sdc999 Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I didn't want to derail the other topic. But what are your thoughts on Robert Kirby? http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58507634-78/mormons-church-meet-real.html.csp He doesn't seem to mind to call out stupidity or false representations amongst his own. This article was brought to my attention by a good LDS friend of mine who thought I would get a kick out of it. He said it was a lot closer of a representation that he had and continues to witness in his 30+ years in the church.
Duncan Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 oh hardly, he is making good fun of LDS culture 2
WysteriaBlue Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I especially liked the "branding bobcats" reference...have to use that one.wb
ksfisher Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I didn't want to derail the other topic. But what are your thoughts on Robert Kirby? http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58507634-78/mormons-church-meet-real.html.csp He doesn't seem to mind to call out stupidity or false representations amongst his own. This article was brought to my attention by a good LDS friend of mine who thought I would get a kick out of it. He said it was a lot closer of a representation that he had and continues to witness in his 30+ years in the church. He's not an anti-mormon, but he certainly doesn't represent his religion in the best light to the rest of the world. 3
JLHPROF Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I didn't want to derail the other topic. But what are your thoughts on Robert Kirby? http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58507634-78/mormons-church-meet-real.html.csp He doesn't seem to mind to call out stupidity or false representations amongst his own. This article was brought to my attention by a good LDS friend of mine who thought I would get a kick out of it. He said it was a lot closer of a representation that he had and continues to witness in his 30+ years in the church. I've always loved Kirby. He is willing to show the side of Mormons that doesn't get presented in the media. The human side. 1
bluebell Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I'm not a fan of his articles but i don't think he's doing anything wrong.
BenMacKay Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 I've read his columns for years from afar (grew up in IL, went to BYU, lived in UT a few years but have lived in WA for the last 13 years, and love UT despite all its idiosyncrasies; we spend, cumulatively, a good month of every year there with family). I love his candid and humorous take on all of the quirky things about Mormon culture. We really are a peculiar people. Thankfully the gospel is being spread and the culture is slowly catching up to its pure doctrines.
Robert F. Smith Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 Robert Kirby always cracks me up, and this one had me chuckling all the way through. I haven't seen "Meet the Mormons" and may not bother, but it is probably no more harmful or inaccurate than say Andy Griffith's "Mayberry RFD." These charming and and well-manicured vignettes are probably just as wholesome as the "And i'm a Mormon" series, even if they are inaccurate. So what?! If you want something entirely accurate and down-to-earth about tawdry human relationships, then take a look at Bob Redford's award-winning "Ordinary People" (1981), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZYHe8IAlto , or his "Downhill Racer" (1969), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVaIUc-atxo . 2
Tacenda Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 (edited) I liked the comments from people who said they didn't need to go see "Meet the Mormons" they already have, they're our neighbors. Edited October 13, 2014 by Tacenda
rockpond Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 He is definitely not an anti-Mormon. He makes fun of our culture, that's all. When I was in college (20 years ago) I bought and read his book "Sunday of the Living Dead". Laugh out loud funny. I just checked, you can buy it used on Amazon for basically just the cost of shipping.
Silhouette Posted October 13, 2014 Posted October 13, 2014 He's not an anti-mormon, but he certainly doesn't represent his religion in the best light to the rest of the world.I agree with this assessment.
wenglund Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 He is more of a doofus. What little I know of him, I view him more as a crank. Thanks, -Wade Englund-
Buckeye Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 He was quoted in general conference a few years back so he can't be too anti.
The Nehor Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 He was quoted in general conference a few years back so he can't be too anti. The devil has been quoted in General Conference so that is not much of an endorsement. 3
VideoGameJunkie Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 Aww nuts I read the title and thought this was about the adorable pink puffy video game character Kirby.
Buzzard Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 At the Tribune, he's practically bishop material. 2
ERayR Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 At the Tribune, he's practically bishop material. That should give some indication.
rockpond Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 I'm aware of no reason to think of Brother Kirby as anything other than an active, faithful member of the church.
bluebell Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 I'm not a fan of his articles but i don't think he's doing anything wrong. Now that i have more time to elaborate i just wanted to explain why i don't like his articles. I don't have a problem with people who lampoon themselves or their culture. Mormonism can be pretty funny, and everyone does stupid stuff sometimes. What bugs me about Kirby is the venue he uses to lampoon Mormons and the LDS church. In my family, if you need to vent about a family member, you only vent to people who you know love that family member or who you know will understand that YOU love that person and will be kind. You don't ever vent to someone who doesn't like the person. Nothing good comes of such venting for you, and it will almost certainly do damage to your family member in the eyes of the person you are venting to.. And that's what i see Kirby doing. He's venting to those who do not at all like the church. Maybe it's an incorrect perception but to me, the Salt Lake Tribune is not a paper friendly to Mormonism, and more especially it's readership seems to largely disdain the church. While Kirby's brand of opinion piece might be completely innocent in some environments, i don't think it's a good idea in the SLT. 2
Boanerges Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 Based on comments in the other thread about members being the anti-Mormons, I'd say that some here must absolutely consider Kirby to be anti.
CA Steve Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 I grew up in the LDS family Kirby describes. My mom, who is a perfectionist, would constantly point out the one or two families in the ward whose kids were perfect or so at least they seemed on the outside. Looking back on that I realize how difficult it was for both my mom and my family to try and meet this unrealistic standard, which, in all likelihood wasn't even being met by these other families. If people truly want to "Meet the Mormons" they should attend a few deacons classes, go to few ward basketball games and participate in a few ward socials. Those are the true Mormons. I think examples of imperfection go much further in helping us and others realize who we are and where we need to go.
Jeanne Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 Kirby makes it easier to relate to Mormons. No arrogance just honesty. Nothing wrong with that.
rockpond Posted October 14, 2014 Posted October 14, 2014 Now that i have more time to elaborate i just wanted to explain why i don't like his articles. I don't have a problem with people who lampoon themselves or their culture. Mormonism can be pretty funny, and everyone does stupid stuff sometimes. What bugs me about Kirby is the venue he uses to lampoon Mormons and the LDS church. In my family, if you need to vent about a family member, you only vent to people who you know love that family member or who you know will understand that YOU love that person and will be kind. You don't ever vent to someone who doesn't like the person. Nothing good comes of such venting for you, and it will almost certainly do damage to your family member in the eyes of the person you are venting to.. And that's what i see Kirby doing. He's venting to those who do not at all like the church. Maybe it's an incorrect perception but to me, the Salt Lake Tribune is not a paper friendly to Mormonism, and more especially it's readership seems to largely disdain the church. While Kirby's brand of opinion piece might be completely innocent in some environments, i don't think it's a good idea in the SLT.I don't think that showing our human side makes us any less appealing as a church and a faith community. Probably more appealing. But maybe Scott could talk the powers that be into luring Kirby over to the DN... That way he'd have a higher percentage of Mormons reading his articles.
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