Look ya’ll, getting an award for being “subversive” is about as non-subversive as you can get. Seriously! I hate to be a wet blanket, and I do love ya’ll, and I’m honestly not a mean fellow, but this is just parody at this point, don’t you think? An award for being subversive? An award for being a “subversive blogger?” You are blogging! Seriously? Are you serious? How subversive can one be in their pajamas? This does the entire concept a bit of injustice, me thinks. C’mon, now! Think about it!
Note: Please forgive the many grammatical fragments in the above … I’m just unable to address this with complete thoughts. Carry on!
24 Comments
Shawn, I understand what you’re saying, I really do.
I started these awards as a means of encouragement to people… the original blog post says, “Keep in mind that this award is meant as an encouragement to bloggers to keep doing what they’re already doing - being subversive (however you interpret it). May we never forget that Jesus (and His message) was the original and ultimate subversive.”
What is the point of the Daily Scribe if not to promote Jesus’ subversive message via the blogosphere? Isn’t that the whole point?
From another angle, blogging itself is inherently subversive, in that it gives voice to the people, citizen-journalism style. Blogging subverts the message of the mainstream media, that is, that only educated people can create content. We say a collective “NO!” to that… we will create content, and people will read it.
Maybe that helps… What do you think?
Right on, Jake. I just think - and this is personal opinion - that if you have to say you are “cool,” then you probably really aren’t. It’s the difference between Fonzie and James Dean, to take it to a most ridiculous extreme. LOL! That said, I am in no way trying to draw comparisons or correlations between our subversive Gospel and “cool.” If you have to announce to the world that you are being subversive, then you probably really aren’t.
The encouragement aspect driving the meme is honorable. Right on!
It’s just my question; it’s my opinion. I’m glad I asked. Be encouraged and carry on.
Someone please nominate Shawn so he won’t feel so left out now … ;-)
Really, though, in a sense you’re right. No one who blogs is going to be terribly subversive … or are they? On the surface, probably not. Many of the bloggers who are writing are just nattering away. But some are clearly thinking more deeply about things than your average bear. In particular, I liked Jake’s definition of subversive, as people who are “… unsatisfied with the status quo … and search for something new or a return to …” That puts a slightly different twist on things. To be dissatisfied with the status quo and search out new ways or a return to old. In some ways then, yes, you might want to occasionally announce that you’re subversive in that context … just to remind people of your purpose. And maybe to keep yourself on task as well.
LOL! Honestly, I wouldn’t accept it if I were nominated. It has nothing at all to do with me wanting such a prestigious award or relieving peer envy! :) In fact, right before I revamped Scribe … Ben, Nick, Wes, and I were talking about launching something similar to Scribe called “Subv3rsive.” I then remarked that I feel sort of silly banning together a bunch of blogs under the banner of subversion - not because I don’t appreciate the concept of subversive expression (God knows I do), but because I thought if we had to advertise ourselves as such then we probably really aren’t what we are advertising.
It’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for … Jesus never announced “I am the way; I am truth; I am subversion!’ … but he was, right?
Am I really the only one who is thinking this???
Anyhow, I was just saying … It’s just my opinion, and by all means keep telling yourselves how subversive you are! :)
the church i used to be a part of, ‘the meeting house’ hangs their hat on the subversive message of jesus. they don’t call themselves subversive but are very blatant about Jesus being subversive in an attempt to untame his message. I think it is always ok to point out someone else’s subversion, but you will always be fake if you pin the label on yourself. i think this award sort of walks a line in between.
i got nominated the first time around. and while i don’t need a label to be subversive or a cute little web badge to define me as subversive. it is nice to be recognized for what you’re doing and to be distinguished as different than everybody else who drivels on like sonja said. and it would be one thing if everybody who was getting nominated was nominating themselves or proclaiming themselves as subversive. but they’re just nominating other people who have had that role on their lives. i don’t think there is anything wrong with that.
and just to be honest, i’m with bouma. i don’t think there is much different in that than there is in the scribe. the scribe claims to be diverse, eclectic, and representing the full spectrum of the internet. but honestly it’s a bunch of christians (mostly to the right of center) who claim to be diverse. but in reality aren’t very much. i’m not speaking of you of course shawn. but there are plenty of scribers who are as fundie as they come. and as a tech guy, i find that just as ironic that somebody would apply to be a part of a diverse, tech aggregator when they probably don’t even know what the term aggregator means and much less about the spirit of diversity.
perhaps the most subversive thing would be to withdraw your membership from the group because of that fact. oh wait . . . i already did that. :) just kidding of course.
i do agree with you that some of the people that get nominated are about as subversive as a GAP commercial. or about as subversive as some scribers are diverse. :)
cheers. long live bouma.
