Comments on: The Color of the Bikeshed or The Trouble with Blogging http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/the-color-of-the-bikeshed-or-the-trouble-with-blogging/ By Common Consent is the pre-eminent Mormon blog. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:53:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: California Condor http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/the-color-of-the-bikeshed-or-the-trouble-with-blogging/#comment-179705 California Condor Sun, 18 May 2008 16:53:35 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3787#comment-179705 Here's a great quote by <a href="http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaise_Pascal" rel="nofollow">Blaise Pascal</a>: "I have made this letter longer than usual, only because I have not had the time to make it shorter." Shorter is better. Also, the Bloggernacle blogs should start a "most popular" sidebar for posts, showing which posts have gotten the most traffic for a time period (maybe a week or a month). This could help casual readers use their time more efficiently, and it would be a gratifying guilty pleasure to see what is ranked high on the list. Here’s a great quote by Blaise Pascal:

“I have made this letter longer than usual, only because I have not had the time to make it shorter.”

Shorter is better.

Also, the Bloggernacle blogs should start a “most popular” sidebar for posts, showing which posts have gotten the most traffic for a time period (maybe a week or a month). This could help casual readers use their time more efficiently, and it would be a gratifying guilty pleasure to see what is ranked high on the list.

]]> By: Tatiana http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/the-color-of-the-bikeshed-or-the-trouble-with-blogging/#comment-179624 Tatiana Sat, 17 May 2008 14:58:52 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3787#comment-179624 I like the Bloggernacle because I enjoy being in the company of such excellent people. Even though I don't belong here, and have little to contribute besides the occasional "great post!", I feel enlightened and uplifted by the things I read, and think I'm a better person for it. I like the Bloggernacle because I enjoy being in the company of such excellent people. Even though I don’t belong here, and have little to contribute besides the occasional “great post!”, I feel enlightened and uplifted by the things I read, and think I’m a better person for it.

]]> By: Kevin Barney http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/the-color-of-the-bikeshed-or-the-trouble-with-blogging/#comment-179620 Kevin Barney Sat, 17 May 2008 13:56:34 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3787#comment-179620 Kenjebz, I think I saw DKL make a comment somewhere to the effect that he hadn't updated LDSelect for a long time. BCC doesn't even appear there since we moved to a new server. I wrote him a letter at his gmail account at Mormon Mentality asking to have the FAIR blog added, but never heard back (there's a good chance that's not his normal e-mail and he never saw my message). So in short, I have no idea how to get added to LDSelect. Kenjebz, I think I saw DKL make a comment somewhere to the effect that he hadn’t updated LDSelect for a long time. BCC doesn’t even appear there since we moved to a new server. I wrote him a letter at his gmail account at Mormon Mentality asking to have the FAIR blog added, but never heard back (there’s a good chance that’s not his normal e-mail and he never saw my message).

So in short, I have no idea how to get added to LDSelect.

]]> By: Kaimi http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/the-color-of-the-bikeshed-or-the-trouble-with-blogging/#comment-179618 Kaimi Sat, 17 May 2008 06:41:00 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3787#comment-179618 Kenjebz, I think it's generally agreed upon that the quickest way to be added to DKL's aggregator is to post lots of ALL CAPS comments at blogs that aren't run by DKL. That's how I got T&S listed. If only that punk DKL had an FAQ section for his stupid aggregator. Kenjebz,

I think it’s generally agreed upon that the quickest way to be added to DKL’s aggregator is to post lots of ALL CAPS comments at blogs that aren’t run by DKL. That’s how I got T&S listed.

If only that punk DKL had an FAQ section for his stupid aggregator.

]]> By: CW http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/the-color-of-the-bikeshed-or-the-trouble-with-blogging/#comment-179616 CW Sat, 17 May 2008 04:59:36 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3787#comment-179616 Kevin that is an interesting comment. I agree with your example about the original Greek. I suspect the reason you only had only 3 comments was not just because people had no foundation, but also because the ones that did have experience looking up the original Greek agreed with you. Agreement doesn't inspire many comments. Part of getting discussion seems to be bringing up a controversial issue. Controversial issues, unfortunately often bring contention with the discussion. The only thing worse than no participation is contention. I think the internet magnifies the contention, because the written word without the voice and facial expressions is such a poor communication method. I read many posts here that are a real education for me, mostly the historical stuff which is very enlightening, but I rarely comment, because there is nothing I can add. Our RS teacher recently made the statement that pictures of Jesus or the temple or whatever, constituted graven images and should be removed from our homes. That generated some discussion (and much contention). She is a fairly new convert. Maybe if we mingle in enough of the familiar material with one or two new precepts, and hit some magical balance, we can have good discussion, avoid contention and see real learning happen. Anyway, thanks for this and many other thought provoking posts. Kevin that is an interesting comment. I agree with your example about the original Greek. I suspect the reason you only had only 3 comments was not just because people had no foundation, but also because the ones that did have experience looking up the original Greek agreed with you. Agreement doesn’t inspire many comments.

Part of getting discussion seems to be bringing up a controversial issue.

Controversial issues, unfortunately often bring contention with the discussion. The only thing worse than no participation is contention. I think the internet magnifies the contention, because the written word without the voice and facial expressions is such a poor communication method.

I read many posts here that are a real education for me, mostly the historical stuff which is very enlightening, but I rarely comment, because there is nothing I can add.

