Haven’t we all learned or at least heard about the Seven Deadly Sins? It has been a major part of Christian teaching for a long time, and was also featured in the movie Se7en about which most people should be aware. Here, I would like to think about them as a blogger with the Latin names also added. The first one should be the Blogger Lust/Lechery [fornicatio] – this has been something that is less related to blogging, and I would like to keep it as a low-profile sin which can stay outside the hell in a camp on the banks of Styx, thus leaving to option to drink tea with Charon when he is free. Some of the other sins will also have the elements of this one in detail. So, this is the one half-sin.
Blogger Sloth/Laziness [acedia]: This is actually a lesser sin among the seven, as it doesn’t affect others. But I would say that the laziness associated with blogging is a sad thing. You have started a blog and you have the skill; then when you choose not to write is a disheartening thing. There might be many things that might stop you, including those idiots who will say that your blog is bad and other terrible people who say that you do useless blogging. No, none of the blogs are bad or useless, because it is a personal thing and the first reason behind it is to bring out our thoughts and feelings. Everyone with a blog needs to write, and lets get rid of our laziness. This one is three quarter of a sin.
Hieronymus Bosch’s depiction of The Seven Deadly Sins with sides cropped.
Blogger Wrath/Rage [ira]: I am actually surprised that this still exists. Yes, there are some hate comments which come up here and there just because they can’t stand another blogger, and it is not limited to bloggers, but also to those who just comment with their e-mail id. The usual sinners of this kind are the fans of certain movies, bands or celebrities in the case of movie or music review blogs. They can also be the fans of certain politician, sportsperson or religious fundamentalists depending on the type of content you blog on. They have the tendency to be fully brainless in wrath, and being dumb is just routine for them. Beware, this brings the worst in you, and makes you not yourself.
Blogger Gluttony/Selfishness [gluttire]: Even as it is usually used with food, we can relate this more to selfishness. Take your time to help other bloggers, and leave the “I” side behind. Blogging is something that should feature mutual help and understanding. Some people will say that we should only support awesome posts and the rest should be hated. But I would say otherwise, because all people can’t write the same way – I do see a lots of them with grammar mistakes, but if they are trying their best and their idea is good, who are we to judge someone who had lesser chance to learn English? Then there are people who has some of their post not as good as the rest, but that also should have reasons – lets accept that without being egocentric.
The Holy Spirit and the Seven Deadly Sins shown here. Read if you can 😀
Blogger Greed/Avarice [avaritia]: This is something that works on many levels. There is the line which is drawn between the greed and the need, and that line is something that I wouldn’t like to draw myself, because it is something of personal nature. Yes, blogger Greed does exist, and it will only get stronger as time passes. It will be only later that we will come up with the right definition of the same, as the separating line has to be clearer. May be I can update this section later or write another post completely about this one. With the rising number of bloggers who only look for material gains, I am sure that the time will come much earlier than I expect. Plagiarism can come as a result of this greed.
Blogger Envy/Jealousy [invidia]: This envious side has had a powerful existence. I have been blogging for quite a long time on my former blogs which I had the problem of weird commentors who thought that others shouldn’t blog at all. This kind of breed still exists, mostly as a hybrid between envy and the next sin Pride, which has these people hating the achievements of others. I might not win a major prize in any contest sooner or later, but I appreciate those who win, and have seen these people who are envious of the achievements of others and hope they didn’t win, also posting on forums about it – you don’t win contests or get noticed and you start complain about it because of envy. Yes, you feel that it is not your incapability, but someone else’s fault.
Tower of Babel by Pieter Brueghel the Elder – structure that is a sign of human pride.
Blogger Pride/Vanity [superbia]: The devil’s favourite sin and very much popular among bloggers, there will always be that kind of people who think that they are the best of them all. The problem with this kind of people is that they always want to change the rules to suit them. Whichever site they join, they want people to visit their blog only, and for the same reason, they want to feature on the front page and win contests by degrading others or the basic idea behind the site when they can’t win. They keep having problems with other bloggers winning just because they believe that only they should win. What does it take to know that you are a part of the blogger community and doesn’t stand alone? Is it difficult to understand that the world doesn’t revolve around you?
*All the images used in this blog post are from the wikipedia page of Seven Deadly Sins. **In this blogging world, lets be respectful of others’ works and not complain that others get more recognition or some other person wins more contests. Lets write, and support those who support us, as well as those who need support. If someone thinks “I am so awesome and everyone should read my posts, and I shall not read theirs because they all write inferior posts”, think again. Remember, everyone might not have had the opportunities in education that you had.
TeNy
The Tea Cerebrations 