The problem with blogs
5 Feb 2006
The post below on coComments, reminds me of one of the problems of blogs. Blogs often repeat the process of non interaction of congregations. One person posts their thoughts, lots of people drop by to read/listen, whilst a few people join in, and the poster never responds to the people who comment. And now we have video casting where the monologue goes online :-) Blogs are so often the new congregations and in any event if you like the congregation or blogs, maybe it doesn’t matter.
The shift to empowering people who comment is fascinating. Allowing people who comment to get feedback from the number of times they comment, info on where they comment, ratings by people on the value of their comments, is all coming to a blog near you. Whilst people have raced to make blogs look good, have great navigation, and put up good regular content, the empowerment of others, enabling people to comment, to value them, to respond, to build community around them, has to be the future.
The coComment site I posted on, is the tip of an iceberg of empowerment for people who want to dialogue and interact. I really think we’ll see people with no blog, getting more connections and links by being great commentors. We’ll know people not for the site they run, but by their reputation for commenting and conversation.
Good news for people who would rather comment than run a blog.
Tagged: Blogs, coComments, Congregations, Key-Posts, Problem
6 comments
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Comment by Beth Wacome Keck
3.06 pm on 6 Feb 2006
I wonder what the stats would be on return comments of women vs. men … Do you know ?
Comment by Jason Clark
2.56 am on 7 Feb 2006
I don’t Beth, I wonder if someone else reading does? great question.
Comment by iggy
3.55 am on 7 Feb 2006
I wonder what the stats are on iggys that comment on blogs????
As a rule I try to respond to others comments on my blog. To me it is a sign of respect to those who take the time to read my blathering….
I can understand though as I read many blogs and never enter into a comment on them… Sometimes it is because, well, I am not that interested… or I have read something like that before. What I usually comment on is when it is something I am working through at that moment. Maybe that is a bit self focused and selfish… but I have never considered it before.
blessings,
iggy
Comment by Tim Roberts
12.55 pm on 7 Feb 2006
Hi Jason
I am a close friend of Brett Jordan; he told me about your blog so I thought I would have a look…
I have been observing recent conversations regarding emerging church, the ‘new’ opportunities afforded to us through new technologies to be church in today’s [postmodern] world. I believe the enthusiasm and freshness this brings is heplful, but some of this smacks of arrogance. Our generation is in danger of ignoring the incredible progress, growth, and inspired leadership of pilgrims who have gone before us. Do we risk thinking that we are the first generation to be in a position to discover, and practice, REAL church (since Acts 2, perhaps)? I hope not. I am concerned that our enthusiasm for freshness today could see us neglecting the wisdom of yesterday.
Anyway, as for the power of the blog and it’s ability to empower and engender input from people [those with access and significant comptency in using the internet, that is], I am not sure how far it takes us. As the leader of a church I do not think the best way forward to establish a community of dialogue is to do away with our congregational meetings or devalue them in favour of online ‘communion’…
On Sunday I preached a 1/2 hour sermon on the work of the Holy Spirit. It finished with a time of prayer – communing with God and one another; I saw one 70-year old lady sidle up to a young couple who are trying to have a family and pray for them. It was a not-uncommon, beautiful act of Christian community and it occured as part of a ‘traditional’ and ‘outdated’ model of church (according to some). Atfer the sermon I did not hide away having delivered my message – I had well over a dozen genuine, interactive conversations with people. Some commented on what I had said in my talk – the ‘monologue’ became a dialogue – others wanted to discuss other aspects of their lives.
This dialogue happens every week. The door is always open for discussion, we share our lives together like it is one lifelong journey of questions, answers and wonderings. Surely my church is not unique?
A loving church community where we meet in person is better than a blog, anyday. At least one can know who has been there on a Sunday – who knows who has read the pages of a blog, for instance? What is the ‘hit-rate’ for people actually commenting – is it any better than a post-Sunday morning discussion?
I’ve not taken the time to comment on a blog before now, but these are some of my questions and thoughts
Comment by Jason Clark
12.58 pm on 7 Feb 2006
HI tim, great to hear from you. I think it’s both/and not either/or. We need blogs as well as sunday services, all spaces people can connect.
Comment by DangerMouse
10.54 am on 8 Feb 2006
>> I am concerned that our enthusiasm for freshness today could see us neglecting the wisdom of yesterday.
tim amen.
as the preacher said – it’s all been done before…
let’s hope that our awareness expands to include those timeless truths…
peace
DM
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