Blogging and such
Hey bloggy friends.
Yes...FRIENDS. That's what I call those of you who I regularly interact with via our blogging lives.
I've recently had a big discussion with a "real life friend" from church who just doesn't "get" the whole blog scene. She has tried to say that spending so much time sharing bits of your life with people we don't "actually" know, is detrimental. She also doesn't believe that we can be "friends" with people we haven't actually met in person and spent some time with. She also believes that spending time blogging takes away from time that we can be spending with the Lord....
I say she's wrong
W.R.O.N.G.
In fact. I feel closer and more "in tune" with some of the bloggy friends I have met online but not in person (yet anyway). I feel that some of us just "click" and understand, and have "been there done that". I love that we can be REAL... and sometimes scarily honest when we blog....
I believe we can be friends. I believe we ARE friends!
And when it comes to the whole "taking time away from spending with the Lord"... Yeah, okay, so that time we could be reading the word, or praying...or whatever...sure...but actually, I get to spend some good time encouraging others... (and they me too)... we get to share some of the awesome things that have happened... we do think about each other, and intervene...sometimes in prayer/thoughts... we do pray for each others situations, we build each other up...we stand in the gap and intercede! And when our bloggy group "meets up" sometimes for coffe or whatever, we have some really awesome times of fellowship.... (where 2 or more are gathered...I am there!!).
:)
I love blogging...and bloggers....and the whole bloggy thing. :)
Totally with you!
ReplyDeleteY.E.A.H!! ;)
DeleteId be interested on her view of fb...
ReplyDeleteOh man....lol I won't even go there with her yet... LOL
DeleteYes yes and yes!
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteI know we're not really bloggy friends but I'm putting my oar in anyway (isn't that part of the whole thing). I'd suggest that while Blogging may take time away from the pursuit of God and in reality real-life relationships there are a lot of other things that do that too and have far less positive impacts on your life. I find reading the thoughts and feelings and challenges of others challenges me in the ways I think, it stops me judging people because I understand the story behind their actions..... I think every person choses how they spend their time and I wonder if this friend is on FB, watches tv, gossips, clearly she judges others, .... how is she spending her time? I get that blogging doesn't make sense to everyone but I do know that for me it gives me a platform to notice and record the good parts of my journey and it challenges me to understand the people around me and their choices a lot and I think those things are good.
ReplyDeleteHi ya Miriam.. appreciate your oar input thank you ;) heehee. I totally agree with your comments, thank you for them! (and you're right she DOES judge others which is the sad thing about it all!).
DeleteThanks again.
You better...you're one of my prime partners in crime!! ;) lol
ReplyDeleteHaha! I think we need to make sure we have a healthy balance in our life of everything, cause as Miriam said, many things can take up our time and become unhealthy! Personally speaking, I love the people I've met through blogging, the fact that it's kind of like being a writer and I often get people say that they've been encouraged, inspired or impacted by blogs they read, including mine. That makes it totally worth it... especially when they ask questions about my faith and God. Such a fab opportunity that could have been missed!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree re: the "missed opportunities" ;)
DeleteYou are SO on the money!
ReplyDeleteI have so been inspired by blogs I've read - they challenge me to want to do better in so many things, they encourage me to push through the rubbish and the people I've met in person - well, we've picked up like old friends who know each other quite well!xx
Indeedy!! Likewise, with me and the bloggers that I've met in person! :)
DeleteAwesomely put!! I love my bloggy friends, there are many people I never would have crossed paths with if it weren't for the interweb, and I believe my life wouldn't be as sparkly without them :) And meeting bloggy friends in real life is wonderful - as Gail said, you don't need to spend forever 'getting to know each other' - you can have a proper conversation & it's awesome. Great post:)
ReplyDeleteYeah I agree... I wonder if "Internet dating" is the same too... lol you know...getting to know each other in a shorter amount of time... LOL sorry..I digress!
DeleteBeautiful lady! If it wasn't for blogging I would have never met you and I wouldn't have the blessing of a beautiful person like you in my life. If nothing else, blogging has connected me with the most a.m.a.z.i.n.g. people and that alone is worth it!
ReplyDeleteBlogging takes down some of the barriers of getting to know people and our Whangarei girls are evidence of that - we all hit it off instantly and it was like having a whole bunch of new friends and even if you dont see each other very often you can still catch up with whats happening in their world!!!!
Love you my beautiful friend.
Oh and what an awesome "bloggy find" you have been my REAL LIFE friend!! :) You are so right too...we are so blessed with our Whangarei bloggy group! :) Luv ya too xx
DeleteThere is a place for widening your circle...but all things need balance. It is fun to explore places and people in other parts of this world that I may never ever get to. xx
ReplyDeleteYes agreed... we do need balance... I mean I might agree with her if blogging was my ONLY contact with anyone... lol but I'm out and about all the time, and have much more to my life than blogging!
DeleteI am so with you on this Neetz! Blogging/bloggers are an amazing way to meet wonderful people. I think of my blog friends as REAL friends too. The evidence is that when I have met some of you in Real Life, we are so comfortable with each other and are already friends. My blog friends know more about what's in my head than some of my real life friends.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing is when it crosses over and I have some RL friends who blog too. that is gold. Or when some blog freinds become RL friends, like Leonie and PJ.
This is a great post - way to put it out there Neetz! Link this up to my bloggy meetups linky... I know it's not strictly on a meetup - but it should be shared! xx
Yeah... love it when it crosses over and the bloggy friends become RL friends. You realise that you and Gail are on my hitlist (to become RL friends) ;) xx
DeleteI dunno. I just can never understand how people can be so freely judgemental. Like who really knows what the best way to live is? We're all just trying to do the best we can and I can't see why having an online community can be a bad thing unless it's the only thing you have. But if it's in balance with other factors in your life (church, face-to-face friends, family, outdoor stuff) then absolutely it's worth having. Blogging is helping save my life (or my lifestyle at least) and I do feel connected with you Neetz, I do. You have always been so kind and lovely and supportive to me. Just smile at that lady and feel for her because maybe she's not that happy herself? xxx
ReplyDeleteTotally! You've got it all summed up right there, thank you very much! :) And I totally agree about the connection with ya ... I mean I may not have "lived" your situation, but I can sooo appreciate what you are going through (amazingly too!), and love seeing how far you've come!
Delete...oh and yeah.... trying to "smile at that lady" (through very gritted teeth!!) haha. ;)