Thursday, January 26, 2006
Friendship and blogging
Last night, Elise mentioned that she'd been checking my blog to see what I've been up to. Two things occurred to me simultaneously: 1) I should write a blog post, and 2) I should actually hang out with Elise soon.
This got me thinking about blogging and social interaction. I remember reading something on Elise's blog once (you're inspiring me today, Elise!) where she said she was attempting to promote normal social interaction--so if you wanted to know what was going on in her life, ask! That made me laugh, but I agree--the blog is not a substitute for actual, in-person friendship.
Last night, I started thinking about how blogging doesn't replace friendship, but can add to it. I think given a larger context, blog-reading can be quite cool in supplementing actual normal social interaction.
My friend Melinda was my roommate during a semester-long study abroad program in Florence. That semester, we were together almost constantly. Our class schedules differed by only a couple of classes, we shared a room, we went to the same Bible study, we hung out with pretty much the same people, and the traveling we did was usually together. I remember thinking how great it was that we could skip all the small talk about what we'd been up to and start deep, important discussions without wasting any time.
I am always a bit thrown when someone refers to something they've read on my blog, if it's someone who doesn't comment regularly. I kind of do a double take as I realize they're more up on the details of my life than I know. And yet, it's a little bit like that semester when Mel and I spent so much time together. We didn't have to fill in any of the background of each other's day-to-day lives; we already knew the context. Blogs can do a little of that filling in the context--of events and experiences, and thoughts as well. And that's a pretty cool addition to friendship.
I still haven't really said anything about what I'm up to. Oh well.
This got me thinking about blogging and social interaction. I remember reading something on Elise's blog once (you're inspiring me today, Elise!) where she said she was attempting to promote normal social interaction--so if you wanted to know what was going on in her life, ask! That made me laugh, but I agree--the blog is not a substitute for actual, in-person friendship.
Last night, I started thinking about how blogging doesn't replace friendship, but can add to it. I think given a larger context, blog-reading can be quite cool in supplementing actual normal social interaction.
My friend Melinda was my roommate during a semester-long study abroad program in Florence. That semester, we were together almost constantly. Our class schedules differed by only a couple of classes, we shared a room, we went to the same Bible study, we hung out with pretty much the same people, and the traveling we did was usually together. I remember thinking how great it was that we could skip all the small talk about what we'd been up to and start deep, important discussions without wasting any time.
I am always a bit thrown when someone refers to something they've read on my blog, if it's someone who doesn't comment regularly. I kind of do a double take as I realize they're more up on the details of my life than I know. And yet, it's a little bit like that semester when Mel and I spent so much time together. We didn't have to fill in any of the background of each other's day-to-day lives; we already knew the context. Blogs can do a little of that filling in the context--of events and experiences, and thoughts as well. And that's a pretty cool addition to friendship.
I still haven't really said anything about what I'm up to. Oh well.
| posted by Barbara | 10:15 PM