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Hi Ariel
boy were you echoing my sentiments. my last post dealt with the same thing with a slightly differnet slant. Don't go, our older, more tempered and reasoned voices are needed. People like you and I will never be popular in a forum like this, we do not indulge enough in controversy, manipulation and unkindness. But...i always try to remember that if i put it out there, my thoughts, my ideas, my story and my poems, that the people who are supposed to see it will....if it is only one person, and they need to hear it, they will. I remember my 30's..i was no where near as tolerant then 
posted by
MysticGmekeepr
on September 30, 2005 at 10:17 AM
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How could you leave?
When you're the one who guided me here to blog the first time. You had an opinion, you stated it articulately and in a well-reasoned manner, inviting debate, and I walked right in. Yes, yes, let's get into it !! Chew on the facts, spit out the reasons, and see what's left that passes through the fire.
Lately, I too decided to quit...but not for the same reasons. The stuff I write is totally UNpolitical and wants to go deep, deep down into the pit to mine the pschye for diamonds rare and electrifying when eyes fix on them. No many people read my stuff, probably because there's very little gratification in digging deep and some latent fear of finding Mr. Hyde instead of Dr. Jekyll. I wrote for my own therapeutic need but was soon thrown off by the "roar of the crowd" ...or in my case, the lack of it.
I discovered that here is not where one writes a novel, so that's unfinished just like the Symphony. But there's more to be read, considered, and used to grow on. For lack of knowledge the people perish. Let's not give up to Oprah, Dr.Phil, et al, to solve the human condition. Deteriorating tho it is.
Write on MacDuff (Ariel), and death to him who first cries, "Hold it, i've had enough." Or words to that effect.
Besides, you made a promise. And women have LLLLLLOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGG memoriess.
posted by
Who_ja_expect
on September 30, 2005 at 1:25 AM
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Ariel
Well, in my short time here you are one of my favorites. I don't always comment when I read you because your posts are many times about a time and place that I know very little about and I don't want to look stupid.
I'm also afraid I"m one of the guilty ones as I am truly angry at this man that is our president. So I do tend to goad the Bush loyalists. What can I say, it's my nature. You see I have a hard time believing that those who are defending him believe what they are saying. I know both sides lie to win and it sickens me. Our country is extremely polarized as you said in one of your comments to me. How do we change it? Moderates have to be able to be heard. How can than happen when our country is filled with entertainment called 'hate radio' and 'Fox News'.
Also, your rating is one of the highest on here, so you must be being read. How many total blogs are there?
Anyway, I truly hope you stay as you provide a haven for rational discussion and have a whole different perspective than most of us here in the States have. So that's my vote. So far I think all are in favor of your staying.
posted by
DebbieDowner
on September 29, 2005 at 8:22 PM
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My ratings have taken a dramatic dive, however Blogit is what helps pull me back from the ledge when I'm about to jump.
posted by
tigerprincess
on September 29, 2005 at 8:09 PM
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ARIEL
Don't leave, your not the oldest person on here. Your not out of touch with today's world. Your a good writer and to lose you would be a shame. Pleaser reconsider my friend! You must remember there is a high turn over rate in Blogit, that might explain the trends. Give this more thought please??
posted by
Offy
on September 29, 2005 at 6:19 PM
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Ariel
I also hope that you don't leave Blogit out of anger or because of a "drop in your ratings."
One thing struck me in your post ... you said that you think that most bloggers you read are "30-something" and that you are "half their age". If this is your first foray into writing - especially opinon writing, where you're putting your opinions up against bloggers older and more experienced than you are, you should expect to be challenged. Are you asking that your readers treat your forays into the Great Global Debate with kid gloves? Certainly not! Keep posting! Step up and write!
posted by
Georgia
on September 29, 2005 at 6:16 PM
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Ariel, I hope you don't leave.
The average blogit age would drop precipitously, as would its average IQ and eloquence!
