Comments on: Competing For Attention http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/ Fri, 03 May 2013 23:16:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://edublogs.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Rachel Boyd http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-10697 Rachel Boyd Mon, 16 Apr 2007 02:56:41 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/#comment-10697 Well I am a perfect example - responding to this post only now.... I can because I have the time due to school holidays!... only now can I write you a short essay on my views :) I totally agree that comments are "the lifeblood" of a blog, but I know that taking the first step to making a comment is a big thing for some people. Recently I was at a meeting of local ICT Lead Teachers and two approached me thanking me for a post I had made on a small programme to make the macbook run cooler. When I asked them how come they didn't leave a comment... they said they felt too shy because they didn't know me personally (this meeting was the first time they had met me in person). Perhaps it takes a mindshift... we can know people virtually yet never meet them in person! Luckily with my class blog (http://room9nelsoncentral.blogspot.com/) there are other ways of letting the kids know that people ARE actually reading their stuff - like a clustr map and a hit counter. It definitely shows the differences in generations when the kids in my class say... but they read our blog so it's only polite to make a response... just like in a real conversation.. I talk... then you talk! I subscribe to well over a hundred blogs (I use Blogarithm and track also changes in some web & wiki pages too) I am not currently willing to count how many I subscribe to however, for fear of being a total geek! :) Each day when I get my "blogmail" it only has the post title and the first few sentences. From this I decide if I want to visit the site and read any further. I like it this way because it means I actually get other things done in my life... otherwise if I had the entire articles there I may get engrossed... and well you know how time flies! At the end of the day, I don't blog to get noticed, I blog to record my experiences in attempting to make a difference and maybe on the journey it will help someone. Cheers! Rachel Well I am a perfect example – responding to this post only now…. I can because I have the time due to school holidays!… only now can I write you a short essay on my views :)

I totally agree that comments are “the lifeblood” of a blog, but I know that taking the first step to making a comment is a big thing for some people. Recently I was at a meeting of local ICT Lead Teachers and two approached me thanking me for a post I had made on a small programme to make the macbook run cooler. When I asked them how come they didn’t leave a comment… they said they felt too shy because they didn’t know me personally (this meeting was the first time they had met me in person). Perhaps it takes a mindshift… we can know people virtually yet never meet them in person!

Luckily with my class blog (http://room9nelsoncentral.blogspot.com/) there are other ways of letting the kids know that people ARE actually reading their stuff – like a clustr map and a hit counter. It definitely shows the differences in generations when the kids in my class say… but they read our blog so it’s only polite to make a response… just like in a real conversation.. I talk… then you talk!

I subscribe to well over a hundred blogs (I use Blogarithm and track also changes in some web & wiki pages too) I am not currently willing to count how many I subscribe to however, for fear of being a total geek! :) Each day when I get my “blogmail” it only has the post title and the first few sentences. From this I decide if I want to visit the site and read any further. I like it this way because it means I actually get other things done in my life… otherwise if I had the entire articles there I may get engrossed… and well you know how time flies!

At the end of the day, I don’t blog to get noticed, I blog to record my experiences in attempting to make a difference and maybe on the journey it will help someone.

Cheers! Rachel

]]> By: Quentin D'Souza http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-10696 Quentin D'Souza Mon, 16 Apr 2007 02:31:23 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/#comment-10696 One of the factors that helps create audience as "Terry" points out is the relationship. But I think "time" factors into that equation. as it helps to build stronger connections to other people across the world. I have never met you Graham, but I feel comfortable enough to ask you questions because I feel I know you a little bit through your writing, although I don't comment as much as I could. I still feel that we have some history. As Stephan points out topics should be very importnant, but people build "trust" relationships with the bloggers that they read, and that takes time. Those new to the blogosphere need to wait out the lulls and ride the highs. One of the factors that helps create audience as “Terry” points out is the relationship. But I think “time” factors into that equation. as it helps to build stronger connections to other people across the world. I have never met you Graham, but I feel comfortable enough to ask you questions because I feel I know you a little bit through your writing, although I don’t comment as much as I could. I still feel that we have some history.

As Stephan points out topics should be very importnant, but people build “trust” relationships with the bloggers that they read, and that takes time. Those new to the blogosphere need to wait out the lulls and ride the highs.