@Josh: Hey, bro! Great to hear from you. We are all drivelers … truth be told. The ’sphere is nothing but commentary. Commentary is just commentary. Is it important? You bet! Is it life? Not so much.
Re: Scribe … nowhere do I claim that it is a representation of the full spectrum of the net. We tried that the first time ’round and it was stupid, to put it bluntly. Scribe is an aggregate for Christian writing and expression, which is varied enough in and of itself to keep us all perpetually busy. So, I’m not sure where you are going w/ that one.
… then, there is the fact that you cite “fundies” as members of Scribe, and you were a member of scribe, and others who share your expression are members now, so maybe the Christian diversity is there? You, in fact, cited it yourself, right?
Besides, what does the above have to do with my questioning of an award meme for subversive expression? Seriously? Kind of an odd, reactionary sort of leap, don’t you think?
cheers.
@Josh: You wrote, “I do agree with you that some of the people that get nominated are about as subversive as a GAP commercial. or about as subversive as some scribers are diverse.”
Follow up question, bro. So, even if I do sift the reactionary congruence you fashioned between this meme and scribe, are you saying that some of the recipients of the award are jokes, as far as authentic subversion is concerned? I mean, a GAP commercial is not too subversive, I agree.
no worries dude. not trying to pick a fight.
i’m not even going to agree or disagree with your original assumption. i kind of see your perspective. and i kind of see bouma’s perspective.
i just wanted to point out the irony of a scribe guy pointing out the irony in something else. when to me, the scribe is about as ironic as it gets when you read what’s it supposed to be about. and i’ve got no problem that it’s only a christian deal. although i think that is somewhat ironic when put against the backdrop of the about page where it talks about diversity and trying to represent the spirit of the internet. but whatever on that one.
my larger point is that even as a purely christian aggregator, i think it’s ironic that there isn’t a whole lot of diversity when their claims to be. maybe it’s changed alot. and the only thing i have as a reference point is the week or two that i was there when people were fighting over who could be in and who couldn’t be in. and then those couple of posts where people were saying you couldn’t be in if you were “emergenty”. i’m not trying to rehash stuff. but on the outside looking in, it doesn’t look very diverse.
again, not trying to pick a fight. i could care less. i was just defending jake’s perspective that it’s ironic and borderline the pot calling the kettle black. this will be my last comment. as i don’t want to end up fighting over semantics.
i’m seriously not banging on the scribe. i like what you do. and i love your blog.
but just like you have some people in the scribe that aren’t diverse or generous in their orthodoxy, you have some people who get nominated for the subversive blogger award who aren’t subversive.
Right on, Josh. The deal w. Scribe is that there is more than enough Christian diversity and internal fighting, and pissing matches to last us all a life time. Right? So, this edition of scribe was dedicated to that … Christian diversity. yeah, I know what went down w/ you and members of the community getting agitated because of the emergent presence in scribe. You and I exchanged e-mails over that whole deal and you know I was not happy. But the situation does prove there is some wild Christian diversity in there … and that’s the point.
Now, I love Jake too. he knows that. I love the guy as much as you could love a guy you have never meet and only interacted with briefly online … He writes good music too. And that’s my point with subversive awards for internet activity … It’s very, very limited! So, I’m not sure announcing and awarding subversion limited to the net is all that complimenting to the sort of subversion Jesus lived and was killed for … It’s all fun and good networking, but let’s not reduce subversive expression and living to online activity …
That’s all I’m saying, bro. We need not kill each other with text over this one. I’m just asking if we can think a bit bigger and not give fodder to those who would use it against us in silly ways. Seriously.