I share many of your frustrations and doubts. My strategy is never to read any zealot blogs -- whether religious or political.
posted by
ARGUS
on September 29, 2005 at 3:36 PM
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Ariel, I do not want you to leave.
That sentence will suffice, but I'll add some thoughts anyway to echo those of others and to try to pin down my own personal feelings for you.
First is: that if you and I were to sit outside some local Spanish bar, hobnobbing with wine and cerveza, our wives would be long gone to bed and we would be ranging over all sorts of topics: literature, history, politics, geography, flora and fauna, women, Tony, Pope (Alexander, not The)... all-encompassing or down to the iota of the specific... if we were to do that, I reckon we wouldn't actually agree on much at all, but we would state our cases with a clink and a clack of conversation that I wouldn't want to leave. I'm as Blairite as they come, but you're not. We would discuss that question, we would clink our glasses at the end of it we would drink in that Andalucian sky.
Second: this statement by MayB is so utterly, unequivocably true: 'You know it is not the number of people I reach that keeps me coming back but the kinds of people I reach.' Finding our audience is so important on Blogit. It helps us to find out what kind of writers we are. I've learnt so much here. I've been through your stage now, about the same time in to my stay. It turned out to be not what I expected it to be, this place, but it is a place that I'll stick with. You find your voice, because you start to discover who it is that is listening to your voice.
Third: there's so much more to say from me to you and I want to come back and say it in front of the others. I think it's very telling that the comments on this post are almost as long as some of your posts.
I'll come back when I'm sober in the morning. Am drinking my way to a reward after an Open Evening at school.
Even though my thoughts will be added to, my final word on this is one only:
Stay.
Dave.
posted by
_dave_says_ack_
on September 29, 2005 at 2:22 PM
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Ariel
Voices of reason usually suffer the fate of appearing to be drowned out by the shouters, but that's an illusion. I've always said that a quiet man causes us to lean forward and listen more closely, while the man who shouts will eventually lose his voice. The majority group, sitting between the shouters, eventually tires of the shouting and welcomes the quiet voice
if it's still speaking.
posted by
Lensman
on September 29, 2005 at 11:15 AM
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Uh Oh--
I hope MayB wasn't talking about me. Hemlocker
posted by
Hemlocker
on September 29, 2005 at 10:54 AM
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Ariel
First, there's a reason for everything, even for being here at blogit...sooner or later it will reveal itself. Second, whether the reason being is to impact one life, it would STILL be quite grand a responsibility. Number 14? Geesh, I wish I were there...imagine being the very last one....Ariel why are you doubting yourself? Precisely your wisdom I seek for being threefolds my age...your voice and
every voice is important. Have faith in what you write and if you write with faith, others will have faith in you. Look up, smile, and be the courageous one I know who always fights injustice with the barrel of his pen!
posted by
cosy
on September 29, 2005 at 9:47 AM
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Ariel70, I think you have an unrealistic expectation of the kind of influence you can have here. I don't mean that unkindly or as any reflection on what or how you write. We would all like it if people would take our carefully considered thoughts seriously and would stop to listen. Wouldn't it be nice if people could discuss things respectfully and read carefully?
In my opinion the people who shout out their views are far less insidious than those who have a veneer of politeness and purport to be reasonable and rational and respectful but who in fact are not open to views different to their own.
Occasionally, I cannot suppress my need to post or comment about politics but for the most part I stay out of it here as I have found such discussions fall into an ever-decreasing spiral. The most valuable thing I take from Blogit on matters of politics and religion is not from what I can tell anyone here but that reading here reveals to me what everyday people think about world issues. It helps me to understand how certain events come about.
