Written by
For my 100th RantRave post I wanted to do something on the lines of Coloranter Raver’s 200th post collaboration.
My time at RantRave has been great. I joined on January 10, 2009 as a hard core conservative. Now, as Coloranter Raver had promised, I have decided many things are not as I first saw them. Other points of view made more sense, and I have grown as a person. We all evolve as we grow, some more than others. I know I have a long way to go before I am the Independent Coloranter Raver has vowed to turn me into. But today I announce I am no longer the hard core conservative I once was. There are many things I have evolved to accept with the changing times: Global Warming, Gay Marriage, just to name two. RantRave has given me faith in debate, faith in a constructive criticism, and faith for this country.
I have spend a ton of my time writing and commenting others. I made a flag (that didn't win). And soon Coloranter Raver and I will have an awesome Anthem. It's been a ton of fun, and I expect to be here a lot longer.
Here is the question I posed to some of my fellow RantRaver’s in the spirit of my life-changing experience here at RantRave:
Has your time on RantRave changed any of your values or beliefs whether they be ideological, spiritual, et cetera?
AmishKing:
“What has changed? Let me tell you...I used to get mad at something stupid, not say anything about it, and come home in a bad mood and pick a fight with my wife over the ketchup being too warm. Now, I can't wait to come home and rant about what's bothering me. No more aggravation, no more sleepless nights, no more felonies! Blogging on rantrave worked for me!”
Siempre Solo:
“RantRave is truly a unique site on the internet. This is because it allows people to not only be themselves but to reveal themselves as well. Most other sites create worlds where people can alter their persona and become another individual with each visit to that site. The reverse is true with RantRave. The more time someone spends on RantRave the more he reveals about who he or she really is.
If you doubt my logic or observation then ask any of the core members who constantly post and comment on this site who actually commit considerable time and energy talking to strangers about their own elations and pet peeves. Ask them to describe another well read member and you will notice that the descriptions will be the same. We have no choice but to become a community here at RantRave. A community that has no demographic or geologic boundaries.
It is a community of choice and a community of necessity. In reality this type of community could not exist! In the real world a bunch of strangers yelling at each other from different parts of the world about different things would not be cause for celebration but be cause to call the riot police! But RantRave thanks to the internet creates a medium for civilized one at a time dialogue with a wise moderator “Alex Layton” and administrators and owners that keep the content tame and relevant.
I was asked to relate if RantRave has changed my values somehow? The truth is it validates my faith in the human potential. RantRave reminds me how all of us despite our income or status can be afraid. It reminds me how we all seek success. It reinforces the lesson of persistence. I love to read ongoing dialogues about different issues because like Tom suggests in his question it shows signs of change in our views.
My time at RantRave has taught me if nothing else to be more moderate, to keep to the middle of the road more often. I tend to take the unpopular position more often than not (Or so I’d like to think!) Thus my handle “Siempre Solo”. My handle could have just as easily been “Out numbered Out gunned”, “Under dog” or “Crusader for the hopeless cause” But they would all be to cliché and “Siempre Solo” is a bit more exotic and dramatic. Don’t you think?
The fact is that every point of view has its extreme and so long as there are humans in our condition their will be an extremist to champion their particular point of view. Some people justify extremism by arguing a fear of apathy if they are not extreme. But at RantRave I’ve come to learn that apathy is not the middle of the road. Apathy is letting go at the extreme. RantRave has made me see that we are more likely to become apathetic when we walk on the fringes to long. The best crusaders for truth and justice will touch all aspects of society and that is the middle.
So thanks RantRave for helping me to see a more effective way of being me and thanks Tom for asking me to be introspective about my own changes.”
Coloranter Raver:
“Wing, Thanks for honoring me by honoring the tradition.' "Has your time on RantRave changed any of your values or beliefs whether they be ideological, spiritual, et cetera?" RantRave has convinced me there are many intelligent people of all ages out there who care passionately about our culture and our planet who can come together and, for the most part, debate in a respectful manner in attempts to expand our horizons. In other words, I have more hope for the future.”
If you would like to answer the prompt, but did not get a message (i wanted to send a few more, but some of you have disabled messaging.) feel free to write a response below.
Thanks For Reading, Cheers!