Ask Tololy a question
I woke up this morning with no muse by my side, or with one that I failed to take notice of. The reasons behind my mind being a semi-blank are not why I am writing, however.
I came across an entertaining page as I took my usual blog/web round and I figured: “Why don’t I start a similar trend at Tololy’s Box?”. I didn’t really wait to answer that question and therefore I now have an idea to post about.
If you could ask me a question, what would it be? I do not guarantee that I will supply any of the readers with answers, but the process itself seems pretty playful. I think I would like to know what are the things that make my readers curious about me, what wonderings roam their heads as they read my words.
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November 16th, 2005 at 10:28 am
Perhaps one of the questions that I always ask to people is “where do you see your self in three years from now?”!
so, Tololy, where do you see your self in 3 years from now?
November 16th, 2005 at 11:14 am
Three years is a long time, Noor.
Not wanting to reveal more than I should, and yet wanting to answer you, I would say I see my book on some people’s shelves,I see myself typing a blog entry using my laptop and speedy internet connection, and then going out in my car, heading to the airport to visit the U.K
November 16th, 2005 at 3:40 pm
maybe this is one of the toughest questions to answer and a bit personal, but im just unloading what first thing i got on my mind: how did it turn out that you grew up like this?!
i dont think they teach you these stuff at school!! :D
besides, another question that pop up in my head: whats your major?! is it italian literature?! philosophy?! or wht?!
November 16th, 2005 at 4:21 pm
I am often dismayed by how few languages I know being an American…(1) And never more often than when I am reading one of your posts in Arabic or Italian or whatever…How many languages do you know; and is that common for people in your part of the world?
November 16th, 2005 at 7:03 pm
Devil’s Mind; I have not yet formulated an answer to your first question. I can safely say that I am highly experimental and I gew up among people who encourage learning.
As for your second question, you haven’t been doing your homework, now have you? I am just kidding.
I posted about my major in the very first entry of Tololy’s Box. I am double-majoring in Italian and English Language and Literature.
Dusty Wood, I am fluent in Arabic and English, I have excellent command of the Italian language.
I studied Hebrew and Japanese for some time, and I know a couple of Adiga expressions and words. I tried to learn the Jordanian sign language, but successfully failed to.
I believe most Jordanians speak Arabic and English, but varying in degrees of proficiency.
You can always learn a language,Dusty. It’s never too late. If you need any traslations into or from Arabic, for one of my entries or any other item, do not hesitate to contact me. I will gladly help if I can.
November 16th, 2005 at 9:15 pm
hehe, i didnt go back that far to the first entry (yet?)…. but think i made a good guess!!
November 16th, 2005 at 10:24 pm
One thing confuses me. I was going to ask: Why do you put so much effort into not revealing your identity (even in this series of comments, you say: “Not wanting to reveal more than I should…” and “I can safely say that…”)
… but on the other hand, you show your picture. And your blog posts often reveal much about your opinions (which, in my opinion, define a person)
It’s a question from a fellow blogger, who has his own thoughts about anonymity and “how much is ok” to reveal on my blog.
What are you thoughts about blogs and anonymity? I ask because I feel a contradiction on your blog. I feel nothing is anonymous about you, except your name… and that you implicitly say that you want to be anonymous.
November 16th, 2005 at 10:30 pm
I would like to clarify:
I’m confused, and I ask, because I feel you hide things I would reveal.. and you reveal things I would hide.
Good day to you.
November 16th, 2005 at 11:11 pm
Samir, that was one interesting point, the one you took care to raise.
I do not wish to reveal my name in Tololy’s Box, for the time being. Predicting a future change in heart and decision is quite beyond me. There are several reasons why I have taken this decision, and I disagree with your saying that “nothing is anonymous ” about me but my name. Trust me friend when I say this, a great deal is anonymous about me.
The seemingly contrastive phrases you cited in your comment, namely “Not wanting to reveal more than I should” and “I can safely say that” are taken out of context.I would suggest a second reading of my comment.
As for your question about anonymity and blogging, I think one should not go too far in revealing certain things about one’s life. That’s what I hope I would personally maintain in the Box, but what other bloggers do is not my business really.
