Wriging Thread: What's Your Untouchable Topic?

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

Impz — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 07:39:32

I generally do not write about anything that might be dangerous to tread on, such as religion and race. Anything like this should be kept away for me. ^^

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

auburn — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:11:24

A way different slant: if the goal of your writing is to engage readers, then please know I am an * ahem* reader, and I am looking for patterns of non-hystericalness, regardless of topic. I want to know that the writer values my opinion or experience.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

brandonrichards — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 01:56:51

I tend to write about everything as the bible relates to everything-- though lately I've only written things to inspire.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

darkmotion — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:28:10

I don't have an untouchable topic. I'll write about anything and everything :)

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

LorriM — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 07:26:48

I don't write about religion or politics.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

britgirl — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 05:49:51

I will blog about anything I have an opinion on in most cases - isn't that what blogging is about?

However I do it within the framework I've chosen for my blog - which is my opinion on things that catch my interest... Being childfree I blog a lot about childfree issues because it's an aspect of my life I'm happy to share, as well as a wider issue to write about. Some may see it as taboo, but I feel that's their problem, not mine.

I made a decision not to blog about work, work colleagues and/or work conversations, and I have a disclaimer that's pretty clear about where I'm coming from. I also don't blog about personal friends, or family stories unless I have their permission, they know about it and I change their name/s.

Other than that, since I blog for myself I see no reason to censor what I write to please other people...kind of defeats the purpose of blogging... if people don't like what I write and they feel unable to stay within my comment policy, they are perfectly at liberty to hit the back button and leave :-)

Great topic by the way.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

tranism — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 01:56:06

I don't write about sexual orientation. I myself am a gay man but choose to avoid it because it seems to bring conflict to both sides of the argument. In the end the engagement doesn't seem to have helped anyone in their views.

On that note, I am beginning to to get peeved at the number of blogs who use the term "gay" a a derogatory adjective. An example is saying, "that looks so gay".

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

winnopeg — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 08:25:19

I never touch base on religion anywhere, and same goes for relationships. It's just not something I want to deal with online.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

hthth — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 02:27:39

I went through what was discussed here, wrote a short blog entry and put together a rough pie-chart estimate of the Untouchabe Topics.

If anyone's interested, it's here.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

hthth — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:50:19

Very happy to hear there aren't that many untouchables. Excellent responses guys, really interesting read.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

pelf — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:14:47

I don't do politics.
I don't do religion.
I don't use real names, only initials.
Ouh, and I don't do food, hahah :) Maybe I should :)

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

Karsh — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 08:16:52

I don't name names. Nearly everyone on my site has an appropriate pseudonym -- family, friends and co-workers.

Speaking of work, I do blog about it (and have reaped what I sowed), but I don't tell the companies I've worked for or explicitly say what I do (some of my titles would've given away the company I worked for).

Everything else is fair game if I'm interested in it. I'll call people out, bash companies and their crappy services, talk shit, pontificate on racial inequality, write porn reviews and much, much more.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

philrenaud — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 03:06:34

won't blog about exes.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

ConnorWilson — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 03:03:48

I'd have no problem expressing my opinions on religion, politics, etc... I haven't actually written on those things, but with elections in Canada bound to be happening very soon, I can see it.

I wouldn't post about obesity, because I would offend people, probably pretty bad. As an athletic and active/fit person, I will always see it as their fault, and always in their hands. But don't tell that to an obese person, because they'll sit down for hours writing about how you're wrong. See? Already got going.

My untouchable however is school, and any teachers I have. I have a great CommTech teacher, and some not so great teachers, but my blog is very easy to find if you look. I don;t give it out to people, but I don't care if they find it, because they won't be finding anything about them, etc...

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

cooper — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:55:11

Speaking of another topic....I never post about obesity because it is a very touchy subject and some people do struggle with their weight.

I have strong feelings on how the people in this country are so fat, inactive and eat like crap.

I have to temper that because I know it is expensive to eat healthy, so I stay away from my views on that because they would surely be considered not politically correct and I might be considered an oppressor of the obese.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

MangoFalls — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 23:57:47

I hope my visitors are stuffing their faces with juicy cupcakes when viewing the photos on my site. Someone should be since I can't. :)

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

dreamweaver — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:59:51

I think the cupcakes and frosting only gets a rise out of folks if they're dieting, actually! Do you have many dieting readers MangoFalls??

