tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post7262216625054718345..comments2024-03-27T23:42:36.619-05:00Comments on Mock Ramblings: Rebuttal - Too Smart To Have ChildrenMichael Mockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06233321050691782148noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-14866473138372601262012-02-05T12:38:16.044-06:002012-02-05T12:38:16.044-06:00My objection to Mr. Gonzales's thoughts center...My objection to Mr. Gonzales's thoughts centers around the premise that by limiting our families we are refusing God's blessings. I have noticed that children are the only blessing from God that those in the Quiverfull and similar camps want us to pursue with reckless abandon. The pursuit of money for example, also a blessing, must be tempered lest money become an idol. <br /><br />I do wonder if the relentless pursuit of super-fecundity carries a similar risk. The iconization of the Duggars seems to indicate that could be the case.<br /><br />To Mr. Gonzalez, I do agree with the blog author that your interactions here have been most cordial and pleasant :)Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14775794907218052899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-14485308996026250232012-02-04T20:36:22.963-06:002012-02-04T20:36:22.963-06:00"I do have one suggestion for you; if you are..."I do have one suggestion for you; if you are going to write a rebuttal to someone’s blog post, let him or her know so they will have an opportunity to respond."<br /><br />That's an excellent suggestion, and I thank you for it. To be honest, it simply didn't occur to me - I don't do these sorts of responses very often, and the last time I did, well, that particular author provides no contact information.<br /><br />"One of my goals this year is to write some challenging responses and engage in online debates."<br /><br />Feel free to comment here if you like. I'm sure I will write some things that you can take issue with. I'll try to keep an eye on your blog as well, if you like, and leave comments there (or, for longer responses, write them here and leave a link in your comments).<br /><br />Ordinarily, I'd also suggest that you check out <a href="http://slacktivist.typepad.com/slacktivist/" rel="nofollow">The Slacktiverse</a> - it's not without its flaws, but it's home to a wide variety of religious and non-religious perspectives, and it's a good place to get well-reasoned input and feedback. At the moment, however, they are dealing with an influx of really unpleasant people, resulting from an article that one of the atheists wrote about certain sorts of atheism. So this isn't the best time to drop by and introduce yourself... though I hope it will quiet back down in another week or two.Michael Mockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233321050691782148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-25827635293941673872012-02-04T07:44:17.923-06:002012-02-04T07:44:17.923-06:00Mr. Mock,
I accept your apology however; I do not...Mr. Mock,<br /><br />I accept your apology however; I do not think it is necessary. If ‘snarky’ is your style then I’d say go for it. I did wince a few times when reading your comments (and those of your friends), but I did appreciate the fact that expletives were not used. If the point of a blog post is to convey a message and if I failed do this, then I appreciate someone letting me know. I’m an amateur writer with aspirations of someday writing a book or two. Feedback like this is only going to help me improve. I’ve been a graphic designer for many years and I’ve had my work criticized and critiqued over and over again. I’ve learned to look past the sarcasm and facetiousness of my critics in order to find the real issues. With this entry, I was not effective in conveying my points. I admit that I don’t spend a lot of time on most of my posts. They are usually just ‘train-of-thought’ rants. I should probably put more time into each of them—quality, not quantity.<br /><br />I do have one suggestion for you; if you are going to write a rebuttal to someone’s blog post, let him or her know so they will have an opportunity to respond. I have no intention in trying to argue my points with you. This time I will just cower in the corner and lick my wounds ;) But if you know that the person you are about to pick apart will actually read your rebuttal, you will write with this in mind and be more selective with your approach. That’s my plan anyway. One of my goals this year is to write some challenging responses and engage in online debates. But, alas, one was written about my work first and my lunch was handed to me.<br /><br />Thanks again for taking the time.<br /><br />Blessings to you in Jesus Name,<br /><br />Michael Gonzalespastorgonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491347426567815797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-88557808421917299802012-02-03T16:05:09.195-06:002012-02-03T16:05:09.195-06:00Mr. Gonzales,
Thank you for a polite and, well, ...Mr. Gonzales, <br /><br />Thank you for a polite and, well, not-angry response. I am particularly impressed because - while I stand by my basic points of disagreement - the way I expressed my criticisms was not especially friendly or charitable. I suppose I could hope that you at least found it amusing, but I can see how it would easily come across as insulting instead. So, do please accept my apologies for taking such a snarky tone to something that I'm sure you put some real time and effort into writing. And thank you again for your patience in responding.Michael Mockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233321050691782148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-63605179170754507112012-02-03T15:25:12.307-06:002012-02-03T15:25:12.307-06:00Mr. Mock,
