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On blogging for the World. Or your city. Or your cat.
November 17, 2007
A week or so ago, I was talking with Woy about the phenomenon that is meeting someone for the first time in real life, even though you’ve been following each other’s websites for some time. He recounted a story about a time when he was attending a function and upon seeing an online friend, they both enthusiastically waved in greeting from across the room, even though they had never met in person.
I’ve experienced this a lot in the past year as I discovered that Pittsburgh holds a lot of events for those interested in blogging, podcasting, online art, etc. There were moments where it became surprisingly comfortable to talk with someone one-on-one because I knew they loved football and they knew I loved Halloween, and we could bring up topics that we posted about last weekend. It was like we were continuing a discussion that never really started. Does that make sense?
So, a question for you:
Does your website have anything to do with your social life? Would you go to a local event if you knew all of your favorite bloggers were there, even if you didn’t “know anyone”? Or would you prefer to keep your online life, online?
Categories: Daily
November 17th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
I love social media networking events. I like meeting other bloggers who I read and who read me. I went to blogfest not knowing who would be there but I had no problem striking up conversation because I already knew what made those people tick, and I knew how to relate to them.
In an era where it seems really difficult to make meaningful connections, it’s kind of nice to have it as a buffer.
November 17th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
This is exactly why we started the BlogFests and Pittsburgh Bloggers — because we liked each other online and we wanted to see what everyone was like in person.
My blogging life and personal life have become blended. Sometimes now I feel strange with my friends who don’t blog and who don’t read blogs — don’t they care enough about me to read what I wrote? Don’t they want to share their great stories with everyone?
November 17th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
Jennie - I really like that you used the word “buffer.” That’s the perfect term for it.
Cynthia - It’s amazing what Blogfest has done. And you bring up a great point about non-blogging friends. Sometimes I’m hesitant to even discuss my site with those friends.
November 17th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
I remember in the early days of Pittsburgh Bloggers there was a bit of trepidation in meeting individuals who I only knew from the written word. I met my first bloggers at a Geek Night in 2004, and they were the fellow founders (save Anne). It was slightly surreal at first, but quickly eased into friendly conversation that would happen with old friends.
When the Sandwich was an interview blog and I met with several individuals that I only knew through their blogs, I marveled at how easy it was to engage in conversation. The more it occurred with the interviews and subsequent Blogfests, the more effortless it seemed. While initially we would chat about things mostly fixated on blogging or things we had written about, it turned to other things outside of those spheres. It became real, and personal… and not in a creepy way.
I have old college friends, high school classmates, and professionals I’ve met tell me that they read my blog. I’m surprised when it comes up in conversation, and people tell me that they follow it. It makes me feel good. And, if they don’t? No skin off my nose.
November 17th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Oh, and awesome memory by the way! I actually wrote a post about my experience.
November 18th, 2007 at 12:04 am
I agree. I do get a tiny bit frustrated when friends (and family) don’t read what I’ve been writing. They could at least use it to keep track of what I’ve been up to doing. Plus, being a relative introvert, it is certainly nice to be able to continue the online conversation in person.
I’m glad I have run into the blog scene here in Pittsburgh, as I’ve made a number of friends with at least some semblance of similar interests (blogging, at the very least).
November 18th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
there seems to be a (budding) blogging scene here in lithuania, but as it’s mostly bleak and unimaginative, i prefer reading anglophone blogs, being therefore deprived of live contact. i’d love to meet many people on my blogroll in person though.
November 18th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
1) I would totally go to a blogger event. Or a “thing” where I could meet people who’s lives I follow. I’m decently active in the yelp.com scene in Chicago and go to Yelp events with some frequency because I enjoy the people. I’d imagine that I’d like to hang out with a bunch of local bloggers too.
2) Your site is kind of fabulous and I like the way you write and I am officially tagging you for the “7 Random Things About Me” meme. Yes, it’s random. But it saved me the trouble of thinking up a new blog post today, so it may do the same thing for you. Details and rules are at my site.
November 18th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
I would love to go to events like those…unfortunately, I don’t think we have them here in my place…we do have some ICT events but not on the creative side…or anything related to blogging…I wish I can find more bloggers from my place and I would love to take the initiative to organize these events…
November 18th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
When I lived in Houston I would often run into people I’ve met online through my site, messengers, or myspace. Now that I’m in a smaller town, I haven’t met anyone from the online world in a while.
November 18th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
My website at the moment doesn’t have anything to do with my social life, but I wouldn’t mind if it did. I would love to go to an event in which I could meet all my favorite bloggers and even connect with ones I don’t know. I’ve even be willing to fly to such a thing.
November 18th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
This is a great topic to bring up. As boisterous as I am online, when in a public setting with people I don’t know I’m usually shy. Yeah crazy eh? Actually I spend a lot of time watching people and listening.
I finally broke free of that when i went to the first meet-n-greet for Podcamp. I didn’t know a soul but by the end of the night you’d think that Chris Brogan and I were buds forever. Woy and I had talked for a bit before the first time we actually “met” for a podcamp planning meeting. In fact I’ve never formally met anyone, we all just hang out.
My personal site I have is just for me to ramble about what’s going on in my life and things that piss me off (which blogs are GREAT for). Most of my social life is now bowling, Pens games or Should I Drink That events. Anything else I’ll either keep private or mention briefly. Though I’m still moving photos from my old site so we’ll see what 08 brings.
cheers!
November 19th, 2007 at 12:11 am
I was just thinking about this. I’ve met several people through my blog (usually it evolved from emails, not through events), and I’d love to get involved in more meetups or things of that nature. I’m just sort of removed from the blogging scene and I’m not sure how I’d fit in. Actually, scrap that. I know I wouldn’t fit in. I’ll probably drag a friend a long if I find anything near me.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:39 am
What always kills me is that they never look anything like I thought they would. And we’re all so nice to each other, even if we hold opposing viewpoints. I’m really glad I got involved.
Scott
November 19th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
oh, dear. There is a blogging event here in St Louis next month, and I’m trying to decide if I want to go. It could be fun, but I’ll probably go back and forth about it until the last minute.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Bri: Go to the event! What’s the worst that could happen? You’d walk in, order a drink, talk to no one, and leave. Big deal. You’ve survived worse.
And anyway, here’s what’s more likely to happen: You’ll walk in, order a drink, and while you’re waiting for it someone near you will ask what the name of your blog is. You’ll tell them, maybe they won’t have read it so you’ll say what it’s about and you’ll ask, “what’s your blog?” And maybe you won’t have read it either, but now you can talk about how many kinds of blogs there are and which ones you both read. And the next thing you know a conversation is under way. Plus then your drink will arrive. It’s all good.
November 19th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Here here!