Blog Controls

This weekend I was reading a review of a book in the local paper. The book was written by a Houston-area blogger and the reviewer also interviewed her. One of the questions was how did she decide what subjects were "off-limits" on the blog. She said she kept three "control persons" in mind for this purpose--her father, an ex-boyfriend and one other close friend.

Which made me think about my blog control persons. I would say they are Portia and Babs (and by extension other family members who do read my blog regularly), and the blogging friends I have made over the years who do NOT agree with me on all things religious and political. Thinking about their reactions to a possible post may prompt me to revise it or decide that it is more prudent not to post it.

Who are your Blog Control Persons?

Blogging in the Age of Facebook and Twitter

PresbyBlogger Carol Howard Merritt at Tribal Church posted a series of questions and answers on blogging in the church that came out of a webinar she led for the Albans Institute on the subject of Social Media Strategies. This is an excellent resource for pastors or others in the church who are considering beginning a blog and wondering how that differs from the church webpage or Facebook page.

The post got me thinking about whether or not blogging is--or will become--"so yesterday" in the fast-moving world of today's internet. I have noticed in the last six months or so a significant decline in comments on my blog and on other blogs that I follow. My blog traffic is slightly down, too, and other bloggers have made the same observation.

Since joining Facebook, I've noticed some fellow bloggers are writing much more frequently there than on their blogs. Some are also using Twitter instead of blogging or posting on Facebook. Facebook entries usually are more personal because the readers are a group of "friends" and not just anyone on the net. Twitter limits information that is shared but it is shared with anyone who wants to follow your tweets.

Each of these social media meet different needs for different people. I prefer blogging because it requires more thought and deliberation and encourages an exchange of ideas throught the comments. I've met some great friends online that I would never have met on Facebook or known to look up on Twitter.

How about you? Are you blogging less and Facebooking or Twittering more? Why or why not?

Which Way Is Up Department

Bloggage has been light lately due to the twin press of presbytery and family business at an already busy time of the year. After tomorrow, it should be better. Prayers appreciated.

Special meetings and Christmas preparations don't mix well.

Just sayin'.

On the bright side, a new Whole Foods opened up near me and I managed a quick trip through the fish market this afternoon, scoring a lovely flounder for dinner!

Of Letters and Blogging

My father was a great letter writer. He was an insurance agent and often found himself with free time while he was waiting to meet with a customer at their home or workplace. To fill the time, and also because he loved correspondence, he would whip out some of his business stationery and write letters to family and friends.

When I was in college I would get several letters from him each week. In those days long-distance phone calls were expensive and reserved for special occasions or a weekly call from college to check in with home. So I loved getting his letters because he had the gift of writing just like he talked.

El Jefe's mother was also a great correspondent with the gift of sending herself along with her letters. She saved in a scrapbook all of the letters and cards he sent her from England the year he spent at Cambridge.

We treasure the relatively few letters we saved from each of them, particularly since they both passed away when Babs and Portia were preschoolers so they don't remember them very well.

Last night it occurred to me that blogging has taken the place of correspondence for many of us. Like my father, I enjoy writing about what is going on around me but I post it on a blog rather than in the mailbox. Since a blog is way more public than a letter, I reserve the more personal information and reflections for phone calls and face-to-face conversations.

Letter writing has become a lost art. Historians have always found old letters a treasure-trove of information for research. Will historians of the future use blogs in the same way?