Most of you have read the entire article or should. In the run up to the final decree that you are not to have blogs, or read blogs of others, or even have a website, as well as YOUR PARENTS, unless they are in a professional business, you were reminded that you are really out of line to even want a voice to begin with and that you having a personal voice is vanity. Your pastor has a personal voice all the time and subjects you to two and four hour sermons telling you that his voice is more important than your voice. Let's look at the article again.
"But what does this have to do with blogs?
The Internet—and more specifically blogs—has enabled everyone to have a voice on any matter. Now everyone’s thoughts are “published” for all to see. Whether or not it is effective, as soon as something is posted the person has a larger voice. It often makes the blogger feel good or makes him feel as if his opinion counts—when it is mostly mindless blather!...
Ask yourself, “Do I have a tendency to want to have a voice?”
...The level of shallowness and emotional immaturity this represents is astonishing! In the grand scheme of things, why would the world at large care?
People naturally want to make a mark in this world; they want to make a difference, and many believe blogs will allow them to do this. However, most blogs, especially by teenagers, serve as nothing more than public diaries. (Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with a personal diary, as long as it is kept private.) Although certain professional weblogs can make a positive difference within some elements of society, teen blogging does not."
So there you have it. You're voice is invalid, unimportant, shallow, makes no difference, one that no one wants to hear anyway and ultimately just blather. Ask your Pastor if he had a voice when he was a teen and would he be willing to extend to you the same rights he did have as he sought out what seemed to be truth for himself as a TEEN. The answer to the question, "Do I have a tendency to want to have a voice?" is not the same as asking you, though it is framed in such a way, as "Do you have a tendency to lie, cheat and steal?" The question is asked in such a way as to make you feel badly for saying "yes" even though yes is the only answer there is for most normal people. When your church or government get your voice, you have lost your freedom and your mind.
You are being told that to have a personal voice, which means personal views, opinions and the ability to observe what is going on around you with a critical eye and thinking, is vanity. The article goes on to say...
“There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up” (Prov. 30:12-13).
If you post mundane details of your life, you are in effect saying that your life is important and that people should read about it. Also, whether or not you admit it, having a blog with your name, your picture and your opinions strokes the human ego—it lifts you up. It essentially advertises the self! Many teenagers say, “Listen to me, world, and what I have to say,” when they should be focused on changing and cleaning up their lives.
If you blog, are you sure you do not partially enjoy it because your carnal nature is inclined toward vanity?"
The author is making it sound like you say you are researching porn but, in fact, he thinks you like it. Please understand, that your church's website is a glorified blog of your pastor's name, picture, opinions, ideas, interpretations and views too. No one man embodies truth, no matter what you have been led to believe. If you doubt it, go see how many sermons he allows others to post on the site or how many of the explanations of all the doctrines, beliefs and rules are left for others to write and define. So to blog is to be vain for teens. That is a lie.
You are told that your words are idle, you only blog because you are bored and that you aren't smart enough to avoid the appearance of evil. Continuing...
"Young people should spend time doing things that are productive. Our goal in life is to become a more effective person—to get baptized into the Church and build holy, righteous godly character for the rest of one’s life. But what does blogging ultimately achieve? Nothing!
Some claim blogging is therapeutic. If that is the case then here is a classic example of someone “therapeutically” expressing himself: “Im feeling sad again…so many things I can’t tell anyone and so many feelings I need to cope with…don’t even try to ask me why, and start telling me it will help if I let it out. I know it won’t help. Trust me, telling will make me more troubled than I already am. but just ur listening/reading my [expletive] posts is enough to make me feel better. thanks…”
Talking is therapeutic. It helps one clarify one's thoughts when no one else will listen. I did not speak up often enough in my pastoring experience because I did not want to let the people down by getting fired. I am sorry I did not speak up more. I also believed what I was being told, which proved to be a lie as well. I deeply regret this lack and fear on my own part.
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