is blogging making us smarter?
April 27th 2007 04:23
image courtesy university of washington communication department
one thing that i must comment on is the high quality of writing skills and the intelligence of some of the contributors. this then leads me to ask the question of 'is blogging making us smarter?' is it only this blogging community or is it something that is familiar with blogging communities in general? i compare this to a regular conversation, say in a friends lounge room at night, where we have a few drinks, just finished dinner and are shooting the shit. catergories that you might discuss are similar to those that are covered in this community. 'did you see the demons beat the tigers?' or ' what do you think of that new movie by the korean director dude?'
i would like to say that my friends are all of high intelligence and can easily discuss most issues very well, but i am not sure if we would cross areas that are discovered between fellow bloggers. is this because we have the information super highway at our fingertips as we chat, or is the interest group more similar, or are bloggers smarter? (that is in no way a dis to any of my friends by the way!) is this community vehicle providing a means to equally educate those that freely participate within it?
not only in information does appear to excell, but also in conduct of how people communicate on it. thus far i have only read one negatively controversial blogging incident on mind orgasms, and even then it was more like days of our lives than a slander competition! i have witnessed a kind of self managed style of open forum discussions between orblers and others that are dropping by. it is almost like people don't even consider negative comments, but would take the high road of clever wit to make their point clear.
image by bjorn de leeuw
so i would then conclude that i do believe that this neo-liberal form of communication is providing its pro-sumers with an avenue to a free education. there are few boundaries except those that we place on them ourselves, and is adhering to a concept of authorless information with a rhizomic approach. is it then safe to say that blogging is making us smarter? what do others think, particularly if you are not an active blogger?
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Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
I'm not sure if blogging is making us smarter. I'd like to think that it's possibly educating and broadening horizons. I read posts about topics on Orble that I would never normally seek out. But it's so accessible on orble.
I think part of it, is that it takes time to put together a post or a comment. When you're speaking to someone, it's easy to speak before you think. In a virtual world where you have to type out your thoughts, I think it gives us the extra time to collect our thoughts....and often think about how to respond to a potentially negative comment in a way that is remarkably different than we would if we were talking to someone face to face (I probably should have put more thought into this comment before I started typing!).
Of course, you have to take everything said on any blog with a grain of salt. Who knows if everything is true? You can't always trust everything you read.
Anyway, I've babbled long enough. In short, I don't know if blogging makes you smarter, but there's certainly a hell of a lot of really smart people blogging!! Which makes for great reading.
Kylie
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
But also can be asked of books, radio and television.
Information bombards us at a fantastic rate and we process that data faster than ever before. We are more knowledgeable but are we smarter? I do know that knowledge is the resource that feeds intelligence. However plentiful the resource people can still mash it all up and get the wrong answer.
The positives are that I get to test my ideas on an audience. If it flops, so what? Can try again.
I haven't had much in the way of negative posts, except for a couple of people who thought that Blog is code for Vilification and Bigotry. Eventually such people only alienate themselves. Sometime they just become clowns for others to observe.
Blogging is fun and informative on one hand but deceptive and shallow on the other.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I agree with Kylie and Damo. If you read, you think. If you think, you exercise your brain. Does exercising your brain make you smarter?
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Nickoftime's Sanity Corner
great question...but I suppose anytime you're forced to use your brain on a daily basis you stay sharp and alert...does blogging make you smarter? Uh, I dunno...makes you wonder though...
Great post!
Take care,
Nick
Comment by David
Blogging has certainly made me smarter in the way I deal with negative, critical, deluded people on my Blog ... (but I attribute such 'smarts' to coming into contact with certain Blogger(s) whom have taught me how to do this beyond the Blogosphere) ... [Oh, and losing a Blog to the rubbish tip ...
I don't approach Blogging as a means of gathering information or being educated. There are much better reference sources on the net. I have, however, learnt a lot about creative writing, by observing the unique (and at times, inspirational) styles of other Bloggers. It has certainly improved my writing (Again, along with a few private tutorials, and 'slide shows') ...
And, I'm glad you enjoyed the final episode of 'Days of Our Blogs' on MO, and saw it for what it was ...
Cue DAOL music: 'As certain Bloggers disspear like cyber grains of sand through the hourglass of the ISH, so are the Days of Our Blogs' ...
David ...
