“Don’t Say Anything Controversial!”

So as I sit here, ready and eager to start this new online life that includes keeping a blog, I think to myself, 'I don't have a clue what I'm doing.' Inspiring, huh? I've never been the type to keep a journal or a diary, secret or otherwise.  ('Admit nothing.  Deny everything.  Never leave written evidence' is a family motto.  Meet my family, and you'll understand why.)  Also, while I do read the occasional post, I'm not a follower of any particular blog. Since I'm unfamiliar with this world, I thought I would look for words of wisdom, snippets to help make my posts entertaining, worth checking my page weekly for the updates that will indeed happen.  I admit I found nothing but generalities, leaving it all to my discretion what I should post. However, one piece of advice did indeed keep popping up, ever present no matter where I turned.  Various wording and emphasis placed upon it, of course, but the gist of what I kept being told was, "Don't say anything controversial!" This seems rather reasonable at first glance.  As someone in the public eye whose hope of future monies is not dependent on the shock model, being non-controversial seems both wise and highly desirable.  However, the more I think upon it, the more I wonder if there is any way to be non-controversial these days.  I've seen the most innocuous statements bring interesting reactions. "I'd like to have kids." "Well, if you think it's OK to add more beings to a planet that is under stress from the 6 billion plus who are already here, then go ahead, breeder!" "I like cats better than dogs." "Well, only those who are as sneaky and as cats would prefer them to gentle, loving, loyal dogs." "I think chocolate is a better 'that time of the month' food than ice cream." "Oh you do, do you?  Let me just take off these earrings and then we can go outside, and I'll change your mind." Beyond the fact that there is always someone out there that can take offense and just about anything you say, there is also that pesky truth that suppressing your natural thoughts to such an extent that you only put out bland, pat, white bread generalities, will make your blog bland, and boring, and pat, and why would anyone want to read you again? I am not someone who would deliberately put something out there for the pure reason that I want to upset people and cause a riot.  I am... well, not quite middle-aged, but comfortably approaching it... and most of us who fit that description usually have no desire to be in-your-face provocative.  What I am is a human being with thoughts, feelings, and usually an opinion on matters that cross my path.  Depending on the matter, I may feel the need to write a blog about it.  If I happen to write something you disagree with, then please take it as two intelligent, wonderful persons who just happen to disagree respectfully on one item, but we'll still be friends. I want you who read this blog to enjoy it.  I want you to take a journey with me.  Eventually I want to be published, and then I want you to go buy my books! - but that is sometime in the future, not quite yet, so just enjoying this blog and website will make me happy for the moment. Oh, and Cats Rule!

Tagged as: Opinion