Every once in awhile I find myself having very “meta” conversations – usually with D. or Sister – about blogging. The analytical side of me can’t help but wonder what all this bloggy business means. How it’s all going to play out down the road. If it’s a fad or a phenomenon. If we’ll all stick with it, or if one day we’ll look at our computers and think, “Nah. I’m done.”
Honestly, it’s something I think about a good bit, because when I started this blog late last year, I knew that it would enable me to document what was going on with the little man as well as provide me with an outlet for exercising the write-y side of my brain (and I believe that is the official scientific term: “the write-y side”). But what I didn’t know is that the discipline of writing every day (more or less) would change my life. And that I would, you know, make friends. And that people would read what I write. And stuff.
Anyway, last night I had an “anablog” (oh. punny. so very punny.) conversation with my sister, and we got on the subject of Blogher ’06, the big blogger conclave that wrapped up last week. There were around 750 bloggers in attendance – mostly women – and apparently they had panel discussions and got all sorts of freebies and spent a good amount of time meeting and talking with other bloggers. It sounds like it was quite the blogtacular.
But I have to tell you. My initial reaction to something like that? Well, it makes me twitch a little bit. Not so much that you would notice – you might just think I was blinking at irregular intervals – but trust me. It’s a twitch.
Now from what I’ve read, the women who were there had a wonderful time. And when I think about the big fun I had in Savannah with Addie, Lori, Robin and Theresa, I really do “get” why the Blogher convention is successful. It’s nice to put a name with a face, you know? I mean, even though Sarah and I have emailed a bunch and talked on the phone, it would be great to actually see her in person, to do that Universal Girly Greeting where you squeal just a little bit and then completely wrap your arms around someone while simultaneously swaying back and forth. I would totally do that to Sarah if I saw her in person.
And then she would run from me, frightened.
But here’s my fear about big bloggy gatherings – and keep in mind that I’m just thinking out loud, having had no experience at all with Blogher or any other super-organized gathering of Women Who Blog (unless you count supper at my house a couple of weeks ago, when Robin, Theresa and I had QUITE the “panel discussion” while eating chicken and wild rice casserole):
I wonder, once you got above 100 or so participants, if it wouldn’t turn out to be a little like high school. You know what I mean? Like there would be some sort of unspoken hierarchy that would make people a smidge resentful. If it would be clique-ish. If there would be some perceived “popular” crowd.
Because I can’t help but think that if I did in fact travel somewhere to “fellowship” with a huge group of bloggers, I would want the whole thing to be just a hair shy of a lovefest. Happiness all around. Sunshine and rainbows. No dissent amongst the masses. No drama.
This is one area where I’m a bit of an idealist, if you can’t tell.
So here’s what I want to know.
Let’s pretend that there was going to be a gigantor gathering primarily made up of Christian bloggers (I know that not everyone who reads my blog is a Christian – but since I am, that’s what we’re going with for the hypothetical). If time and money were no object, would you want to go? Why?
And if you did go, what in the world would you be hoping to get out of it? Do you think there’s value in rounding up 500 or 600 of your closest Christian bloggy buddies?
Because the optimist in me wants to to think that a gathering of hundreds of bloggers is a way for people to deepen relationships and enhance their mad bloggin’ skillz (and I’m sure that, for many of the women who attended Blogher, it was all that and more)…but the more skeptical side of me thinks I might be a little disillusioned if I saw people being snarky. Or if that whole high school mentality prevailed. Or if it seemed like people were just trying to generate more traffic for their sites.
What do y’all think? Would you go?
And just to be clear: I’m not planning anything. :-) OH SWEET MERCY no. But it does seem like I’m reading more and more about people meeting in real life – in groups of 5, 10, 25, etc. So it seems almost inevitable that Women Bloggers for Jesus ’08 – or something with a name that’s, you know, clever – will happen. Somebody will organize something – sooner as opposed to later, I think.
Thoughts?