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
I'd agree with that too.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
yes the blogosphere is certainly providing us with great reading. but is it only smart people blogging or more informed people blogging? or are we more informed because we are blogging?
this makes me think of something that duskidevi said in reference to listening with our eyes instead of our ears. so in this world we are talking with our fingers, and our fingers seem to have more tact than our mouths. perhaps next time i am in conflict with someone i should stop them in their tracks and tell them to read about it in my blog! thanks for your comments.
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
knowledge vs. smarts? this is something that i didn't consider with the broad title of 'smarter'. and i suppose you could back that up with just because you have a voice, doesn't mean you should use it or people are going to listen. if you are dribbling information, i suppose people eventually aren't going to listen. or are they? i guess some people can be the most intelligent people in the world, and still be stupid.
the 'clowns' that you refer to are always present, in real and virtual land, and you are 100% correct that they end up alienating themselves. i think wankers are visible to most people from a mile (or server) away.
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
yeah it all makes sense when you put it that way. i know that when i have been away from the books for a while, the first time i return i feel like i am starring at a blank piece of paper. but after a while (cue rocky music) i feel like i am ready to take on apollo creed!
but you could also be really buff and at the same time not be very strong. is there a way of comparing someone that gathers their knowledge from the internet to someone that reads a lot of books? i feel both might be highly intelligent, but one would be more diverse in their knowledge. does that equal smarter? thanks for stopping by.
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
it is interesting that you use the words 'forced to use your brain' on a daily basis. it is almost like you have this internal drive to expand yours naturally! is this the thought process of the blogger of the future? do you still only have five fingers on each hand?
pleased that i could stir on some thought process fo ryou.
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
so pleased you saw the lighter side of that, that was one wicked read! unfortunate that it had to be buried, but i'm sure it will live on in some peoples minds...
maybe you have hit the nail on the head there. maybe there's is no change in intelligence or smarts, but moreso an evolution in the communication process. in a sense, along with assisting my writing skills also, blogging has improved my communication skills generally. it's not often you get the chance to stick your head into someone's house, drop a one liner, bring the house down, and the piss off as quick as you entered!
Comment by Ahmed
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Comment by Ahmed
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Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Great Post and I see that my timing is impeccable again *chuckle* better late than never...
Pertinent question and not easy to answer … it has taken me time to think about it and previous comments already cover so much of the truth as I also see it.
I couldn't agree more than with what Mrs M said about having to think to read, rather than talk. I am not a big talker in the real world ... but do listen … listening here on orble is different, and without body language, not always as easily discernable - and that alone is an interesting point for me.
Trouble is that, for me, in reality most people don't converse anymore, face-to-face. To me it feels like face-to-TV and I always feel short changed at the end of it ... like I should have stopped to discuss a commercial break or something? *lol* Here in the Orbubble, the TV talks back and I think that is educational in itself for many?
I would agree with Damo here too, that whilst knowledge is the beginning of intelligence, it is not necessarily wisdom - that only comes from making mistakes.
In your conversation with David :
...and I agree that other's writing inspires me greatly at times. Perhaps that is worth more than intelligence …or is it the gaining of it, through insight you may not otherwise see, as people generally only engage in general shallow pleasantries, without the hard core of their souls on display? Blogging reverses the order somewhat, doesn't it?
But smarter as a result … on the whole? I would say yes and broken into its individual components… really shows itself when I am now in company in the real world, because the virtual world has somehow made the people in my real world more real and human … a paradox?
I think ‘reading’ people as we converse changes perception tremendously, don’t you? But since blogging, I am less personal and take less notice – more detached.
As a trained journalist, I know that no matter the reliability of your source, you should always check your facts wherever you find them, especially a blog.
As I said, a thought provoking post Jonathon, it will make me think for a while …
Lilla …
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
feeling a little politically charged at the moment?
i think generally you are correct that there appears to be more liberal people blogging, but from what i have seen there are also bloggers that take the 'i am author, i am god' stance. i think some people just don't understand what blogging is all about, and for that i also feel a sense of responsibility. this is an excellent way for people to share information in a public forum and not present their argument as the be all and end all judgement on various issues. so i feel sad when people come into these communities with a 'i am a god' complex.
we (as the coolest, most wicked bloggers that we are!) should take it upon ourselves to attempt to educate those that aren't down with liberal form of communication. however, i also understand that you can't always teach an old dog new tricks, so to quote damo:
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
wow! answered in a true journo style! weighed up from all angles and diplomatically discussed - along with proving my point further. nice effort.
