What's the Consensus?
I've noticed some things upon reentering the blogging world, browsing around friends' pages. They're infinitely more slick than they were when I abandoned Live Journal last year. But also they seem a little less meaty for all of the gloss. Bloggers treat their postings like mini-news feeds. Blurbs of events. Like some kind of internet Headline News, maybe, with comments. Here's what's going on with me.
And it's interesting, too, that when given the option to "leave a comment," most readers do just that: comment, which I think is a little strange. We have a chance to ask questions, dig deeper, penetrate the crust a little bit. But instead we leave little ten word news-blurbs of our own, and don't stick around to keep talking.
Is this part of the internet code of ethics? Or is it that we're uncomfortable for other reasons? Maybe there's not enough time? But whatever it is, I hope there's a way of taking time out to say, "what's going on with you?" And maybe we can be prepared to have that same question asked of us.
Either that, or wait for evolution to furnish us with the hive mind.
So what do you think?
And it's interesting, too, that when given the option to "leave a comment," most readers do just that: comment, which I think is a little strange. We have a chance to ask questions, dig deeper, penetrate the crust a little bit. But instead we leave little ten word news-blurbs of our own, and don't stick around to keep talking.
Is this part of the internet code of ethics? Or is it that we're uncomfortable for other reasons? Maybe there's not enough time? But whatever it is, I hope there's a way of taking time out to say, "what's going on with you?" And maybe we can be prepared to have that same question asked of us.
Either that, or wait for evolution to furnish us with the hive mind.
So what do you think?
7:40 AM
I like that you talk as if you left the world to live in the mountains for ten years, growing a scraggly beard and polishing your rusty shotgun as you listen to old Johnny Cash vinyles. It hasn't been that long since you left our internet society, Chris, perhaps it is you that has changed?
Other than that, I know I am not--nor have I ever been--comfortable splaying everything open for all of the internet to see, or even for all of my friends. For this reason most of my posts are obscure feelings with (seemingly) little reason behind them—mostly the opposite of the news post journal. I recall a time that you asked me what I wrote in my journal (you know, the red one I got at Borders) and I replied that I wrote everything that I didn’t put down on the internet. You yourself, I believe, once had a journal entry that you said much the same thing…only I think you were chastising yourself for it.
So I guess I would charge you with this question: If not of our day to day lives, what then should we write?
~If I didn't sign this, would you really not know who it was from? Lets see.... ;) top
9:03 AM
This is not in any way a critique of what you wrote (because I think it's a valid analysis and an interesting topic in and of itself), but when you ask me for more mullom stories-well, they mostly go on my LJ feed as Michael News, which is the philosophy most of my online friends ascribe to as well (admittedly not lately, but hey, time commitments). Travelling around as a kid, I lost contact with a lot of good friends over the years, and the way I value something like Livejournal or Blogspot is to keep in touch with people I'm no longer nearby.
I would imagine that a large portion of the current culture is what formed by what came before: when I started my LJ I looked around at what other people wrote and used that as a model. The question: well, why did they make it that way in the beginning? I don't have a valid answer for just yet. In the meantime, I notice that
when I put down my more thinky posts, I usually didn't get much feedback. I don't abandon doing those, but I try to throw in lighter stuff so that people who want to comment can.
Often there are times when I want to comment but can't, ether because of lack of time or when I don't feel qualified to comment on the issue.
am I reading your question correctly, or is there something I'm not getting?
The Old Man. Ullom, that is. top
12:51 PM
Well of course I recognize you, fellow trio member. Just remember that Gary wants some volume. :-)
I'm not critical of you, my friends. I hope my expectations aren't different from anyone else's. I enjoy reading the thinking posts, and I love commenting on them. I also like the frivolous, "here's an interesting thing," like all friends do, directing our pals' attention to something mutually enjoyable.
Interestingly, I think blogs can reveal how willing we still are to hide behind fig leaves.
I know there are some controls in place: I don't give out my blog address to just anyone, and I know LJ still allows some posts to be friends only. That's important. But I think we can take steps towards being open, towards taking time, and maybe revealing a little more, if we're careful.
But is that even the point of a blog? Ok, maybe I haven't been away that long. Maybe it is me that has changed, like you said. I'll have to think about it.
I enjoy Ullom snapshots very, very much. I was really glad to see you still posted there. Thanks Old Man. top
12:51 PM
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12:30 PM
You can only imagine my fear when Gary said, “just match Chris’ volume.” My voice suddenly had a little too much of that good old timbre. Just like I will when I am a little old lady, only then it will be out of age not nervousness. Must go practice…
I defiantly have a garden full of fig trees—in place for those that I don’t know. And yet…should I be reluctant to open my arms and let people into my life? I don’t know, I wouldn’t really say that I do either. There is just a small garden near the center of my heart that few get into. I am like an onion ;) or an Ogre….Only not so angry.
I want to read Old Man Ullom’s snapshots now…
By the way, I don’t think I will be at Choir on Saturday, are you going?
~JoyJoy top