]]> By: james matthew http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-10643 james matthew Sat, 14 Apr 2007 02:42:46 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/#comment-10643 This was an interesting read for sure. I know first hand that tension between writing something and wanting or having an audience for it. I would say I think I agree with you that 'comments are the lifeblood' of blogging. When I get one that isn't spam, it spurs me on; it builds on the conversation...I think that is where my own thoughts are taken further. It does seem, though, that attention has been sliced or portioned up already. As you know, another challenge I feel is that of limiting post topics to keep readerly interest without killing my own appetite for blogging. It is a tough balance to strike, as I don't want to alienate any edu-bloggers or readers from my blog, but I don't want to alienate myself from my own net real estate as well... Interesting stuff... which all leads me to say, thanks for keepin me on the ole' blogroll, and thanks for the encouragement... by the way, I am thinking koodos are in order to you for the influx of hits on my blog from 'blackboard' ? This was an interesting read for sure. I know first hand that tension between writing something and wanting or having an audience for it. I would say I think I agree with you that ‘comments are the lifeblood’ of blogging.
When I get one that isn’t spam, it spurs me on; it builds on the conversation…I think that is where my own thoughts are taken further.
It does seem, though, that attention has been sliced or portioned up already.
As you know, another challenge I feel is that of limiting post topics to keep readerly interest without killing my own appetite for blogging.
It is a tough balance to strike, as I don’t want to alienate any edu-bloggers or readers from my blog, but I don’t want to alienate myself from my own net real estate as well…
Interesting stuff…
which all leads me to say, thanks for keepin me on the ole’ blogroll, and thanks for the encouragement…
by the way, I am thinking koodos are in order to you for the influx of hits on my blog from ‘blackboard’ ?

]]> By: kwhobbes http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-10576 kwhobbes Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:50:18 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/#comment-10576 Graham, Very interesting set of responses. When I started blogging, I wanted people to read and comment so that I knew that what I was doing was having an impact. I will admit, I like to see the "comment moderation" panel with a number because I like the interaction. Now, I am a better teacher/administrator because of what I have read. I still use Google Reader and have over 200 feeds that I add to constantly. I scan the different feeds for things that catch my eye and read. I've become better at leaving comments because it is something I would like to have happen on my blog. I don't see myself as a blog celebrity. I'm just a teacher/administrator trying to make a differnce and hoping what I have to say helps someone. In the end, I agree with you Graham, what's the sense of writing if you're not sure it's being read. Graham, Very interesting set of responses. When I started blogging, I wanted people to read and comment so that I knew that what I was doing was having an impact. I will admit, I like to see the “comment moderation” panel with a number because I like the interaction. Now, I am a better teacher/administrator because of what I have read. I still use Google Reader and have over 200 feeds that I add to constantly. I scan the different feeds for things that catch my eye and read. I’ve become better at leaving comments because it is something I would like to have happen on my blog. I don’t see myself as a blog celebrity. I’m just a teacher/administrator trying to make a differnce and hoping what I have to say helps someone. In the end, I agree with you Graham, what’s the sense of writing if you’re not sure it’s being read.

]]> By: Graham Wegner http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-10549 Graham Wegner Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:24:02 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/#comment-10549 Four different responses - and if I count <a href="http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=39781" rel="nofollow">Stephen Downes' mention</a> in OLDaily, that's five, all with common elements but slightly different takes. Vicki, like Stephen, you recommend reading topic based RSS feeds but in a comment back to Stephen that his website refused to post, I think there is still significant value in reading people regardless if they see themselves as a blog celebrity. The last part of my comment ..."The only point I'd like to add is that by reading people as opposed to topics, I am exposed to topics that I would not have discovered on my own. Educators like Alex Hayes, Leigh Blackall, Bill Kerr and Artichoke (just name a few close to home) constantly broach topics that I would not necessarily be aware of and that would not always turn up on any topic based Technorati RSS search feed that I might construct. Maybe a mix of the two is the way to go?" Four different responses – and if I count Stephen Downes’ mention in OLDaily, that’s five, all with common elements but slightly different takes. Vicki, like Stephen, you recommend reading topic based RSS feeds but in a comment back to Stephen that his website refused to post, I think there is still significant value in reading people regardless if they see themselves as a blog celebrity. The last part of my comment …”The only point I’d like to add is that by reading people as opposed to topics, I am exposed to topics that I would not have discovered on my own. Educators like Alex Hayes, Leigh Blackall, Bill Kerr and Artichoke (just name a few close to home) constantly broach topics that I would not necessarily be aware of and that would not always turn up on any topic based Technorati RSS search feed that I might construct. Maybe a mix of the two is the way to go?”

