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I don't know how many of you guys keep a blog. I do. It can be found at "http://www.xanga.com/... or on my respective Myspace or Facebook pages. If you have a blog, let me know so I can start reading it.

I am starting a new blog as a supplemental to my usual writings, inspired by Eric Stoller's "Stuff White People Like." I hesitate to recommend SWPL, as it may offend many people on this board (for good and not so good reasons), but I can't deny inspiration. If I've piqued your interest, it can be found at http://stuffkylelikes...

Here is the first entry for your perusal:

On January 18, 2008, Eric Stoller began writing a blog called "Stuff White People Like." Everyday Stoller added an entry detailing things that he perceives white people like, including organic food, film festivals, Arrested Development, Japan, kitchen gadgets, gentrification, and having black (or gay) friends. Stoller asserts that the blog was made to be humorous, which it most certainly can be, but personally I found it to be very negative, because his witty remarks are often veiled accusations against not white people in general, but affluent (and yes, many times white) Americans who are simply trying to make a difference in their communities. He often claims that we pursue social justice out of guilt and a desire to fit in with our "group," rather than out of genuine charity. This is probably true many times, but it seems heavy-handed to lump all white people in one box. Seems like there was a word for this once... what was it again? I think you know where I'm going.

Stoller's blog has given rise to many imitators, including "Stuff Christians Like," "Stuff Nobody Likes," and my personal favorite, "White Stuff People Like."

SWPL and SCL are both entertaining and uncomfortable reads. I find "Stuff Christians Like" the most ironic, as it frequently accuses Christians of stealing trends and Christianizing them, but fails to recognize SWPL as its own inspiration. Pop culture Christianity can be so double-minded it gives me nosebleeds sometimes.

Since finding SWPL, I've been cogitating about how I, too, can get in on this trend. That's right, if you haven't figured it out yet, this blog is yet another SWPL imitator. I admit it. Get over it.

At first, I thought about creating a blog called "Stuff Jesus Likes." But that seemed dangerously presumptive of me, plus as far as I know, it's a pretty short list anyway. For fun, here's a few of the things I came up with: sinners, children, poor people, wine, walking, sleeping on the ground, mountain climbing, making people who think they are smart look like idiots, bending time and space, and being the only guy to single-handedly beat the shit out of death. Some things he didn't like include religious people, laws that don't make sense, dishonest business practices, and sound legal counsel. Okay, come to think of it, that was fun. Maybe I will write that blog sometime after all.
However, the thing that bothers me most about SWPL is that it lumps people--specifically white people--into a group. So the best way to turn this trend on its ear, I think, is to write a blog about stuff that I, as an individual, like. Now maybe you don't care. That's cool. But maybe you do. If you want to learn a little more about me, this is the place to do it. I encourage others to begin writing their own blogs about what they like. I promise I'll read them. Because I care about who you are, not about your group, ethnic or otherwise.

Good stuff, Kyle! I do have a blog out there somewhere that I haven't posted to in several months. I may take your advice and get back to it. When I do, I'll send you the link.