Good Neighbour Blogging
I really enjoy blogging. I do not write the best of blogs, nor am I the most astute with giving comments to others, but I continue to be energized by the ongoing interaction of ideas and personalities that makes up our little corner of the blogging community. I read lots of blogs. My general rule, whenever I write a post, is to afterwards read and comment on at least ten other blogs. And I also make sure to read and leave comments for all who take the time to comment on what I have written.
And I know when I encounter a quality blogging experience. So I would like to pass along some thoughts I have about what makes for good blogging. These are personal, and of course far from being a complete list. So...What do you you think? And, what would you add to the list?
Guidelines for Good Blogging:
(1) Understand that not all bloggers are interested in interaction and free exchange with others. And you and I should respect those who blog with a different premise. Some use their blog as a personal journal, and interaction is not important.Others write and interact exclusively for their friends, and aren't interested in a careful exchange of ideas with outsiders. When we run across these folks, we need to try to be good neighbors and respect their parameters.
(2) Develop a premise/theme for your blogging, and especially write along those matters. Not exclusively. For me, spiritual and religious issues are quite important. Specifically, I am conservative of outlook. But, also a bit disillusioned with much to do with the church and Christianity. So, I intentionally seek to be a critical pundit. Sometimes it works.
(3) Be concise and be brief; not necessarily like myself. Generally, I do not read "marathon& quot; blogs that go on-and-on. I say this knowing that sometimes my writings are too long. Interestingly, the less time I invest in developing what I write, the longer and more meandering it becomes.
(4) Stay away from "cut-and-paste" blogging. Now you can use another writing as a springboard for thoughful comment. But most of us are fully capable of reading the professional writers for ourselves. We want to know what you think- your unique insights, ideas, humor, anger, etc.
(5) Be civil. I think this is an important consideration especially for an open forum like t-blog. We should be able to discuss all kinds of issues without resorting to name-calling and threats. Really, why should a mature person feel threatened by an idea, even one that is quite different and challenging to what he/she believes? Listen. Be thoughtful. Be kind. Never be insistent.
(6) Use some common sense. Even the greatest disbeliever, most likely, would not walk into a church meeting and spout a string of invectives. Thus, when interacting with a devoutly religious person, civility calls for you to speak/write appropriately. Conversely, if you know from the start that a blogger has a real problem with religion and religious people, then you should not go onto his/her blog with a critical spirit. Do not insist that a fellow blogger be like yourself. Enjoy his/her diffences, and learn from that person. And, kindness is always appropriate, in all blogging interactions.
(7) Don't preach. Especially I am speaking to myself. Now I'll sometimes give a sermon outline, or address a matter from an unapologetic spiritual point of view. Not regularly, because my blogging is not intended as a ministry, but a diversion and personal growth experience. But I'm saying we should not go around offering little mini-sermons to fellow bloggers. Feel free, if necessary, to respond to my comments with a DP- I'll get the message!
Well, I've now broken guideline # 3!
What do you have to add?
09.12.06 (10:27 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
mimi (
reply)
post date:
09.12.06 (7:43 pm)
an excellent reminder to us all...and who says you don't write a "quality" blog...let me at'em, i'll take 'em wid on paw behind me back! roar! xoxox
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.12.06 (7:52 pm)
Reply to: LadyG
Thanks. I like the way you use your everydaqy experiences of life as a springboard for interesting posts. To me, that's the best kind of blogging.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.12.06 (7:57 pm)
Reply to: mimi
I have fun with blogging. I was an English minor in College, and write sermons every week, so I am able to communicate a bit. But I get lazy with my writings- not developing my premises as well as possible, and not being thorough with my comments, and sometimes being a bit too silly. There are bloggers who communicate much better- DrForbush, surrogate, Cutter when he chooses, and many others. But I enjoy t-blog. I wish you would come on back, and let us know about your escapades down in the land of sunshine.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
09.12.06 (8:11 pm)
Good bunch of ideas... they make sense to me.... (I'll ignore them when I feel the need to, of course...)
