
There are some people that think that writing is easy and effortless until they attempt to link thoughts, ideas, language, prose, and a pulse that is identifiable as “rhythm.” All of these things make up the “voice” of the writing as the words are merely abstracts that can mean different things if the writer is not precise in all aspects of the above. Even when those parameters are followed, creativity is required to make it interesting enough to read, but not too complex to be understood. It all sounds so easy doesn’t it? Staring at a blank piece of paper and allowing the mind to congeal and spill forth contiguous and conjunctive thoughts that add up to some conclusion and/or moral of the story, if that is the writer’s intent and end result. I have some difficulties with a few people, and some young people in general that think when I present problems I am being negative and they don’t understand or comprehend what I am saying. One young site called Bright Future that I was posting my blogs on -without notice other than a matter-of-fact letter- pulled off over 8 blogs that you can read right here for yourself for supposed “negative attacks and general negative tone.” The one they left “They Should Have Built It On the F…… Sun” was the most negative one I wrote, calling the last three generations at fault for allowing government to abandon alternative energy sources-that one they left…..go figure…..I cancelled that one myself because that was the best example of a negative tone of any I could see. Here’s the list of censored blogs, if you can find those negative attacks, let me know:
The Road Taken (The Balance of Life Through Centuries)
A Life or Death Issue (Stem Cell Research book)
Mirror, Mirror, The Spirit is Nearer (The Science of Spirituality)
The Future Use of Digitization-Part I
The Future Use of Digitization-Part II Copyright and Issues
The Future Use of Digitization-Part III, Immortality
What is Really Hip? (Ecology)
“Please, Pay it Forward” was about doing things for people to help those in need. “What is Really Hip” was about the hippie generation initiating the groundswell of the environmental movement that I was a part of. What was I, negatively attacking myself? Absurd, and I had to really think this out as to how anyone could be that off-base.
Another wanted a more “rounded” approach, that translates to “make it pretty for the reader.” I got pretty depressed about for a day until someone whose opinion I greatly value said some very nice things and encouraged me to write for me and the hell with who wants what. This is what I wrote to her:
I have become very discouraged and about to give up writing blogs completely, as all the efforts made seem to count up to nothing and I am so tired of fools that just don’t get it, much less those who just don’t care. ……. I was never looking for fame or fortune, just a small group of people that enjoyed what I’ve written to make it worthwhile. I have tried to connect with a younger audience, but I have found that they think the world is just going to be a beautiful place with no pitfalls or reason to think about anything negative happening. They haven’t experienced half their ass being chewed off as “life experience” yet, so without me writing it up as a “pretty” piece with truth and justice for all, including dessert-I get cast as writing negatively. When I try to explain the Ying and Yang are what life is, that all decisions one makes can be cast either good or bad and can also be both “good” or “bad” at the same time if one can even classify what is good or bad- it just is, period. Inevitably any decision anyone makes will have it’s drawbacks and successes, and they just don’t get it.
And my friend commented: “I don’t think you’re negative. Like I said, I think you are brilliant and I respect you.” Of course, I could never take a compliment well, not that it didn’t make me feel better, so I wrote her back this short poem that came forth quickly and right from my heart:
Of what use is a song that isn’t heard
the sweet melody of a bird
The joy of painted scenes
where no one has ever been
Of course the artist’s art
comes from their inner heart
but no more grace does one know
when just one sees their show
for in the end, the artist…for all….it is indeed the ego.
Today is a new day, I feel better and who reads this, reads it; and who doesn’t-that is their loss. My perspective is that of what is and to deny the bad things of this world is pretending they don’t exist and the “Bright Future” website acts as if the world will all be wonderful with no suffering or struggling. Posing problems and solutions without including touchy- feely “happy” articles is not their forte. Without questioning from whence the problems came deprives any reader of what is really behind the problem to begin with and is not in my opinion negative but is seeking the truth. In situations where there are already obvious answers, posing questions is a moot point. Why bother? The detriment of denial is that the “solutions” become shallow and without deep reflection as to “why” the situation is what it is from the beginning to the problem’s present position. A problem is there because decisions were made and the past adds up to what is now. A solution requires the examination of the past to truthfully and definitively answer those questions without bias. Good or bad is irrelevant, action and reaction are.
It is the questions that are not answered or not easily answered that pose the complexity of reality and allow stimulation of the human mind. I am disappointed there are younger people whose intent is good but their focus is so narrow as to not allow the freedom of expression other than “happy” news with simple and/or obvious solutions. The real mature thought process of science and the arts doesn’t just solve problems, it theorizes and postulates while stimulating others to question as well. The Ying and Yang, the process of BOTH SIDES of life remain regardless of one’s personal wants and accompanying censorship to force their “un-negative” idea of what really is. If there is any problem to be solved, someone or something has to be causing that problem. To deny that, is to deny reality. To call history and events “negative” is childish. On top of that every deed done, every action taken has both good and bad effects relatively for the human race, -always has, always will.
