For the last three years or so, I’ve been participating in internet forums, talking about things that interest me and working through some things, mostly questions about religion and politics. My ways of thinking have changed a lot over that three years. It’s been a good thing, overall, but after a while you start to wonder whether it’s a good way to spend your time. You have the same discussions — and the same arguments — over and over, and sometimes with the same people. You think about quitting, but you’re not done with those subjects, and you’re used to having a forum and a format for discussing them. Yet the forum isn’t doing it for you. At least, that’s been my experience.
I don’t even know how many forums I belong to. I’ve signed up for a lot of them, but most of them didn’t take. I’ve been active on three; I’m still active on two. I’ve been volunteer staff on both of them. Before the forums, there were email lists. I’ve been using the internet to talk to people for a long time, but this is different. Now I have to write something and put it out there. Is anybody going to read this thing? Is anybody going to respond? Will it lead to more discussion, or it is just going to be an exercise in intellectual masturbation? Will I even keep at it? Hell, I don’t know.
I’m interested in a lot of things, but what I mean for this blog to be about is how we relate to each other in terms of science, politics, religion, and the arts. I’m interested in that hazy area between the data and the Mystery, and I’m interested in how things work out on the ground, too. A friend from one of the forums I belong to told me I have something to say, and I ought to say it. I’m not so sure. I’ve always got something to say, but whether it’s worth saying is another thing, isn’t it? Here goes.
This is my first post.
