Vancouver, BC (photo from trekearth.com)
1. I was in the Seattle-Tacoma and surrounding area with Chucky, for a concert Friday. Seattle-Tacoma is a larger metropolitan area in population than Greater Vancouver and it sure seemed that way as well. I enjoy Washington State, but the gridlock getting over the American border, driving through Seattle-Tacoma and surrounding area in rush hour, and getting in out and of the White River Amphitheater was tiring and irritating. Thankfully, the concert was excellent, even with standing out in the lawn area with some rain for three hours. The rain was light and refreshing. I enjoy the beautiful nature the Lord has made, even though the problem of evil exists in creation (Genesis 3).
2. Unfortunately not all emails sent to me have been arriving. One of Chucky’s emails and one of Wade’s for satire and theology did not arrive. I am apologetic, but my modem and router do not have built in fans and with the summer heat here in my loft, they overheat and need to be turned off and on frequently. I reason that when my modem and router overheat that some emails are delayed and perhaps do not arrive. The odd email also does not arrive due to my ISP. Please know that my desire is to publish every respectfully made blog comment that relates to my blog in general terms. I really appreciate support of my blogs and wish to support other quality blogs! One does not have to agree with me on every point, but I ask that comments relate to my overall blog material (not necessarily the particular article every time) and are respectful. I do not mind someone promoting his/her blog by leaving a comment, but I ask that a relevant, respectful comment be made. A person has tried to leave alien related comments on this blog a few times, and I will not publish those comments since they are promotion with no attempt to interact with my overall blog material. If one wishes to promote his/her blog through a comment, please at least attempt to deal with my blog material. I will not accept comments that are primarily SPAM, unless I wish to make a point by criticizing the material. I do not expect a blogger to comment on every comment I make on his/her blog, but I will try and answer all comments here as long as I can.
3. With this is mind, and realizing that not all my blog comments necessarily arrive to a fellow blogger, when I leave a blog comment elsewhere, I am attempting with God’s help to thoughtfully relate my comment to the article, or sometimes express my legitimate appreciation of the blog. I also greatly appreciate blogging friends, and look at theological blogging as ministry. I as well fully admit to be promoting my blogs. I am a student that is in debt and wish to promote my career, and myself, and I am unapologetic in that fact! I have been a student for 16 years without full-time income and no one can fairly state that I am unduly driven by money, but I need to promote my theological career and by commenting on other blogs, I promote my own blogs and my career. Others may blog for a hobby only and that is fantastic, but my work on the internet may very likely tie into my theology career in the future, God willing. Therefore (and I have someone in mind, but not someone I have dialogued with), if I leave a comment on a blog and it is not published, I will likely not comment again on that blog, unless I know the person decently well from blogging and realize there was probably some type of mess up with the message delivery, or I receive some type of message with a good reason on why it was not published. I do not think a blogger should pick and choose which comments he/she likes of mine and only publish ones he/she prefers. If I reason this is taking place, I will not comment anymore. If a blogger does not like my comments or is questioning the motives (always a dangerous thing to do!) he/she can email me or challenge my comments on his/her blog, or else I will not comment on the blog further. Since I make a strong effort to write well thought out comments that relate to the blog article, or at least the blog, I will not accept having my comments censored without a good explanation. The business of doing philosophical theology is a tough one, and in Christ I need to be humble, loving and forgiving, but I also require respect.
4. As expected with my questionnaire data, aspects of my sovereignty theodicy have been somewhat rejected in favour of free will theodicy approaches. This does not in any way change my views, but I appreciate the fact that these findings provide my PhD with empirical data that adds originality. I will attempt to publish results on thekingpin68 once my PhD is passed, God willing. I do not wish to thoroughly discuss the results on thekingpin68 until my University has officially reviewed them. Statistically there are 213 valid respondents. Validity is the concern with the integrity that is generated from a piece of research. Bryman (2004: 545). Validity is usually measurable in statistics. Bryman (2004: 545). There are 66 questions on the questionnaire, or 66 variables. Variables represent different types of data that have been compiled including numbers, strings, currency and data. SPSS (2006: 51). The frequency is the number of people and percentage that belong in each variable category. Bryman (2004: 227). Julie Pallant notes that frequencies include all the individual variable items that make up the represented scales. Pallant (2004: 42).
Thank you very much, once again to all questionnaire participants! I am sorry some of this article content is a little heavy, but with this type of blog it is unavoidable! I firmly believe that in today's world, respectful, intense type of interaction is sometimes needed.
BRYMAN, ALAN (2004) Social Research Methods, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
PALLANT, JULIE (2004) SPSS Survival Manual, Maidenhead, Berkshire, Open University Press.
SPSS 15.0 BRIEF GUIDE (2006) Chicago, SPSS Inc.
Russ;)
Russ, That was very well said. On the issue of not agreeing with you on everything, simply put, no one will ever agree 100 percent with any single person, unless they are talking with themselves. Rick b
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rick.
