There’s a fantastic, watch me say this really loud, CONVERSATION, happening at a blog entry a little further back (click here).
It got me thinking as I read through the conversation (there I did it again) that blogging is bringing that very human urge we all have, the need to contain, control and understand, to the surface. A quick scan of the conversation (yup) brings up the following words/phrases that lead me to my conclusion…
*danger
*can’t provide context
*overwhleming information
*guilt
*work towards some “policies” for blogging
*blog properly
*facilitation
*find some way to slow down
*clogged
*blog editor or editorial team
Why can’t we just let this go a little, leave it be? Why not let it get out of control a little? (if that can even be said, cos what does control look like?)
Quote of the blog written about at the top comes from lily (you biscuit) – “blogs are my link to sanity!” I’m with you.
Our need to contain, control and understand
Barrie, I like the idea of letting things “run” a bit. However, I do think that I have possibly been blogging just a little bit “randomly” over the past few weeks. What I mean by that is that I have probably not given enough CONTEXT to the content I have placed online.
IMHO, Simone is the best at doing this. She gives us info, then lets us know what she was thinking at the time, and helps us make the connection to existing thoughts and frameworks. I appreciate her posts.
And I commit myself to doing that just a bit more in my own posts from now on.
For what it is worth, I think it is a real shame that we are having this debate. This is not the E-zine we are talking about – a flagship for thought and cutting-edge thinking – it is the Blog. Blogs, by their very nature, are designed to be random – putting a thought out there and seeing if anyone runs with it. If they don’t, hey, move on to the next thought…
There have been some pretty strong ‘incentives’ for TmTd.biz people to start blogging over the last few months. I reckon that quite a few have been struggling to pluck up the courage to put anything out there, fearful of the reaction they might get, anxious about what people might think of them. I think it is likely to be counter-productive to create an ethos or atmosphere whereby people will think they are being judged on the content or quality of their blogging. Those who have plucked up the courage to engage may well cease to be involved. Those who have yet to engage will not be encouraged to do so.
Blogging is random and precise. Blogging is professional and amateur. Blogging is information and noise.
But, most of all, blogging is about relationship. Think of your relationships with your spouse or your kids. 90% of your daily conversation is not especially profound. You don’t wait until you have something awesome to say until you speak. You don’t say to you partner, “Hold on until you can contextualise your statements”. You just talk.
Precision and quality should be reserved for the E-zine.
The blog should be a safe place to be random. The blog should be a place where we can be free from the fear of putting ‘noise’ into the system. The blog is what it is.
If we lose that, we lose the whole point of blogging.
And anyway, you don’t have to read every entry of you don’t want to…we all have a choice.
“We’d also like you to become a regular reader and contributor to our blog” – quoted from the TomorrowToday.biz website, under the “How to join us” section.
I felt a little confused after reading the earlier conversation about blogging. This blog has been a revolutionary discovery for me, and through me friends, my company and now my church are actively blogging on their own pages. Your blog, with all it’s spontaneity and “disorganisation”, has already become a wonderful benchmark to us fellow bloggers, and it has done so organically.
What does a “controlled” blog look like? Can anyone link me to a “controlled” blog that will enlighten me? This very entry is an example of the beauty of blogging – your conversation is essentially an internal one, and yet I feel welcome enough to contribute my 2c worth.
Maybe I’m out of line. It’s possible that some TmTders look at my entries and think, “what is this young snot doing contributing to our blog?”. I hope not, because I’m learning all the time.
That is why I felt a bit uncomfortable after reading the earlier conversation over “clogging”, “policies” and “no context”. It got me wondering whether or not I should be leaving blogging to the experts…
Amen Steve and Mike!
Without being melodramatic, I was thoroughly disturbed over the weekend by this conversation. Very few discussions I have face-to-face are ordered, structured and economical in terms of flow. Hell, they’re chaotic at the best of times! But it’s the “chaos” that keeps them alive I believe.
On the other hand I’m really glad that I’ve been able to witness this debate. The TmTd approach to the workplace has grabbed me – not surprising considering the trends we see and the workplace I’d like to work in – but I suppose within the TmTd ranks there are real struggles with the “old” way thing used to be done. The theme of having an “ordered forum” on the blog that I have picked up may be a residual from the “changing of the guard”? I’ve seen 2 camps: 1 – advocating structure/process/policy and order, the other 2 – advocating freedom/chaos/unstructure.