This is a fast moving forum and so none of us detains any reader for long. Ranking is also largely dependent on spending time here (often too much time). You know it is not the number of people I reach that keeps me coming back but the kinds of people I reach. There are some I will never reach and that's OK.
posted by
Azur
on September 29, 2005 at 9:12 AM
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YEP
I say stay. I've been right where you are....not to long ago.....not for the same reasons for I had no idea that there is a feud going on with Atheists and Christians...however sounds plausible! I decided to stay for myself...that's why I started in the first place...to write, see it, better it, change it, work with it. The folk I meet along the way are perks to be sure...however not the reason I remain or not. Thanks for sharing this post.
posted by
ALWAYSALOVER
on September 29, 2005 at 8:35 AM
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Of course I would like you to stay, but you should do what you feel is right in your heart. Maybe you could do as I have done when I feel similar things, I go away for awhile. I've been gone for up to three weeks at a time. When I leave, I have no idea if I will feel the pull to return or not, and I would base my actions accordingly. Eventually I find that the reasons to be here outweigh those to not be here, and I come back. Maybe you should think more about that, and see which is more important, the reasons to be here or the reasons not to be here. If you go, I will miss you, I enjoy reading your thoughtful posts even if at times they are a bit long for my tastes.
P.S. You're not the only one (by any means) past the "median age" of bloggers...
posted by
Julia.
on September 29, 2005 at 8:35 AM
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ariel70
I am impressed with this post, and I share many of your opinions and your frustration. Yes, there are zealots on Blogit, which I choose not to read, and there have been and continue to be jousting of intolerance. There's also a trend that leans toward the rankings and making more of the pennies which, over time, can add up if one is consistently read and commented upon. Having dealt with lifelong depression, I know that things can look much worse at times than they actually are, and in fact, there are many bright and thoughtful people here, and more than a few talented writers. You are definitely one of those, and I see your blog consistently in the top ten in Opinion, which means you are being read. In these divided and contentious times, especially in the U.S., holding a position of moderation, trying to be a mediator, a voice of reason, so to speak, has declined in popularity. This really is a very difficult time in our history and the planet's history, which is bound to elicit anger, frustration, disgust, denial, defensiveness, a "circling of the wagons" phenomenon, and pleas for reason and moderation and responsible stewardship tend to get lost in waves of propaganda and the politicizing of everything. I have tried to use Blogit as a vehicle for creative writing and responsible, non-hysterical opinion. I've just come off a nearly week long period of near paralysis which had more to do with trying to liberate myself from the pharmaceutical industry, than anything on Blogit. Be assured, my friend, you are being heard, but if you truly want a larger audience, you have to cast your net much further than Blogit. I hope you reconsider, but you must do what you feel is in your best interest. Hemlocker
posted by
Hemlocker
on September 29, 2005 at 7:49 AM
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ariel...
I've contemplated leaving Blogit many times, for many different reasons. I understand where you're coming from, but we need people like you. I try to stay away from politics and religious debates with people who are unwilling to listen. I understand your frustration, but I do hope you stay. You're being heard loud and clear by many more than you realize. The problem is that the ignorant seem to yell louder.
posted by
-blackcat
on September 29, 2005 at 7:48 AM
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Going or leaving this special world of us called Blogit, as far as I am concern is out of the question. We certainly need a thoughtful and moderate voice like yours. I do understand that people are highly polarised, but it is simply a reflection of our world. There is a tribe in Eastern Nigeria called the Igbos,that I presume you know,that hold this school of thought, any big family should have the following, a lawyer, a medical doctor, a journalist and a thief. This simply means that, what makes this space of us tick, are the diversities of it composition, even though they may be head strong. PLease stay.
posted by
Flame-thrower
on September 29, 2005 at 6:46 AM
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Ariel70
Sometimes I wonder if this particular website is a tool for the devil. Then again, I find angels flying around here when I least expect it. Some with beautiful, virgin wings; others with a broken wing, but there is good out there should you choose to seek and find it.
The top 10, 20, 30 - 100, whatever is JUST A NUMBER. "...the scoreboard is just for the fans."
Obviously, there are people here who remain in the higher rankings. But is it because they can write? Is it because they can reach the masses and cater to every reading style? No, my friend.
