During the holidays I've been seeking reactions about this blog. Here are some things I have learned.
1. More people read the blog, at least occasionally, than write on it.
So there are some silent followers, but my main concern is to get more contributors.
2. Some are turned off by the turgidity of the writing.
While some subjects are complex and require complex analysis, I can agree, at least for myself, that this is a problem. The desire to see ourselves write, is just as much of a trap as to hear ourselves talk. We need to have the audience in mind. And editing is always a good thing.
3. The lack of time is the major reason given for why more do not contribute.
This is understandable—for everything we would like to do. Perhaps you could at least post a link to an article, video, or joke.
4. Some are not comfortable at how their writing style may be accepted.
I think I can safely say that, while you may be criticized (in a friendly way) for unclear thinking, you will not be criticized for writing style. We are all trying to improve our writing style and, believe or not, we are all uncomfortable at how our writing style may be accepted. It's why we try to get better. By the way, there have been some educators and studies that are saying that writing in college is getting better. The improvement is attributed to blogging.
5. Some are turned off by some of the subjects.
While I encourage everyone to stretch, this is the very reason that you are needed to contribute to the blog.
As I see it, the raison d'être of this blog is that there are incredibly talented and interesting (to say nothing of good looking) people in the extended family and beyond, and that sharing the variety of our thoughts and ideas in art, music, education, science, business, society, humor, anything (yes, even philosophy and religion), will make us all that much more talented and interesting. Please share something that is meaningful in your life.
And thanks to Peter for the idea, establishment and maintenance of the blog.
4 comments:
Did someone really say turgidity? One commits the very crime he accuses others just by use of the word.
That was the word, although this person is clever enough that he probably was using it for the irony as well as the straight message.
You needn't worry. Calling you turgid is tantamount to calling Robert Louis Stevenson turgid.
I can't even approach Stevenson's lack of pretension. Really, who can?
"You mightn't happen to have a piece of cheese about you, now? No? Well, many's the long night I've dreamed of cheese--toasted, mostly...."
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