Soothsayers
Very many of us bloggers share the news from the Anglican Communion and offer our commentary on it.
But I am seeing a new thing in the last few days. Some folks have moved from reporting into prophesying and mind-reading. It seems to me that the conservative blogs are doing this most. Maybe progressive bloggers are doing it, too, and I'm just not noting them. Posts like this and this are examples. Their commenters – and the commenters at T19 – are following the lead of the blogmasters, and engaging in their own mind-reading and prognosticating. They're even attributing motives to people they don't even know. This mystifies me.
I understand commenting on the news. I do it myself, when I have the time. But these folks have moved into rumor-mongering, mind-reading, and prophesying about what will happen in New Orleans. It's not just StandFirm. It's happening all over the conservative blogosphere.
I just cannot see that is healthy.
I pledge this to you: I will try to report news that comes my way. But I vow to eschew soothsaying and mind-reading. I hope all my blog-buddies will make the same pledge.
But I am seeing a new thing in the last few days. Some folks have moved from reporting into prophesying and mind-reading. It seems to me that the conservative blogs are doing this most. Maybe progressive bloggers are doing it, too, and I'm just not noting them. Posts like this and this are examples. Their commenters – and the commenters at T19 – are following the lead of the blogmasters, and engaging in their own mind-reading and prognosticating. They're even attributing motives to people they don't even know. This mystifies me.I understand commenting on the news. I do it myself, when I have the time. But these folks have moved into rumor-mongering, mind-reading, and prophesying about what will happen in New Orleans. It's not just StandFirm. It's happening all over the conservative blogosphere.
I just cannot see that is healthy.
I pledge this to you: I will try to report news that comes my way. But I vow to eschew soothsaying and mind-reading. I hope all my blog-buddies will make the same pledge.
posted by Lisa Fox at 9/16/2007 09:36:00 PM
6 Comments:
You seem to be conflating reporting, and analysis with "rumor mongering", "soothsaying", "prophesying" and "mind reading".
Can you define your terms please?
Is this an example of liberal hermeneutics? That would explain a lot.
Anonymous, look at the pages to which I linked. It's not just spreading rumors; one of the essay writers and several of those commenting in the threads actually pretend to suggest what is in the minds of others. Isn't that a bit above our paygrade? I think it's just weird -- whether it's coming from the left, right, or center. And I don't like it.
But don't take my word that they're publicizing rumors. Trust the headline of StandFirms's own article: "What’s Being Ground at the Rumor Mill?" I didn't choose that title; they acknowledged in the title they were spreading rumors.
I think that's different than the reporting and analysis that good blogs do -- and which SFiF often does.
I think folks are getting a little wacky as the House of Bishops meeting approaches. It does none of us any good to feed on the bread of anxiety or of sooth-saying.
Good for you, Lisa. This needed to be said. No, I don't see and prognostication on the Progressive Blogs - just the neo-Puritans are doing it.
An interesting phenomenon.
What's entirely predictable is their forecast. They all seem to be consistent in reporting that the Anglican sky is about to fall.
I'm shocked, aren't you?
Lisa, you have my forever admiration for operating behind "enemy lines". You have a stronger stomach than I. I will read you on them, but I can rarely bring myself to go there.
God bless you.
Thanks, Grandmère. I'll tell you the truth. I don't usually go to those places very often, and I read the comments even less. But my self-defined job description for The Episcopal Majority really is forcing me to go there in the past week. In fact, I even made my first visit in months to Sans Virtue.
Here's why: For better or worse, the conservative bishops seem to be a much "leakier" [LEACier?] bunch than the progressive/liberal bishops are. Thus, the extreme conservatives often get news scoops and leaked documents that we don't. So ... I have to go there. What troubles me is the way they then proceed to engage in soothsaying and mind-reading.
On the bright side: I hope I'm racking up some indulgences by operating over there. ;-)
Lisa, no matter what sins you commit for the rest of your life, you won't spend one second in purgatory. You will be on the express to heaven.
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