Archive for » May, 2010 «

May

Anyone who has blogged for any length of time will admit they enjoy the sense of community they find online.

In blogosphere we quickly find others with whom we identify.

People who think like us. People who listen. People who don’t judge. People who show praise.

In fact, blogosphere and most online social networking sites are becoming melting pots of like minded people congregating in their own circles to discuss topics of the heart, with each person having compassion for the other.

Today’s Lesson

Online “community” is hard to explain to someone who doesn’t blog or spend time on social networking sites. We may joke and say we need to connect with “our peeps”, but in our heart we take that communication pretty seriously.

After all, we have “relationships” with our online acquaintances and don’t want them to feel neglected.

It’s not that we’re giving up on real life.

We feel we can have both.

When Late Night Mum left a comment on the “Are Blogs Dying?”post, she said, in part,

I have been exploring how its easier to be honest online and think blogging offers that outlet, ….

I replied:

That’s true. Many bloggers are voicing opinions on topics they may not even discuss with their friends and family. Although that can make for good “therapy”, it makes me wonder if by doing so, we lose touch with the real world.

And she added:

I agree there is a very real risk we can lose touch with the real world. Equally the real world can be very judgmental and by blogging anonymously I get to explore my real feelings with people. I am getting fed up with my real life so called friends playing games.

Late Night Mum raises a good point. When we feel let down or judged in the real world. it’s easier to turn to the internet for communication, support and friendship.

And…with the internet, we can choose who we communicate with.

Then, if we don’t like what they’re saying, we can click off or just “unfriend” or “unfollow” them.

In real life, we may not have those options.

But on the flip side, in real life we can have so much more.

Today’s Assignment

Do you think people are using blogs or social networking sites as a way to communicate with others because real life is letting them down?

Have you ever encountered this?

Care to share?
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Category: Archives, Blogging, Blogging Lessons, Social Networking 46 Comments

May

Confession – I Delete Real Comments

Barbara Swafford

Just like other bloggers, I love receiving comments.

Comments give others the chance to share their opinions.

Comments also build community.

But, what happens when we don’t like the words written in a comment?

Today’s Lesson

Have you ever read a blog post that moves you, but when you try to comment, the words don’t flow?

Or maybe you’ve written a comment, but after rereading it, you delete it?

I do that.

I’ll type out my thoughts, reread them and realize how silly or unsuitable they are for the post.

Or, maybe I’ve said more than what I want to share online.

“Delete”

Sometimes I will write another comment, but oftentimes I just click off and move on.

I find this happens when I’m tired or have a lot on my mind. My brain is not into commenting.

Mike Goad does the same thing.

In a recent comment he wrote,

I try to stay reasonably short [in blog posts]. Sometimes when it’s done, I go back and delete some of the material that isn’t as pertinent.

I try to do that in comments, too. Sometimes, my comments get way too long.

When we think about the comments we leave on other blogs, they become part of our virtual footprint. If we’re tired, brain dead or not in the mood, it’s probably best to just move on.

Once we hit “submit”, it’s out there. For the whole world to read.

Although I’d never delete a legitimate comment on this blog, (unless you asked me to), when leaving comments on other blogs, sometimes the “delete’ button is my best friend.

What say you?

Today’s Assignment

Do you ever delete your comments?

If so, do you rewrite them or just move on?

Care to share?

signature for blog post .

Category: Archives, Blogging Lessons, Comments 67 Comments

May

Are Blogs Dying?

Barbara Swafford

Depending on when you were born, you’re put into a “box” and labeled accordingly.

Age groups are sometimes labeled as such:

The Millennium Generation (Born after 1980)
Generation X (Born 1965 – 1980)
Baby Boomers (Born 1945 – 1964)
The Silent Generation (Born 1928 – 1944)
The Greatest Generation (Born before 1928)

This information is often used to report how different generations act or feel about certain topics.

Today’s Lesson

Take for example, the 2010 report on Pew Internet titled, Social Media and Young Adults

According to the section in the report about blogging,

In December 2007, 24% of online 18-29 year olds reported blogging, compared with 7% of those thirty and older.

By 2009, just 15% of internet users ages 18-29 maintain a blog—a nine percentage point drop in two years. However, 11% of internet users ages thirty and older now maintain a personal blog.

That’s a 4% increase in adults who were born before 1980.

What I found interesting is how those in the Millennium Generation are stepping away from blogging (and moving toward social networking sites such as Facebook), but those who are older, are turning toward blogging as a way to communicate with others and to share their thoughts.

Although those in the older generations have lived longer and may feel their blog will be a living legacy or serve another purpose, the younger generation may be on the leading edge of technology.

Seeing the shift makes me wonder, are older generations lagging behind the younger ones only to make the shift in a year or two, or will the older generations become the prominent force in blogosphere?

I’d like to see the latter, however, with no data to support that, I could be wrong.

Today’s Assignment

Do you think blogs will lose their popularity or die off?

Would you continue to blog even if it’s not the “in” thing to do?

Care to share?

signature for blog post .

Articles which inspired this post:

The Future of Blogging, by Doriano “Paisano” Carta of Web Worker Daily. Check out the comments on this post, as well.
Baby Boomers In The Digital Age – on the Pew Internet website
“Millienums, A Portrait Of Generation Next”

A comprehensive study in demographics which can be found on the Pew website. For those of you who are targeting specific demographics, reading this could be beneficial. (Note: It’s 149 pages long)