]]> By: Terry Freedman http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-10536 Terry Freedman Mon, 09 Apr 2007 23:58:37 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/#comment-10536 Well, I have some sympathy with these views, but actually I think what "makes" any reasing experience is a set of 3 things: the writer, the reader, and the relationship between the two. I don't see the point in blogging if nobody is going to read it, you might as well just keep a private diary. Well, I have some sympathy with these views, but actually I think what “makes” any reasing experience is a set of 3 things: the writer, the reader, and the relationship between the two. I don’t see the point in blogging if nobody is going to read it, you might as well just keep a private diary.

]]> By: Vicki Davis http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-10535 Vicki Davis Mon, 09 Apr 2007 23:44:41 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/#comment-10535 I think the conversation is so hard to understand and get a hold on that it unsettles all of us. We like to be able to predict and control and yet with this we cannot. It is the strangest things that happen that change our lives and our classrooms. However the greatest benefit is not in getting "attention" but rather in become better teachers and educators. It is great when I have a lesson with my students and am able to bring the cutting edge to my classroom because I read such blogs as yours. I find that if I focus on helping others, helping myself learn, and helping my students be better, I find great satisfaction. If I let myself be distracted by numbers or stats or whatever it can be very disconcerting. For those who "do" conferences perhaps it is important to look at the rankings and get the attention because that drives their opportunity. For me, it is really a distraction. I do find myself reading differently now and because I post my bloglines on my blog I am very careful about deleting because some people take it very personally. I do think that there is a fundamental change in how we are all reading blogs. Many of us, myself included go to watchlists on technorati more often than our RSS reader now. Thank you for continuing to write and reflect. I think the conversation is so hard to understand and get a hold on that it unsettles all of us. We like to be able to predict and control and yet with this we cannot. It is the strangest things that happen that change our lives and our classrooms.

However the greatest benefit is not in getting “attention” but rather in become better teachers and educators. It is great when I have a lesson with my students and am able to bring the cutting edge to my classroom because I read such blogs as yours.

I find that if I focus on helping others, helping myself learn, and helping my students be better, I find great satisfaction. If I let myself be distracted by numbers or stats or whatever it can be very disconcerting. For those who “do” conferences perhaps it is important to look at the rankings and get the attention because that drives their opportunity. For me, it is really a distraction. I do find myself reading differently now and because I post my bloglines on my blog I am very careful about deleting because some people take it very personally.

I do think that there is a fundamental change in how we are all reading blogs. Many of us, myself included go to watchlists on technorati more often than our RSS reader now.

Thank you for continuing to write and reflect.

]]> By: Peter Rock http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-10526 Peter Rock Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:49:11 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/#comment-10526 Why try to "get noticed"? Just write. Why try to “get noticed”? Just write.

]]> By: Doug Noon http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/comment-page-1/#comment-10523 Doug Noon Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:17:37 +0000 http://gwegner.edublogs.org/2007/04/09/competing-for-attention/#comment-10523 Hi Graham, I had to stop and think, a couple of months ago when I read danah boyd saying that <a href="http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2006/05/31/blog_production.html" rel="nofollow">she doesn't read many blogs</a>. She, and a few other people have written a bit about <a href="http://www.firstmonday.dk/issues/issue2_4/goldhaber/" rel="nofollow">the attention economy</a>. People need to practice a little common sense to avoid information overload. Hitting the "mark as read" button on the feed reader works pretty good. Hi Graham,
I had to stop and think, a couple of months ago when I read danah boyd saying that she doesn’t read many blogs. She, and a few other people have written a bit about the attention economy. People need to practice a little common sense to avoid information overload. Hitting the “mark as read” button on the feed reader works pretty good.

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