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Wednesday, December 01, 2010

facebook 1, blogging 0

Okay, I don't know the cumulative score, but lately that seems to have been the theme.  I've been more drawn to sharing my thoughts via my Facebook status than through blogging, and I've been thinking about why.  Time is a huge factor, since it takes only a minute to put up a funny quote from the kids on FB than to write an actual post around the situation that lead to said quote, even if that would be more interesting as a whole.  But also there's an immediacy to FB that doesn't get matched through blogging, at least for me.  With FB, I can post something and have a comment back in a matter of minutes.  I'm not saying that matters because of the "Yay, somebody commented on something that I said!" factor, which used to be thrilling just in principle over here on the blog, but it matters because it's a connection-- I know immediately that someone I know heard what I said.  And for a mom at home with kids for the majority of her time, that definitely means something.

In addition to just having that connection, the interaction that often follows can be heartening, reassuring, joyful, and supportive.  I think that's what I need the most right now, whereas at other points in my online life, my need to express myself or "think through stuff" in writing took precedence and thus my blog posts were more introspective or focused on the personal.  Lately, blogging has been more about sharing things that have interested me, primarily literary finds or NPR jewels.  I imagine that these things ebb and flow, and it's not that I really want to change anything, but it's something that's been on my mind.

As a result, I'm launching a theme-of-the-month for my Facebook statuses starting today, partially because I'm a dork who loves themes, but mostly because I want to make the most of the interactions I enjoy so much over there.  For the sake of simplicity, I'm dubbing this month Let's Discuss December.  I don't want to actually talk about the month, but use this month's statuses to toss out questions to ponder, and hopefully, they'll spark some interesting conversations in the comments.  The big thing about this is it requires the participation of others, so we shall see what level my FB buddies are up for!


Social networking experimenter,

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5 comments:

  1. Melissa12/01/2010 10:18 PM

    I do read you over here, but I guess I manage to interact with you more on FB. Odd? I don't know. Looking forward to your musings there (and here) in December, though...

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  2. Carrie12/02/2010 1:10 AM

    I'm afraid I'm becoming addicted to FB as well. And there IS something to the instant comments back, affirmations and whatnot that you make you feel as if you've been heard. I hear you. Here and there.

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  3. Steve U.12/02/2010 8:46 AM

    I've been that way for a while now too, even when I wasn't updating my FB status very often. I'll admit I'm an instant gratification kind of guy and I feel like limiting myself to a few characters clarifies my points and eliminates most of the lousy ones too. I say do whatever works for you right now. See ya on Twitter in a couple years. Ha ha

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  4. Unknown12/03/2010 7:13 AM

    I have always envied your FB community. You have a LOT of interaction for whatever reason (besides your pure awesomeness!).

    I obviously don't have much time for blogging either, beyond 5M4B, but I'm not ever-present on FB either.

    Will think and post on your FB status as well.

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  5. Heather12/18/2010 2:41 AM

    Case in point: I was about to write up a hopefully intelligent comment here when I noticed on that other tab where I have FB open a little 1 in parentheses. Oooh I have a notification! Do I stick around here to finish my thought? Nope. I instantly jump over to FB to see what's up. Sigh. But I'm back now. :)

    I so agree with you on the instant gratification or rather communication part. It is so rewarding to know that people are out there *listening.* Always my biggest problem with blogging has been the crickets chirping in the silence after I post something that (I think) is worthy of comment. Yep, my ego just can't take it. No such issues on FB. If nothing else, there's the like button. Oh, how I love the like button! Plus, it's so much easier to pop in on FB for a moment while I'm feeding the baby than it is to find the time (with both hands free) to compose a thoughtful post replete with photos. But I feel my blog is so much more meaningful to me and my friends and family in the long run. So much more worth it... like most things that don't grant instant gratification. Anyway, I'm rambling. Thank you for this post, and see you around, one way or the other. :)

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