Blogging

Obviously, I am not very good at maintaining a blog. Perhaps it is not that I am poor at it but rather it is low on my short list of priorities. Part of the problem might be that up until recently I didn't really know "how" to blog. Although I don't regularly contribute to my own page I do spend time reviewing the pages of my close friends. After doing more reviewing than contributing I've realized that there are those who have the "blog bug" and those who don't. Also, of those who have the "bug", there are two kinds: 1) some use blogging as a journal/diary 2) others use it as a means to generate dialogue on deep and meaningful issues. I have come to understand that blogging should be the latter. Some people who do it well are Chris and Dave. I recommend checking out there work and joining their discussion.

With this said I have realized a few things about where I have err'd and where I have been successful. Thus, a short list of blogging do's and do not's:

• Usually less is better. Please, no essays. A lot can be said with a simple picture or one liner.
• Any post should solicit a response from the reader. Again, check out Dave's blog for a great example. Recently he posted on things that cleanse his soul. Afterwords, he turns it around on us and asks us to thing about it and hopefully blog about it. That is solid work.
• Don't try to be overly profound. Many of those who regularly post on their pages try to be overly deep and philosophical. I am guilty of this at times. Sometimes we need to call a spade a spade.
• Support your buddies. What I mean is, use your blog to promote the good ideas/work of your fellow blogging friends. List the links on your page or insert them in your blogs.
• No self-aggrandizement . Meaning, don't diary. Telling someone that you went to church, then to the bathroom, then to Wal-Mart is not that interesting.
• I have also realized that I do not have to be a blogging warrior. A few times a month is good for some people. I mean seriously, does anyone really need to hear from me more than twice a month?
• Lists are good. Anytime you can give a top 10,5,3 of something is a good way to generate conversation. For example, if you list the top 5 funniest people in your life and you are #4 on your own list, that gets people talking. (Honestly Dave, I wouldn't make my top 5 and unfortunately either would you).

On another note, I guess the "tagging" I did earlier in the month was mildly successful and I can thank Tiana for it. I actually learned a thing or two from a few friends.

Tomorrow is Day 1 for my humanities book discussion and I am scared to death. We will be discussing the book Race Matters and although I am excited I am fearful how I will handle the sensitive and dialogue from the students and myself. It should be interesting and I will keep you posted on how it progresses.

Thanks again to Dave, Tiana, and Chris for helping me understand a few things. Check out their work. As for me, until next time...