Honestly when I first started blogging, and got the first invite to meet in person [which actually fell through] I was terrified. What is the difference in meeting a “blogging” friend from online, than a “chat room” friend…how do I know BooMama that you are really who you say….you know?
Then my husband and I discussed it and realized that although there could always be the slim chance someone faked everything on their blog and it was all a lie, that would be TOUGH for someone to do.
We came to the conclusion that meeting my fellow Christian Mommy Friends would be acceptable as long as we were in a public place (the first time I meet them) for instance.
Up to this point I’ve had 3 invitations to meet blog friends, but all of them have fallen through for one reason or another. I would NEVER want to go to some large convention of Christian Mommy Bloggers. If I blog with you, and then email you….maybe I want to meet you. But I don’t want to MEET you in person FIRST and THEN blog with you. I think the fun part of socializing via blogging is meeting them via their blog, finding them interesting and then working out ways to call them, email them and someday getting to see them in real life.
BooMama, I would meet you in real life…but not 600 bloggers I didn’t know…..
I don’t think I’d be able to make anything in the US, it’s a bit far! Which is a shame I’d love to see some of you face to face.
In a couple of weeks some blogging girls and I are going to spend a weekend in a hotel for some pampering, a swim, some good food, a bit of sight seeing, church, and lots of talking.
Kristina – Your comment made me think of a whole different discussion that my sister and I have had: is it possible for people to fake who they are on a blog? I think for awhile, yes, it’s totally possible – but especially if you blog regularly, I think it would be exhausting to pretend to be someone you’re not, to try to adapt a personality that’s not yours to begin with. BUT, I think the fact that I really do believe that is proof that I’m probably a little naive. :-)
Love your thoughtful answer…
A blog friend of mine just found out a blog friend of hers was a total fake, out for the emotional factor, apparently. She realized the drama was just a bit much over time, began to look more closely and discovered the photos we photoshopped, among other discrepancies. When called on it, the site was shut down. Made me sad, really, because I’m with you on the whole trust-niavely-because-really-people-are-good-most-of-the-time idealogy. I have to wonder why someone would go to that effort for a *blog* but, who knows. Made me sad for the person who was that desperate for attention. I agree that friendships build over time, and this is a fundamental aspect of bloggy friendships. We get to know each, then go to the next step. I think you are, for me, now more than a mere acquaintance but not yet my big buddy. And you probably haven’t even made that leap yet. And that’s okay. In a small (maybe out-there kind of way) it’s like tv we can choose–no commercials-or at least we can ignore them, no pressure to look great or thin or smart, we can read a bit and decide if we want to know more, we can choose personalities that appeal to us. Like so many others, I began blogging for me, as a writing outlet and a journal. It has evolved into more than that but when you read my blog it is still mostly for me. I am more aware that others are reading it but I still write from,and for, my heart. So, after a really long discourse *wink*, No-I likely would not go to a blogger convention. I’m still kinda old-fashioned about the whole bloggy thing.
I totally agree with Kristina’s thoughts, and yes, I agree that it can be fun in small groups, but the whole mega convention thing really throws me off…..I am not sure I would ever participate in something that large. For me, the value is in the friendships built, and one can only do that with a smaller number of individuals. I’m just a smaller group kind of girl, large crowds don’t interest me too much. Good points that you bring up, Boomama, and Yes, to think that someone would totally fake a whole life on a blog is kinda creepy….but I suppose it is done, and those people need help. It takes a long time to establish a relationship but I think over time you do get to know people in various ways using various means, and you kind of “get them” and know whether they are real or not. I did get together with eight other ladies from a bulletin board to all stay in a bed and breakfast and go to Round Top (huge antique show and flea market) and we had a blast. It took time to get to know them, and at that point we were all pretty sure of one another. Met a few other friends IRL the same way, and it worked out ok…..So it varies I guess case by case. Small groups for me-yes, but not the mega conventions, thanks!
