Archive for the 'Bloggernacle' Category

What’s in it for me?

Published
by
Ann
on June 23, 2008
in Belief, Bloggernacle, Mormon, Social and friendship
. 1 Comment

In response to my own post, “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” I came up with some interesting ideas of what’s in it for me by not deciding - by sitting on the fence, or in the lawn chair at the crossroads.

By not deciding, I’m maintaining the status quo, which is the path of least resistance and least disruptive to my family.

By sitting on the fence, I get to work both sides of the fence. 

A huge part of this is my (self-perceived) place in the communities on both sides of the Mormon/DAMU divide.   I have a lot of my ego tied up in being Nanna P, DAMU denizen and pontificator.  Not as well known (but still someone people recognize) is Ann the Bloggernacler.  Shallow, but there it is … in both places, I’m “somebody.”  Without them, I just another working stiff. By staying on the fence I can be a welcome (beloved!) participant in both groups, as long as I adhere to the appropriate social norms for each (which is pretty easy to do, because I want to be liked). But because I’m on the fence, I won’t ever be wholly in either group.

And then of course there’s the really big inhibiting factor: fear. Fear of everything. Fear of being duped again. Fear of making the wrong decision. Fear of making a big change, but nothing really changing.

So because I am basically a coward, I’ll probably just stay here in the lawn chair at the crossroads for a while longer. There be dragons down those roads.

(This is probably my public navel-gazing quota for the year. Thanks for the space.)

Another GC Come and Gone

Published
by
Ann
on October 8, 2007
in Bloggernacle, Mormon, Surviving Sundays and conference
. 3 Comments

General Conference came and went, and I didn’t see even a minute of it. I heard a couple of minutes of the first session on Saturday, but it was after the Big News. I didn’t stick around to hear how wonderful it is to live in Utah, courtesy of some guy who lives there.

I did closely follow the proceedings on the Bloggernacle. For those of you who are in somewhat the same situation as I am (sorta believing, but with limits) I highly, highly recommend it. Intelligent thoughtful people extract the best from the conference talks and make them interesting. I may even read some of the actual talks when the Ensign comes out next month!

Bloggernacle Conference Highlights:

Once again, the Bloggernacle has come through for me.  It’s amazing how much more I like church filtered through the lens of smart people who don’t have my cynicism or bias.

Bloggernacle Post about “The Mormons” #2,367

Published
by
Square Peg
on May 1, 2007
in Bloggernacle, Current Events and Mormon
. 27 Comments

Apparently, the Cultural Hall is the only remaining Mormon-themed blog on the face of planet earth without some kind of running commentary on Helen Whitney’s PBS documentary “The Mormons.” Sure, we could (and probably should) wear that fact like a badge of honor. But sadly, like a lemming jumping into the river without an inner tube, I just can’t resist the urge to spoil our peaceful “Whitney Free Zone” with a few of my own paltry NOMish musings on the Mother of All Mormon Documentaries.

For me, the most interesting part of “The Mormons” wasn’t all the historical detail, or the descriptions of the foundational events in Mormon history, or even that whole weird “this is why we dance” segment. I was actually much more intrigued by some of the larger themes that were explored or introduced in the first hour of the documentary. Continue reading ‘Bloggernacle Post about “The Mormons” #2,367′

Easter Posts

Published
by
Ann
on April 6, 2007
in Bloggernacle, Christ, Christianity, Inspiration and Literature
. 3 Comments

Have all y’all seen Kristine Haglund Harris’s amazing Holy Week series over on BCC?

If not, get thee hence. Here is Kristine’s author page. Scroll down to Palm Sunday and read backwards.

Also, Russell Arben Fox shares the Tale of the Three Trees over on Times and Seasons.

Lynnette writes about the complex power of Good Friday over on Zelophehad’s Daughters.

This is the kind of stuff that makes me glad to be reading here.