So, before anyone else winds up here hoping to toss fuel on embers, think about it. We are on the same team, bro. A healthy question or challenge doesn’t equate defection. Cool?
Also, you know I agree: there ARE people in scribe that I don’t resonate w/ at all! In fact, I disagree with them 100%. So, yeah, your made point is received.
right on dude. i couldn’t agree more. cheers.
Ahhh, subv3rsive, I remember that tangent. Shawn I am totally agreeing with you on this one. While I thought suv3rsive was a “good idea” it wasn’t really subversive. We got more out of the emails we were sending to each other encouraging and praying for each other than a badge would ever do. Being “subversive” isn’t about the recognition, it’s about making change. Causing a little ruffling of the feathers. It is not about standing on the street corner shouting at the top of your lungs “Look at me! I am making a change!” All in all I think the Scribe was a great way to go, even if I am not a part of it. :)
Right on, Nick. Check your e-mail.
Shawn, after going thru the post and the comments, this one phrase stuck out to me:
“If you have to announce to the world that you are being subversive, then you probably really aren’t.”
Two thoughts to this:
1. No one I’ve read who’s been tagged by this meme (including me) has called *themselves* subversive. The award is given you by someone else. As Bouma has said…it’s an encouragement, nothing more.
2. I don’t think the intent here is to announce to the world that the collective “we” are subversive. I think this is part a growing call to the *church* to return to the subversive nature of our faith, which we had before we were institutionalized.
3. I, for one, do not blog in my pajamas. :)
I guess the point is that I don’t see bloggers taking this “award”, or themselves, too seriously when they pass it around. It’s just a meme.
Hey, Jeff! Thanks for your thoughts. I know … I know. Perhaps I rushed a critique a bit. I’ve been known to do so on occasion. Honestly, I think there is a bit of gray to this situation. Yeah, no one is announcing themselves as subversive or proclaiming their subversiveness to the world, but it is being collectively celebrated, sort of, isn’t it? And aren’t recipients acknowledging their award and their own subversiveness when they in turn pass the award along to a few others? Some have even glowingly commented on their subversiveness, haven’t they? Therein is a rub that I can’t quite put my finger on, so to speak. I suppose it is gray enough that I should have avoided comment on it, but some conversation ensued and that’s a plus.
I agree we all could use encouragement, and if that comes from this then great! We all need a bit of encouragement. I also agree, however, that this is just a meme.
Like I said, I love ya’ll, and pray for your encouragement, but I just find this a bit silly. But who am I! Seriously, carry on; it’s just my opinion voiced from my blog. :)
Cool, Shawn. “Gray-ness” acknowledged. :) God bless. Check my blog today if you get the chance.
ALERT: If you happen to stricken by a sudden case of “situational seriousness,” please see a local philosopher or theologian asap!
Symptoms: 1. You find yourself taking some issues seriously, and other issues are reduced to silly. 2. Your tongue suddenly becomes planted in your cheek.
How to tell if you have it: check your blog posts immediately! If you find some posts that are brutally partisan (your issues), and others that reduce the peripheral (other people’s issues) to humor or satire, then you have probably been infected!
Outlook: Highly contagious!
LOL! Of course, I have it now too! Dang.
Yo, Jeff. Great post bro. I checked it. I’ve seen a few others like it today too. Good stuff! In turn, I offer the above comment.
Blessings …
Shawn … LOL … and I’m **still** in my pajamas (for real), cause I have this dang headache.
Fortunately, humor is contagious and best used when we laugh at ourselves … as I am doing now (laughing at myself that is) and with you. :D
You speak wisdom, Sonja. :)
LOL!
PS. Bwahahaha!
Shawn, I wrestled with the “award” at first. I like being subversive in a Jesus kind of way. But in acknowledging my subversiveness am I selling out? It’s kind of a tricky situation.
I respect James for what he was doing. But it felt kind of weird. “Hey I’m subversive.” Subversive is that one word that when said, almost feels like it takes the air out of the balloon.
In the end I simply acknowledged it.
@Jonathan: I think you meant to say “Jake,” rather than James.” What you expressed resonates with me. I guess that’s what I was getting at … Well said.
Chalk it up to bad thumbs and no coffee.
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