It's All About You, I Mean Me

For about a month now, I have had the idea to blog on a few topics that would amuse me, but I have restrained myself. I think at least some people would be amused and intrigued, but there are always reasons for not proceeding with any given topic.

Here are the things that sometimes stop me.

1. I will offend someone in my attempt at humor. What works in conversation sounds all too serious in print, or it hits too close to something that people find hard to laugh about. For example, I have blogs about the u-turns of the doctrine of certain organizations of the faithful, as well as a demand for pet insurance health care reform, that I have not had the nerve to publish. I think in laughter we can evidence understanding, misunderstanding, strength, and foibles. I may think I'm showing acute understanding and highlighting enduring strength of venerated institutions, while you may think I'm just stupid and picking on sacred ground and sacred cows. Even worse, some of you might mistakenly take me seriously. (Don't do that.)

2. No matter how I generalize, or how many examples I provide, someone I know well who reads this blog will think I am talking about them. Of course, sometimes I have no problems calling out friends and family members and throwing them under the Blogger bus, so that isn't the issue. The issue is when I am actually not talking about a family member or friend and they will think I am talking about them. To list one, I had an idea for a blog about coupons, how to use them, and how not to use them, but I can think of one family member and one friend right away who would be certain I am talking about them. They can think it all they want, I can't stop them ... but I am certain they will want to come talk to me about it.

3. I have (what I think is) a fantastic idea about phone etiquette, but I am fairly certain that some of my most faithful blog readers will think I am talking about them and stop calling me altogether, which might make some of our holiday gatherings a bit ... awkward.

So, what to do? Throw caution to the wind? Continue my self-censorship?

I don't know. Let's just say I wouldn't be taking up valuable blogging space writing about what I'm not writing if I wasn't actually still thinking about writing it. (Did you follow that?)

We'll all just have to wait and see. I have touched tangentially on religion and health insurance before, and I didn't appear to lose any followers, no eggs were thrown at my house, and no one sent me any hate mail.

Maybe if I hoist myself on my own petard enough the Blogger world will all come to understand one fundamental truth.

This isn't about you. It's all about me. :-)

It is okay if we disagree, so long as you still think I'm funny. :-) :-)

See you tomorrow.