GLASS - FRAGILE, HANDLE WITH CARE...

As you all know, Crivens! is a blog that welcomes, even encourages, the opinions and observations of others.  Whether I write something, or a commenter expresses a viewpoint that a reader disagrees with, that reader is welcome to express their dissent as long as they do so politely.  Having an inquisitive mind, I like a good discussion (even if it's just as an observer), and discussing something - with a cordial exchange of dissenting opinions - is not the same as arguing over something. (Though I grant you, one can sometimes lead to the other.)

I'm therefore surprised why some people even have blogs.  Well, that's not quite accurate - I know why they have them - they like to express their opinions on things.  Whether it be a new comic, movie, record, etc., some people feel a burning desire to tell the world what they think about it.  "Huh, cheek!" you say, "You're the exact same!"  Well, I think I'm more in the category of writing a blog because it gives me a chance to exercise my gradually fading mental faculties than because I feel that others need to know what I think on any given subject, and it's the former, not the latter, that often leads me to write on whatever topic occurs to me (if anything).

However, even if the accusation were true, at least I'm prepared to entertain other people's views, even when they're not in accord with my own.  How are we ever going to learn anything if we close our minds and refuse to consider other viewpoints? Expressing our thoughts and beliefs also serves to exercise our minds in the defence of what we think and believe, or revise our opinions if our defence is found wanting. (True, that may not happen as often as it ought to.)

As I get older, because of a congenital medical disorder, I find my mind descending into blankness very often, and it can be difficult to gather my thoughts and express them in a coherent way.  You may have noticed that I sometimes use 20 words when 10 would have sufficed, but that's because I have to build my thoughts up, layer upon layer, as I struggle to convey what I'm trying to say or type.  I very often forget words mid-sentence - not just when I'm writing something, but also when I'm speaking.  I even forget what I'm talking about and my mind becomes a complete and utter blank.

"So why should we be interested in that?" you might ask.  I'm not saying you should be, but I'm explaining why I still indulge in the ongoing maintenance of this blog by adding to it whenever I can.  It's not that I want to batter anyone over the head with the cudgel of my opinion, but I'm basically exercising a tired muscle - my mind - in an attempt to stop it from atrophying any further.  Maybe there's a chance I can even kick-start it into renewed vigour if it gets a regular workout.

However, when it comes to other bloggers, I've often noticed a resistance to any expression of dissenting opinions.  You see, if someone writes an enthusiastic review of why it's great that DOCTOR WHO is now a woman - and they invite (or allow) comment - then surely if I (or others) have a contrary opinion to that viewpoint, it's no crime to express it?  Wrong!  It is, you see.  At least, it is in the mind of that type of blogger, who only wants the approval and approbation of like-minded souls.  If you're of a different mind, then don't you bloody well dare have the cheek or effrontery to say so.  Dissenting opinions aren't wanted you see, only agreeable ones.

Yes, it's a surprise to me too that some people are really so insecure in their own beliefs that they're not prepared to be put to the effort of considering whether there's another way of looking at things.  They've made up their minds and the intrusion of a contrary opinion isn't welcome, perhaps because, deep down, they know they're incapable of logically or reasonably defending what they're saying, and then they might look silly.  And that will be your fault for confusing them by asking for whys and wherefores, merely in an attempt to have an interesting and hopefully rewarding discussion about the subject.  (And sometimes just because you think there's another perfectly legitimate way of looking at things.)

These bloggers shouldn't really have a comment facility, or at the very least they should have a disclaimer stating that any opinions not in accord with those of the blogger won't be considered or published, so don't bother submitting them.  Only comments confirming their point of view are welcome, thanks very much.  That would solve their 'problem', wouldn't it?  I try and show support for other blogs by leaving a comment so that the blogger doesn't think their efforts are unappreciated, but that doesn't mean I'm going to necessarily tickle their ears by pretending to agree with something I don't.

Anyway, you're reading this post in one smooth swift go, but that's not the way in which it was written.  It actually hurts me to apply my thoughts to something like this, because I no longer have the ability to convey my thoughts as they sequentially occur to me.  (Well, sometimes I do, but it's a rare occasion these days when I actually can.)  Usually, I have to wrestle with them, struggle with and juggle them before I get a result that's even vaguely comprehensible and that I'm (almost) satisfied with.

Those type of bloggers should do us all a favour; if they're not interested in our response to their opinion, then they shouldn't bother the rest of us with it in the first place.  What's that you say?  "You're not obliged to read their blogs!"  Well, that's true (though we usually do if we follow them), but neither are they obliged to write them if they're not interested in the reaction their thoughts produce (unless it's a 'positive' one of course).  It seems that they want to talk at us, instead of with is, and I for one am fed up with it.

Got any thoughts on the matter, fellow Crivs?  For or against, let's hear 'em.  See, I'm the type of blogger who's interested in what you have to say, good or bad.  Just be polite though, huh?

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