Who says white dudes can't rap? Meh.
Anyhoo, I've chosen to play devil's advocate regarding our posts on how blogs can encourage collaboration. I've come from a history of web surfing where I can browse blogs and forums for years and not even bother to participate. It's not that the content isn't inviting it's that by the time one has read through most comments, so many points of view have already been expressed. At that point, I feel like it's almost silly to add my two cents worth. Reading the comments is entertainment enough.
I also feel like blog/forum comments tend to end up as contests between two people and they end up coming off as idiots. This is easy to understand as the internet is so anonymous and we tend to think it's easy to insult who we can't see.
Now this isn't to say that a blog can't be successful. I think a smaller, concentrated blog, like our class blog, could be effective because we all have something in common and we aren't faceless individuals posting random ideas.
Are my points valid or am I full of it? I'm curious to know if any of you routinely post on a blog or forum. Care to share?
Peace and smiles,
-Tyler
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5 comments:
I agree that the commentarium on blogs have a tendency to degenerate into, at times, shouting/swearing matches, or tangential, inconsequential monologues... While true collaboration may be an unattainable ideal, I do believe that there are certain conditions we can impose upon student projects to improve the chances of its occurrence. For example, imposing limits on the number of or the type of posts a student may make (to prevent, for instance, the smart aleck from monopolizing the discussion, or posting disrespectful, insulting comments).
As is said (somewhat shallowly) "Freedom isn't free." It has conditions. A collaboration without certain rules degenerates, potentially, into anarchy. But a collaboration built upon a clear understanding of equal participation and respect has at least a chance of producing something worthwhile...
I agree with your post. I concur with mid.error's comment. I never post on blogs because after reading some of the comments that people post, I'm afraid of sounding like one of those (censored).
You all say important things!~
BAI!!!!~
Great points one and all. W00t! I'm contributing to the degeneration of this topic! I appreciate your devils advocate approach because it can often take MORE thought to think beyond the prompt box. Of course, I did the same so I'm tooting my own horn a little too. I too have been entertained by long threads of bashing discourse AND find potential in Mr. mid.error's solutions. In my post I suggest that the anonymity can be good AND terrible and you even offer another layer of internet anonymity that I didn't think about. Good show.
You remind me so much of Al Pacino right now- you are the devils advoacate. No, I do agree with you on this one. I think that students become lazy, I am one of them, and just post something without really thinking and answering the questions thourghly. The assignment is credit/no credit and its also easy to scan through other responses and summarize theirs. You can just drink other peoples milkshake without them even knowing (quote from There Will Be Blood).
Firstly, you're a funny dude Tyler, and I agree Vanilla Ice couldn't rap for beans, but to say white dudes can't rap is a bold statement---Eminem and Beastie Boys wanna take you to Nine Mile road and ask ya, "So whatcha whatcha whatcha want (whatcha want)?!!?";o>
Secondly, I tend to agree with you about blog oversaturation and
commenters "arguing" with one another, but would like to point out that collaboration on a class blog is a bit different from a personal blog. The point of a class blog is to stimulate communication about relevant subjects amongst colleagues, whereas on a personal blog, many authors want to stimulate communication about self-important ideas amongst anyone who gives a hoot.
Before this class, I didn't have a blog and I didn't post to a blog. The only difference now is that I have a blog and post to blogs because it's required.
My personal opinion is that blogs are too time-consuming for my schedule, so minimalism is in for me. Okay, that's only half true---I'm also not very tech savvy and am impatient and wary about the practice required to get there; hence my need to be in ETEC 414!
While I enjoy/admire the work that people have put into their own blogs, I tend to add less to mine `cause I'm afraid of getting sucked into the black hole blog vortex
of Extreme Blog Page Makeover, and never seeing the light of day again!
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