Does the way we blog depend on our Gen? Is it easier for Gen Xers than Boomers? How do we UNmanage the blog and blogging?
I would love a response from the TmTd bloggers on this one, a final word (LOL)to guide the followers and contributors to this blog. I am very new to blogging and find it absolutely exhilarating to just put my thoughts “out there”. In my working environment the controlled sites (what we call forums) have failed dismally, in fact I don’t even bother to read or contribute. We are now setting up communities of practice which will function much more informally and uncontrolled, but be focussed on issues of concern to specific groups of people. I believe this will be the answer to get really creative and get the conversation going towards sustainable change and innovation.
But since I am too, at least in terms of blogging, a young snot, I will wait with baited breath for some words of wisdom from the “wise mentors” amongst us.
When it comes to blogging, I’m definitely of the “advocating freedom/chaos/unstructure” camp, maidenmole mentions. For 2 reasons, which I quote from tmtd’s own “Why we blog”.
1. “…the systems can be managed, but the flow of knowledge and the interactions of knowledge workers (i.e. everyone!) should not be. Its in those crazy spaces that the creativity will come.”
2. “So, why do we blog? Because we can. Because we want to. Because we have to. Just because.”
PS – thanks Nuf Sed for the kind comment!
Wow…some response the original blog created and some great – and for me helpful – stuff said! I think that the ‘space’ blogging gives and possibilities it creates are awesome. I also think we best be careful not to impose on others how they should engage, absorb and benefit from this new tool. Amongst the many enthusiastic voices there were some more ‘cautious’ ones and these have every right to be heard. Nuf Sed’s lexicon of words and phrases was for me both helpful and not. ‘Not’ in the sense that I don’t think highlighting isolated phrases did justice to the context in which many of them first appeared. I also sensed some irritation that all this conversation was of little practical value. I might be wrong here but this is how it came across to me at least? I for one have not found it to be so. However what Nuf Sed’s blog did do for me was to help me look more closely at my own language (and self) in this conversation.
Let me try an analogy here that may or may not work but offer it in the hope that it might spark a connection with someone and be of some value: I learnt a long time ago that telling others ‘how to pray’ was far from helpful and that prayer is essentially a personal journey, experience, practice and relationship. For others not to do it like I do it doesn’t mean they are not particpating. Perhaps a weak analogy but a caution not to be prescriptive with ‘our thing’. Blogging I suspect will not do it for everyone and there are some of those voices I want (need) to hear…whatever that means.
You have all added immeasurably to my own understanding of this ‘thing’ Thank-you!
Great discussions everybody. As “bog” (god of this blog), and in line with the 50th anniversary today of the Freedom Charter (http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/charter.html), I declare the following:
We, the People of TomorrowToday.biz, declare for all our community and the world to know:
that this blog belongs to all who contribute to it, and that no authority can justly claim control or influence unless it is based on the will of all the people/bloggers;
that our blog will never be prosperous or free until all our bloggers blog in bloggerhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities;
that only a democratic blog, based on the will of all the people, can secure to all their birthright without distinction of colour, race, sex or belief;
And therefore, we, the people of this blog, black and white together equals, countrymen and brothers adopt this Charter;
And we pledge ourselves to strive together, sparing neither strength nor courage, until the blogger’s blog is blogged.
(With great respect and deep gratitude to the framers of the original Freedom Charter, whose bold futuristic vision enable me to live freely and prosperously as a white African in the land of my birthright. “I am an African” as Thabo Mbeki has so eloquently said: http://www.codrington.biz/african.htm)
Oh how I love this space. We are a team that is brave enough to have our discussions in public domain and even allow outsiders who are part of the community to also have their say!!!!! In some of the consulting work I do I keep thinking that I would like to introduce them to Blogs and then stop myself. Not many are yet brave enough to be this transparent. Not many understand the power of this medium or even that it exists and what to do with it. We are leading the way and learning as we do. If you do not blog you cannot grow so yes I agree it needs to be random and free. We only learn as we practice. Just as we think we have learnt something, the game changes…. Hey Keith how many BABY BOOMERS our age are blogging compared to these young snots… Who do you think is using more change management technique in the process… Great debate guys… Keep it up.
no rules
but what if I say FUCK!!!
you people are so congratulatory of each other it makes me sick. all this verbal Diarrhoea and no concept of wisdom through listening and remembrance and exerience. you’d actually offer yourselves as blog concultants before the effects of the practice have been evaluated….
how bloody fucking arrogant.
what happens to nice-ness when there are no rules, Nuf Sed? I can’t wait to see if BOG deletes this blog!!!
