Thanks to all those who linked up or commented on MMSM: Father. I hope you enjoy the structure and interaction of the MMSM carnival as much as I do. (and I hope my dad hasn’t commented on my post only because he is modest and shy!). I’m interested in how different topics seem to inspire (or not) people; if everyone who has ever participated were to write on the same Monday, we’d have around 20 posts. And since all of life is a popularity contest … well, let’s just say I’m figuring out who my true friends are. (just kidding — “fun post”).
Dick told me about this cool survey tool a while ago, and now I have an excuse to play around with it. Please answer the questions below — even if you’re against voting on principle, I promise your voice will make a difference in this context at least! If you have any other ideas or suggestions, please leave a comment.
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I took the survey, but wanted to add somethin. I don’t think “Makes Me Smile” is really an accurate title, some of the topics are pretty serious. I always try to write from a positive point of view, but “smiling” isn’t just positivity, it’s mirth, contentment, that sort of thing. I don’t know what would be a better title, it just has always seemed off to me.
So…. Makes-Me-Think Thursday? hmmm, will think about this. any ideas? one of the best things about blogging is being able to revise, endlessly. i remember a writing teacher in college who told me that writing is never done, it’s just due.
i agree on the smile being maybe not appropriate for all topics, but i did definitely want to emphasize the positivity, as you say. when i was brainstorming with Tom, i was leaning more towards something involving venting (“ranting”?), and he said i needed to watch that, bec, apparently, i can get too negative sometimes. what?
i think the “smile” title does make one feel a little like they can only say positive things- but it doesn’t mean that you can’t talk about other issues that aren’t considered positive. (don’t know if that sentence makes much sense) but what i’m trying to say is that when you refer to the topic as something that makes you smile it might help deter from arguing/bantering and allow each person to post what they want to make you or themselves smile. so though the topic might not be “light hearted” the comment won’t be too negative. i dunno…. something to consider
love the survey idea. now you can see what topics will inspire people to participate. or who your real friends and readers are. (don’t forget to take into account specific stressors in people’s lives, or vacations, etc.)
yes, plus, it’s summer, which says to me vacation, even though moms don’t really get vacations much, do we?
anyone who sends me caffeine-free mountain dew, and who knows that when i don’t answer the phone for 3 days straight it’s because i’m being a hermit or the phone’s in my car and/or dead or i’m reading 10 trashy novels straight, and NOT because i’m not thinking of her, is a great friend.
which one was it?
I will admit I missed the last 2 make me smiles, I was at scout camp for the Art and I had a hard time with the dad one. It a personal thing. Any who, I think make me think is cute as a new title, you can put the hard topics like religion or politics on Make Me Think Thursday and kiddisms on Make Me Smile Mondays LOL. Heck you can have a Make Me like every day of the week, that would be cool, then I would have to write more and my friends woudl be oh so happy lol. Cant wait for next week’s topic I PROMISE to participate on time.
I love the carnival, however there are some topics that don’t work for me (for example, my dad died when I was almost 3, and I don’t really even remember him. My grandma recently gave me a picture of him laying in his coffin, and that is as close as I got to the funeral).
Yes, Shannon, I am modest and shy.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I love you very much and am so proud of you.
I cringe every time I think of the hornet analogy. If I were to do it over again, I think I would choose a bird of some sort, one that does not fly in flocks, but alone or in pairs or small groups. One that sings it’s own songs, flys wherever it pleases, often looking for new places and new things. Many mornings on my walk I watch some small song birds chasing each other with swoops and dives and fantastic bursts of speed, and then they abruptly sit on a wire and sing to each other. I want to do that.
Love, Dad
thanks to everyone who took the survey. answers were very interesting. i’ll wait another day before compiling the results, in case anyone else wants to take it.
i’ve been thinking of the name issue. i don’t love “makes-me-think” because i don’t feel like i need anything to make me think
, though i do need incentive to think about some things that i normally don’t think about. so, i’m leaning towards Mull-it-over Monday. maybe i need to shake off the alliterative compulsion.
Marcy–it was all three. plus some funk (that’s a cool way of saying slight depression).
Dad–don’t worry about the hornet. i like your bird imagery.
Shannon’s Dad- in your defense, a dead hornet is a lot easier to aquire than a dead bird, and much less shocking. And the live ones poop too much. I have been thinking about this quite abt actually, thinking what I would use to represent my own kids. I know what I’d use for my daughter, but my son is a puzzle.