last year during the emergent convention jay had some conversation with jonathon and myself talking about how great blogs were. being somewhat of a computer geek, i knew what a blog was, but i said something like "isn't is just another form of a messageboard?" he was "oh no!" it's so much better. we didn't get into the specs that day, but i have definitely converted my thoughts as to which is the better of the two mediums for communication. i blog, therefore i am..
bloggin has become a spiritual discipline, one that i've highlighted in the past. however, i still participate in two messageboards, one from my college wesley foundation & the umc.org board. with my wesley foundation i can handle the one, it's generally good natured fun, lighthearted most of the time. plus, i only comment on three sections of the board. but, the umc's board shows me continually how taxing boards can be over blogs... some more thoughts in no specific order
- people feel the need to present multiple angles that usually divert from the original focus. doctorate thesis are the norm. this presents problems in itself, people don't the said doctorate thesis thus ending up repeating points already made.
- there is always the apology. apologetics are the norm. you can't read a popular string without finding someone apologizing for not saying enough of for feeling that someone interpreted them wrong. again, the apology is usually a masters paper.
- timing, i might post a thought and have moved on from that months ago, then someone replys and is wondering what happens to my rebuttal or response.. it's in the past.. check out the archives.. i've moved on.
- getting involved & getting caught up.. if you go the youthspecialties forum there's thousands of prior posts and members who comment on that beast daily, hourly & by minute. for someone like me i feel a need to read a number of strings & their doctorate thesis to figure out where people are and if i bring something to the table. in the blog, you can just read what the latest posts are and get a good idea of what this person brings to the table.
- the person, i think the blog encourages the relationship of a coffee conversation more than the messageboard. look at the single idea posts and the relative comments, it resembles more the conversation that you have with a friend than the... 'let me share with you this hymn...' all 5 verses.