‘Fuck’ doesn’t seem to have done it Dube. Personally I wish you’d taken a bigger breath before you put down your thoughts, because certainly there may be some wisdom in what you’ve written? I’m just battling to see it clearly in your attempt to be, whatever it is you were attempting to be?
‘Fuck’ doesn’t seem to have done it Dube. Personally I wish you’d taken a bigger breath before you put down your thoughts, because certainly there may be some wisdom in what you’ve written? I’m just battling to see it clearly in your attempt to be, whatever it is you were attempting to be?
All seeing BOG now weighs in. If you think FUCK is going to scare anyone, Dube, you’re sadly mistaken on this blog. That’s the point – freedom of speech, democratisation of information, openness of communication.
And how do you know we’ve not seen the economic benefits? Did you ask someone at TomorrowToday.biz? Did you ask me? You see, we have. Firstly, we have already assisted some clients in thinking through blogs as a means of knowledge management. We know of companies who are using it effectively for R&D and product design, and of others who are using it mightily in the sales space. You can click on the BLOGGING category on the right hand side of this blog, and just read away to your heart’s content.
There is no arrogance involved in offering a service you know you can deliver on.
Now, to your point about “verbal diarrhoea” – I’d be interested in pursuing a conversation about that. What do you mean? Just this entry, or the whole blogsite? is it good or bad? Do you see no value? (If so, why were you deep into an entry writing up a reply?)
Let’s see if dube replies to BOG.
thanks guys 🙂
i think what I was getting at is quite clear, Nuf Sed. (not actually attempting to BE anything, but having fun anyway!) while you and Graeme aren’t offended, I’m sure there are some people who would be offended. my question is: what happens when we are offended? how long does it take before our “freedom” becomes regulated?
still, i commend you on your unwillingness to censor, Mr Bog.
regarding the “verbal diarrhoea” comment, I think that your wise old man Keith has said it far more gently and articulately than I am able to. i have been wondering what it means to “speak” without anyone listening. of course, we hope that when we blog, that someone will read what we have written and find it useful/interesting/challenging etc. but whether there’s a listener or not, we speak/write/blog regardless. does this place speaking before listening, encouraging a culture of non-listeners? i like to speak, and blogging is a great way to speak without the need for a committed listener.
hence (i think) Keith’s questions about converation vs information. how do we encourage meaningful and significant conversation? as a means of dumping info for others to “use” (i really enjoyed your post on 9 types of silence for speakers Graeme) a blog may be fab, but as a new form of community it sucks. i think there’s a danger that we get to “married” to our newest toys!
finally, with regard to the seeming contradiction of a person-who-doesn’t-believe-in-blogging blogging, another dilemma is raised… should a person who sees potential dangers in a cultural development, express their concern by silence (non-participation)? or should they enter the fray and “compromise” themselves for that sake of the conversation? hmmm…
so, as much as writing FUCK may have seemed like a play for attention, i did get Nuf Sed (the guru) and Graeme (the prolific) to engage (listen?)
thanks again, guys! 🙂
We’re in danger of listening here, Dube. This is the 14th (!!!) post on this topic. Not bad for a community that “sucks”.
I like where your thoughts are going. However, I would argue that blogging is no inherently better or worse form of community than any other. Even face to face, people often battle to listen – really listen – to what others have to say. Many meetings I’ve been in easily descend to power plays, or simply become platforms for people to say what they have to say, rather than engaging in genuine dialogue.
So, if people are prepared to engage in the process of blogging, I would argue that you can get significant community formed. I spend a lot of time watching comments on my blog entries, and invariably attempt to engage with people who take the time to engage with me.
I think your point is well made, though, since most people do not seem to want to actually engage – they engage the ability to simply “shout off” at my blog. Many people seem genuinely surprised when I respond. I have had this reaction to my replies to people who responded to a regular magazine column I used to write.
Community is tough. Modern technology has the ability to both aid and exarcebate our attempts to do it properly.
I hope you find our blog more helpful than not.