Our RS teacher recently made the statement that pictures of Jesus or the temple or whatever, constituted graven images and should be removed from our homes. That generated some discussion (and much contention). She is a fairly new convert.

Maybe if we mingle in enough of the familiar material with one or two new precepts, and hit some magical balance, we can have good discussion, avoid contention and see real learning happen.

Anyway, thanks for this and many other thought provoking posts.

]]> By: Kevin Barney http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/the-color-of-the-bikeshed-or-the-trouble-with-blogging/#comment-179613 Kevin Barney Sat, 17 May 2008 01:47:16 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3787#comment-179613 I could relate to the dilemma you describe. A number of times I've erred in going too hard in one direction or another. I recall in particular one post I put up called, as I recall, "Is NT Greek Magic?" I still think it was a good idea for a post; the basic thought was the tendency for people to think that an appeal to the "original" Greek can resolve all problems of NT interpretation. But in trying to convey my thought I was overly technical, and I think the post only garnered something like three comments. I think there is a similar dynamic in GD class. We place a higher value on class participation than almost any other factor, but if you introduce actual new knowledge, the participation goes way down (because no one in class has the background to contribute). So to encourage participation, we revert to the catachism method, which pumps up the particpation (at the expense of people actually learning anything). I could relate to the dilemma you describe. A number of times I’ve erred in going too hard in one direction or another. I recall in particular one post I put up called, as I recall, “Is NT Greek Magic?” I still think it was a good idea for a post; the basic thought was the tendency for people to think that an appeal to the “original” Greek can resolve all problems of NT interpretation. But in trying to convey my thought I was overly technical, and I think the post only garnered something like three comments.

I think there is a similar dynamic in GD class. We place a higher value on class participation than almost any other factor, but if you introduce actual new knowledge, the participation goes way down (because no one in class has the background to contribute). So to encourage participation, we revert to the catachism method, which pumps up the particpation (at the expense of people actually learning anything).

]]> By: Jennifer in GA http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/the-color-of-the-bikeshed-or-the-trouble-with-blogging/#comment-179610 Jennifer in GA Fri, 16 May 2008 23:59:27 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3787#comment-179610 Execellent post! I still consider myself fairly new to the Bloggernacle. I can't tell you how many times I've started to respond to a post that has made me think in new ways but I've ended up deleting it. I don't want to come off as an ignorant idiot. I learn something new almost everytime I visit which, I think, is a good thing. Execellent post!

I still consider myself fairly new to the Bloggernacle. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started to respond to a post that has made me think in new ways but I’ve ended up deleting it. I don’t want to come off as an ignorant idiot. I learn something new almost everytime I visit which, I think, is a good thing.

]]> By: Ray http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/the-color-of-the-bikeshed-or-the-trouble-with-blogging/#comment-179606 Ray Fri, 16 May 2008 23:09:12 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3787#comment-179606 "While there is much to recommend this approach – it’s practically a commandment, after all" Steve, when I read that, I immediately thought the link would be to Kristine's post. peter, contrary to the perception generated by the few comments I write in the Bloggernacle, I also blog primarily so I can learn more. I love being able to visit a handful of sites regularly and be stimulated intellectually - to be exposed to things for which I wouldn't search automatically - to learn things that I would have to expend much greater effort to find on my own. For me, the Bloggernacle is like the library I would build if I had the resources. The difference is that I learn the best when I try to articulate what I think or believe. Putting it into words, some times after multiple edits, helps me sift through what everyone else says and find what resonates with me - what I can "make my own". With that learning modality, I comment to learn - which means I often comment about things even when I don't feel like much of an expert about the topic. When I do feel passionately about something, perhaps I comment slightly more. :) “While there is much to recommend this approach – it’s practically a commandment, after all”

Steve, when I read that, I immediately thought the link would be to Kristine’s post.

peter, contrary to the perception generated by the few comments I write in the Bloggernacle, I also blog primarily so I can learn more. I love being able to visit a handful of sites regularly and be stimulated intellectually - to be exposed to things for which I wouldn’t search automatically - to learn things that I would have to expend much greater effort to find on my own. For me, the Bloggernacle is like the library I would build if I had the resources.

The difference is that I learn the best when I try to articulate what I think or believe. Putting it into words, some times after multiple edits, helps me sift through what everyone else says and find what resonates with me - what I can “make my own”. With that learning modality, I comment to learn - which means I often comment about things even when I don’t feel like much of an expert about the topic. When I do feel passionately about something, perhaps I comment slightly more. :)

]]> By: William Morris http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/the-color-of-the-bikeshed-or-the-trouble-with-blogging/#comment-179604 William Morris Fri, 16 May 2008 22:50:50 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3787#comment-179604 #10 was a complete throw away line, but it had to be done. The cocoa puffs line, however, was in all earnestness. #10 was a complete throw away line, but it had to be done. The cocoa puffs line, however, was in all earnestness.

]]> By: Eric Russell http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2008/05/the-color-of-the-bikeshed-or-the-trouble-with-blogging/#comment-179603 Eric Russell Fri, 16 May 2008 22:50:23 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/?p=3787#comment-179603 "4. have softened my opinion of Mormon genre fiction writers." This cracks me up, William. Anything in particular that has led you to this? “4. have softened my opinion of Mormon genre fiction writers.”

This cracks me up, William. Anything in particular that has led you to this?

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