Thank you for reading my blog post and ...Mr. Mock,<br /><br />Thank you for reading my blog post and interacting with the content. I appreciate you taking the time to thoroughly examine and critique my handiwork. I will take your criticisms and comments into consideration.<br /><br />Blessings to you in Jesus Name,<br /><br />Michael Gonzalespastorgonzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491347426567815797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-48150617125412245042012-01-30T15:26:56.389-06:002012-01-30T15:26:56.389-06:00"The thing that bothers me about all of this ..."The thing that bothers me about all of this sort of thinking is that despite their cries of "do it for the children," their attitude is inherently dehumanizing to children. They are treating children as objects, seeing them as blessings in the same way that getting a raise is a blessing. They don't seem to care if women or men are ready or want to have children or what kind of parents they would make. They only care about the quantity of kids, never the quality of the situation they are born into."<br /><br />Thank you. That's a succinct and well-stated summary of precisely why I object to this sort of screed.Michael Mockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233321050691782148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-18614247780896282792012-01-30T11:57:08.124-06:002012-01-30T11:57:08.124-06:00When believing young women become immersed in a se...<i>When believing young women become immersed in a secular educational system, they can sometimes become too smart to have children. They may end up rejecting the blessings that our God desires for them.</i><br /><br />Please tell me that they are trying to be sarcastic here. In my mind, there's no such thing as "too smart." If a woman decides she shouldn't have children because she has no interest in raising children or is not in a social/economic/personal situation in which it would be appropriate, good for her.<br /><br />The thing that bothers me about all of this sort of thinking is that despite their cries of "do it for the children," their attitude is inherently dehumanizing to children. They are treating children as objects, seeing them as blessings in the same way that getting a raise is a blessing. They don't seem to care if women or men are ready or want to have children or what kind of parents they would make. They only care about the quantity of kids, never the quality of the situation they are born into.storitellerhttp://willbikeforchange.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-54745901383191402692012-01-29T17:13:08.080-06:002012-01-29T17:13:08.080-06:00So, to recap: education is fine for women, and it&...<i>So, to recap: education is fine for women, and it's dangerous so we have to be very careful about it.</i><br /><br />Sounds like a whole lot of "I'm not a misogynist, but...".Glendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15791807346482143758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-56126981479146935082012-01-25T13:28:55.139-06:002012-01-25T13:28:55.139-06:00Either that, or children are like box tops - you k...Either that, or children are like box tops - you know, if you collect enough you can send off for other blessings.Michael Mockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233321050691782148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-20996734665312925702012-01-25T12:49:48.174-06:002012-01-25T12:49:48.174-06:00We may be one of the smartest nations in the world...<i>We may be one of the smartest nations in the world but we are obviously[1] not receiving all the blessings that God intends for us to have.</i><br /><br />Obviously, children are a sort of supernatural magnet: God is chucking these blessings in the vague direction of the Earth, and if there's enough kids, the blessings will land there. (And, blessing respect national boundaries.) I am surprised to learn that it's not the *number* of kids but the proportion that matters. <br /><br />Also, if kids are as awesome as a bundle of arrows to a warrior . . . well, I'm not a service member, but I think these days there are other things they find more useful.<br /><br />Joking!<br /><br />I think that the US is just getting its blessings a different way. We're doing more in the "blessed are the poor" and "blessed are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness" department.Davnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-19836407801058245942012-01-25T10:05:21.951-06:002012-01-25T10:05:21.951-06:00Clearly, it is.Clearly, it is.Michael Mockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233321050691782148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4446682073857250843.post-65599355034619450192012-01-25T10:02:50.405-06:002012-01-25T10:02:50.405-06:00Nice post. However, are you saying that not carpet...Nice post. However, are you saying that not carpet bombing a post with obviously is the obvious choice?Andrew Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495983897864604830noreply@blogger.com