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

Mike — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:58:27

Wow, great question. Back when nobody really knew who I was (before 9rules started) I used to write a lot about politics on my old personal site which drove some great comment threads, but now I usually don't initiate politics discussions rather I like to hop in and throw my two cents around and see what comes up. I like being part of discussions on religion and politics rather than starting them, probably because I don't feel like I'm as knowledgeable or qualified to do so, but who knows.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

MangoFalls — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:53:12

I should have been more clear....It's really not the cupcakes but the frosting that gets people riled up. :)

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

bloglily — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:47:06

MangoFalls -- Others seem to have the whole cupcake thing utterly under control and so I, like you, just stay away from that topic. (And I also stay away from photos of the fifties and sixties because, well, that's completely and beautifully covered already!)

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

Rich — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:46:45

Actually, family too. Family things I avoid blogging about.

That was a decision I only made very recently. My brother was in hospital for a while and I considered writing about it, but eventually decided not to. Mostly because I wasn't really sure how to say it, or what I even wanted to say about it. My brother's in hospital - ok, so what? There's not a lot to say really. But also, I doubt my family would appreciate me talking about them for thousands to see.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

warriorprincess — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:44:23

yeah... my untouchable topic would be the solution i found for Peace:
Love + Nonviolence + 1 God Alone = Peace

i know it works, but some attack and some try to stop me and some do not believe... but I love the idea so much ... i will make it work...

i posted this idea on Technorati and Facebook
and guess what happened?

Technorati removed my WTF topics
and Facebook warned me of 'disabling' my account after 2 posts i made on a forum...

i wrote more about it here on my blog isshine.blogspot.com:
Free Speech, Technorati, Facebook

http://isshine.blogspot.com/2007/04/free-speech-technorati-facebook.html

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

Rich — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:43:41

Oh, there's my job. I don't write about what I do in any specific way*, because it's all still top secret. I am literally keeping a secret from the whole country - I love the feeling of power that gives me.

If I ever sell the story to the papers, I'll blog about it. 'Til then, it's off-limits.

* I can say I work with the NHS, and I can say my co-workers are twats, but I won't say what exactly we're co-working on.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

MangoFalls — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:41:51

Cupcakes.... I refuse to write about the damned cupcakes.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

lisa — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:39:04

There isn't anything I won't write about, but at the same time, I'm not going to write about something just to get a rise out of people.

I don't write about politics because I don't find that interesting (and besides, my stance on things usually irritate people on both sides if the isle), I have written about abortion (in reference to a recently passed law), and I have written about religion at one time or another. (And I just had an epifany on that front--as brought on by a horrible novel of Jane Eyre in the far future.)

And like bloglily, I write about what I know. Or what I think I know. Or what I want to know. Or what I don't know and should.

So, I'll write about anything if it interests me enough.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

bloglily — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:58:13

I don't write about my legal work, because it is confidential. And because my life as a lawyer is off limits, I tend to avoid writing about the law, although I did once write about jury duty and also about those speed cameras and whether you can ignore notices that tell you to pay up because your picture has been taken running a red light or exceeding the speed limit.

I don't rant. I find that kind of discourse boring.

I don't write about things I dislike or am bored by. That would include: badly written books, bad food, bad fashion, bad movies. I have made a conscious decision to write about things that make me laugh, or make me happy, or make me think. That is what keeps me writing.

I don't write about things I know little about. That would include: music and design. That's why I come to 9rules -- to read things written by people who're better informed than I.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

Gnorb — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:24:45

I'll write about anything, provided it's the proper platform. On my 9R site (gnorb.net) I don't really do the whole politics thing (anymore). Religion I'll keep to my own discoveries, and I will not discuss certain "ethical/socio-political" topics like GBLT issues. (Actually, I don't usually venture to talking about sex there, either.) I have other blogs in which I discuss these other topics, but they're visited rarely, by much smaller audiences. I'd like to keep it that way.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

RightOn — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:04:36

I know some people who avoid abortion topics like the plague...

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

JPhill — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:47:50

I don't like blogging about racism. It's a touchy subject.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

RightOn — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:38:28

C'Mon people... do we not have anything unique?

Religion and Politics are so cliche. :)

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

Rich — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:59:09

As a rule, I'll write about anything if I have an opinion on it. But there are a few areas I prefer to stay away from and most likely will never blog about.

Religion is one. I know next to nothing about religion and I just know I'd end up offending someone. (Couple of days ago in the office, I stumbled across a picture of a ded dressed as Jesus with a sign that said something like, "Only Jesus judges you. Show me your breasts and I will judge them" and forwarded it to a colleague I thought would appreciate it. Turns out he's a christian and was most unimpressed.)