I think the popularity of blogging is this. . .you can write about what you want, how you want, when you want. You can write about what you think–your feelings–your ideas. . .and since it’s mostly “anonymous” (I only gave my web address to friends I knew love me no matter what), there is no real risk. Plus–you can get that cognitive stimulation with absolutely no money involved while in the comfort of your own home. Let’s face it–a lot of people wouldn’t have this many friendships were it not for cyberspace. We are limited on time and resources due to the hectic lifestyles we live in these modern times. So blogging is attractive–especially to women–because we can connect with others.
The only blogs I visited at first were my own friend Sarah’s and ones who left comments for her. I thought all the blog stuff was so nice and sweet. . .then I went to a blog where someone had commented. . .read a comment someone had posted on their blog. . .etc. until I got to a blog where a man had attached photos [that were inappropriate]*. Up til that EXACT moment, I had no idea that there was a whole dark side to blogging.
I found you when my friend Sarah linked to your story about your mom and the fish camp (still laughing over that one).
I think blogging is like the world in general. We’d like all the people we meet to be nice and kind and loving and Christ-like, but they aren’t. We’d like for everyone to get along and not be drama queens and agree with us all the time and love us no matter what, but they don’t. It’s the nature of humanity.
Would I attend a blog thing? Probably not. I have a full-time job, a full-time family, full-time church committments, and not a lot of spare cash.
I have also pondered the wisdom of blogging. I have met a woman in Canada who sent my daughter and son some small gifts. . .I can’t honestly say I wasn’t a little wierded out by it when she initially asked, but it all turned out fine. She is a lovely lady. . .as are you. . .as (I hope) am I.
It may be a fad–if you want to call it that. I don’t think we’d call quilting bees a fad–but we don’t have them any more. It was a way for women to do hard work together while enjoying each other’s company. Our lives are still the same–but now the hard part is too many choices and too many options. Blogging offers us a time to slow down, reflect, laugh, read, and enjoy the company of others.
R–
*Roxanne – I did change a couple of words in your comment – not because there was anything wrong with what you said at all, but because I’m wary of the search engines (I get some weirrrrd google searches from time to time). Hope that’s okay!
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I guess we can always have a Blog Conference in Heaven! Wouldn’t that be great!? We wouldn’t have to worry about all the stuff that happens when something good gets too big and there are problems. I will look you up when I get there…… :)
At first it sounds fun. I am just the kind of person who would introduce myself to others as my blogname and laugh.
But, I also met some folks who are friends. I read their blogs and they all go to the same church. I felt a little on the outside. I was glad to meet them face to face, but it was a little awkward.
I would be most comfortable meeting people that I have become closer to. Say, a small group of 5-6. This would be more intimate and I would feel a better connection to a smaller group.
You know, I’m daunted by large numbers of people, especially when I feel like I’m somehow less than they are, if you understand what I’m trying to say. I don’t know if it’s the inferiority thing or what, but I honestly don’t know if I could ever show my face at one of those conventions. I would be the one that was thinking “Oh Lordie, they’re all wondering what someone like ME is doing here.” :)
On a totally different subject, was it an unwritten rule that everyone on the Homes Tour had to have WHITE KITCHEN CABINETS??? I do believe almost 99.9% of the almost 250 homes listed had that attribute, and being easily wowed, this amazed me.
I am new to your blog but enjoying this recent discussion. I think I am more in the “I’d love to meet in small groups” category than one big place. I have MIRL’ed a blogger friend in my area and we have been inseparable since. It’s awesome! I would be afraid in a big group that there would be some sweet bloggers left out or overlooked, and just like you said “highschool” which is totally not what any of us are about or would intentionally do, but may just happen because such is life!
I would never attend a massive blogger meeting. I would be extremely uncomfortable. I would, however, love to meet 3 or 4 people I’ve built a more than blogging relationship with for a girlie weekend.
Blogging is, of course, just another way to connect to people and form the occasional real friendship. So it would be natural to want to eventually meet some of the people you’ve connected with.
