I made a couple of blog-related connections today. Someone whom I have long respected (professionally and personally) stumbled on the link and kindly took the time to tell me how some of the things written here had touched their life.
Later, I had lunch with kindred spirit Elaine Frei (who generously contributed the guest post and extensive book review of Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven) and her charming mother. It’s wonderful when online connections extend into the “real world.”
It’s easy to devalue blogging, especially for those in my generation who weren’t raised on the Internet. There’s a transience or lack of substance associated with this flighty medium. But the connections, friendships, and community I’ve formed and been invited into as a result of blogging are real. I’m grateful for the gentle reminders that words–the expression of ideas, feelings, experiences and beauty/ugliness–have power. Thank you.
6 responses so far ↓
1 nee // Apr 17, 2007 at 6:14 am
A few of my closest local friends were people I met on a local bbs in the early 90s. I have a couple good friends now that I have only talked to online and sometimes on the phone and our friendships have lasted for years through births, marriages, divorces, death, illness, and joy unspeakable (yet typeable lol).
Online is what you make it. I’m glad you make it good.
2 Miko // Apr 17, 2007 at 11:01 am
My friend was super freaked out when she heard I invited you to SMD: “You met this guy on the internet?!” Which is funny, to me, since that’s how I met my husband, too :-p As nee says, Online is what you make it. (I’m gonna steal that, nee)
3 Mark // Apr 17, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Blogging is a very powerful medium. I love the experience, the people I meet and the lessons that I am learning.
Great to hear how your blogging has translated to your real world.
4 SunflowerP // Apr 17, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Like Nee, I’m an “Old Modemer”, participating in the local dial-up BBSes in the ’90s. There was, and still is, a misconception among those who aren’t involved in online community that “those aren’t real friendships”. Well, if not, then I’ve never seen a real one in any venue - not at school, not in the working world, not in ten years of military reserve service, not in SF fandom, not in religion-based community.
I’ve never heard it suggested that old-fashioned snail-mail pen-pals didn’t develop “real” friendships. The various incarnations of electronic communication are little different, at the core, as a means of building intimacy; if anything, they allow it to be built more effectively.
Sunflower
“I have a life. I just live part of it online.”
5 nee // Apr 19, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Sunflower - long live the 1200 baud modem!! ehhehe
6 Elaine Frei // Apr 20, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Indeed, it was a wonderful lunch in wonderful company. Thank you so much for the invitation, John.
We’ve arrived home safely, by the way. I love going on vacation, but it is always nice to get home as well. Now I just have to find someplace to put all the books I bought during the week.
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