Why I Read Gay Blogs
November 29, 2008 by Randy
Filed under Christianity, Culture War, Current Affairs, Ex-Gay, Gay, Homosexuality, People, Politics, Public Policy, Radio, Scandal, Sexuality, Worldview
A couple of weeks ago I got a very nasty, and bullying, email accusing me of sin for participating in the comments section on “pornographic” and “blasphemous” gay blog. There was also something about me cussing and publishing porn on my own blog (really? … where?)
I am not going into all the details because that really isn’t the point of this post. I only mention this because it got me thinking that writing a post about why I read “gay” blogs might be a good topic to discuss. Plus, if I ever get accused of that again, I can point them to this post.
About those gay blogs.
At any given time, I follow about three or four gay activist blogs. All but one really don’t care for Christians. Now, if Christian bashing was all that these blogs did … of course I wouldn’t read them. I also don’t follow blogs whose only notoriety is based on attacking people like myself (formerly gay.) The truth is, the blogs I do read don’t cover the subject of Christianity to any great extent. Plus, considering my background … they aren’t saying anything I didn’t uphold, or hear ad nauseam, sixteen years ago.
I use Google Reader so most of the time I am reading their syndication feeds and not ever actually visiting the blog itself. That means if they have gay advertising, I don’t see it. If I do go to the blog I have ad blockers on my browser so… I still don’t see them. AND, I have Covenant Eyes on all my computers that logs every single move I make and reports to my boss and another co-worker every blog or website I visit.
I don’t participate in porn blogs. Indeed, some of the conservative activist blogs (far far right) reproduce more porn than I have seen on the blogs I monitor. And no, I don’t follow those far far right blogs/websites either.
The blogs I do follow are either original in their thinking OR really great synthesizers of current issues that are important to the gay community. I read them also because they do *not* publish sexually suggestive material in every other post and never publish hard core porn. I find them informative and they help keep me on my toes with what is going on, from their perspective, in our shared culture (in the broader sense.)
Granted, once in about twenty posts there will be something akin to an underwear ad. If I am in a place where seeing that kind of stuff is not a good idea … I just don’t read those blogs for while and I let someone know. But the other 98% of the time I just think how really juvenile and immature most of that stuff is … and move on to the next topic. I wouldn’t follow these blogs if they tripped me up or caused problems. In fact, I have and will drop blogs that drift that way.
Just like I don’t follow sexually charged (heterosexual) blogs that do the same (much more prevalent an opportunity.)
I am a forty year old man, sixteen years beyond my gay life. I think I can handle reading gay activist opinions on whether Obama will follow through with repealing DADT (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell) or if Hillary is truly a closet lesbian or not. There is nothing sexy about analyzing gay activist arguments against Prop 8 or reading about congressional plans to silence conservative radio through the Fairness doctrine.
And if I don’t need to read those blogs for a while … I have plenty of other things to do.
Leaving Comments on Gay Blogs
I rarely do - maybe a dozen or so across all these blogs over the past two years? I usually don’t because you have to pick your battles and most of the time I don’t have the time. Also, on every other gay or liberal blog they will delete my comments. I totally understand and agree with a bloggers personal right to publish or not publish a comment.
That said, sometimes I do want to register my thoughts and will do so. Plus, as an unabashed extrovert … I am going to do what I gotta’ do. I tend to speak up quicker than maybe I should :). I want to also try and speak into this part of the blogosphere my perspective. It doesn’t happen often but it has led to really good communication in the background or here on my own blog.
I don’t do so to earn points with or offend the gay community as some seem to think that one of those is supposed to be the goal. I just speak up because I am opinionated :). I don’t want to offend and I don’t need their approval … I just say it because I want to and can. While I rarely comment on those blogs, I am not the “silent lurker” type of blog reader.
Bad Language
And about cussing? Does crap and asinine rate as cuss words? Those are two words I use from time to time. Crap is just a lazy word so I probably should just find an different word to describe different crap. Sorry, couldn’t resist. But asinine … I think that is a great word for some situations and not convinced it is a cuss word. When it comes to the obvious cuss words I don’t remember ever using them online (don’t ask about in the car last Tuesday) but will apologize if I did. I don’t think that using those words, while carnally gratifying, is appropriate. Plus, my regular commenters don’t usually cuss and if some comment troll comes through spewing that type of stuff, I delete it. Regardless, in case I am in denial or simply can’t remember, just let me know when and where and I will do what is appropriate.
Conclusion
The accusation that I participate in “gay porn blogs/publish it on my own blog” is bearing false witness against myself and those blogs. Are those gay blogs offensive? Yes, two of the four especially. But they are more often informative and offer important opposing viewpoints to consider regarding current issues. I appreciate them in that they keep me mindful of what the gay community considers important. As for cussing on my blog, a serial cusser offending the precious holy ears of saints and angels … I am not.
And that’s all I have to say about that :). What do you think?
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