I’d like to see the results of this thorough study:
How often are people’s positions on religious and political commitments changed by reading or contributing to the comments on another person’s blog?*
How often are people’s positions affirmed or strengthened by contributing comments?
Is it more, or less likely change would occur than if someone were to reflect on that position in a community actively exploring a practice related to that position?
Is it more, or less likely change would occur than if you were kicked in the shin by someone who agreed or disagreed with your position, wearing a Nixon mask, who then disappeared into the woods forever? Or, what if that never happened to you? How would your position be affected? More or less than blog commenting? Etc.?
*I’m not questioning whether these conversations should happen. I kind of enjoy them. As a rare contributor. Plus I can’t figure out how to log-in to your comments page. Secondly, I’m not talking about any of your blogs. In conclusion, I’m not being facetious about people’s blogs, just about some of their commenters. Those people make me so facetious. In addition, JK. BFF.
Is it more, or less likely change would occur than if someone were to reflect on that position in a community actively exploring a practice related to that position?
i’d actually like to find out.
peace
Dave…there’s a great deal of joy when ones beliefs are affirmed by someone else’s blog or comment…someone a LOT smarter than I. Have you ever visited Al Maxey’s site “Reflections”? http://www.zianet.com/maxey/Reflect2.htm (I don’t know why that didn’t change color as most web sites/e-mail addresses do)
A study would be great! I tend to relish the scholarly study of our faith – but all manner of belief/position on any topic would be intriging. I’m a little leary of the political arena tho’, especially if its source is a politician!
And yes, my comment is boring….I’m not as witty as you-know-who from Sacramento.
short answer: I love comments.
also, because your blog is at the college level and mine is elementary, I don’t have the reading patience to read your blog and comment sometimes. So it’s like give and take. (When you wrote JK, I thought it was a reference to the dead president.)
I like comments. The real point of the post was that I do wonder how blogs function in shaping people’s opinions, and how that relates to their lives in community. But I was entirely too snarky about it.
When I inadvertently stumble into a heated discussion in comments on someone’s blog, I find myself getting worked up and jumpy, and compose my own darts and missiles that I sit on for a bit – I’m normally thankful I do, because the interweb is a cold, cold place. Emotions don’t come across well and reason is oft tossed out the window. Anyone can say whatever they like – sometimes it’s like throwing grenades into a room to see what happens. For instance, a post on Mike Cope’s blog had me musing that if I ever worshiped outside of the COC tradition and, for instance, read scripture or served in some way in the service and did it well, I would not think that it was a gift God gave me, like many would say to a man doing the same thing, but that ” ‘they’ were letting me do it.” I don’t know how to get past that, and while it’s a valid thing I am glad I didn’t join in on the discussion.
(Oh, and how’s that for a grenade?)
Yes, yes, this is exactly it. I just marvel at the unaccountable vitriol spewed in response to perfectly sincere questions. I wouldn’t walk into a room full of that kind of conversation and expect to get anywhere. But it’s totally different than, say, 10-15 friends and acquaintances who are really hoping to get somewhere together. That’s when the interwebs are actually functioning as a form of communication.
(I think you should be made a Bishop.)
Thanks for the link, Carolyn – it took me a bit to work back to the comment.
See, this is fun.
Dave, even in your comments you are confusing and way over my head.
Maybe when I get out of school I’ll start making sense again.