Open Thread: The role of Blogs in Southern Gospel Music
I have a busy weekend coming up, with doing a seminar on the Faith of America’s Presidents and catching the final stop in Signature Sound’s summer tour just for starters. Since, like Adam Edwards, I too have quite a few things to catch up on before heading off to NQC Thursday morning, I will take a few days hiatus from the blog, at least unless some news story jumps out and demands to be told.
It’s been announced that next Thursday, the various Southern Gospel bloggers will be meeting for a conference at NQC. We’ll be discussing the role blogs should play in Southern Gospel music. Of course, we’ll be looking at it from our perspective as blog owners. But what do you, the readers, think?
Should a blog be consistently upbeat, and ignore personal scandals?
Should a blogger look for little errors, personal and professional, in the Southern Gospel world, and focus on them?
Or should a blog strike some sort of middle ground?
Comment by Paul Martin (September 7, 2007, 8:19 am)
I don’t know for sure, but Daniel, yours is a pleasure to read and be a part of. Thanks.
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Comment by Daniel J. Mount (September 7, 2007, 8:20 am)
Why, thank you!
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Comment by Sim (September 7, 2007, 8:31 am)
I think you guys should come up with some sort of Bloggers Creed, similar to the oath a witness takes before testifying. It should include the phrase “…the truth, the WHOLE truth, and nothing but the truth.”
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Comment by Roanna (September 7, 2007, 10:18 am)
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
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I think this is a good verse in the Bible to go by in all areas of life. Sometimes there are news items that are true that are reported and aren’t all that “lovely”, but I think we should do our best not to focus on them solely. And definitely report no scandals that are rumors. Can you imagine how that could/can ruin those people’s careers and their ministry. (I have not seen that here and I am glad.) I think that good news should always be reported. About looking for personal errors. . . I think we should be careful in that area, too. Because if we look to hard we become very critical and nit-picking.
Just my thoughts~
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Comment by GospelMusicFan (September 7, 2007, 1:18 pm)
Bloggers should be treated the same as anyone other segment in the industry.
Let the bloggers create their own role in the industry.
We, the posters, on the threads determines the destiny of any blog.
Treat the bloggers like you would any other part of society.
Soak in what you want to remember.
Dwell on what is bet for you in life.
Leave the rest to enternity.
So the bottom line is to be Christ like in all things.
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Comment by GospelMusicFan (September 7, 2007, 1:19 pm)
Bloggers should be treated the same as anyone other segment in the industry.
Let the bloggers create their own role in the industry.
We, the posters, on the threads determines the destiny of any blog.
Treat the bloggers like you would any other part of society.
Soak in what you want to remember.
Dwell on what is best for you in life.
Leave the rest to enternity.
So the bottom line is to be Christ like in all things.
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Comment by Adam Wallace (September 7, 2007, 2:47 pm)
I agree with GospelMusicFan
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Pingback by Musicscribe Blog » A Blogger’s Creed? (September 8, 2007, 12:05 pm)
[...] suggestion of a “blogger’s creed” was made by a reader of Daniel Mount’s blog. While I believe a commitment to report the truth is noble, the bread and butter of at least some [...]
Comment by QN (September 8, 2007, 4:44 pm)
I agree with everyone’s general vote here. I will ad that there’s nothing wrong with stating a very pointed opionion or criticism. But it becomes a problem when it is not CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. There are ways to say things in a manner that won’t hurt people or riun a ministry’s reputation.
No, nothing in life is constantly ’sunshine and roses’ – there’s some gloomy moments and questionable things too. But the way to handle and present it all boils down to “What Would Jesus Do?”
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Comment by gospelHog (September 8, 2007, 5:24 pm)
AMEN to QN!
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Comment by JLS (September 8, 2007, 8:04 pm)
Daniel,
I believe that the SoGo bloggers can certainly praise and praise highly when it is deserved. I am glad to see that you do that very well.
On the other hand, I am sure that there is a need for positive, constructive criticism. I know that there is at least one blogger who does not do that well, although he has a large readership. Criticism should not be stated so as to denigrate the person. I am sure that there are those artists whose character needs fine tuning. So it is with all of us. For that to be accomplished, however, kindness in tone helps greatly.
Thanks for the fine job that you do.
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Comment by Aaron Swain (September 8, 2007, 9:12 pm)
Well, there’s always something to be said for honesty, brutal though it sometimes can be…
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Comment by Susan Unthank (September 9, 2007, 1:34 am)
It is so refreshing to see those who believe that we should first and foremost represent our blogs/blogging in a Christ like manner. Jesus was critical and yet expressed it in love except for one time and that was with the moneychangers in the temple.
I don’t think that there is ever a reason to use an honest critique as an excuse to cross a line into questioning spirituality, or to simply criticize for the sake of criticism.
Thank you for the fine job that you do. I appreciate your sincerity and honesty and Christ-like manner in your approach.
I hope you will stop by Booth 1524-1526 this week at NQC and introduce yourself.
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Comment by Daniel J. Mount (September 9, 2007, 6:27 am)
Thanks to all who have commented!
Susan, I will plan to stop by.
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Comment by Mort (September 10, 2007, 9:01 am)
Susan, Christ always expressed Himself in love, even in the temple exchange. It just doesn’t resemble love the way many of us have mistaken it.
Had He not, He would’ve been guilty of sin, indicating He was never God in flesh as He’d proclaimed.
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Comment by Susan Unthank (September 10, 2007, 12:25 pm)
Mort, you are correct, re-reading my statement, I can see that I did not express my thought like I intended. I totally agree that Christ always acted in love.
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