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Dead-Ends and Rabbit-Trails …

www.boundless.org

Boundless is an American webzine which sets itself up to act as a kind of virtual mentor: a guide offering a path through “the terrain around you” while at university. So, if you’re feeling the need for someone to lead you away from the “dead-ends and rabbit-trails” of life, maybe Boundless has the answers!

From this slightly patronising beginning, Boundless does get better. For a start, it is absolutely huge, with articles covering just about everything from Ally McBeal to what to do when your parents treat you like a child. It’s good, solid advice that grown ups think you need to hear! There is, as expected, a huge volume of articles aimed at keeping college students behaving sensibly while away from home. Feeding the words alcohol, drugs, money or sex through the search facility is going to generate a lot of reading matter for you! These are all issues that any Christian student is going to have to think about at some point, and the subjects of the articles are apparently a fair reflection on the content of the webzine’s postbag. Participation in Boundless is actively encouraged, and I found lots of feedback responding to readers’ questions and comments. Most of the contributors have regular slots, so if you go into the archive, you can follow the responses to their articles.

Trawling through the columnists’ archive was how I discovered the story of Bethany Patchin, who I think was rather surprised by the impact of her article/music review (Don’t) Kiss Me. Having written about Sixpence None the Richer and saving her kisses for marriage, Bethany received a massive response, including a letter from Sam Torode, who suggested that her article may have been a sneaky ploy to generate proposals from single young men. He was right! Bethany’s latest article is published under the name Bethany Torode, and is entitled Confessions of a Teenage Mom. She and Sam are about to buy their first house. Aah!

One of the best things about the site is the fact that it looks great. The graphics are fantastic, and the articles are clearly laid out. It’s very easy to find your way around, and there are topical menus on every page, leading you to categories such as Beyond Buddies, Head and Heart, and Out of Bounds. As a resource it is extremely useful (although its focus is firmly American), full of information and things to ponder. New articles appear on a weekly basis, so there is a constant stream of new things to keep you thinking! It’s a great place to find Christian opinions on a variety of subjects, and you never know, you might even find a husband!

Kate Harper

Last modified: 25th November 2005