the non-face-to-face point that you raise is interesting. i think you do have to read into what people are saying moreso when you can't see what expression they are giving with their body language. are they taking the piss or are they raising your point to another level? i think most bloggers take the open mind approach and allow the discussion to travel on the high road as opposed to the low. maybe this is the new form of interactive television - one that allows us to choose our own adventure and interactions with particular characters, without having to take a passive role in its play. this is educational at the least.
through this reverse order that you speak of, we don't have to deal with the bullshit of 'how are you?', 'lovely day isn't it?' that we fill our lives up with in general conversations. it is more direct in 'hello ______. right then, here is the nitty gritty of what we really need to talk about.....' and i find that quite refreshing. maybe that is the attraction to blogging that most people feel.
i actually had an interaction the other day where i read the person before i heard what they had to say, which completely distorted my opinion on the conversation. as i spoke to this american (and i don't mean to offend any americans here by any means.. it was specific to the time and place) as he ate his krispy kreams and drank his super size me coffee, i already had him summed up as to what kind of person he was. i then gave him that type of response that was worthy of a krispy kream eating, super size me coffee drinking consumer. but it wasn't until he said that he worked for a hyperdermic needle company, that supplies the un with supplies that my focus started to shift. it was after this interaction that i thought about my conversation style with him and realised how much i depend on visuals as an integral part of conversation. this would never happen in the virtual world.
so lilla, i must say that as much as i have made you think, you have to i. thanks for your response.
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
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I don't want to be tied down to this quote but I doubt you'd get many conservatives well versed with computers, because no matter how hard you try computers do exactly as they are supposed to, conservatives never can go along with the plan and if something doesn't work they claim it's broken or it's at fault and they have to *fix* it.
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
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Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
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www.opinionatedranter.com
Have fun trying to convince them Bill Clinton getting a blow job isn't as bad as George Bush having over 3000 US troops killed due to blundering mistakes.
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
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Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
i like shelley the republican however. it kind of reminds of turbonegro. are they for real, or just extremely taking the piss?
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
There is also something to be said about how you initially comment on a post. Go in all guns blazing and you're likely to put someone on the defensive and that's when it all goes down the toilet.
Blogging, if nothing else, makes you aware of other's opinions...and being 'aware' never hurt anyone's smarts.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
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Umm, as for those other two we have here on Orble, nah they're real as heck, Damo is right, just leave them be, they just post on each others blogs commenting on how 'great' the posts are, I'm just worried they'll grow, at least to a certain number and start hijacking orbles popular post lists continuously with their votes and comments...
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
thanks for putting this in context. you are right completely and communicating is certainly a two way street. we are all entitled to our opinions and we are certainly placing them in the public domain when we blog on them, which is opening up any subject for debate. perhaps we can all learn something from your coments here....
ahmed,
it shouldn't be a concern for you if they are just left to their own. isn't there a saying about any publicity is good publicity?
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
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You know, it kind of crosses the line when they say 'your opinoin sucks hence you don't deserve to live here'.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Yes, you're right Ahmed. That is unreasonable.
But just challenge what they have to say. If their argument is just empty rhetoric, it will soon fall apart.
And I suppose Jonathon that would also lead you to be 'smarter'. Critical thinking. Damo is a fan of critical thinking and always tries to promote it.
I'm feeling smarter already just on this post alone
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
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Come on, how do you argue with someone that it's going to flood if they are going to go and claim 'god promised to never flood the earth' despite there being an imminent tsunami and you have all manners of facts with you.
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Wow. That was a long sentence.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
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Comment by Lily
Bohemians United
Ars Poetica
seriously, i've learnt a lot at Orble, especially about thinking fast on my feet (whatever that means) when the comment pace steps up... and most of the Orble-ites are a good bunch of grapes...
~Lily
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
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Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy
would the honorable member of ahmed stop crossing the floor, and will the woman up the back stop teasing the animals!
i must admit i felt a bit like 'mr speaker' on this one. but you raise yet another point of increasing your response time on the internet. i think the speed of your comments are relative to your knowledge. if they are flying thick and fast (ahmed) you obviously know what you are talking about. if not, you might be researching to put your two bobs worth in. or you could be cooking dinner. one or the other.
yeah the orblers are pretty good. i like 'em.
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
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Though the last one was a joke.
Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts
Comment by Jonathon
Anthroblogogy