WITH ALL OF THIS ALREADY SAID, I’m passing the baton to
Benj the MD/Master-Debater…
I usually don’t do memes, but since this came from Dr. Ian Gomez from the Department of Community Medicine, I think I’m pretty much expected to answer this lest I want to be subjected to the consequences. It seems like a pretty decent set of questions so I guess it wouldn’t be that detrimental to fill this one out. As an added treat, I’ll be very sincere and frank. LOL
How long have you been blogging?
If posting a log on a website is tantamount to blogging, then I first started blogging in 2001. I was a kid having fun with WYSIWYG webpage editors who just kept on updating and redoing his page on Tripod. Of course, the ‘log’ part wasn’t really the selling point of the site. I’m willing to bet that people like Jon and Carlo were suckered into viewing this site back in those days.
Real blogging started for me when I signed up for my a Tabulas blog back in 2003. After a couple of uneventful years, I went on an even more uneventful break from blogging. Back in March 2006 though, I signed up for Wordpress and that got me back into the groove. After almost 10 months in Wordpress, I moved to MyJournal to have greater control of what my page would look like.
After less than a month though, I decided to buy my own domain. So in effect, I changed URLs twice in a span of 29 days.
What inspired you to start a blog and who are your mentors?
To be honest, it was myself who inspired me to blog. Even at a young age, I knew that I had a distinct voice and perspective that clearly and naturally deviates from the prevailing opinion. I knew that writing would be niche if only for the value of originality and the idea of being something new to the table.
Back in 2003, I wrote for myself and myself alone. I didn’t really have a mentor per se. I had the confidence and reckless abandon of a greenhorn who was aimlessly shooting for the stars. When I went with Wordpress though, I was quick to notice the Manolo and Ricky’s blogs. Both of them were good writers and both commanded an uncanny following from their readers. Just like everyone else, I appreciate good feedback and rave reviews.
I blog to show that Atheists don’t go out burning churches, crucifying babies and cavorting with the devil in their spare time. This bigoted and utterly idiotic view of the average xtian in this country is downright retarded - and I don’t mean to offend those who are truly retarded.
The next logical question is, WHY AM I NOT BLOGGING EXCLUSIVELY ABOUT ATHEISM? Why? Because I’m not boring. My life isn’t boring. I’d rather show interesting things that make my blog a collection of links from all over the world. I would like to think that I live a full life. I’m a med student, I compete as a debater , I play a number of sports, I travel and I still find time to be in a rock band. That’s the type of person I am. Honestly, I find sites that are ridiculously repetitive about faith, non-faith, politics and other topics extremely uninteresting. Good thing there are people out there who know that it’s always nice to keep it balanced to avoid desensitization (a few of those people include Ganns and Tina).
Are you trying to make money online, or just doing it for fun?
Making money is always nice, but of course, it is never the main priority as far as this blog is concerned. I did fall into the trap of monetization earlier this year and… let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.
Tell me 3 things you LOVE about being online.
Weighing in on things. I know the value of my opinion. I know that people already care about what I have to say since my track record in logically explaining my side - no matter how unpopular that position might be — can speak for itself. I represent a demographic and an ideology that is divorced from the mainstream and to open-minded individuals, my thoughts are a breath of fresh air to an otherwise drab, traditional and bland take on things.
Learning. Aside from helping me with the obvious demands of medicine and debate, being online makes me learn from the experiences that other people post.
Showing Off. Seriously. If you didn’t know that by now, you probably got here by mistake.
Tell me 3 things you STRUGGLE within the online world.
Fundamentalism. There’s just too much of it online, and in the world in general. Anyone whose religion teaches absolutism, favoritism and preferential treatment subscribes to a philosophy built on discrimination.
Readership. Though I’m highly appreciative of the number of readers and subscribers I have, I really think that a blog of this caliber deserves a lot more. People need to see this side of humanity - especially in this country.
Controlling My Temper. You should know by now that I don’t really hold my temper against those who employ bad logic and already-rebutted arguments - case in point, the population control issue. Of course I took the high road here.
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Merry Christmas from 7milesdown!!!
haha. natawa ako sa showing off.
flaunt what you’ve got, eh? XD
Kung si Leni natawa sa showing off, ako natawa sa statement na ito: I blog to show that Atheists don’t go out burning churches, crucifying babies and cavorting with the devil in their spare time.
Pakopya ng meme na to.
merry xmas bro!
“Showing Off. Seriously. If you didn’t know that by now, you probably got here by mistake.”
— Aminado. Hahaha. :-p
Hi Benj! Merry Christmas!
First off: I’m not playing the teacher card here, okay? hahahaha you gave in to the meme ON YOUR OWN! once more, victory is mine hehe *kidding*
Seriously, salamat =]
I know that you know where I stand with regard to the fundamental ideal espoused by your blog. Of course, I pray that we’d find ourselves on the same side of the “argument”- sana “here, on my side” hehe But, that’s just me.
Regardless of labels and identities, I respect you as a person and a (future) colleague. And a blogger syempre =]
[saludo]
Happy Holidays!
Ian: Just so you know, I hate it when people do that (re: third paragraph). Happy Holidays.
hello benj
funny naman ang prof but then that meme was nicely done. so, are you tagging anyone in particular? :p
i wish you the best of 2008