Here's my post about tags, and feel free to give me your thoughts. Every so often I see friends of mine getting "tagged"--and I enjoy this. I think it's interesting to read a little snippet about somebody, especially since it's coming from them. You see a little of how a person sees themselves. Still, I don't think I have ever responded to a tag myself, and tonight I'm wondering why? I'm going to take a walk through my excuses and try to figure it out.
I'm too busy to sit at the computer blabbing about myself for the sake of the three friends I have who'd read it (I know, as I sit here blogging). But honestly I do think time is a factor. I'm not one of those people who love the computer and really enjoy the time I spend sitting here. Maybe I need to brush up on my keyboarding skills. But I feel like it's often the last thing I'm inclined to do when I find I have a minute.
Still, I often do have a minute, and if I really wanted to, I guess I could use it to write 25 facts about me. I have before attempted to do just this when the little niggling voice at the back of my head makes me feel guilty for ignoring the tag. So I begin with what I know, and I find it isn't that much. Or it isn't that accurate. Or it is accurate, but isn't how I'd like the world to see me. And as I rummage around in the dark of my mind for these random things to throw out in to the light of the online community, I always stumble back around to the same thought; does anyone really want to know that I can't resist any dessert, or that the only concert I have ever been to was a Simon and Garfunkel concert when I was thirty? Do I even really want to know that about myself? Is anyone really out there thinking, gosh, of all the 50 people I tagged I really can't wait to read about Courtney? And is that who I really am? The sum of all these tidbits of information? Somehow this disturbs me.
Because you can't really get to know a person online. Text isn't a replacement for face to face communication--nor is voice, for that matter, though I think it's better. Sometimes attempting to respond to a tag just makes me feel lonely. Right this minute, I am not engaged with any person. Sure it is a form of engagement. You'll read this, and in a way I am talking to you. But in the moment, I am sitting alone at my computer with a stomach virus, the kids are in bed and Mike went to a movie by himself. I may be engaging in a community, but it is a faceless and impersonal one. The warm feeling I get when I read your comments is because I know who you are, and I love you in some capacity. It's almost like the comments remind me of who you were, like memory more than anything else.
Bottom line: I love reading about other people. Keep posting those thirty things I might not know about you. And know that when I don't respond your tag online, I'm really just confused by it, and unsure how to be a person on the computer. Next time I see you, if you really want to know, I'll tell you that I love books even more then dessert, and that I hate cats, even though I have one I'm mildly fond of.
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The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Officially one of my new favorites. This book was so well-written and sounded authentic to me--I loved that each character's voice was well-defined and found myself really examining my own views about civil rights, those regarding race and gender, in particular. We read it for book club. I made Minnie's chocolate pie, less one ingredient. Read it.
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Syren by Annie Sage
These are just fun kid books. I've kept up with the series as my kids read them.
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Officially one of my new favorites. This book was so well-written and sounded authentic to me--I loved that each character's voice was well-defined and found myself really examining my own views about civil rights, those regarding race and gender, in particular. We read it for book club. I made Minnie's chocolate pie, less one ingredient. Read it.
READING
Syren by Annie Sage
These are just fun kid books. I've kept up with the series as my kids read them.
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
9 comments:
I love you, and I love to know about the Simon and Garfunkle concert, and the books that are better than dessert. I like to read tags, too, because, sometimes, I find out that there are others in the world like me. Or that there are people in the world that struggle too. Or that there are people in the world that are different than I thought.
I just joined facebook, and I struggle with how impersonal it is. I like the blogs more, because it is a touch deeper than facebook. Better than facebook or a blog would be for you as my neighbor, and when we hang laundry (if I hung laundry and so did you) we could talk across the lines.
Well, I do not have a yard, or a laundry line, or a Courtney, so I will just continue reading your educated thoughts, which I loved to hear in a past life down the hall from me at BYU. (I hope that last sentence made sense. I was not an English major:)
I just loved reading this - because I could have written it myself (not as well or as clearly, unfortunately! Your writing skills are wonderful) -- because these are my feelings. When I get tagged (and I think I have about 10 of them literally on Facebook that will continue to be ignored) my first thought is "Really? Really???" I sincerely love reading other people's lists/thoughts/ideas/whatevers, but as for me and my house, I will not be posting my "25 things about me" list.
Love you!
Booo. Quitcherbellyaching and BLOG already. You are a gifted writer. Figure the keyboard out.
Are you sure you like books more than dessert. For me it depends on the book, the dessert and the time of day.
I'm with you on the whole tagged thing. I just can't do it either, thanks for spelling out why.
You are a gifted writer. Will you spend your extra 25 minutes proofing my blog posts.
And lastly, I'm your friend.
You posted on our 39th anniversary. And I want you to know that I read your blog and I love it.
You crack me up!
I don't participate in the tag thing as often as I receive them. And most emails labeled "FWD:" I generally delete without even reading them first. (guilty) But, I actually participated in the 25 Random Things tag this week. It surprisingly made me think about myself - me - Kimberly - and who I am underneath the mommy and housewife label that has been bestowed upon me. In the end I guess I am glad I did it. I really don't care if anyone read it. There. Done. And I won't be doing it again anytime soon.
On that note, I would love to hear 25 random things about you Courtney, so let's do lunch again this week (no kids)
Feel better soon!
I just LABORED over my 25 Random Things About Me tag, yesterday. And I mean, labored! I did it because, like you, I also enjoy reading other people's 25 random things and thought it only fair to return the favor. But I don't feel the need to respond to ALL my tags.
Ok, so I keep igngnoring the tags as well. And this is so funny, because, not a half hour ago, my conscience got the better of me and I decided to respond with the 25 things. So after stumbling around for about half an hour, being terribly funny and witty because nothing I have to say is very interesting without some heavy wit added to it, I pound out my 25 things. Then I accidentally deleted it instead of posting it. Is it a sign? I think it is. I will likely not do it again. Especially considering I did not really have the 30 minutes to do it in the first place. Now my house is still messy...
But like you, I enjoy reading everybody else's tags, so... hmmmm. Oh well. I think you just have to remember how you feel when you read other people's stuff. Because when you're writing it yourself, it feels empty, like right now. But really, you're going to wallow in this, aren't you? You're going to soak it all up. I've got you now, don't I? You can't stop, can you?
Happy Valentine's Day, cousin!
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