Politics is another, for much the same reasons. And the fact that I find politics intensely boring.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

RightOn — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:16:40

I'll blog about anything I have an opinion on.

I could care less if I offend someone as they have every right to click the back button and leave.

Apparently it hasn't done me ill so far as I have a fairly steady reader base and have for a while.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

Ozone42 — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:14:20

Untouchable topics should only be those topics you don't care about or have a strong opinion on.

You should never censor yourself because of other people being close minded. If someone is offended by your writing, that is their problem to deal with. Sure, you could alienate some readers, but if they are so close minded and unreasonable to take offense at your opinion, not respecting you enough to accept that you disagree, do you really want them as readers?

The other side of that is by being careful in your wording, you could perhaps gradually bring some people over to see your point of view, even if they don't agree with it. There's value in both, but I really think that if you feel passionately about something, even if it will offend others, you shouldn't hold back. That's a disservice to yourself, as well as your readers (offended or not.)

Those unwilling to discuss a topic are insecure in their beliefs. That means that those most offended will typically be those that have the least ability to back up their side. I view it as a defensive mechanism we invent when we are afraid of the truth.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

ErinR — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:09:02

There's really not a subject that I flat-out won't blog about, but there are plenty that I prefer not to touch on. I really don't like to touch on personal issues, such as abortion rights, because people get so upset and I hate to be the catalyst for argument. However, if there's a strong reason I want to talk about such a topic, I will.

That said, I don't get really detailed about personal issues. While I may talk about sex, I would never talk about my sex life. If I talk about gay rights, I'm not going to use gay friends as examples. That's just the line I draw.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

CK — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:43:51

This is interesting as, working in social services, my blog is predominantly focussed on social policy. Generally I tend not to highlight issues to moan about, but those that can be improved upon. It makes for a more beneficial outlook on politics and the direction I see things as needing to go.

So, for me, politics is perfectly suitable for conversation.

Religion however....

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

Kamigoroshi — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:35:53

I will not touch politics. Not because it's like a taboo but because I'm more of an idealist rather than a person versed in politics. I rather not discuss things I have no idea about so while I do read, I tend not to talk about it. I say the world would be so much better if people stopped talking about what's better and just do it.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

shadowsun7 — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 09:42:24

I rarely discuss politics as well. It's hard really - since a lot of the politics where I come from (Malaysia) is racial, and making remarks against the government (which is actually what many Malaysian and Singaporian bloggers do) does nothing to help - it just adds to the cynicism and helplessness out there.

A personal rule of thumb: when writing a personal blog, I rarely, if ever, mention politics. Both don't meld well.

I avoid religious arguments, since I believe everyone has the right to their own belief system. However, I do on occasion hold theological discussions with other Christians on the net - playing the part of moderator to make sure the differences in denominations don't break out into full blown arguments. I've even had a discussion with a few Muslim friends about why we need a God in our lives.

The web is big enough for everyone to get by. If I see a post that I don't agree with, or is downright assaultive to what I believe in, then I just go away.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

dragfyre — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 09:26:35

I tend to never blog about politics. I don't have a strong interest in partisan politics off the bat—apart from being quietly amused by it*—so I don't often find much reason to blog about it. I'm also much more interested in building consensus than I am in heated debate, which leaves me rather uninterested in any topic that Crossfire is ripping to shreds.

*This is rather standard behaviour in Canada, I'm told.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

cooper — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 08:18:05

I never discuss religion. I am agnostic, as are most of my regular readers but I don't want to get into it with anyone. There is not room enough on a blog for that kind of thing.

I rarely talk about marriage because I see no point in marriage and that does offend some people.

There are times that reasons behind certain beliefs are just beyond the scope and time limit of a personal blog.

I get most hate mail from talking about rape, and sexism and porn and abortion, but those topics I do blog about because my debate on them is clearer and shorter than that on religion.

I never discuss my personal life in detail.

Those are the only things right off the top of my head.

I'm pretty much an open forum.

What's Your Untouchable Topic?

hthth — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 07:25:45

We bloggers write about everything. Ranging from our personal experiences to criticism of political groups and different ways of life. Or is it everything?

I've found myself several times in debate over religion and science, and each time I try to approach the issue honestly, but with respect towards the participants.

However, it's very easy to offend people in those matters (I don't think I have to explain why, I'm just pointing out an example of a sensitive topic). I know several who will not share their opinions on the issue out of fear, or over-sympathy for the opposing side; Which renders the topic somewhat untouchable.

Can you think of any other topic like this? Is there any specific subject that you avoid writing about or debating because it's a sensitive issue and discussing it can easily spiral into hateful spite?