I mentioned the whole high school mentality in a comment I left on a blog a few days ago. You know if 600 bloggers meet, the people who have 200 subscribers are going to be the “stars.” And that’s pretty high school in my book. I can’t imagine anyone would voluntarily attend a festival that’s only going to make them feel “unpopular” or even insignificant. I think each of us blogs for a very real reason and our reasons all deserve the same level of respect.
I know we’re all big girls here. But I also know it’ll happen in that setting. I wouldn’t go near a meeting like that. But then, I’ve never been one for large gatherings. And I’d rather have two true forever friends than twenty nice acquaintances I don’t really connect with.
So I’m standing in the kitchen peeling potatoes and suddenly I think, you idiot. BooMama would be one of the “stars” at a meeting like that. So I hope you didn’t take that remark the wrong way because, you know, you’re different. :-)
You go right on ahead girl. . .Hee-Hee, Hoo-Hoo. . .whatever keeps the strange ones away. . .
Ummm…not sure if I would attend something like this…my first reaction is to say no…b/c of fear of “the wierd ones”…and by wierd, I mean malicious, dishonest…..
My problem would be most of the ones I want to meet are ALL OVER the country – mostly in the South. I don’t live in the south (and that’s ALL I am saying) So the only way I will ever get to meet (for example) BooMama is at one of those things… Which I won’t go to because as outspoken on my blog as I am – in a huge crowd like that – I clam up.
Well, My thoughts are definately I would be interested because I believe in being brutally honest when blogging, what is there to gain by lying about the real you?
When I began to blog I did not even believe you could make friends through this. I honestly have found more support in comments then I do being very active in a church. I can say more here and not feel judged, because no one really knows what I look like,they only know me by what I write yet they still care.
To meet is gain because it bonds you a little closer meeting face to face. Oh yes I would go.
If money were no object I think I’d go. I’ve met a good number of people who I’ve met online. Not so much in the blogging fashion, but from Chat rooms and an Online Game. They were good experiences for me. I’d love to met some of the wonderful ladies who I read regularly!
I’m all too familiar with the darkside of blogging and the internet. I’ve had a troll grace my blog(one time thing, it still wasn’t fun) , fakers in chatrooms, and met some just right out mean people. I always keep that in the back of my mind to be aware that unfortanatly there are those people out there. I do not let it deter me though.
I’m with most of the other commentors. I’d go to something small. A big ole convention would put me off a little I think. Just out of fear of the whole possible high school clique thing. I didn’t like that then, and I’m sure I wouldn’t care for it now.
I keep flip flopping though. I’m leaning towards a cautious yes.
I was totally think about a Christian blogger bunch thing as I read this. I think that would make the difference for me. Not to sound snobby, really. But, there would have to be some sort of standard- either Christian or family friendly- for me to go. Otherwise, you don’t know what you are walking into…
It may end up looking like a treky convention- I mean we all are geeks, really. Whowoulda thunk I could be a computer geek? Cool, dude.
I think about this all the time. Why did I start blogging? Why do I still blog? Honestly I go back and forth a lot and sometimes wonder if I’m going to shut it down. I started through you and Sarah after reading Lisa Whelchel’s site. I thought it would be an outlet to journal and say what goes on in my head. Then I started and realized that I really wanted to make contact with someone. So many of you seem to be in contact, on some level, that I wanted to be “in” and then I felt left out (like high school). Then I thought (can you hear my wheels spinning) “that’s crazy”, me blogging should be for me. I wonder all the time if people are lying and am using christianity as my proof of their telling the truth. So many of you seem so awesome and I would love to meet you. So many of you seem to be in the southern US and that’s pretty far from me. Definitely meet in a small group setting because if we did meet it would be because we were friends and I would want to concentrate on knowing you and not be distracted my crowds. I guess I am hoping that I will meet someone that we may get to be friends. Blogging makes the world so much smaller and at the same time I feel I’ve found an army of female christian soldiers! Thanks for the thought provoking thoughts!
