"You Seem To Have Removed Yourself From Your Blog"
Received via e-mail from a reader:
If you look back on your posts of a few years ago, you will see quite a difference: there were humorous anecdotes about your children, memoirs about your family and your ancestors, and articles of sincere personal introspection, which, I'm sure, many of your readers could relate to. I've noticed that, in the past year or so, your posts are more often written by guest contributors, and the topics are almost exclusively interpretations of Chassidic teachings. There is much less input of your own personal views, even on these topics (although you pose the questions, so, in a way, you are focusing and controlling the topics). Whether consciously or unconsciously, you seem to have removed yourself from your blog. It is more of a "vehicle" for impersonal religious discussions and the views of other people. Perhaps the reason you are deriving so little satisfaction from it, these days, is that it is no longer a way for you to express your own thoughts and feelings.
19 Comments:
I have to admit that I agree with the reader.
(I also think that might be why over time I sorta fell of the blogging horse...I hardly read any blogs anymore)
I also seem to agree with the reader.
While I like the current stuff, the older style drew me in more
There are ups and down, peaks and valleys, if you will, in blogging, just as in real life. This may be just a down slope.
Your blog still has personal elements. And if there is a sense by some individuals that you have removed yourself from the blog, then my own sense is that this "removal" is for the sake of discovering a deeper part of yourself.
I learn something from almost every post so I am just glad that this blog exists in any form. I look forward to reading it every day. : )
For a Chassishe Blog that is some Serious Mussar;)
I dont know what the big fuss is.
Rav Simple Jew has grown spiritualy he has elevated from the emotions into the Mochin.
Therefore his attachment is completely different.
Ashrecha Ba'Olam Hazeh VTov Luch Ba"Olam Haba!!!
For a Chassidishe Blog that is some Serious Mussar;)
I dont know what the big fuss is.
Rav Simple Jew has grown spiritualy he has elevated from the emotions into the Mochin.
Therefore his attachment is completely different.
Ashrecha Ba'Olam Hazeh VTov Luch Ba"Olam Haba!!!
simple jew:
this is your blog and part of your avoadas H'. you have done a mitzvah yaffa me'od here. you can do whatever you choose here. i think it's fine that you allow others to post. how much 'personal information' can one share with the world, anyway? how much of that is healthy?
the fact that you've maintained a blog with such substantial kedusha and information is a great chizuk and bracha for many.
please do not be discouraged and continue (or not) with whatever will help your growth in avodas H'.
i agree wholeheartedly with the comments of yosef hakohen.
i meant: i agree with yosef hakohen. you should continue on your blog as you see fit.
This blog is my daily sustenance. The personal anecdotes are heartwarming and poignantly written, but I find that all posts are written in a refreshing and meaningful way that is really uplifting. May you go from strength to strength!
Blogging should be natural - i.e. I don't see a point to post certain amount of posts a month or to blog when not in the mood to. Web log is kind of a diary to some degree. Not a newspaper. And as such it reflects moods and states of mind. One shouldn't expect them to always stay the same.
I agree with the sender of the email, and because I do not have hassidishe leanings, that is why i read less and less here. I still check every post, but usually it is something that is not my cup of tea, but occasionally there is an old style post that makes it all worth it.
Perhaps you have grown out of this blog... perhaps there is still a need for this type as well if you want to continue in this style, or perhaps it will eventually come back to you.. but a lot of people like the current style as well
I love the hassidic teachings you have - this is one of the very few blogs where different aspects of hassidic worldviews are put forward and explained - it really complements various things I see offline. At the same time all hiztoniyus is eliminated - just a pure focus on learning.
Sure the personal stuff was also inspiring and interesting, but this blog is not about numbers - the current derech appeals to enough I am sure
I think that Yaakov Shalom said it best! Keep up the amazing work ASJ and do what you believe is right.
I don't see the reader's comments as criticism, just an observation that the nature of your posts has changed, over the years. If your heart and mind are on a loftier level now, and you have grown spiritually, that is wonderful! And your current blog is a reflection of that change in your vision. But then, why are you seemingly dissatisfied by blogging? Maybe a different means of self-expression would be a better fit.
Shoshana (Bershad): Once again you have given me something to consider. Perhaps the lack of satisfaction does stem the fact that the nature of the postings have shifted somewhat...
SJ,
You are an old timer now. After you have been doing this for a while it is natural to take a step back and consider what you are getting out of it.
Do what feels right for you.
the real problem with this blog is that you haven't asked me to do a guest post in ages
Writing is a creative matter, you should do posts on what interest you. Your interests are going to shift over time, this may or may not interest people, but writing post on what interests other people rather than what interest you isn't likely to succeed.
No complaints here.
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