Happy Anniversary Iranian.com!

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

Nazy Kaviani
by Nazy Kaviani
03-Aug-2008
 

In just a few hours, I will be celebrating an important anniversary on Iranian.com. This day marks a year since I joined Iranian.com as a registered user and started blogging on the site. I don’t mean to brag (!), but I was one of the first people Jahanshah invited to test the new software. I wrote my first test blog on August 5, 2007, becoming the first blogger outside of JJ and Wayne to write something on the site.

Being able now to self-publish through blogging, this past year has been a year full of interesting reading and learning, writing and learning some more. From the earlier stressful days of being called names and such to the more civil days of receiving compliments and constructive criticism, writing for Iranian.com for the past year has found new meaning and purpose for me. Though it may be hard for the newcomers to agree, our community seems to have transformed into one with a kinder, gentler, and yet more sophisticated discourse over the past year as a result of our ability to self-publish.

This year also marked the 30th year since I arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area. Though like most other Iranians living abroad I have discovered and exercised the freedoms extended to me in the US, I feel especially privileged as for the first time I have been able to exercise those choices and freedoms of expression among my fellow countrymen and women. We all love Iran, and we all miss it. Though loving and missing something are usually positive feelings, when it comes to a homeland so far away and occasionally so difficult to understand or relate to, this loving and missing can turn into a set of less desirable feelings, a state of schizophrenia marked by feelings of nostalgia, anger, worry, and fear all mixed together. In our mixed state of emotions about Iran, it is quite understandable that sometimes we express ourselves in ways a little surprising, a bit confusing, a little intimidating, and sometimes even a bit abusive. We all love and miss Iran and that is what we all have in common, sometimes all that we seem to have in common.

Over the past year, I have read things on the site which have made me cry and things that have had me sit in my chair and slap my knee, laughing out loud to myself, appearing as a lunatic to witnesses in both cases. I have become furious with the asinine articles of some, and proud with the clear and concise expressions of brilliant thoughts and sentiments of some others. Through my daily excursions to the community that Iranian.com has become, above all, I have learned and learned and learned. Sometimes I wonder who these anonymous people are, how come they are so smart, and why can’t I know those people up close and in person, so that they could become my wise friends. Just as I get ready to get mad at the poor English skills of a writer, I am hit by a wave of understanding and humanity for the message he or she is trying to convey, getting it despite the atrocious spelling and imperfect grammar. Like many others, I read so much on the site silently and without making my presence known. Sometimes I read two users’ comments to one another, going at it for days and days, as each states his or her case eloquently and patiently, mesmerizing me into following the debate, learning something in the process, learning and learning. Sometimes I get mad at the crazy comments some people write, or become embarrassed for the simplistic ways in which some people see issues, and then I have to stop myself from judging, remembering that he or she, too, is an Iranian, displaced and homesick, trying to reach out to a community which if nothing else, has that love and longing for Iran in common with him or her.

I go through the photographs and click the play button on the video links, I listen to music and follow the news on the site. Nothing about any of what appears on the site seems to startle me anymore, for I have learned that Iranians come in all shapes and sizes and tastes and ideas, some more artistic, some less, some more articulate, and some less, but instead of judging them, I sit enjoying the beautiful collage that is all Iranians, placed on the beautiful mat that our love and longing for Iran has prepared. All of a sudden, after a year of active participation in this community, Iranians appear more beautiful to me, growing, prospering, flourishing, and doing better, writing better, talking better, saying more, seeing more, and feeling more. Not all of that can be just my imagination now, can it?

I am honored to have been among the first people invited to join the site, but above and beyond that, I am honored for the joy and meaning and direction the users on the site have extended to me over the past year. I am a member of a very special community, and I would like to thank each and every one of the users on the site for that privilege. Thank you all for the gift of understanding. Thank you for accepting me as a member of the beautiful mosaic that Iranian.com is. Happy Anniversary Iranian.com!