A Bloggernacle/Borderlands Variant of Godwin’s Law

Published
by
Ann
on March 29, 2007
in Bloggernacle, Internet, Mormon and Technology
. 37 Comments

According to Wikipedia, Godwin’s Law (or Godwin’s Rule of Nazi Analogies) was formulated in 1990 by Mike Godwin. Godwin’s Law states:

As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.

I was surprised to read that this Law has a solid Mormon foundation. One of the places Mr. Godwin cited the law, waaaaaaaaaay back in 1990, was in a Usenet thread on on the newsgroup rec.arts.sf-lovers. The thread was discussing the article “The Hypocrites of Homosexuality,” by Orson Scott Card, published in the February 1990 issue of Sunstone.

Several corrolaries and variants on the Law evolved. My favorite is Sircar’s Corollary:

If [a] discussion touches on homosexuality or Heinlein, Nazis or Hitler are mentioned within three days.

That was certainly the case in the Card thread; the very first reply to the original post called Mr. Card a Nazi!

I would like to propose the Bloggernacle Variant of Godwin’s law:

As an online Bloggernacle discussion grows longer, the probably of a poster being referred to the Elder Bednar talk of Fall 2006 approaches one.

I knew as soon as I heard about Bednar’s talk that people would use it as an excuse, particularly on the internet, to be obnoxious. When these obnoxious folk are called on their offensive behavior, they drag out the pointed stick of the Bednar talk, and poke people with it.

In some discussion groups, when Nazis or Hitler are mentioned, the discussion is over. Further, the person who first mentions Nazis or Hitler loses the argument. I would like to suggest such an application of the Bloggernacle/Borderlands Variant of Godwin’s Law here on The Cultural Hall. If you mention the Bednar talk in response to someone claiming you’ve said something offensive, you are, in fact, being obnoxious and should shut up.

I would cheer such an application throughout the Bloggernacle. All I can do is hope.

Edited to add: I didn’t write this in response to anything that’s happened here. This does seem to happen on FMH a lot, and that’s what brought it on. I suggest it as a “house rule” here at TCH only because I can, not because it’s happened here.

Why the Middle Way sometimes sucks

Published
by
Ann
on March 19, 2007
in Bloggernacle, Spirituality and Surviving Sundays
. 34 Comments

Church mostly sucked yesterday. This even though I gave a talk on three faithful LDS women and Why I Like Relief Society that I got lots of compliments on, and we’re doing a great song for Easter in choir all about Jesus from the Methodist Hymnal (our bishop is singing a short solo).

Sunday School was once again a trial. Relief Society went off on a tangent about the Only True and Living President of the United States and I just had to leave. The Middle Way is doubly difficult if you’re a Democrat.

(Note: hyperbole alert.)

Critics will say of course it sucks, it’s church. Didn’t I say over on NOM once, “Church mostly sucks and most people leave”? Ah, my own criticisms, come back to haunt me.

The Uber-faithful will say that it’s my own fault for lacking charity and for being a Democrat.

When you’re trying to find the middle way, everybody thinks you’re wrong.

I think the solution is for y’all to tell me how wonderful I am and how it’s OK for church to suck and that doesn’t mean it’s stupid to keep going. Also, remind me that I’m not evil and that George Bush is an idiot. That’ll help a lot.

theculturalhall.com — We have friends after all!!!

Published
by
admin
on March 7, 2007
in Bloggernacle, LDS, Mormon and Mormons
. 3 Comments

Wow! We got 2nd place in the Best New Blog category of the niblets awards!!!

Thanks to all of you who voted. And most importantly, thanks to all the permabloggers here for your most excellents posts.

Let’s go for best big blog next year!!! :)

Niblet Awards

Published
by
admin
on March 1, 2007
in Bloggernacle, LDS, Mormon and Mormons
. 0 Comments

Hey! The Cultural Hall was nominated in the Niblet Awards for best new blog. Kinda fun. Thanks to all our permabloggers and commenters for their participation.

If you are so inclined, check it out!