Tim Bednar just reminded me of a particular anniversary.
“It was almost a year ago today, I am of course talking about the Andrew Jones ”girl“ controversy.”
A year has passed since my biggest ever blogging mistake – a blooper of biblical proportions – a pimple on the face of the blogosphere – i am talking about my “girls” post, when I tried to describe the fact that God is using young teenagers (of the female variety) to start churches in China.
I called them “girls” to make the point that these young people were very young, untrained, and yet were doing great things for God. But it sounded like I was speaking down to them. Things are clearer now and my mistakes are obvious:
1. I used “girl” in the same paragraph as “men” which, as the late Jacques Derrida reminded us all, is an act of injustice against the Other and reinforces a privileged position to the dominant One.
2. I did not provide proper hypertext link to the previous conversation, thus taking it out of context, and not allowing readers to have access to the whole conversation in all its history
3. I took too long to respond to questions about the post – denying the loop, giving the appearance of casting off accountability to the blogging community. Not on purpose, of course. But by not checking in over the weekend, I increased the mess.
Link : The Girls Post: A Definitive History
As for Tim, he has a “substantial” post on the TNIV version of the Bible.
“I see the TNIV translation of the Bible as part of the same spiritual renewal as the emerging church; for me it is evidence that something bigger than just alternative worship is happening in the church”
Andrew–thanks for the mention. I just think sometimes we have a short memory in the blogosphere. I do not mean to rub salt in your eye by bringing this up, I just was thinking about it–wondering if I learned anything. I am just curious–what did people learn or how did we change?
Well, being a part (read: an instigator) of that wonderful adventure into stepping on toes I must say I’ve changed drastically since that vainglorious encounter…I’m a lot more sensitive to over-sensitive people.
🙂
Was it a year ago, already? Dang, I hate getting older so quickly.
As the whole saga played out, I learned to lean back and listen, listen again, and then listen some more. And to not give in to the temptation to try and fix everything with a clever comment or blog entry. (My usual approach before this famous/infamous saga.)
But the whole thing was a great learning curve (in hindsight) for many in the blogosphere, as far as I can tell.
Another really positive outcome is that my own blogging world became far richer by my introduction to people like Christy Lambertson (Dry Bones Dance), Missy (The Red Door), Michelle (Seeking Serenity) and Maggi Dawn. They have become great cyber-friends and I’m honoured to have gotten to know them.
yes – isnt is amazing how everyone on the comments list – and without exception – are now good friends with each other.
thats a good sign.
maybe i should send out cards to everyone and invite them over for a reunion?
i’ll come!
🙂
i learned lots, mostly that we have a long way to go on these issues, but that sometimes misspoken words (on all sides) are not the always deeply representational of the sentiments behind them.
blessings andrew,
john janzen, sumy masen & why it’s fun to be music junkie
my bud john janzen is armwrestling his sister diana over which loop is better for a song they are writing. the lemenheads already went over here and cast their vote–maybe you can, too. john is my favorite kind of friend–he…