Way Less Activity in TAW These Days Compared to Earlier Times

[Not David]

I'm mainly involved on Twitter but I appreciate how TAW answered questions when I was an Inquirer and Catechumen.

 

[Dewi Sant]

yeah I too miss the heady days of the early 2000s, when message boards were updated on a minute by minute basis, now it can feel that an hour by hour basis feels rapid.

I've met some nice people on here, some of whom I went on to meet in person.

I feel we live in far more polarised and sensitive times now than twenty years ago. This greatly limits the freedom to express one's perception of things, and often it feels better to keep quiet than it is to engage.
The assumption nowadays is that everyone is either left or right, the middle ground with its myriad of hues of grey, is seen as 'the fence' upon which none ought to be found.

Nuance and history are interesting, but socially isolating.
It is not only on line but also in the real world that I have retreated. I am become an observer rather than a participator in the arena of life.
Every day we are assaulted with rolling news, headlines, viral tweets, protests. They who shout loudest win the prize.

I may be Orthodox, but one thing I never abandoned was my devotion to the Via Media (the middle way).
I used to post semi-regularly here until I once suggested that there is a distinction between sex and gender. I found myself the recipient of great onslaught as a result, with no chance of explaining what I meant.
I found myself denounced. And the irony is that we likely were in agreement. I shall state here what I meant:

Sex - the biologically binary characteristic by which humans exist as male or female; this is manifested in genital production and means for reproduction. It is also represented in secondary sex characteristics. It is an immutable fact of a person's makeup.
Gender - a sociological and psychological construction, based around roles and expectations, values and privileges in relation to, but in no means replacing the physical reality of sex. A person's gender expression and personal perception is as personal to them as they are to themselves.

I am a man, but I am also a man who enjoys knitting, gardening, cooking, and other pursuits which may be considered 'feminine'. I have little interest in competitive sports, drinking, socialising, or motor cars. My sister is more boyish than I; but that doesn't make me less of a man, or her less of a woman. We have joked that if there were a draft for a war, we would switch names, and she'll go off and fight while I stay at home and keep the oven warm.

Anyway, I am fairly certain, well, completely certain (I would be surprised actually), that this post will bring further condemnation upon my profile here, so this will likely be my last post. It's a pity, but things do come to an end.

 

[Thekla]

yeah I too miss the heady days of the early 2000s, when message boards were updated on a minute by minute basis, now it can feel that an hour by hour basis feels rapid.

I've met some nice people on here, some of whom I went on to meet in person.

I feel we live in far more polarised and sensitive times now than twenty years ago. This greatly limits the freedom to express one's perception of things, and often it feels better to keep quiet than it is to engage.
The assumption nowadays is that everyone is either left or right, the middle ground with its myriad of hues of grey, is seen as 'the fence' upon which none ought to be found.

Nuance and history are interesting, but socially isolating.
It is not only on line but also in the real world that I have retreated. I am become an observer rather than a participator in the arena of life.
Every day we are assaulted with rolling news, headlines, viral tweets, protests. They who shout loudest win the prize.

I may be Orthodox, but one thing I never abandoned was my devotion to the Via Media (the middle way).
I used to post semi-regularly here until I once suggested that there is a distinction between sex and gender. I found myself the recipient of great onslaught as a result, with no chance of explaining what I meant.
I found myself denounced. And the irony is that we likely were in agreement. I shall state here what I meant:

Sex - the biologically binary characteristic by which humans exist as male or female; this is manifested in genital production and means for reproduction. It is also represented in secondary sex characteristics. It is an immutable fact of a person's makeup.
Gender - a sociological and psychological construction, based around roles and expectations, values and privileges in relation to, but in no means replacing the physical reality of sex. A person's gender expression and personal perception is as personal to them as they are to themselves.

I am a man, but I am also a man who enjoys knitting, gardening, cooking, and other pursuits which may be considered 'feminine'. I have little interest in competitive sports, drinking, socialising, or motor cars. My sister is more boyish than I; but that doesn't make me less of a man, or her less of a woman. We have joked that if there were a draft for a war, we would switch names, and she'll go off and fight while I stay at home and keep the oven warm.

Anyway, I am fairly certain, well, completely certain (I would be surprised actually), that this post will bring further condemnation upon my profile here, so this will likely be my last post. It's a pity, but things do come to an end.

Don’t give up ! I’m not here as often but have been following and learning re: this topic elsewhere. Your thinking is in line somewhat with (here’s a dangerous statement ) with radical feminists - a group making your point and battling, theorizing, etc on this topic since the 70s. Anyway glad to see you here, and to also say St. Dewi is lovely.