Tag: state of the blog

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To Micro-Blog, or not to Micro-Blog?

I’ve been in the blogging “business” for almost two decades now. My first blog was on Earthlink dial-up, way back in the 90’s. Writing my thoughts, sharing my experiences, teaching the lessons I’ve learned over the years. Asking hard questions, and working through the answers.

I was a blogger way before Facebook existed, before Twitter was even a thing. Then all of these “micro-blogging” sites popped up, which were geared towards a business model of advertising. They are an ADD’ers worst nightmare. There isn’t any meaningful discourse, only re-posted sound bytes, advertising, and virtual chain letters (and dank memes). There are now entire sites built around only reposting other people’s content (I’m looking at you, Pinterest).

I’m not interested in the spammy advertising model of any of these micro-blogging sites. I don’t care about likes, reposts, adverts, or clickbait headlines. I don’t care about shallow hit-and-run interaction. I could certainly do without all the visual noise and clutter.

What exactly am I gaining from participating in these time sinkholes? Am I using them to advertise something? If you’re not, chances are I don’t need them in my life, taking over my spare time. I certainly don’t need them. And I’ve been on almost all of them at some point. Yes, even Myspace. Sigh.

I think this speaks to how our communication, as a whole, has become largely trite and ineffective. I don’t enjoy using micro-blogging sites, because you never get more than scratching the surface. The superficiality of it all just makes me want to stop talking to shallow people. And because of the nature of the media, that’s all you ever get to see: people’s shallow thoughts. Meaningless “likes” and re-shares. There are very few people with new ideas, and even fewer who can articulate those ideas effectively. 99% of what we see and hear on social media is regurgitated pablum (and untrustworthy, at that).

So how shall we utilize the internet for its intended purpose of conveyance of ideas? Continue reading “To Micro-Blog, or not to Micro-Blog?”

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State of the Blog Address

So, I haven’t written anything here lately. I haven’t written anything on my blog in a while, honestly. There is a part deep inside of me that feels badly about this, because as we all know, you can’t be a successful writer if you don’t write.

However, the sad truth is that I’m just too busy with working and being with family to really do much of anything lately. When I do have time, it’s usually working on something else, like music, or reading. This is infinitely better than writing, and I’ll tell you why.

Because without *doing* anything in our lives, we have nothing to write about! How could I come up with cool new ways to write about technology and music if I didn’t actually do them? How could I explain the process of being quiet and listening to God’s still, small voice if I haven’t done it? Where would I get the cool pictures of my latest creation if I don’t build anything? How could I relate parables of God’s grace revealed to me through my awesome children if I don’t spend time with them? I can’t. And neither can you.

So all that to say, I’m here, I’m having fun living life, and I’m getting a lot done. And when I have time to sit down and write about it again, you can bet I will.