.

I'm an atheist/agnostic who fully supports any blo...

2007-05-16T09:48:12.135-07:00

I'm an atheist/agnostic who fully supports any bloggers right to accept or reject any submissions. It's your property and no one has a right to your space or time.

Furthermore, there's absolutely no reason why anyone should feel the need to use profanity on their blog. I wouldn't do it simply because it would make me look ignorant, but also because I run the risk of alienating potential readers who would then not have the benefit of my messages.

People who do that in their blogs either don't believe in their own messages or they are intentionally being controversial--probably because they think it's the only way they'll get traffic.

But why would anyone want to alienate their audience? I have no idea. But the bottom line is that "censorship" is something the government does. Private owners of property are under no obligation to provide a stage for those with whom they disagree--that is not censorship.

Great post. You really summed up my thoughts on t...

2007-05-16T08:54:29.383-07:00

Great post. You really summed up my thoughts on this whole thing - both sides.

Milehimama: I agree. And perhaps that is how I w...

2007-05-16T08:06:19.334-07:00

Milehimama: I agree. And perhaps that is how I would have handled this post, were I the host, although I doubt it seeing as the actual post in question had nothing wrong with it. There is nothing wrong with providing a warning to a link...I have, but I think it had to do with profanity. My warning was a tad sarcastic, but I'll leave it. : )

Judy, that has summarized my feelings for a long time. I'm not saying Christians are necessarily any better at this, but the sites I read don't engage in it. My thoughts as a Christian are "egregiously offensive" as a conservative and a Christian. Don't waste time trying to convince me you are a "free thinker" or open to open debate when you go forth with a premise like that. (And not all secular hsers are like that, but it is an idea I run into a lot on the blogs I read, especially in the comments.)

Dave, I agree. I might have gotten into it more if it hadn't been resolved before I got to it. I censored a post for my carnival...it was about homeschooling but against it. Funny thing was, I was inclined to accept it and have the guidelines changed for future. I still could have, but decided not to after discussion with Henry.

Rusty, I couldn't agree more. A carnival should not censor except where the entry is clearly a violation of the guidelines set out. As a Christian hosting, one needs to be aware that there will be challenges to you worldview...even coming from other Christians. As a non-Christian (hosting a homeschooling carnival) you need to be aware that Christians may participate. They may even talk about how Christ is the center of their homeschool.

Good post, Dana.I think that using the word "censo...

2007-05-16T07:29:01.767-07:00

Good post, Dana.

I think that using the word "censor" is a bit harsh - the blogger is still free to post, just not on that particular site. Yet any potential conflicts should have been addressed beforehand.

There's nothing necessarily wrong with having limited "memberships", if you will, but such parameters should also be clear, from the start. Within the context of a blog carnival, however, such a limit on participants will stifle, in my opinion, the discussion and debate. I suppose, with regards to one's own blog, it also depends on just who your intended audience is. With my culture blog I'm open to visits by those diametrically opposed to my worldview. I've had lively discussions with such visitors, in the past, and I think that has helped some of the visitors to my site that happen to agree with me.

My blogroll includes a few sites that promulgate views I do not agree with, and my Google Reader list includes many more. I believe that we, as Christians, need to be fully aware of the current secular worldviews, especially if we are preparing our children to become adults.

It was a mistake for HSB to volunteer to host the ...

2007-05-16T06:18:22.212-07:00

It was a mistake for HSB to volunteer to host the COH, knowing that their blog policies conflicted with the standards of the COH.

Dana I agree with you.. we are all supposed to be ...

2007-05-16T06:04:35.517-07:00

Dana I agree with you.. we are all supposed to be grown-ups..

Don't like something you read.. don't link to it.. or just skip it.. but allow everyone else to be able to make that decision too. That's why censorship is wrong. It takes away a person's ability to choose for themselves.

Also I find this whole Internet arguing thing to be somewhat juvenile and a waste of my reading time. We forget that we all have one thing in common.. homeschooling our kids. Everyone has different beliefs and methods.. and we ought to all accept that reality cheerfully knowing that the bottom line is that we are doing the best for our kids... each in our own way.

Well, I "censor" my links and blogroll - I've got ...

2007-05-16T04:26:56.292-07:00

Well, I "censor" my links and blogroll - I've got a few blogs I enjoy regularly but won't link to for that very reason - I wouldn't share them with my mom either.
I'm more of a "There's two sides to every issue" kinda gal... I get my news from CNN, Yahoo!, the local TV station website, and sites like Newsmax. I figure the truth will come out in the wash after I read the same info with 6 different spins.

What I do on my blog if I am linking is just put a little "Not for Kids" note next to the link - something I'd appreciate as a parent. Then the reader can choose for themselves. What's wrong with that?