I’d likely not go. I am the kind of person who wants to get to know (really get to know) a few people instead of just small-talking with 100 (or even 25…. goodness, I think even 10 would be too much for me.) I imagine that in a large setting we’d all have a desire to get to know certain people, but what if they don’t want to get to know you. And what if someone wanted to get to know me that I wasn’t so interested in. So in that respect, I agree that it would be very much like high school, with people scrambling to sit next to so-and-so, while the others get ignored. (So, no thank you.)
I think if you were the kind of person who wanted to increase traffic on their blog, or learn some html, or pick up some technical knowledge, or learn to interpret blog stats, etc., a conference would be great… but not for “getting to know” other bloggers per se.
I have also wondered about how much of the “real” person comes through in a blog, so in that way it might be nice to meet people IRL. I have preconceived notions about a lot of bloggers (particularly the ones I DON’T read, for some odd reason) and I wonder how well their lives match up to their blogs… (though the purpose of the blog would make a difference.)
Now I ramble. But you’ve got me rehashing a lot of things I have also been pondering lately.
My thoughts are, if you organize it, they will come. Make it a public place, out in the open, in a central location. Make sure all the details are clear and that there are hotels and restuarants available for all budgets.
I haven’t been to any blog meets but I’ve read of quite a few, and some of those were fairly successful. Some of those groups of bloggers became very close to each other afterward. If they had one near me, I’d go.. as long as it was out in public and there wasn’t anything secretive about it.
What you’re doing here sounds fun! I’d go for it. :)
I’m here via Tammy’s blog. Hope you don’t mind an alternative viewpoint? :) Just thought it was a great idea.
Small groups, say 10 or smaller? Yes. Big mega groups? NO, not for me. Not because I’m antisocial or can’t get along in a group setting, but because I want to get to know each person better and relate to them individually. I have absolutely no interest in driving large amounts of visitors to my blog. I like repeat visitors that I can develop a relationship with, not anonymous numbers on my sitemeter.
As for putting up a front? Me? I don’t think so, BooMama. I’m about as upfront as it gets. Shameless, you might even say. ;-) Sorry, I don’t know how to be any other way. :-)
And that is why we love you, Diane.
-boomama :-)
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I would definitely do the smaller group thing. I’m a much more small group type of person. Of course, I am totally in the girley squealing and hugging greeting thing- ask anoyone who hasn’t seen me in, uh, three days or so. You know- long term stuff.
But that aside, once you come back and the fear is gone …
I enjoyed our Kansas City Blogger luncheon–but at about 15 participants, it bordered on being a bit too big. Still, it was fun to put faces with names.
When my sister (Half Pint House) met up with Shannon (Rocks) and Chilihead (Don’t Try this at Home) over coffee and pastries–that was much more enjoyable.
A Blogher convention of 500 or 600 women?? I am honestly thinking, “What’s the point?” But maybe I’m missing something.
When I first started blogging, I would have been terrified at the thought of meeting another blogger, but now, I’d love to do that. There are quite a few around here where I live, but none of them has ever made an overture to meet. I did get invited to Vegas for a group get-together, but I couldn’t afford to do that now. I think I wouldn’t hope to “get anything” out of it except meeting in person and cementing the bonds we all feel anyway, and being able to put a face with a name and an image.
I sound like a parrot, mimicking everyone else’s response, but I am in the camp that says – small groups, yes; big groups, not so much.
I went to the KC Bloggers lunch when I had only been blogging for about a week. It was very strange to be talking to a bunch of women who all “knew” each other from their blogs, when I had only just started reading/writing. But, as I read their blogs now, I feel like I have a better understanding of who they are, and more of a connection with them. It was a valuable experience for me, to see the bloggers behind the blogs, even before I had any preconceived ideas about what they were like. And it was very encouraging to feel so accepted right away, even though I didn’t know all of the bloggy history or anything. The group was almost too big for an ideal mirl event, though. I never did get to meet Jules or Jamie, who were down at the other end of the table from me. I am hoping that the September Coffee gathering will be just a touch smaller, so we can all participate in a conversation together.