This place brings out the best and worst in all of us. I think you can find your spot here. I think you can make this place anything you want it to be. I firmly believe that our voices (yours and mine) will reach those intended to hear our message. I encourage you to take a break and maybe walk away for a spell, but I also encourage you to return and use your voice for the benefit of others. Toss your gifts out there with no epectation of reward...you'll be surpised, my friend, at what you get in return. Think of you...~Masky
posted by
Masky
on September 29, 2005 at 6:37 AM
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Ariel70 - PLEASE STAY
A voice of reason is always something to be desired...and yours is a voice not only of reason, but a voice well spoken, and modulated with intellect, wit and humor. What more could a reader desire? For those out there who choose to argue (with or without facts), well that is certainly their choice.
Of course, the choice is yours to stay or to go. I would miss you, as would others. A quote from the vernacular...."it's hard to fly with the eagles when you're surrounded by turkeys; don't let the turkeys get you down." Please consider that there will always be people who are stuck with their viewpoints...many times unwilling to consider facts & figures presented to them...they have fear in their hearts & minds. Change is way to frightening for them. Again, this is their choice. All I ask is that you consider staying. You DO have folks who read you, who care about you. Please consider staying for the joy of writing...there are many of us who would enjoy reading your posts for a long time to come.
posted by
ravencat18
on September 29, 2005 at 6:28 AM
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Congratulations!
You made this this very important list! So click here to see!
Oh, and do stick around. Write for yourself. Read for the fun. Bloggers have a high rate of recidivism. So, you'll just end up coming back to Blogit anyhow. Might as well just stick around and cultivate your readership further.
DM
posted by
Dennison..Mann
on September 29, 2005 at 6:17 AM
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Ariel70 - You've stated here just why you SHOULD stay!! A reasoned voice
such as yours is needed!! (and so are your charm and humor!!) Never mind the popularity ratings; in fact when you consider the thousands of posts, you're doing very well.
posted by
reasons
on September 29, 2005 at 6:13 AM
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I hope you'll stay.
A.
posted by
A-and-B
on September 29, 2005 at 5:54 AM
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Don't leave Ariel!
Write what you _want_ to write and at least someone reads you! (Before Blogit, no one read what I wrote...so I rarely did it at all!) Blogit needs as many level-headed, civil bloggers without any axes to grind as it can get! I prefer to blogs like yours...
are you less depressed yet? Don't make me break out the obnoxious smileys...
posted by
FactorFiction
on September 29, 2005 at 5:37 AM
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Ariel, you are a beautiful asset to Blogit. Your writing talent is second
to none, and you've been an awesome fixture on this network. Please don't go. I've been through a lot here and have come seconds away from canceling my account, but because of the support and encouragement from people like you, I've chosen to stay. I hope you'll do the same.
posted by
Ariala
on September 29, 2005 at 4:48 AM
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ariel--I, too, was thinking the same thing just last week. While I can
tolerate differing views, to insinuate (or even say!) that I am somehow "ignorant" because of mine is intolerable. Funny, but when the hate-mongers are confronted with facts (which they always say they want), they always backslide back into their holes or throw some of their own unconfirmed opinions back out.
Me? I'm having too much fun here to leave over a couple of people with obvious emotional problems. And let's face it, anyone who consistently singles out one group of people for criticism over and over again has something going on... Otherwise, they'd say their peace and move on.
I'm here to write. Every now and then I lose sight of that. Interestingly enough, that's always when I get involved with these "bad bloggers".
So, don't quit! We need more bloggers like you around here. You are talented, tolerent of views other than your own, and supportive of others. Stay here for YOU, and you will quickly find yourself writing and reading with little adversity. That is, of course, unless you want it! lol
posted by
Renigade
on September 29, 2005 at 4:11 AM
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I would be sad to see you go
you've got much to offer. Give it more time.
posted by
calmcantey75
on September 29, 2005 at 2:21 AM
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