Ask It Basket - What to Blog About? Please Tell Me What You Want

by Randy on August 15, 2008 · Comments

Today, Greg’s comment kind of tipped the scales on something I have been pondering. It’s been percolating around in my brain lately to ask the readers of this blog what it is you would like me to blog about. I know what I like to blog about, but what would you like to see blogged?

Now, I can already hear someone saying, “I would like you to blog about how to turn cat hair into nicely crocheted pot holders.” That, I can pretty much guarantee I won’t blog about.

Well, actually, I probably would because it’s … to put it mildly … an odd thing to think of. Any ideas that are generated from this discussion will be potential “Ask It Basket” topics for the future.

Don’t forget that between now and September 5th, Mensley is picking up the series “Q & A Friday.” He will answer questions submitted at this years Q & A at the Exodus conference that didn’t get answered, or were answered and bear repeating, during the actual main session Q & A. This week, he addresses a question from a Dad seeking to come to terms with his son’s same sex attraction.

I don’t see Q & A Friday going anywhere and in fact might continue for quite a while on my own and others blogs. That said, I must also state that all of those questions are centered around a redemptive view of homosexuality.

The idea in this post is to see what the actual readers of this blog would like to see blogged about here and will include the issue of homosexuality as one among many. What have you enjoyed reading here in the past? What have you missed? Are there other topics that come to mind? Lemmee know either in the comments on this blog post or privately through the contact form.

Thank you in advance for helping me out with this!

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silversurferswave 08/15/2008 09:20 PM 1 point
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I personally enjoy your blog topics... the funny, the serious and insane, however I've noticed the waters haven't been choppy lately : ). How about the following:
*Traditions/Legalism Vs. Grace/Liberty.
*Should Rick Warren court Presidential Candidates and possibly support an abortion rights candidate just so he can promote social justice and Green policies?
*While watching "House Hunters" on HGTV, do you change the channel when the couple turns out to be gay? Do you turn the channel if the couple is living out of wedlock?
*Have you ever wondered if Hispanics who come to the U.S. ever get sick from our water?I notice they seem to purchase a lot of bottled water : )

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Randy 08/16/2008 12:30 AM 1 point
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Thanks. Yeah, I alluded in another comment below that I have several offline personal projects to do this month and first week of September that is sapping some of my writing energy.

Thank you for the great suggestions above. All of them are great potential topics but the last one I am not sure I can speak too. :)

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B.T.Carolus 08/15/2008 10:22 PM 1 point
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I actually really like the blend of what you cover, Randy. I know the controversial threads may be somewhat exhausting for you, but I like hearing your voice on the issues. I also like to hear about dead frogs, kayaking disasters, interior decorating, and New Trainer Dude.

Very specifically: I was surprised that nobody acknowledged the Advocate article on Ex-gays called "The Believers" (from their June 17th issue). I've been wondering what you thought of it. But if you didn't blog it for a specific reason then that's fine with me.

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silversurferswave 08/15/2008 11:07 PM 1 point
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I just read the article, Whoa! ... thanks for mentioning the article.

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B.T.Carolus 08/15/2008 11:52 PM 1 point
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I thought it was surprisingly good for where it was coming from. The comments that are below it (there are actually two versions with different comments after each) are revealing as well, albeit for a different reason.

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Randy 08/16/2008 12:11 AM 1 point
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what did you like about the article?

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B.T.Carolus 08/16/2008 04:01 AM 1 point
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Well, I liked it because it was relatively fair and balanced...just like Fox News ;-)

Of course maybe I was missing something and it was horribly biased. But I thought the author did a really good job.

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Randy 08/16/2008 12:11 AM 1 point
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Thank you for the encouragement! I really appreciate it. I am glad you like my jumping around topics.

You probably didn't hear about the article because we were/are *crazy* busy ... like insanely so ... this summer. I am working on several very big personal offline projects right now (all very good) so I have been staying away from blogging about the controversial issues. I know the amount of energy those take and I am needing to be careful this month. Doesn't mean I won't ... just being cautious.

Please feel free to post the link and I might come back to it at some point.

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B.T.Carolus 08/16/2008 04:11 AM 1 point
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http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid5...

There's the link. This is the one published on their website on May 5, 2008. There was another version published a couple days later (which you can find if you search for the article title) with a totally different string of comments attached to the bottom. As far as I know the text is the same in both.

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B.T.Carolus 08/16/2008 04:16 AM 1 point
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Plus if you do that search there are a couple of letters to the editor about it as well.

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B.T.Carolus 10/18/2008 07:53 PM 1 point
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So, are you ever gonna address this?