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

Recently by Nazy KavianiCommentsDate
Baroun
3
Nov 22, 2012
Dark & Cold
-
Sep 14, 2012
Talking Walls
3
Sep 07, 2012
more from Nazy Kaviani
 
default

Beautifully said

by American Wife (not verified) on Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:00 AM PDT

Beautifully said


  •  
Nazy Kaviani

Dear Shining Head:

by Nazy Kaviani on Mon Aug 04, 2008 09:34 AM PDT

Thank you for the correction!

Yes, I am very lucky that JJ hasn't blocked my account, and I don't take this privilege lightly at all!

I'm sorry to hear that you feel singled out because of your views. I find this hard to believe, knowing JJ and knowing how easy it is for anybody to register on the site and to immediately start blogging and contributing. Were you just spontaneously blocked, or did you receive one or more warnings first? I doubt very much Jahanshah has anything against you or what you have to say, so long as you remain respectful to others. I couldn't find any blogs or features under your user ID, but I have seen your contributions in News and Opinions, and I have observed that he features your suggestions all the time. If your news contributions are a representation of "what you have to say," then it appears that you can post and be featured without any problems.

I understand things get a little trickier with expressing our views through comments on other people's posts. In heated discussions, people can sometimes become a little abusive to each other in their comments. Other users or site moderators will then report abusive users to JJ, who will issue warnings to those users or may block their accounts after sufficient warnings. That is the only possibility I can think of which might have had your account blocked in the past, not your views.

Well, all that seems to be in the past now. I'm glad you are back and I hope you give yourself and the site a chance to see that this "collage" could not be this beautiful, were it not for all the different people and their different views and voices contributing to it.


  •  
Nazy Kaviani

Thank You

by Nazy Kaviani on Mon Aug 04, 2008 08:10 AM PDT

Dear Irandokht, Nadia, Bajenagh-e-Naghi, Souri, Ahvazi, Orang, Jahanshah, and Ebi:

Thank you for sharing your sentiments and thoughts. I'm touched by your kind words and your friendship. Thank you for the extra attention everybody, especially the video clips and the childhood memories! I am honored to have friends and neighbors such as yourselves on Iranian.com.

P.S. Happy Anniversary Ahvazi!


  •  
Shining Head

I bet you mean August 5, 2007, not 2008

by Shining Head on Mon Aug 04, 2008 07:11 AM PDT

Just a typo i suppose!

P.S.

You are lucky that JJ has not blocked your user name/ account. He does that to me and some others every few days! I guess he does not like us!!! (or many be jj does not like what we have to say!!! -- so much of freedom of speech!!)


  •  
Nadias

Celebration time.........

by Nadias on Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:46 PM PDT

Kool and the Gang.....Celebrate

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmOQyyezwCQ

 

 

 


  •  
ebi amirhosseini

Nazy Jaan,Happy Anniversary !!

by ebi amirhosseini on Sun Aug 03, 2008 09:44 PM PDT

Life is a learning process & the wise is the one who always continues to learn.Always enjoy your contributions.

Best Wishes

for you;


  •  
Jahanshah Javid

Party on

by Jahanshah Javid on Sun Aug 03, 2008 01:17 PM PDT

Happy anniversary to you too Nazy jaan. People have no idea how much you contribute to this site and how much effort you put into bringing out the best in all of us. My sincere thanks and khasteh nabashi to you!

And thank you to all others who have shared their thoughts and dreams in one shape or another. iranian.com is only around because of ALL OF YOU.

For the first year or so, articles in iranian.com were published once every 2 months, with nothing added in between. Today can you imagine not seeing something new every 2 minutes?! All this content is generated by people like you.

These days you have so many options. There are thousands of Iranian sites. You can spend all day on YouTube and Facebook. If you have things to say and contribute, you can have your independent blog in your own corner of the internet universe. You can easily start a web site and concentrate on whatever your passion my be.

