For to be free is not to merely cast off one's chains,
but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
- Nelson Mandela -

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Intentional lurking

For those of you who wonder about my new welcoming message, here’s a brief explanation.
My knowledge of the English language has recently been extended with the term ‘lurkers’. I think it sounds like a dirty word, and that does seem to concur with the overall association. Personally, I don’t mind at all if people read my blog without leaving a comment. In my very first post I’ve shared my intentions about my reasons to start this blog. Up to now I’ve only had very positive response and I’m quite enjoying the whole thing. It works for me as I hoped it would work.
Now it has been brought to my attention that some of these lurkers are people who spend time - and some of them even taxpayer’s money! - reading home educators’ blogs in an attempt to find ways to approach our children without the parents being present.
If that is true, I think it’s sick. I really find it very hard to believe that any sane or well meaning person would do such a thing. Anybody who would stoop to such methods could not possibly have even the slightest bit of positive intentions and I’m convinced that justice and/or the law will catch up with them, one way or another.
I don’t intend to give this phenomenon any more attention than it deserves, but I also think it’s not a bad idea to be aware of the fact that there are some confused people wondering around on this planet. So we’ve discussed it with the children, we’ve made sure that they know what to look out for and what to do in case anybody asks them anything else than the way back to the civilized world (which happens occasionally around here...). Just as we teach them other useful things to help them get by in the world in a sensible, healthy way.
Oh, and just in case there’s anybody lurking out there who wants to find out more about me or us than this blog tells them, please do not hesitate to let me know! I’m always happy to meet new people and to share thoughts and ideas.
In the meantime I’ll happily continue blogging as before, with the most powerful of protections in place!

6 comments:

shukr said...

I guess many know experientially that 'what goes around comes around', but your spell, (if that is okay to say?) it hits home again iykwim.
Just with everything. How we speak, how we act, who we are inside. It's not just superficial stuff that comes back on us.
As a Muslim I see this as Divine Law rather than karma, but whatever we call it, it has the same effect! ( never seen you use karma btw either, just often the word associated with this phenomenon iykwim).
Hope that's not too rambly!

Ruth said...

Thanks Mieke:)

'EF' said...

I was also giving this issue a lot of thought the last 24 hours. The problem with having a blog on the internet is that we really do have to trust that we won't get any negative stuff happening as a result of that. I am just trusting that we will all be protected somehow..and then put it all down to..well, the chances of anything happening are small..but as some of us know..it just has.

I have a statcounter on my blogs and it freaks me out to look at it..lol....so I don't.

But just to delurk myself: Hullo! You can read me at homelyeducation.blogspot.com

Mieke said...

No, Shukr, not rambly at all.
Divine Law, Karma, Fate, Destiny... I suppose people call it what they feel suits them best. What everybody decides to do with it in their own life, that's what counts imo. I'm a great believer in taking responsibility for your own actions. We all play our own little part within the web of interconnectedness and what we do - or not do, for that matter - is never without consequences.

Mieke said...

And Hi to you too, EF :) I'm afraid I've set your statcounter off a couple of times [blush], but my intentions were good, I promise!
I think we should just continue doing what we are doing and let people who choose to do these sneaky freaky things worry about their own conscience. Or about the Powers of True Paternal Love. Whatever they meet first...

Anonymous said...

scary thoughts but true absolutley true. How much of our lives is safe to put out there. We don't really know who's watching.