[nlab seminar 2: blogs, communities, and social software]

Today was the second seminar in the Narrative Laboratory series (the next one is in May, and then June). Although our day ended at 4, I'm still mulling over the day's events. Although the theme for today's seminar was (as you can see from the title of this post) about blogs, communities, and social software, it seemed most of the questions revolved around "why blog?" I guess I hadn't really thought about it. When Dave e-mailed our NLab Yahoo Group this question (which had been asked at the seminar), I guess seeing it in "print" made it all the more serious, like I should have a really good, academic, worthwhile answer. Like I should have spent time, lots of it, pondering the possibilities and settling on one focused and finely argued point. But I didn't, and I guess I still don't. I remembered when I first met Sue, her first question was "do you have a blog?" I felt very sheepish at the time and remember staring guiltily at my feet while I mumbled no....I rushed home to begin blogging. It was very easy and I can see why so many people want to do it, but then, as with anything that becomes possible for the masses, the elitists have to question it's merit: why blog? Do we (as surfers of cyberspace) really want to hear about someone's dog (if it is an aibo I do of course! - Sue!). Mark says he likes his blog because it means he's *there*. He has a reference point (except at his work which is a long story about pornography!). I like the idea of blogging as a way of keeping in touch with family and friends who seem to spread out further and further. The internet then becomes a very fluid and super stretchy tie that does bind us together. Of course, as Sue showed us with bloglines, we are all connected in other ways (including by the blogs we read). After Sue walked us through the basics of blog aggregators (say that ten times after a few drinks!) we had a thoughtful discussion on communities, collaboration, and links/linking. During the plenary as the day came to a close, Kate made a really interesting comment: seeing Sue's collection of blogs was like stepping inside Sue's brain. I really liked that. I found myself, during Sue's presentation, wishing that she'd have left her bloglines on the screen, only for me to take note of everything she's reading...what does she find interesting enough to bookmark (is it some kind of elite club?). I wonder if it's a bit like driving past people's homes and peeking in their windows...wondering what goes on "in" there and what stories are they experiencing...I guess peeking at someone's blog roll is kinda like that...what are their stories? That would be a great ph.d - the narratives of blog rolls and their connections... Enough of that aside, back to the NLab seminar. Of note were the two invited speakers: Josie Fraser and Suw Charman. Both women gave great presentations and I found it very optimistic that two women were so pro technology and also very savvy with it. With my experience in teaching and my (personal ?) goal to get more blogs/technology in the classroom, I was really intereted to hear what Josie had to say. She told us about teachers who are just learning to use e-mail and then are being taught to blog. We saw great ideas about ph.d bloggers and learner bloggers...all great stuff. Both women are certainly excellent (blog)role models. They are def. two bloggers who have been added to my own bloglines and should be added to yours.