So, my point? No, I don’t think I’d have interest in attending a big blog conference even if it was specifically for Christian women.
i enjoyed reading the comments on this subject. when i first started blogging i was surprised at how quickly i came to know the 3 people who commented on my site and i looked forward to their comments and reading their blogs and it was easy to forget there were other people out there reading as well. i kind of wanted to hide a lot about myself so that the crazies wouldn’t find me.
the friendship thing that develops with blogging was such a nice surprise. there are about 5 bloggers i’d like to meet, maybe 10 but not 100s.
I’ve got a go ahead from my husband for the Let’s Meet in Dallas, Oct, 2006 and now that he’s said it’s fine, I wonder if I want to go. Sarah will likely be there, I’d love to meet Lauren, but I don’t enjoy big groups of people either. I’d be more excited about 10 people meeting (or less) than 100 or more.
I had a monthly luncheon thing at my house a year or so ago, group started at 12, grew to closer to 20 and when they’d all leave, I felt like I’d hosted, but not connected with a single one of them.
PS Sarah would NOT run, she’d giggle and squeal and love every minute of it. But I suspect she’d prefer small small gathering also.
Interesting… very interesting question and discussion… I too am with the others. Although I am an extrovert and love people, a large convention might be a bit overwhelming.
I too would probably prefer a smaller gathering where you could actually get to know a few of those that were in attendace.
Hi BooMama,
Small groups would be okay…but I’d be hesitant about a mega blog convention…unless, let’s say, a blogger friend said, “Hey, I’m going…let’s meet there!” Then, that changes the dynamics of it. Shucks, I don’t know what I’d do.
Just call me “flip-flop.” ;-)
The only way I’d go to a BlogHer-size gathering is if I had a small group of friends line up to meet there. We’d sit up late, each a bunch of stuff that is bad for us and skip all the meetings so we could just hang out.
So no, I don’t think a huge convention is all that appealing. The gathering in Dallas (for the love of Pete, BooMama, you MUST come) is about as big as I’m comfortable with.
And I’m with you on how fascinating this whole blogging phenomenon is. Sometimes I feel like I’m on the front row watching an entirely new method of communication emerge. Very interesting.
I haven’t been blogging very long although I have been reading blogs for awhile. My thought is that as I read different blogs, there are some people that I can relate to, feel inspired by, or learn from and others that just don’t click with me for whatever reason. It’s not that those blogs aren’t well written or thought provoking, they just aren’t for me because I guess I just don’t feel like there is much common ground.
I tend to read blogs of people that I feel like I could be friends with in “real life”. I would think that people would either read or not read my blog for the same reason.
So, I guess my long rambling point is that in real life I prefer to have a few close friends, so in blog life I guess I’m the same way. In other words, (finally a point!) I would be up for meeting a few people but not for a huge convention type thing.
Oh, Boomama, you KNOW I’d totally hug you back! I’m a good Southern girl; we all hug! You don’t scare me; I’d never run:)
Anyway, we could go to the huge Blogfest, and then if we didn’t like it, we could run the other direction with Robin and Addie, etc. and go pig out and drink tons of diet Coke somewhere else. But I’m always up for something new and fun. I think.
I haven’t met any bloggers in the flesh (other than people I knew beforehand who happen to blog too, if you see what I mean). I’d happily meet one or two who happened to be passing through Cyprus, but like many who have commented, NO WAY would I got to a large blogging festival. Especially if it was all women. Ugh. I like mixed gender events, preferably with no more than 10-12 people present.
Pondering why so many commenters don’t like the thought of a huge blog-fest, it occurs to me that probably most of us are Introverts. Most people online are, and blogging is the ideal way for Introverts to express themselves. No yucky talking, no hugging and kissing and that kind of stuff with strangers, and if we say something stupid, we can just go back and edit it.
So if most of us are Introverts, of course we wouldn’t want to attend a huge party of bloggers. Leave that to the extraverts who probably don’t have time to blog as they’re so busy doing things with other people anyway.