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Randy 10/18/2008 08:43 PM 1 point
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Probably not that specific article.

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B.T.Carolus 08/15/2008 11:56 PM 1 point
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Another thought, which doesn't have much to do with you, is that it would be nice to see the people who *ahem* only come by for the controversial subjects actually participate in the non-controversial 3/4 of your blog. But I don't really know how you would be able to encourage/enforce more involvement. I guess you could threaten to delete the comments on the controversial threads unless those commenters also participated in a non-controversial thread or something.

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Randy 08/16/2008 12:26 AM 1 point
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I have asked that directly a long time ago and of course only a couple of people responded. They said that they just didn't think to respond to the other stuff because it didn't speak to them personally, or that it was the gay issues that drew them here (through their rss reader) and not the other stuff. Aside from a few who spoke up, the many others were silent.

I would imagine that most are just not interested in the other stuff I post about. It's really interesting because it is like having two different sets of readers. The nice Christians don't like commenting on controversial issues or when a gay activist is tearing me apart and the gay activists don't like commenting on my stories about dead frogs, X-files and sunken kayaks :).

I do know that one little activist group is out to stigmatize me and do not want to draw people's attention to the other posts (unless it's in a mocking manner.) One even said that I was trying to be the "velvet glove over the Religious Right's brass knuckles."

I don't get it. I quit playing that groups game a loonnnng time ago. BUT, I am with you. One of my mantras is that life is so much more than one issue and I hope people will be more open to conversations on other topics.

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Janey 08/16/2008 03:01 AM 1 point
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Personally, I like the material that you write on this blog. That's probably what keeps me coming back. I like to read the controversial topics.

Just one question....

Should Rick Warren court Presidential candidates and possibly support an abortion rights candidate just so that he can promote Social Justice and Green Policies?

Here's something....a thought....

"Now this was the sin of your sister in Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy." --Ezekial16:49

Well, so far the Conservative Politicians haven't nearly adequatly enough addressed these kinds of issues. If McCain becomes President then war will most likely continue as long as he's President. This will continue to increase the growing problem of poverty in 3rd world countries.

Social Justice has always been top priority of God even more so then trying to win debates. At the same time Social Justice is also about being an advocate for those who need one, for those without a voice and to protect humanity. To protect the life of an unborn child and to give that child rights as a human being created in God's Image.

Should Christian's even vote this election?

In my oppinion I think the world is going to hell in a hand basket! With their priorities out of line.

I don't know about the US but the Conservatives here in Canada has been more about increasing their wages and making more money instead of defending the cause of the orphan, taking care of the poor and needy...and the Conservatives are generally Christian. What's up with that? From my understanding the Republicans are Conservative and Democratics are Liberal and there really isn't a whole lot different from Canada and the US.

Perhaps Christians need to take Christianity back to it's grass roots.

I don't know how Christians can justify to vote for McCain if that means the poor get poorer and war continue without hope of an ending. Yeah, I'm not for this war.

And I'm one Canadian the questions Free trade. Here United States, take our Lumber and our Hydro, take our oil and all that for free! That's what you call free trade.

Now how's this for controversial. Don't get me wrong, I like my American Neighbours. I just don't like how the Politicians do business on both sides.

How about blog on McCain Vs Obama, the pro's and con's

And here's something else...I notice you have a pic of McCain which tell me you support McCain. How about blog on why you support McCain and then also your view on Social Justice.

BTW, I don't support either. I'm not a fan of any of them and I think the US is in for a rough ride over the next 4-8 years.

Perhaps Huckabee would have been a way better candidate then any of these guys.

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Jay Schlosser 08/19/2008 03:27 PM 1 point
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Dear Abby - I mean RANDY!!! Sorry.

So - you asked. Here it goes. Could you please blog about how to turn cat hair into nicely crocheted pot holders. My grandma did it so well. I heard that you do it well too. I am dying to learn how this is done (Since Grannie Millie passed some time ago). I have a cat that is so hairy and sheds like snow flakes falling on Mount Evans Colorado. Everywhere I turn - I see cat hair. No - not dead people - but CAT HAIR! I HATE picking it up and throwing away this awesome, precious, and soft .........particles of ..... well - future crocheted pot holders. Thanks for any advise you offer.

Hairy in Illinois.

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Randy 08/19/2008 03:42 PM 1 point
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::: grinning ::: but rolling my eyes at the same time :::

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B.T.Carolus 08/19/2008 07:23 PM 1 point
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If it's made out of cat hair is it a pot holder or a pet holder? (yes, I know that was terrible, but how can one resist?)

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Randy 08/19/2008 09:08 PM 1 point
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::: still grinning ::: still rolling my eyes :::

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