ENTRY # 94 Royby has an on-line survey about blogging. Help a researcher out. (The professor has spoken). Ive been blogging for two months and change now. The survey asks some questions such as, “Why do you do it?” I answered succinctly- addiction. To put my thoughts down. Through time, to find the patterns of what is important to me…and recently, what is important to others. Recent conversations through comments and trackbacks are an entirely different sensation and appeal. They have the potential to exert subtle pressures – should I decide to write for audience. Contrast this with Jills Absence, that suggests much of the appeal of writing is because of the sense of independence that comes from…not lonliness, nor isolation…being alone, sans reader while the fingers move.
comments
royby, royby@royby.com, http://royby.com, , 61.9.208.172, 1060853224, 2004-05-16 20:41:18, Thanks for advising others about my survey Elouise, and of course, thanks for taking part yourself.I think that I might also use what you have written in this blog as data. What a fascinating expression “To put my thoughts down. Through time to find the patterns of what is important to me.”You didn’t write that in the survey and it is the pattern part that I find illuminating. If you don’t mind, I will add it to my data. Beautifully written. Cheers
Elouise, ero@it.rit.edu, 24.24.41.238, 1060874058, 2004-05-16 20:41:18, Sure. All the stuff here is public domain…wait, let me check with Creative Commons.
Jill, jill.walker@uib.no, http://huminf.uib.no/~jill, , 217.13.7.8, 1060968625, 2004-05-16 20:41:18, Roy, youve noticed that bit in Rebecca Bloods essay on weblogging, I imagine (http://www.rebeccablood.net/essays/weblog_history.html), where she says “Shortly after I began producing Rebeccas Pocket I noticed two side effects I had not expected. First, I discovered my own interests. I thought I knew what I was interested in, but after linking stories for a few months I could see that I was much more interested in science, archaeology, and issues of injustice than I had realized. More importantly, I began to value more highly my own point of view. In composing my link text every day I carefully considered my own opinions and ideas, and I began to feel that my perspective was unique and important.” I love that, and certainly its been an important part of why I blog: to find my own patterns of thought.
elouise oyzon, ero@it.rit.edu, 24.24.41.238, 1060969679, 2004-05-16 20:41:18, “More importantly, I began to value more highly my own point of view…I began to feel that my perspective was unique and important.” Thanks for the pointer, and yes! Its difficult to guage others perceptions of us. Self-peception is a distorted mirror. But through inter-linkages, comments and trackbacks, we are invited to conversation. And my feeling is like being in high school, incredulous that someone asked me to dance. Self-awareness is fed as we stand above our writing, looking down. Its reflected back through outside manifestations – you, some written words and pings.