So why still go to iranian.com? I don't really know. But your presence is always welcome and appreciated in this round-the-clock party.


  •  
Orang Gholikhani

Anniversaries are happier when difficulties are greater

by Orang Gholikhani on Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:02 AM PDT

I looked at my account, I've been member for 47 weeks (in the new version) and JJ published some of my pieces in the old version.

I could tell you life hasn't been so kind in Iranian.com (new version) as it is today during last year. We had tough time with some "undesired comments" and today we could be proud to say we get ride of them without adding restrictions.

In another Souri's blog, somebody told noone of Iranian celebrities write in Iranian.com. It is true but don't forget all who write are "normal people". They have a family and a work and they find the time to read and write in Iranian.com because they share the same passion. It is what give more value to this site.

Thanks to JJ who create it and to all who make it.


  •  
ahvazi

one day younger....

by ahvazi on Sun Aug 03, 2008 09:38 AM PDT

Happy anniversary! I am one day younger than you :-) You are a greater contributer to this site.


  •  
Souri

My very dear Nazy Kaviani

by Souri on Sun Aug 03, 2008 08:52 AM PDT

You are the fresh soul of Iranian.com. When ever I read an article from you, it calm me and bring me some fresh air (just like that butterfly in your hand !) and I' m always thankful to you for your
contribution.

I remember, when I was a kid, we moved to Gorgan (in North/East of Iran) to live for a few years. I had a friend at school, her name was Nazy
Kaviani, too !! She was so kind and always that shy smile on her face.
For long, I thought you were the same beautiful person I have known in
the past whom I never forget.

When I saw your picture for the first time, I knew you weren't' my old friend, you have much more beautiful face...but the smile !! That's something...

I really enjoyed your blog, as always. Surprisingly, this was the first time I
read a blog where all the thankful thought didn' t go for JJ and his
team behind the scene!

Of course, we are always thankful to JJ and others for offering us this opportunity, never enough. But it was nice to thank those contributors too.

Me too, I have learned a lot, from every blog I read here. I have learned to become more tolerant (not yet there, but in the process !! ) and of course this every day reading, has improved my English too :O) . Last year I always got messges like "your English suck !!" now, people are more understanding and they correct my mistakes very nicely through their replies. I am thankful too.

Many thanks to you, we need more of your contribution

 


  •  
bajenaghe naghi

nazy jan

by bajenaghe naghi on Sun Aug 03, 2008 08:17 AM PDT

Happy Anniversary to you. from what you have written and from my own experiences ( my first blog was on march 18, 2008), it has been a great and successful year. we have learnt a lot and met a lot of people on this board. some have been funny and have made us laugh, many have set forth their thoughts, ideas and experiences and some have brought tears into our eyes by sharing with us some of their most private and tender stories. I too have been in san francisco for a long time and this is the very first time that i feel i am home away from home. this site and its blog section have brought me in contact with lots of very fine human beings. whether i agree with their points of view or not is something quite different and immaterial. i am  most thankful to jj and all the others who work tirelessly behind the scene. 


  •  
Nadias

Wow! I had no idea

by Nadias on Sun Aug 03, 2008 04:26 AM PDT

 

I had no idea of the anniversary. Thank you for letting us know

Happy Anniversary

:o)

solh va doosti/paz a vosotros/paix et amitié

ناتاليا

 

 

 


  •  
IRANdokht

Happy Anniversary to you :0)

by IRANdokht on Sun Aug 03, 2008 02:43 AM PDT

You're right on the mark Nazy jan! I also think we're all learning a lot more about ourselves and about Iran and Iranians. Some of us having been away for so long, needed to connect with others whom we share so much with.

It's a good idea for all of us to take a breather from the arguments (and sometimes bickerings) and see this community for what it is and what it's offering to each and everyone of us. 

Happy Anniversary to you and to the iranian.com/blogs

IRANdokht


  •