I think that I would want to go if other bloggers that I felt “close” to were going….I have never met any blog friends in person, so at least there might be some extra safe feelings about doing it in a conference setting.
But, honestly I would be afraid of the same thing you said-the high schoolness of it all, or the popular crowd and the unpopular ones.
I think that if there was one happening close to me (so that it wouldn’t cost so much money or too much travle) and there were people who I really would like to meet going, then I might consider it…maybe….and then again, I might just chicken out.
Wow. Love all of these comments. First of all, I am planning on attending the Let’s Meet thing in Dallas for two reasons. #1–It’s close and #2–I will already know several people there. Which is why, I think, I was so comfortable coming to the absolute boondocks to see you. If you were an axe murderer, I had a better chance with Theresa in tow!!=)
I like the idea of just a few meeting because you can really get to know each other rather than run around trying not to miss someone because it’s your only chance to “see” them. Make sense? I thought the Savannah group was perfect. We all fit in one car and around one table. It made for everyone getting to know everyone at once without having to repeat (too much) conversations.
Paulette–“I honestly have found more support in comments then I do being very active in a church.” Really? I would be interested to know why it is you feel this way. I don’t personally feel that blogging should ever take the place of support from the local body of Christ. Not to stir up any yuck yuck here. I just found myself curious as to why this was.
For me, a small group would be more comfortable than a large group. If the purpose is to get to know one another better, then a small group is the way to go (like the difference between a Sunday school class and a worship service.) I can’t see myself attending a huge convention unless I was going with or meeting up with a friend or a small group of friends.
There’s tons of good thoughts here, and I don’t have much to add that hasn’t already been said. I’m with most people here, I’d love to meet some blog friends but I would NEVER attend a blog convention. Just not my style.
I think it was Walt Whitman who said “We read to know we’re not alone,” and I think this really rings true with blogs. There are so many blogging mamas out there because we’re busy with kids and all it entails, and it’s just so great to have some friends “over” for some adult stimulation, even if it is through cyberspace. Granted, it should never take the place of real-life friendships, but I know for me, it really helps my sanity to read some “girlfriend’s” thoughts, or write my own, during naptimes. That’s my main appeal to blogging.
I’m planning on attending the “We Wanna Meet” that is being hosted in Dallas in October but hopefully the number planning to come won’t really make it a convention!!! I think smaller groups are better because the interaction is more personal (one-on-one) and… well, isn’t that what it is all about… meeting the people whose postings have added joy and laughter to our lives and forced us to grow emotionally AND spiritually?
I’m with Shannon@Rocks In My Dryer, BooMama… I’d love to say thank you in person and well, maybe present you with a chocolate kiss for making my life just as a little sweeter!
Why do people write books instead of having real relationships to just “tell” people and meet and share their lives?
Sort of the same with blogging. Limitations. Life limitations.
There are different kinds of needs, different kinds of relationships…they all don’t have to do the same thing or be the same thing or even be “live” to be legit.
I guess thinking, I couldn’t be the type of friend…as “real”…as I’ve been to some prominent leaders I’ve met through blogging who really do listen to me and consider what I have to say…but, we wouldn’t be friends in “real life” I don’t think for a variety of reasons. Not just location, but interests, family cycle, etc.
Though people CAN fake online…I’ve seen accountability having the potential to be HIGHER… I can say something from my heart to someone online and not really be concerned if it’s going to rip my life apart.
It provides oversight so that we can be friends with people online, and yet discpline ourselves to keep it in full view, moderated (cross gender, for example).
Deep thoughts. Thanks for a fun blog to read. I love your personal “lingo”. It’s refreshing.
I think there’s a difference between a big conference and small groups that get together. The little groups are centered around a connection that has already been made. A pre-existing friendship. The one common denominator in a big get together is blogging. And I just wonder how much that aspect would change things.
