Learning in Freedom: I'm mean...

Learning in Freedom

Welcome to Learning in Freedom, a blog all about the learning adventures (and mishaps) of the Allen family. My four children are unschooled, following their interests and passions every day and living the lives of their choosing. The purpose of this blog is to share our every day lives (and my not-so-humble opinons) with anyone interested in stopping by. We hope this will give a glimpse of how natural learning unfolds from day to day......

Thursday, April 23, 2009

I'm mean...

But you already knew that right? :)

The latest comment in the whole "summer unschooling" discussion is this:

"Why do you have to be so mean, Ren? Her blog looks awesome, and I look forward to having the time to read it further."

So now it's mean to disagree. It's mean to state your opinion strongly and discuss how you feel about another idea. Mean, mean, mean.

First of all, if you think someone's blog is awesome, go read there instead of here where the poster is MEAN. I've probably done nothing but add to her blog stats though! If I am expected to quit sharing my opinions and ideas because it's "mean"....so sorry but I'll take the "mean" label.

I started this blog to share MY opinions and ideas...and that's just what I'll do. I really didn't think dissent was "mean". Interesting though.

Off to make some cat stew and trample the neighbors garden and set a few fires...cuz I'm MEAN people. Totally evil. Can't you tell?

9 Comments:

laura said...: you ARE mean! mean mean mean bitch!!! i might just not come over today!!!!; 9:11 AM
kelli said...: and... phew... I'm so glad I'm 4 hours away from you cuz you're mean.... NOT :); 11:49 AM
Heather said...: Mean is so the last word I would use to describe you! LOL I wrote a blog about "summer unschool' as well. My whole blog probably touched a nerve with a lot of people. I tend to do that a lot. I love free speech. :-); 3:49 PM
Ren Allen said...: You know, I think if a man stated his opinions strongly and people reacted to it, he wouldn't feel "mean", nor would he back down on his stance (generalization of course...but work with me here).

Women have been so ingrained with that whole idea of being "nice" and "sweet" and "polite" that many times they worry too much about stating a strong opinion or dissenting. It's something I understand all too well because of my upbringing and what it took to shake all that BS!

I think it's mean to say someone is stupid or they are bad or you hate them (or hate a group of people) when discussing ideas. I DO try to stick to the actual topic and NOT make it about the person.

It isn't mean to call something a half-baked idea, or to disagree with terminology, or to point out the weaknesses in an idea etc...

But I chased a cat out of my yard today.;); 10:14 PM
hahamommy said...: you're mean and I'm hostile -- what a banner year for us!! <3; 4:00 PM
Sandra Dodd said...: That poor cat, Ren. He has the right to make a choice to be in your yard. I thought you supported choices and freedom. I thought you were an unschooler.

Well, it's a shame I'm rude. http://sandradodd.com/feedback/youreRUDE.html I wasn't even writing about unschooling! I had blogged that it was my favorite day of the year because it was the first day cold enough for a fire in the fireplace.

Once people decide one is mean or hostile or rude, I think there's no getting out of it. And saying "You're mentally unbalanced" as a defense doesn't seem to cancel mean or rude.

I killed a spider today, proving that I don't have an respect for the choices of others. I killed two, actually, but only videotaped one. (It's not a spider snuff film or anything...)

http://sandradodd.blogspot.com/2009/04/spooky-but-cool.html; 10:20 PM
Jessica said...: It's funny, you tell people to read what they want (but throw in how you raise peoples blog stats by engaging in controversy where you say you want none). Your sarcasm on this topic is just sad,not mean.
Education is for everyone no matter how we define it.
I used to read your blog because it made sense to our lifestyle, but so do others writers ideas.
This whole scenario just reminds me of the punk days... someone was always more punk than someone else...but one can only hope we grow from that type of thinking.; 10:06 AM
Ren Allen said...: People should always read what they want....the comment about raising blog stats was simply making the point that a bit of controversy is NOT always a negative thing like a few of you seem to think.

Controversy can be a healthy thing. I don't have some hang-up about my opinions and ideas always needing to make people feel better. I don't force them upon anyone, this blog only exists for those who choose to read here.

You're here by choice. So is every other reader. The point about "read where you like" is about choice. If people need pats on the back for whatever they choose, this might not be their favorite place on the planet. I like to share my philosophies and opinions pretty bluntly sometimes. That's the beauty of the big, wide world of information and technology.

As to "education belongs to everyone", the only education that truly exists is self-education. All else will be lost and make for a lot of wasted time.

Who's trying to "own" education in your opinion? Do my ideas on the matter really control anything? My thoughts are not powerful enough to control anyones choice, truly.
So how is education being taken from anyone? Other than the governments attempt at taking your childrens right to self-education away?; 10:17 AM
Jessica said...: Ren,
On the contrary, I believe in controversy very much, I am not in that "few of you" category at all, trust me! I have never fallen prey to the "you must be a polite woman" ideal.

Maybe I should have said..self-education is for everyone to discover (although I did say (NO MATTER HOW WE DEFINE IT) I am not big on ownership.

No one is taking MY children's anything away, we learn outside of the public school system as well and a day at a Montessori that WE love!

As far as "all else will be lost and make for a lot of wasted time" I only believe that to a certain point, I know a few people who have made through public education alive and well and thriving!

Thanks for the dialogue it's been quite interesting!

See, I don't think you are mean at all, quite the opposite.; 10:43 AM

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Thursday, April 23, 2009

I'm mean...

9 Comments: