There's an interesting discussion of sorts around on-line and real relationships. Kester Brewin has blogged here and here on facebook. Jonny Baker has talked about facebook oppression. Brodie writes about information overload. Andrew Jones is currently unblogging. This has all got me thinking about why I blog?
Brodie in response to Fernando comments that the reason he began blogging was 'to actually converse, but to converse outwith our normal narrow frame of associates. So for me, while I also at times tire of both reading and writing, I want to stick at it because....well those who comment and those whose blogs I read have become friends, albeit a particular kind of friend.' This resonates with why I blog. Blogging has introduced me to many people in different places - other baptists (many of the best being scots), others interested in theology (I like the way people share theology), others interested in emerging church and worship (blogging has given me idea after idea - HT especially to Jonny and Steve). These people are particular kinds of friends, we don't share life in all its complexity, but we do share a common interest or purpose. Blogging has been a great way to network. Some of these on-line friendships will remain on-line, others have already become face-to-face and this is where conferences and greenbelt make these things happen.
I guess my blog itself has been changing over the last few months. There's a lot more stuff on books and shift towards more theology. I'm trying in different ways to be a place for theology news and a resource (so all the new pages). As I spend the next few years at Regent's, I plan to blog a little of my journey. In many ways my blog is a record for myself - I blog something for future reference. I think like others who blog regularly I will continue to carve out the time to read and write, because there's always a new blog (I think this year of Jim Gordon's Living Wittily) or an older blog like Mark Goodacre's NT blog or Maggi Dawn) worth reading.
I've actually found it sad when some blogs closed down - I think of Richard Sudsworth's sudslaw and also hopeful amphibian and possibly Chris Erdmans's odyssey, all of which helped me think about a whole range of issues.
Good post - and I'm glad you intend to keep on blogging.
I think we all go through various phases with it - novelty, boredom, change of emphases etc, etc.
Like you, I feel that through this cyberworld I have made some new 'friends' - even if in real life we might never meet or get on.
I have shared ideas and laughter with so many people, and even been lent a real live book by post by someone I met in blog land.
Two years in, I blog for myself more than for any particular audience. Some readers are real life friends, others I shall never know becuase less than 0.1% ever leave comments.
Keep on blogging - and I'll keep on visiting. Oh yes, and enjoy Oxford.
Posted by: Catriona | October 01, 2007 at 01:39 PM
Like Catriona, I think i blog for myself; I blog to clear my head and think out loud in a safe place - most of the people dropping by are likely to think similar thoughts or offer helpful and well-meant suggestions as to why a different line of thought might be useful. I also know I've got froends out there I've never met but who i'd probably get on with if I did. And I enjoy blogging; it has a therapeutic quality about it - possibly because I know a train of thought is not going to be interrupted by anyone as it might be if you were sharing it at a church meeting or down the pub. Soi i'm glad you're continuing to blog - because I like your style.
Posted by: simon jones | October 07, 2007 at 05:17 PM