I have no idea how many women are going to the Dallas thing, but I’d estimate a few more than 5. I love, L-O-V-E, love the women putting it together and others that I know are going. I would just be tickled pink to meet some of them. And I’ll be uber curious to hear how it goes. (OK, writing the word uber felt a little weird, but I’m not gonna change it.)
I wonder if the Christian aspect would really change anything. I read a few of my favorite blogs that I like to lurk on after Blogher, and I think some were disillusioned. And these are bigger name bloggers, not some little peon like me.
So I guess I’m saying my comfort zone is chicken and rice dinners, versus, hotel catered, information booth filled, blogapalooza’s.
A lady recently posted a comment on my blog. When I went to her profile, I realized that we were the same age, same astrological sign (blogger shows this, so I knew we were born at about the same time of year), and lived in the same state. I emailed her because I thought that was so cool, and then I thought, “What if she thinks that I’m really some crazy stalker who is just telling her lies?” It made me feel a little strange, even though I was really who I said I was!
I think that if a small group of friend-ly bloggers went to one of these big things, it could work. Ya know, see what it’s all about, learn something new. To go by myself – no! A group thing though of 5 or 6 going together, I could do that – I think!! :D
I have had one random blogger meeting when a fellow blogger was visiting a family member at the hospital where I worked. I would love to eventually go to a large blogger meet-up, however, although I am certainly QUITE unknown.
I would imagine it would not be unlike the days that I did on-line dating. You resonate with someone on-line, so you decide to meet them, and some of the meetings are good, and some of them are awkward, but sometimes one of them sticks and you end up planning to spend your life with him. At least, that’s my story.
But that would be fun!
I’m all for gathering with other Christian women. It fills your spirit! Smaller groups would be to my liking as you can bond more.
I went to JournalCon in 2004, and while it was in no way themed (Christian, women, Christian women or otherwise), it was NOT good. The biggest reason I decided to go was that it was held in D.C., and my best online friend, Danielle, lived in Fairfax. She generously opened up her apartment to me, and, in fact, is the one who convinced me to go. There was a wall of open invitations, where people invited the group at large to go to dinner with them, etc., so we joined one such group.
That was made up entirely of a clique of people who already knew each other.
And referred to each other by their blog names.
And who wanted nothing to do with “lobsterchicky” and “joeparadox.”
It was kind of a miserable weekend (the convention, that is; Danielle and I finally cut out and had a great time on our own), and I’d be loathe to do it again.
Oh Mama, what a story that would be. That’t all I’ve got to say ;-)
If the event were geared equally to encompass both educational and social goals, I’d consider it. I’m not sure I’d attend a large gathering primarily for the social side, however; that seems better suited for smaller groups. I would be interested in panel discussions, workshops, meeting prominent/successful bloggers, etc. and that sort of thing would be more conducive to a large, nation-wide event, methinks.
Uh…if time and money were not obstacles, of course.
Nope, I wouldn’t go to a convention of bloggers. I may get together with a few if I felt very comfortable with them, but in general, conventions are not usually fun, & I think a blogger convention would just be weird. Now that I’ve said that, I’ll probaby have to eat my words. But that’s how I feel right now. Good discussion.
You know what? There are your blog friends and your real life friends and I see no reason to mix them. Of course I am the queen of compartmentalizing so maybe I can’t speak objectively to this.
I like the pseudo-anonymity. It’s easy to talk to strangers but once you put feelings with a face, it just gets harders to be straight up.
No. Wouldn’t want to attend a convention. Mind you, I have a pen-pal I’ve known since about 8th grade. We are 35ish now. HER I have yet to meet but I want to. I wanted her in my wedding 5 years ago but she’s on the West Coast, I’m on the East and it’s expensive to travel. That’s OK. But how many years went by before the Pen-Pal relationship turned into the real thing? Quite a few. Probably would be the same for the blogging world for me. I’ve only been at this since May and I am a writer so I don’t know what took me so long.
Just too early to tell I suppose. But for now, I’ll meet you in cyberspace.