ReplyDeleteI can admit that a person disagreeing with me can at times assist me in understanding other perspectives.
Sometimes, when I thinking about an issue, I wonder if I am right, so there is almost room for disagreement there as well.;)
Hey Russ,
ReplyDeleteLet me throw in another perspective on the blog comments.
I'm a closet lurker on several blogs that I currently read and enjoy. I generally don't like to be a lurker but will wait until I have something pertenant to say before introducing myself to the blogger - to your point of leaving comments that deal with blog and post content.
On one such blog however I have left 2 comments (introducing myself both times) but have never gotten a response from the blogger. This person typically responds in some way to each comment made so I'm starting to think they are giving me a hint.
And that's fine. To them, I'm just another stranger on the internet - they can't possibly know that I have good intentions.
But I wonder why does a person share their life on the world wide web if they don't want to interact with those who are reading it?
Thanks for the comment, The King Pin.
ReplyDeleteYeah our last three visitors were from California. We love em. When you are in Melbourne come and stay we have a spare room now with four of our kids off our hand.
Fifty Plus Plus.
Who's Russ.
ReplyDeleteI'm Russell - that's fifty plus plus.
Hi, Wade and Russell.
ReplyDeleteWade,
I'm a closet lurker on several blogs that I currently read and enjoy. I generally don't like to be a lurker but will wait until I have something pertenant to say before introducing myself to the blogger
This makes sense. I do this as well. If I leave a comment I want to leave a quality one.
On one such blog however I have left 2 comments (introducing myself both times) but have never gotten a response from the blogger. This person typically responds in some way to each comment made so I'm starting to think they are giving me a hint.
And that's fine. To them, I'm just another stranger on the internet - they can't possibly know that I have good intentions.
This has happened to me as well. I am choosy on what blogs I will comment on, but do comment on some random blogs. Often I will receive the same type of non-response that you mentioned, and this shows how hard it is to build up blog links, comments, and make new blogger friends.
But I wonder why does a person share their life on the world wide web if they don't want to interact with those who are reading it?
Ahh, I was discussing this with Chucky on the way to church in Vancouver this morning. I shall speculate here. Some persons have blogs and should really have websites. They have blogs that they use as 'soap boxes' in order to promote their agenda and teach, and do not really care all that much what others think. Therefore they can pick and choose the comments they think are suitable. I can see very educated persons doing this, as if they have the blog primary to teach others and think that on the topics published, readers have little to offer. Perhaps some bloggers do not appreciate short comments, but with me writing a PhD and two blogs, I do not have the time to dedicate to writing extended blog comments on other blogs! As well, perhaps some reason that a person is commenting on a blog to promote his/her blog, but as stated in the article, I have no problem with this as long as the commenter contributes to the overall blog, and/or the blog article.
Thanks, Wade! Very good comments.
Russell, thanks very much for the invite! I would like to visit Melbourne one day. I know people in Sydney as well. My actual name is Russell Norman Murray. I go by Russ for short, but thekingpin is fine for my blogs!;) I am open to visiting with people here as well.
Russell, I appreciate the blog support and shall bookmark your blog, 'Faster Pastor'.
I'm pretty much a lurker here because I usually don't feel qualified to comment on many of your posts, Russ. But how can you read something called THOUGHTS ON BLOG COMMENTS and not comment???
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see how commenting differs so much from blog to blog. I've also had the experience where commenting was monitored and my comment never saw the light of day, as well as making a comment but having it being ignored by all. (Hint: newbie go home!)
I don't particularly like to see 'anonymous' comments but I allow them at my place. (I don't expect anyone to register with Blogger just to leave a comment, but how hard is it to click 'other' and put in a name?) So far I've only deleted two comments and both were SPAM. I suppose there are horror stories behind some of the blogs that only allow comments from registered users, or have word verification, comment monitoring, etc. I've been luck so far.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Thanks, Tom.
ReplyDelete(Hint: newbie go home!)
That is funny.:) Yes, on some blogs persons that are not part of the known group are not wanted. A few months ago, I left a comment on a humourous blog of a woman, only to have one of the men who commented, who was ex-US military, imply that he monitored all her comments and deleted those that would not follow their political agenda. I decided that I was finished with that site, as I refused to be intimidated on-line.
i am not surprised that you are not finding the idea of divine sovereignty to be very popular right now. we are certainly more concerned with our 'freedom' and i think the reformed tradition generally is held in low regard at the level of popular culture. for the most part people are pelagians or arminians in their practical piety.
ReplyDeletebest wishes,
LoA.
Very astute, LoA, thanks. Reformed theology in many ways is presently counter-cultural. My pastor had agreed with me previously that my data, even from among our own denomination, would not support sovereignty theodicy in many respects. Thankfully, I can turn this rejection into an original idea in order to pass the PhD.
ReplyDeleteRuss