I'm not sure this is working. I don't say that in anyway to blame, embarrass, or try to guilt anyone. I'm just not sure we've achieved what the goal was in the beginning. It's really hard to say this without worrying that I'm going to upset or offend anyone, and I trust you all know me well enough to know that would never be my intent. I just want to be honest when I say that we started this to build community, and I don't think that has happened. I've been inspired and encouraged by many of your words, and I've certainly given much thought to what you all have said, but I feel we've digressed more into a journal where I post my ideas or thoughts to be read rather than facilitating ideas to be discussed. Maybe a blog setup isn't conducive for the type of discussions I'd hoped we'd all have. I have one more idea that I'd like to try before calling it over for our experiment.
This is going to take a commitment on your part, so please feel absolutely free to say you aren't interested or it isn't something you'd be willing to do. The commitment would be to check back once a week, post at least once, and possibly be willing to buy a book. I'll give you more details if we have at least four people who are really willing to commit to the idea. Just post in the comments if you're interested, and we'll see where it goes from there.
6 comments:
I'm interested in finding out more about your idea. I'm also interested in getting some sleep now that it's close to 1:00. Good grief. Keep me posted.
I am on board.
Robbie,
In your Amazing post you mentioned the evil that is possibly pervasive in the world that allows or encourages people to do things like what happend at V Tech. I agree but would like to look at it a step further. There is so much a sense of entitlement or an all about me attitude. I see it in teaching constantly. Kids and parents . If you hold them accountable then you are being unfair. If they get in a fight, the parents want to know what did the other kid do to generate this. A parent called our secretary the other night at home and wanted her to let her in the building because her daughter forgot something. When the secretary refused, the mother got mad and said that the school should be open until 10 pm every night because we educators work for her. Another person got mad because the district is putting up new gates to keep people from parking on the black top that the kids play on. Before the cement was cured, they ripped the pole out of the ground and threw it across the field. We live in a world that is selfish, angry and one that lacks responsibility or disagreement. I think Satan plays on that all the time. In the famous words of Rodney King " Why can't we all just get along"?
Hello... it has been long time. I apologize for not keeping up with this.
Ben thanks for taking the risk for raising this issue. I have not been fair to the group.
I am interested in giving this another try and would like for you to add my email address to the notification program.
I will commit to checking this group at least once a week and posting comments at least once a week.
Maybe we could also share the burden of raising topics and starting discussions... this would also (perhaps) help me take ownership of this. Though I must let you know up front that I will not have any pretty pictures to post...
Matt2
It's okay if you don't have pretty pictures, Matt2. Perhaps I'll just find some old choice photos of you from the glory "Mullet + smallish neon Umbros = HOT MATT" days.
I think I've sort of made a decision about what I'd like to do with the site, and I'll put that up on a post later this week. I'll give you guys just a brief overview to get your feedback. I'd like to keep the blog going as it is and let that shake out however it might. I've been contacted by a couple other guys who say they read and check in regularly but just don't post that often. So that makes me think there's still validity in what we started. I'd also like to create a space (I'll describe specifics in my post) for those who would be interested to participate in a more in-depth book study. I have a book in mind I'd like to start with, and if it goes well, we could have someone else pick the next book. I think that would be a very cool way to get deeper with focused discussions. Let me know what you think.
Ben
Sounds good Ben... by the way, I was going through some pictures from high school... you sure were cute.
Matt2
I'm here now. A brief hiatus, but I'm online at home now and off of work. What else would I be doing at the moment other than throwing together a little party for July 14th?
I'm in.
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