One of my favorite blogs is Vic Briggs’ A Writer Adrift, so I was honored last week when Vic bestowed upon me the Most Influential Blogger award.  I normally don’t accept awards from fellow bloggers, but I’m making an exception because it came from Vic, and I especially like the questions she asked.  The rules to be honored for this award, and the nominees I selected, are listed below.  Before then, here the questions Vic asked and my responses to them:

1. If you could change one thing about our society, what would it be?

There are probably millions, but I’ll go with the very first thing that popped into my head which is to improve the U.S. mass transit system, which is virtually non-existent.  This would not only be better for our environment, but would also increase, dramatically, the number of opportunities for our nation’s poor.  In addition, I just plain hate having to upkeep a car.

2. What do you turn to when in need of inspiration?

Prayer and chanting

3. Name one person, alive or dead, who has influenced you most.

Lama Surya Das – an American-born lama in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.  He is a poet, chant-master, spiritual activist and author of many popular works on Buddhism; a teacher and spokesperson for Buddhism in the West. (Description from Wikipedia)

4. What newspaper, if any, do you read on a regular basis?

I’ll admit I don’t do it as often as I should, but I do read the Washington Post (online, of course)

5. Share one key insight that has helped you most in your writing.

Honesty

6. Are rules made to be broken?

No.  However, sometimes it’s necessary.

7. What does democracy stand for as far as you’re concerned?

Wow.  I could type for hours answering this one.   There is the dictionary definition of a democracy and how it differs from a republic, but I’ll go with my own simple definition.  I believe a democracy is equal access for all to vote for representatives, based on the majority, to make laws while upholding the constitution.  Those representatives must simultaneously protect the rights of the minority from mob rule.

8. Is freedom of speech an inalienable right?

Yes, but it is not necessarily a right to be heard, or at least understood.

9. If we respect everyone’s opinion as valid, where does that leave hate speech?

I don’t believe everyone’s opinion is valid, but I do believe everyone has the right to expression, this includes hate speech.

10. Do you think online media will replace print in the next few decades?

I expect to see the death of printed newspapers, magazines and books in my lifetime.

11. What is the main thing you want to achieve as a blogger?

I don’t think I can stick with one main thing, but I’ll shoot for two.  I hope to educate and bring understanding of what it’s like to live with mental illness (at least from my viewpoint) and to help others with mental illness realize they are not alone.

 

For those of you I have nominated, following are the steps if you’d like to accept the award:

1. Display the award on your blog.

2. Announce your win with a post and thank the blogger who awarded you.

3. Present 10 deserving bloggers with the Award.

4. Link your awardees in the post and let them know of their being awarded with a comment.

5. Answer each of the 11 questions that your awarder asked, and then write 11 for your awardees (or use the same ones up to you !)

 

My nominees for the Most Influential blogger Award are:

My Travels with Depression by Cat

The Mirror by navigator1965

Butterfly Sand  by quiall

The Bipolarized by Aimer Shama

I Dont Want To Talk About It by Shoe1000

RosieSmrtiePants by Rosie

Phoenix Flights by Sistertraline

Bipolar on fire by bipolaronfire

Ramblings of My BPD and Recovery by Hawkruh

A Bipolar Journey Through The Rabbit Hole by songtothesirens

Here are my questions for each of you:

1. If you could change one thing about our society, what would it be?

2. What do you turn to when in need of inspiration?

3. Name one person, alive or dead, who has influenced you most.

4. What’s your favorite quote?

5. Share one key insight that has helped you most in your writing.

6. Are rules made to be broken?

7. What does democracy stand for as far as you’re concerned?

8.  Something you wish could be done ASAP?

9. If we respect everyone’s opinion as valid, where does that leave hate speech?

10. Do you think online media will replace print in the next few decades?

11. What is the main thing you want to achieve as a blogger?

 

Once again, thank you, Vic, for the award.