Anonymity is somewhat of an illusion, I have a profile picture because I believe my readership deserves to see who is writing what words get published. I think it is an important step to help people connect a “real” human being to the thoughts and happenings discussed in the Box.
November 17th, 2005 at 3:06 am
I guess a picture isnot really usefull to uncover someone’s identity on the internet! Complete anonymity on the internet is almost impossible in terms of say, internet law enforcement, except maybe for some illegal proxies because most if not all communications over the line are logged. Yet for the public a name is much more useful, even more than a picture….
I would think anonymity (if ever achieved) over the line will not protect you from anything (except for illegal hackers), its just simply a state of the mind!
ah, one more question for you tololy: You dont expect anyone to understand the italian entries, do u? :sarcasm:
November 17th, 2005 at 12:07 pm
r u single?
November 17th, 2005 at 6:36 pm
Devil’s Mind; I do expect some people to understand them. I think I have a couple of Italian regulars, if I am not mistaken.
Anonymous, who’s asking?
November 17th, 2005 at 7:01 pm
I find it interesting how different our views are about “how much is ok to reveal”.
I think this difference is due to our different understandings, or definitions, of “who we are”. Which I find VERY interesting.
… in addition to our different reasons behind creating our blogs, I think.
Thank you Tololy and Devil’s Mind! I got a bit smarter this evening.
November 18th, 2005 at 5:25 am
i dunno how samir has missed an obvious question that instantly occurs to anyone who reads your comment! or how he could ignore that question if it did occur to him!
hehe, guess im so curious im the one askin a lot here :P
anyways the question this time is pretty tough one too:
[quote]… in addition to our different reasons behind creating our blogs, I think.[/quote]
what kind of audience, and what kind of messages u are trying to send through your blog?
November 18th, 2005 at 6:20 am
You know… I had a conversation about my level of anonymity on my blog…(Which there is none) and it was about how it affects other people (namely my wife)…I have no desire to censor any bit of my identity…but I have a desire to protect my wife and therefore I have to be careful not to reveal to much when it comes to her identity…But me… what the heck why bother? I avoid secrets to avoid temptation to lie.
A question for Tololy…Do you avoid giving information because of the climate there? I have noticed a lot of people remarking about your picture and how they think it ill-advised…what’s that all about?
(as a photographer I have to say that you did a good job framing the shot to reveal as little as possible about yourself…)
November 18th, 2005 at 9:14 am
Devil’s Mind; that is a very good question. I think it is too early to answer you though. Tololy’s Box is still too young to embody a certain message, if indeed it was set up to deliver one message or the other.
Dusty Wood, I understand your concern and it is well called-for.
I do not think I avoid giving information about myself because of the climate in Jordan, whatever that climate may be.
I think Jordan is one of the best places in the region for people to open up and express their individuality.
Dusty, I honestly do not know why my profile picture is getting this much attention.
I hope my readers would not dwell on this subject and neglect what the entries in the Box talk about.
If I were to design an answer, I would say I think it is because I am veiled and chances are that my displaying a profile picture seems unusual, or controvesial, or something of the sort, to some.
Thank you for the final remark though, the picture was taken by a six year old. Believe it or not :)
November 18th, 2005 at 1:26 pm
so you wear the hijab?
November 18th, 2005 at 2:07 pm
Yes, that I do, Ali.
November 18th, 2005 at 6:08 pm
“i dunno how samir has missed an obvious question that instantly occurs to anyone who reads your comment! or how he could ignore that question if it did occur to him!”
I don’t know! The question didn’t occur to me. It’s probably because my guess was good enough for me, and didn’t leave room for curiosity.
Or maybe I predicted Tololy giving a mysterious answer, that will keep us wondering. Just kidding :)
This anonymity subject is getting more attention than I thought.
November 18th, 2005 at 6:17 pm
I so respect that you do Tololy.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
[...] Inspired by “Ask Tololy a Question,” published back in November 2005; I am re-opening the channels for communication, curiosity, and entertainment. [...]