While we look at the touchy-feely, the warm and fuzzy, there could be negative and/or evil standing right behind you and your touchy-feely, warm and fuzzy may be the damn cause of it. You refuse to want to see for the sake of wanting the world the way you want it, sterilized of “bad” things. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This theorem just doesn’t apply in physics, but to all in the physical world. Ignore it at your peril.
7 comments
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August 22, 2008 at 12:51 am
Cathie
I am glad you are feeling better today, my friend. Blog on!
August 23, 2008 at 2:47 am
Randy Bisenz
Hi Nick,
Sounds like you might have misinterpreted the email we sent you about some of the essays you published on our website brightfuture.us.
The purpose of the brightfuture.us website is to highlight or illuminate the solutions to society’s big challenges. There are important reasons for this. You can find thousands of sites and articles that focus on the problems and who is to blame. This is important journalism and needs to be done. I agree this kind of work is invaluable, necessary and we are thankful that journalists like yourself are producing this kind of material. What is much more difficult to find are sites and writers that focus on the solutions to these problems.
However, unless the general public is offered solutions to these problems they tend to get discouraged. People are so much more likely to act if you give them a solution to act upon. This is where sites like Bright Future and the writers that contribute to them have an important role to play – it is a different role, but just as valuable.
Similarly, our big global issues are too big to solve without the involvement from both sides of the political table. Just imagine what could be accomplished if we could convince all political parties to work together to solve global warming or the energy crisis? For this reason brightfuture.us does not support partisan political positions or allow political attacks – we are hoping to reach people from all different backgrounds and affiliations.
Articles submitted do not have to be “touchy-feely or “warm and fuzzy”. However, our publishing guidelines clearly state that all articles must focus on solutions and be free of partisan politics. The articles we wrote to you about do not meet these criteria. You are welcome to edit them to meet these guidelines and we will be proud to feature and promote your work.
If you have not had a chance to do so I invite you to look through my blog or any of the articles on the Bright Future website for examples of useful articles that focus on solutions and are free of partisan politics. Given your interests I recommend you check out 2024 or The Mother of All Solutions listed in the blog section, or Lessons From Nature About Managing Resources, under Environment/Resources and Fighting Terrorism with Education under Peace/Terrorism. I think you might enjoy some of the perspectives offered there.
Whatever you decide to do we wish you well and are glad that you are so passionate about society’s big challenges.
Sincerely,
Randy Bisenz
August 23, 2008 at 5:31 pm
onlymoments
Dear Randy,
Your response to me would have been best served BEFORE you pulled my articles. Now this what exactly was written to me by your people:
Our editor was looking over recent submissions and was concerned about the
tone and content of some of the articles that you posted. One of the things
that makes our website different is that we refrain from negative attacks,
partisan politics and focusing too much on the problems instead of the
solutions. You wrote above: Articles submitted do not have to be “touchy-feely or “warm and fuzzy”. However, our publishing guidelines clearly state that all articles must focus on solutions and be free of partisan politics. The articles we wrote to you about do not meet these criteria.
Okay Randy-I challenge you here and now to find partisian politics or negativity in:
“Please Pay it Forward,
Mirror, Mirror, The Spirit is Nearer (The Science of Spirituality)
The Future Use of Digitization-Part I
The Future Use of Digitization-Part II Copyright and Issues
The Future Use of Digitization-Part III, Immortality
What is Really Hip? (Ecology)
The answers to problems are complex and history of how the problems got there are symbiotic to the solutions. I do offer the ways of thought to solutions, but I stress caution in choosing those solutions because sometimes the obvious solution begets bigger problems. That’s human history and if you wish to gloss over that and become “warm and fuzzy” that is your right, but don’t disrespect me by pulling out articles that apparently someone hasn’t read very well or perhaps doesn’t have the depth to understand the complexity of human nature without notice. Screen the articles first before allowing them to be published for god’s sake!
How in god’s name you could deem “What is Really Hip” as partisian or negative is beyond my scope of understanding. It is the seed of the ecological movement, the women’s rights movements and the call for youth to understand its roots and grow from them. I have no idea what the hell you are concerned with. On the others, they too have no negativity other than the reality of what is happening. The blog you requested from me to publish-“Why Didn’t They Just Build It On The F….Sun?” contains a scolding for the last three generations for allowing government to push aside the alternative energy tax credits. That has negativity and that’s the one YOU wanted published (???), so I pulled it myself. The book review on stem cell therapy is borderline, but very, very, very, important to the health and “bright future” of those who have deadly diseases.
