"Why do people choose the substitute over God himself? Probably the most important reason is that it obviates accountability to God. We can meet idols on our own terms because they are our own creations. They are safe, predictable, and controllable; they are, in Jeremiah's colorful language, the 'scarecrows in a cornfield' (10:5). They are portable and completely under the user's control. They offer nothing like the threat of a God who thunders from Sinai and whose providence in this world so often appears to us to be incomprehensible and dangerous . . . [People] need face only themselves. That is the appeal of idolatry."
- David F. Wells
Saturday, August 16, 2003
Blo's here, he's within earshot. He "claims" he doesn't have time to comment or post on Thinklings.org, and he also claims he reads most of the posts (sans the comments) because he downloads it all to his IPAQ.
I think that's a bunch of bunk. If he's got time to send an email, he's got time to comment on a post.
He still claims to be a Thinkling. I say we all vote whether or not to kick him out, and we flesh it all out inside the comments section. Since he never reads the comments, he'll have no idea what we're saying.
Trackbacks:
Trackback URL: http://thinklings.org/bloo.trackback.php/467.
Comments on "We're Chilling at Nathan's Birthday Party":
3. Bird
- 08/16/2003 11:48 am CDT
Well, that was Blo's first comment ever. I showed him Rod's comment and he felt compelled to respond. I had to stand over his shoulder the whole time to make sure he chimed in.
He actually ended up a few of the comments in Bill's eschatology thread and he was pretty intrigued. He said, "Man, this makes me feeling like posting a comment."
I think Blo made some big strides this afternoon. Hopefully we'll see Blo around here more often...and maybe even get an official post from him sometime! (Rod, he said he's still thinking of what to write for his Thinklings blog series submission. I told him to think fast. I also suggested he do a pro-WAH take and Bill can do a con.) 
5. Jared
- 08/16/2003 11:50 am CDT
Hmmm. Now the trick is to figure out if that was really Blo or another sympathetic Thinkling trying to save his wass.
I suspect it was Blo, because only a non-commenter would leave their name at the end of the comment like it was a little letter or something.
But on the other hand, another smart Thinkling might have thought that would be a good touch, guaranteed to strike suspicious minds as authentic.
But the lack of space between ellipses leads me to believe it is actually Blo, because Bird and Jewel have both had me rag on them enough about spaces in ellipses to not make the mistake again.
SO . . .
Welcome back, Blo!
8. Jared
- 08/16/2003 2:09 pm CDT
There are supposed to be four spaces total in ellipses . . . see?
Sincerely yours,
Blo
9. Bird
- 08/16/2003 5:18 pm CDT
Rod, I suspect there are two rules ellipses: the book writer's rule and the media writer's rule.
Of course, this is just a hunch. In my media grammar book, When Words Collide: A Media Writer's Guide to Grammar and Style, the spaces between ellipses are not mentioned...and the book's examples don't have spaces in between the periods!
However, in the
10. Bird
- 08/16/2003 5:20 pm CDT
Dude, it cut off my post for some reason. I was going to say in the MLA it says to use ellipses like Rod said to use them.
I also said that I've never used ellipses in that way and I've never been called to task on the issue by one of my editors. Maybe with media writers it's a space issue.
Daniel, any ideas?
12. Daniel
- 08/17/2003 2:07 am CDT
The AP stylebook is what I go by. Treat it like a three-letter word.
13. Jared
- 08/17/2003 4:18 am CDT
That's great if you're writing for a newspaper or magazine. Are we?
14. Jared
- 08/17/2003 4:19 am CDT
Okay, Bird, you've convinced me. (Not really, but . . .)
I now know that "Blo" in Comment #2 was you.
In that case, Blo's out!
16. Rob T.
- 08/18/2003 4:12 am CDT
Knowing some journalism grammar as well as English grammar, this is my take on ellipses... we are neither writing for a newspaper nor writing a novel. To each his own.
Also, Blo shall have his smiley, by tomorrow if Bill can code it in tonight.
Peace out . . .
Robert K. Trahan, esq.
18. Jared
- 08/18/2003 4:44 am CDT
Spaces for ellipses are not just for novels. Since they are in the Modern Language Association Handbook, they are for every general work of prose, from essays to, well, novels. As I understand it, AP Guidelines are typically used for journalistic pieces in periodicals.
My feeling is that our site is more like a culmination of essays than a compendium of articles.
19. Daniel
- 08/18/2003 4:54 am CDT
Many journalism majors who have failed to find their desired jobs are using blogs to find work … so they think. In a way I guess blogs can be considered journalism.
I agree with Rob here. To each his own.
20. Jared
- 08/18/2003 5:30 am CDT
No, NO!
To each MY own!!!!!
What's the rule on multiple exclamation points?
21. jen
- 08/18/2003 5:38 am CDT
Bad form, generally speaking.
I haven't touched a style guide since my tech writer days. *sigh* Strunk & White was my guide of choice.
I remember that I got into a huge comma/semi-colon debate with a woman I worked with - she was in Mensa so there was no way I was right.
25. Jared
- 08/18/2003 7:00 am CDT
Jen, my exclamation point query was a joke. I know they're bad form.
In fact, prose writers should avoid them whenever possible. It is considered better to write:
"Kill them all," John shouted.
than to write:
"Kill them all!" John shouted.
They are more acceptable in dialogue than in narrative, though.
26. Morgan
- 08/18/2003 9:52 am CDT
Is Blo planning on attending this?
http://www.texasbigfoot.com/events3.html
I say Blo has precisely five comments time in this post to chime in. If five comments go by without a word from Blo, I say we revoke his Thinklingship.