A number of patterns keep popping up in the world of blogging and social networking that I believe will make good thesis material. For some social networking applications, like Friendster, there is an obvious intent to hook people up in-person. In the blogosphere, that face-to-face connection doesn't seem to happen without some catalyst beyond the subject matter of an individual's blog. Carolyn Burke's informal study on the psycho-sociological stages in use... affirms that others recognize that there are stages of use (or comfort) for users of all kinds of social networking applications.
- In the world of blogging and social network posting, I have witnessed and experienced the following stages:
- Enthusiam for self publishing based upon imitation of earlier adopters
- Personal satsfaction/instant gratification of early posts
- A turning point after a few months where the blog lives or the blog is abandoned
- Questioning one's motives, asking "Is anyone (else) reading this?"
- Playing the game to increase popularity: creating blog rolls, playing blogshares, claiming the blog on feedster, tracking referrals from sitemeter, being ranked at TTLB, etc.
- Connection with a reader base (however small)that increases the perceived expectation for something to be published regularly
- Learning about comment and trackback spam...and figuring out a defense (that includes hating porn, pharma, casino, & loan spammers)
- Discovery of one's genuine, personal 'voice'...and abandoning the illusion that a blog will generate network-journalism-level fame
- Discovery of peers with similar interests or opposing views - and the willingness to engage in comments
- A sense of online community from association with other blogs/bloggers
- An increase in traffic from the community of bloggers
And finally, (and the reason for this rambling list): There is a stage where bloggers meet face to face and the online digital persona is matched with the dynamic, breathing force behind the blog... preconceived notions of appearance disappear and are replaced with a kinship or kindred spirit of those who have endured any number of the previous stages.
So, thanks News 2, Mr. Roboto, Terry Heaton, and many others who made the second Nashville blogger get-together, an Evening with Mr. Roboto, a success...and confirmed the existence of this (new to me) pattern. You may read more about the event from BusyMom...and others, I am sure, as they awaken today and recover from the evening's festivities :)
LATE MORNING UPDATE: the Emperess PinkKitty created a link marathon of attendees; Kevin enjoyed the fellowship, and Terry has posted a bunch of great pictures.