I didn’t misinterpret Carly’s email, you misinterpret my intentions and are reading politics and negativity where there are none. I give you credit for having the balls to answer me, but you still don’t get it. Quick and easy solutions are trite and already out there. If you want to create an ecological community, there are over 30 projects in the US that have already done that or in the process. My point is that to change the world, and that is your intent on your own scale, one must first change the way they look at the world. It is not simple, it is complex, it takes tremendous thought-otherwise it would already be done and we would be living in utopia. I received over 80 hits on those each of those articles that you censored in less than a week. Someone must have been interested in them……….So, I challenge you. You accuse me of partisian politics, negative attacks, etc. Show me what you are talking about. You should have been happy that I submitted content that is relevant and thought provoking. Nonetheless, it is what it is and unless you show me the offending matter, I am convinced you are not reading the content and understanding it and that may just be a cultural gap I hope. I received an incredible outpouring of personal emails from people (most of whom I don’t even know)who disagree with you entirely and some things they said I can’t print here, but essentially calling the decision you made immature. I stand waiting for the proof of your accusations so I can understand what you are talking about. You apparently didn’t read this either: …without deep reflection as to “why” the situation is what it is from the beginning to the problem’s present position. A problem is there because decisions were made and the past adds up to what is now. A solution requires the examination of the past to truthfully and definitively answer those questions without bias. Good or bad is irrelevant, action and reaction are.
You want to make a difference in the world? Well you need to understand the world first. It is a never-ending learning experience.
Nick Oliva
August 24, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Malcolm
Some of the people advancing solutions don’t look at the realities of how such solutions might be implemented OR that those vested in the status quo will fight any apparently viable attempt to create change.
I’ve never heard of the site where you posted your blogs, so I can’t say whether the positive-sounding solutions there are a simplistic preaching to the choir or whether they show real (as opposed to just talking about it) things their readers can do to bring about the solutions being proposed.
Having read a lot of your work, I’m convinced that your articles really do add important information and ideas to the dialogue.
I agree, of course, that if the site had a problem with your material, they should have sent you that letter before deleting it to give you a chance to recast it. This would have been a more honorable way to show you that–should you wish to change your approach (I wouldn’t)–they really were interested in what you had to say within the scope of what they want to present.
Malcolm
August 24, 2008 at 4:57 pm
onlymoments
Malcolm,
Knowing that you do not partronize and take a very scholarly approach to critique, I appreciate your comments. Your point is spot on, and my frustration is that Randy is too busy defending his actions rather than reading my words and understanding what I am saying both in the blogs and this blog that explains in great detail what I am saying. It’s in the way that you look at things that matters, all things do pass. I have nothing but foremost encouragement with anyone that wants to make the world a better place, but to accuse me of negativity in those blogs is insane. Yeah, in my own website I have challenged at times and opinined negatively to things that piss me off, but not in the ones I sent to Bright Futures. http://www.brightfuture.us And when my 8 blogs get over 80 hits EACH in a week for a new site (that they received totally free by the way) and get censored, well, that is poor judgement business-wise as well.
It certainly is a poor way to begin a new endeavor such as a website for change when your founder and editor doesn’t want to change himself when called out and proven incorrect in his judgement.
You say you want a revolution well you know, you better free your mind instead.-J. Lennon
August 24, 2008 at 6:02 pm
American Rhetoric Review
Nick – This is so typical, much like Communati.com…. some megalomaniac decides he is the be all and end all and decides he disapproves of what is written and thus to impose his assumed authority to will his way…. I refuse to write for such misguided fools. You’re much too talented to put up with such small minds! It’s probably more the religion that he’s ranting about than the politics but of course these self righteous hypocrites can’t be forthright about their motives or their protectionisms of their fairy tales! Your website is one of the few I’ve go to read. This world needs so many “NICKS” right now I can’t begin to tell you. Then they can tout their purity amongst themselves! That’s the thing about censorship… eventually the only ones hearing the message is the choir.
August 26, 2008 at 8:14 pm
onlymoments
Today is Tuesday August 26th. The silence from Randy Bisenz is deafening. My research shows that he has established a radio show and reads palms. He has a some sort of certification from some International Institute of Hand Analysis. Obviously websites, radio shows, and self promotion cost money, so perhaps it is some sort of egotism or perhaps unintentional interference on my part somehow for him to raise funds to keep his writing alive.
I read the articles that he wrote that he asked me to read and they are certainly not all positive and offer superficial solutions (another person’s blog was ride a bike-save fuel and another “use solar powered golf carts”-both of which have been done years ago.) I’m sure his intent is good, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I still can’t figure out how Randy interprets my stuff as negative, partisian, or unfit for a website that is looking for a Bright Future and apparently he’s not brave enough to face his accusations with an open mind.