posted by:
lorischuster (
reply)
post date:
09.12.06 (8:14 pm)
you are right about being threatened by an idea. i think that blogging has actually taught me to be more tolerant (and I used to hate the word tolerance). i'm talking more about the political realm... because I'm pretty conservative. but when you follow people day in and day out...follow their struggles and their triumphs you begin to get a feel for how they come to see the world...and you appreciate it. Good post... lots of good insight. PS: Didn't mean to be so harsh in my comment on Graceshaker's blog... wasn't so tolerant there was I?! Are you a first born? Just curious.
posted by:
Preceptlady (
reply)
post date:
09.12.06 (8:24 pm)
I would only add...be kind to everyone...but for some I have found that isn't possible. :)
posted by:
kurtmaddox (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (7:18 am)
Just one more thing:
#8: Visit my blog daily -- I need the attention more than PastorDave!
posted by:
radiohead (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (8:16 am)
I agree with this...
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (11:50 am)
Be civil? Use common sense? I don't think this blogging thing is for me!
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (4:38 pm)
nice post. common sense isn't.
d
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (5:21 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
I think you pretty well incorporate these principals in your writings. I like what you write- concise, easy reading, clear- even as I may not agree. I hope you are moved by now, and ready to get back into this stuff full speed.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (5:25 pm)
Reply to: lorischuster
Harsh? Maybe I'm a bit dense, but I did not sense any undue harshness in what you had to say. You gave me opportunity to clarfy further what I had written; which is good.
I'm the youngest of 3 children, my mama's baby boy.
Like yourself, I've learned and grown as I have been blogging. I'm still conservative, but not as characteristically so as before.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (5:26 pm)
Reply to: Preceptlady
It's an ideal I've yet to fully incorporate, myself. But ideals are important.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (5:28 pm)
Reply to: kurtmaddox
I admit that I need to do more of my part to feed your enormous ego, and promise to immediately go on over to your blog and leave an inane comment. It'll increase your hit total, which is all important. Of course, you will do the same for me, please.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (5:29 pm)
Reply to: radiohead
Thanks. I feel the mission to now write something with which you do not agree. Let's see...
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (5:30 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
You can be the lone exception. Just keep doing what you do.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (5:31 pm)
Reply to: fractalmom
So, you think common sense is in short supply? I'm always impressed when dealing with someone who has that rare abilility to analyze a situation and offer simple, useful insights.
posted by:
inkspector (
reply)
post date:
09.13.06 (6:37 pm)
Thanks Pastor Dave, nice post.
Another note: Acknowledge readers commments to establish a relationship with them.
posted by:
seochris (
reply)
post date:
09.14.06 (3:33 am)
seochris here
I feel u also list people like me in you firnd's list and also give me the links to some nice blogs which follow ur wonderful guidelines, which I feel is great and may be in future ther would atleast be some kind of accepted guidelines.
Ok also give the links of blogs even outside from tblog.
Relax, I love blogging though I get very very little time. But onece in a week is fine. I can promise.
posted by:
drforbush (
reply)
post date:
09.14.06 (4:18 pm)
You have some great points, but if I didn't preach, then what would I write about? I thought that the whole point of blogging was telling people what life is like from a personal perspective. Maybe I was wrong, but I'm the only one who knows what I'm thinking and I want everyone else to know too...
Then again, maybe that's why you get all the comments.
:-}
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.14.06 (4:38 pm)
Reply to: drforbush
First of all, I do not get all the comments! I'm mired down in the 30's in HotBlogs.
I do not think you "preach" with your blog. I consider a preachy blogger to be someone who comes across as the know-all- as someone with an attitude of being just a bit above the rest, who feels his mission is to enlighten others so they can be almost as good as himself. A preachy blogger is not receptive to genuine discussion; why should he, since he is always right? In contrast, you always seem very reasonable in your discussion, and more level-headed than myself.
My greatest challenge with your blogs is that they are often so doggone long. Yet, such is inherent in the personality of your writing/communication, so I don't think you need to change. It's just that sometimes I have neither the time or inclination to read a long and concentration-demanding piece. The fault is, most likely, my television-conditioned attention span.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.14.06 (4:40 pm)
Reply to: inkspector
You are good with the acknowledgments, something I rarely do unless I think the discussion merits ongoing comments.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
09.14.06 (4:46 pm)
Reply to: seochris
I've thought about a column of links of fellow bloggers, and such is a bit like what t-friends is about. I think it is a good thing, although I fear slighting someone if somehow he/she is not included.
