What can you do to show someone who doesn’t blog, and doesn’t get the point at all, why blogging might actually not be a complete waste of time? (Actually, why is it so many people seem to see so many activities connected with the computer as a waste of time? Games, web surfing, blogging…)
I heard a librarian say last night that she didn’t get it at all and that she had far better things to do with her time, so there. I didn’t say anything because 1) I don’t know her very well at all, 2) it was at a meeting with lots of people I don’t know well, and 3) I was tired, it was at the end of the day and I just wanted to go home, rather than start a debate with a group of people I don’t know well. (There’s a theme here, isn’t there?)
In work life the web is just so normal and part of the routine. Email and company websites are now just so ordinary. Everyone has an email address or three, most organisations have websites in some form, and that’s how it’s always been, isn’t it?
I wish I knew what it was like back when email was just on the verge of becoming ubiquitous. Did people who were used to the phone (or fax) and paper memos think email was just some passing fad, that they would never master the keyboard, that it could never replace picking the phone up and talking to someone?
I happen to one of those people who think blogging is one of the best thing that’s happened to the Web. I’ve come to this belief gradually, after a sustained period of reading lots and lots of blogs, making connections with people I would never have met otherwise, and of course, blogging myself. I don’t know if blogging will ever be as universal as email is (most people I know have an email address, but I don’t think most people will have their own blog), because it’s quite a different way of communicating, but it is a way of communicating, and that’s where its value lies.
(This isn’t as coherent or as detailed as I would like. Thinking, thinking about blogging and the paper I’m going to be writing, and it’s now time to get ready for work.)
3 Comments
I only started reading blogs regulary mid last year. I’ve found them a great source of information on all manner of things that i wouldn’t know otherwise- politics, music, books, funny and strange things.
I know more about politics(for instance) by reading decent blogs than from the mainstream media.
I think blogs with a theme are easier to sustain. I’m not a natural blogger, I started mine cause i got all excited and wanted to recored the process of getting a visa and whatnot of moving to the States. Thats slowed down for the time being so trying to find things to put on it. I think its worked so far…mostly and i’m getting better at it. I’m not into that full disclosure style of some people, i figure its private and/or not that interesting to other people.
ForBattle on the other hand is a great way for a bunch of us to post whatever, keep in touch and having a laugh.
I remember seeing the internet for the first time at 22. A brand new world and now i can’t imagine being without it.
“…why is it so many people seem to see so many activities connected with the computer as a waste of time?”
I’ve been wondering the same recently. When i went to visit a friend in Perth, she said that there was no way she would ever have a computer under her roof. I didn’t say anything, but thought “Errk! You’re missing out!”
And i’m constantly having to tolerate scorn from the other half for being in front of the screen so much. Why is getting the news from the web ‘less’ than getting the news from telly?
I don’t get it.
Hi Cozalcoatl, nice to see you here still 🙂 I don’t know if I’m a natural blogger or not. (Actually I don’t think so 😉 ) Have been reading blogs for years, but only actively started subscribing to them via RSS last year, which really helps with the sheer numbers of the things! I’ve started a few blogs over the years (mostly in LiveJournal-type sites) but this is the only one that’s survived for longer than a few weeks! It’s funny, innit, there’s lots of things I would never dream of writing online, even if I was completely anonymous, and I love reading other people’s takes on things. I saw the Net for the first time in 1995 (BBSes dont count I guess) and loved it then. Can’t imagine life without it either!
Cherry I just don’t get that sort of attitude. Maybe it’s fear, lots of people don’t know anything about computers at all and they can be daunting I suppose. Have you suggested to Mister that your approach to the news is more because you can follow up on things that interest you, find out more information and details about events, people, countries (whatever), whereas he just has to take what the tv stations choose to broadcast?? I am constantly amazed, when I watch the news, how old some of their reports are. Why would you just stick with that when you can get so much more, so immediately, online?