Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Clarification

I am going to be posting items that might be of interest. You may respond with your comments if you wish. I will read them, but I will not necessarily respond.

17 comments:

  1. Roshi, what has happened to all the recordings of your talks made through the years?

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  2. You should put up a website [robertaitken.com, say, and NOT a blog.] You do not know how to blog. A blog is not 'an advertisement for myself.'

    Buddhist writers/masters/whatever are INFAMOUSLY terrible bloggers. Unhappily, this is very revealing.

    It is more than a little like you are an old writer whose ego is so big he has suddenly decided to be an Olympic high-hurdle sprinter and to do this all he thinks he need do is buy an expensive pair of sneakers and a jock strap.

    Your readers to not need 'terms of use' for a blog. THEY know about the Internet and how a blog works. It is you who are silly and fumbling and don't seem to know squat about blogging.

    You should read a blog or two and learn about its use and techniques or get the hell off the playing field.

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  3. Oh my god, I wasn't going publish the last posting from Tom, it's too friggin' hilarious!

    You should put up a website [robertaitken.com, say, and NOT a blog.]
    Oh oh, you used the 'should' word.

    You do not know how to blog.
    Duh!

    A blog is not 'an advertisement for myself.'
    Yes it is. No it isn't. Yes it is. No it isn't. Yes it is. No it isn't. Yes it is. No it isn't. Yes it is. No it isn't. Yes it is. No it isn't. Also too and therefore plus please click through the Amazon icon or the 'Books by Robert Aitken' link and buy something so we can get some scratch. Thank you.

    Buddhist writers/masters/whatever are INFAMOUSLY terrible bloggers.
    Hmmm, now that you mention it....

    Unhappily, this is very revealing.
    Exactly why we are happily blogging!

    It is more than a little like you are an old writer whose ego is so big he has suddenly decided to be an Olympic high-hurdle sprinter and to do this all he thinks he need do is buy an expensive pair of sneakers and a jock strap.
    Ok, I need help with this one....

    Your readers to not need 'terms of use' for a blog. THEY know about the Internet and how a blog works. It is you who are silly and fumbling and don't seem to know squat about blogging.
    Actually, the 'terms of use' are the result of postings from those very readers. And your comments make it clear that those terms need to be more comprehensive.

    You should read a blog or two and learn about its use and techniques or get the hell off the playing field.
    Screw you guys, we're going home! And give our ball back.

    Here's a suggestion, Go here and unload a comment there, then get out of the basement and go eat that oatmeal that's been waiting for you for 45 minutes.

    Sincerly,
    tom8, your ignernt webmaster

    PS: Ok, dad, I promise I won't allow any more posts like this one--This was just too much fun!

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  4. S'funny. I thought this personified a Zen blog. Arbitrary rules subject to change without notice or reason. It looks like a blog and then it doesn't and then it does. What else is to be taught?

    ;-)

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  5. Thanks Mike H- This has been an experiment and it now appears that it will not work for us on the conventional blog format. You may expect to see postings and are free to make comments, but it is really too difficult for my dad to respond to very many, if any. If this does not suit you, please look elsewhere. Mary Jaksch has a fine blog at http://goodlifezen.com and you might try her out. Otherwise, please bear with us. Again, thanks!

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  6. tom8:
    I don't think my point came over clearly.

    I don't think there is such a thing as a conventional blog format. Everyone does it differently. The blog host makes the rules.

    For instance Brad Warner runs a blog where ne almost never responds to comments and the comment section is open to anyone and unmoderated. Gudo Nishijima runs a moderated blog and may or may not respond to comments and so on. Mike/Chodo Cross runs a very heavily moderated blog. Every blog is different.

    I don't see any real need for a blog owner to justify how they run things. It's their choice.

    I don't think this is a non-working experiment. Perhaps you had expectations of how other people would behave and they have not been met.

    By default people expect a blog to be an interactive thing and not all blogs are like this.

    The blogsphere is more Wild West than Zendo so all that's needed is for a blog author to be clear about what they want to do.

    Mike

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  7. Yes, I got it, and thank you again. I apologize for responding like a preschool teacher, but I'm sure you can imagine the psycho flames I screen out every time we post. Meanwhile, there'll be a bit of an interlude while my dad goes through his periodic antibiotic regimen
    -tom8

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  8. Dear Roshi,

    Highly inspired by your writings since many years now and being far in time (?) and space (Japan, Belgium)I'm so happy to discover today that you allow us friendly meetings through this mean.

    Thank you for this connection

    Alain.

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  9. Roshi:

    Love your disclaimer. Though I'm a few decades longer than you I think I'll use the plea for brevity to my reports at work.

    Gassho

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  10. What a wonderful treat to have access to Roshi through this blog.

    I agree with Mike H, blogs are flexible and this blog will work fine however Roshi wants it.

    Tom8 - I'm glad you mentioned Roshi Mary Jaksch's blog. She really "gets" blogging & does a wonderful job w/ goodlifezen. BTW, I found this blog through her twitter post.

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  11. My dad wants everyone to know that he is "away from his desk" until April 1 while he gets his antibiotic treatment in the hospital. I visited him again today. He is doing better during previous treatments and in good spirits. He sends his regards to all, with a special shout out to the blog police! Aloha, tom8

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  12. Roshi,

    I have no comments or questions to speak of; I just want to thank you for your great work. As a young Zen practitioner in Southern Appalachia, I realize that my local sangha and larger Zen community only exist because of the effort of your generation of wise, dedicated teachers and practitioners. You are an inspiration to us. Thank you!

    Gassho,
    -Mike

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  13. Hi Robert, Tom and All,

    I'm exited and encouraged to see continued playful experimentation with new pathways into intimacy!

    From this point of view, the egalitarian platform of the internet where everyone can be a participant, is not a whole lot different in spirit than the virtual gatherings around teacher Raven. Perhaps just a bit more rowdy given the reduced barriers to entry.

    With fond regards :-)

    S. Rood

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  14. Hello Robert Aitken Roshi,
    Old friend.
    Somehow I have found this blog while at work. Sitting in the half lotus in my chair.
    Most interesting discussions back and forth.
    I will try to find this again and listen in.
    Working with Nelson is great. I have become comfortable as I age.
    I wish you well with your health.
    Most interesting discussions back and forth.

    Gassho,

    O. B. Ray

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  15. Hello Robert,

    I should have added; there is such great insight that can be found on these discussions.

    Thank you for the place to present them.

    O. B.

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  16. At first, I was wondering who is this guy "Tom?" And then realized that he is your son. Well, then, it is perfectly ok to use his sword of nonsense to cut through the nonsense. Which makes perfect sense. I have a 17 year old son and he doesn't fool around.
    Regards,
    O. B. Ray

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