Uncertainty
14 years ago
Friday, February 27, 2009
Lurker
I admit it! I am a lurker. Is lurking so bad? Do I need intervention? The enjoyment in blogging for me is reading others thoughts, insights, and knowledge. Should I feel compelled to comment? Karen made a great statement about reflecting on how you feel when you receive comments to your own blog posts. Giddiness does ensue when I get a new comment. I will make an effort to become a true blogger, comments and all, on this professional learning journey.
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was it ok for a student in your class to attend class discussions and not comment? i realize there are several different scenarios you could give me when that would be fine, but as a rule you want as many people talking during a discussion as well. although, you raise a good point in terms who the blog is for. should it matter if people comment? i guess it depends on what you hope a blog or blog community will become.
ReplyDeleteSo, is there something that a blogger might do to get the unengaged engaged in the conversation on a blog? Do you have to say something that you know will ruffle feathers or choose a topic so controversial that it begs for a response? I think lurking is okay, at least sometimes. On occasion, I too, would rather view than write. Just because someone is periodically not engaged in the conversation does not mean they are not listening, or thinking, or learning. There is often much wisdom in silence.
ReplyDeletemtb - i agree that in a conversation a person not talking could be engaged, but that is because in a conventional conversation there are other cues you could pick up on - a head nod, facial expressions, etc. with the limitations of blogging, if a luker isn't posting there is really no way to know. it's almost as if the blogger depends on comments to drive the discussion, if there is going to be one. otherwise, it becomes that tree falling in the woods with nobody there to hear it...
ReplyDeleteI would hope that the content of the blogs would be so intriguing you'd have to comment. That's what I often find. The more I do this, the more I have an urge to respond to my colleagues.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I only have the energy to read--I make a note to visit later to see if I'm "feeling" a response.
Yes, but what if writing is not your strong point? What if we were all asked to post to a science or math blog routinely? Would we have as much to say? Would we trust our comments to be relevant? I do believe, as I told Denise, that blogging may lead to that long wished for "across disciplines" impact of writing as students and teachers address a variety of topics in writing. (I think it may even improve spelling as folks don't want to see their message misinterpreted by a simple spelling error.)I do keep going back to a Jane Goodall comment that I read in an article where she quoted her ability to write well as her best scientific tool.
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