I doubt that my blog empowers me. If anything it distracts me from engaging the activities that would and that could make a difference.

That’s exactly the same thing I’ve been thinking myself. I’m obviously an exaggerated case, but I spend about 8 hours a day reading blogs, writing about blogs, and writing on my own. Those eight hours a day have introduced me to dozens of amazing people from around the world. They’ve also introduced me to places I never knew existed, issues I had never contemplated, and perspectives I would have otherwise never considered. But still, I wonder, what have I done with all that information? With all those conversations? What would I be doing with those eight hours a day if I wasn’t online?

Elenamary,

Oh how I’ve missed your racial polemics around these parts – you certainly liven this place up. But you know, you also expressed exactly what I get out of reading blogs that’s so hard to quantify – inspiration. I read 43 Folders because it inspires me to be more productive. I read Grand Lake Guardian because it inspires me to get more involved in my community. I read Regioblogs because it inspires me to stay informed about Monterrey. I read Get Rich Slowly because it inspires me to save money. I read Chris’ blog for inspiration to be more environmentally sensitive. And, like you, I read Xolo’s blog because it inspires me to be a better person.

Meanwhile, I don’t read blogs like Gawker, Boing Boing, and Defamer because they don’t inspire me to do anything. They are what everyone seems to be calling “infotainment.” Not that there’s anything wrong about being entertained by information … but for me personally, it’s just not as rewarding as inspiration.

NLXJ,

Like you, I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person from my online interactions. And you’re right, I’m sure that affects how I interact with other people. But still, there is a difference between inspiration and action. 43 Folders might inspire me to be more productive, but am I actually more productive? Am I involved in my community, or do I just feel like I am because I read my local neighborhood blog? What does it matter if I stay informed about Monterrey or not? Is reading Get Rich Slowly actually going to help me get rich slowly?

and why is your form calling me “elenamary”?

I know, it’s calling me Gustavo right now. WordPress changed the way it stores cookies in 2.1 and it’s making my blog confused.

jeje…i JEST. but what elenamary said about being inspired and learning. i don’t care ’bout Policy Change or Measuring Cups. it’s people being affected and carrying their new self forward into myriad interactions that are the most important changes to me.

it’s funny, because i used to denounce the internet in eveyr way possible, and especially blog triumphalists. but i’ve had my mind changed by seeing enough of these effects, and in experiencing my own growth from reading people’s minds and hearts that i’d never have the chance to know without blogs. now if only THEY had named them something different, i’d be truly happy.

so i come back to my original statement: it all depends on what blogs one is reading….

and why is your form calling me “elenamary”?

Oso, your blog has empowered you to continue with the white man soap box. It has empowered you to be answer to everyones question about anal bleaching and perhaps other serious topics that are googled and lead to you.

Hi! Your question presupposes important change as one that manifests in policy change! Or one that can be measured…how?

I cannot answer in that light and still please my own sense of truth.

If you were to pore over the comments in my blog as well as the incoming links and discussions (this is NOT a suggestion that you should, only one meant to predicate the next statement) you would see many people positively affected by sharing in the process of honesty and change that I am trying so hard for. THAT to me is a sign of amazing progress.

If ten people make one true shift in their approach; one actual change in their thinking; one earnest attempt at being something better than they were, we really couldn’t ask more from such a thing as a blog, regarding making changes in the world. After all, you know how it is. We are radioactive beings. We affect those around us, and like that creepy shampoo commercial, our interactions branch out in myriad directions.

But that is not the measure of my success, nor the goalpost I aim for, to be perfectly honest. It would be awfully grand for me to say as much. Really, I am only online to document a journey I am making. The rest is a gift. To whom, I’d be afraid to assert definitely.

I’ve been meaning to get more acquainted with your figure 8 for a while now. I would never criticize ‘conversation for conversation’s sake’ and, echo chambers aside, I think we’ve all seen a lot of examples of online dialogue emerging between people, groups, and nations, that would otherwise never be in touch. That’s really cool that your diverse ‘circle’ is focused on social justice issues. But here’s my question – has any concrete policy or measurable change come out of your discussions?

Leahpeah,

We Media was the first time I saw Lisa Stone speak about how blogging has empowered women and the potential of networks like BlogHer. I thought she was one of the most eloquent speakers there. As someone who rarely watches TV, most of my everyday thinking is rooted in what I read online – and almost all of that information comes from people that, in one way or another, I consider friends. One of the best performances I’ve ever seen was Stew’s Passing Strange. If it weren’t for you and Joe I would have never even heard of Stew.

Xolo,

What?! I thought, if anything, you’d point out the fact that I sold out and ditched the chanclas. Aren’t coats made for cold weather? We were in Miami. It was nealry 80 degrees. I should have stuck to the chanclas.

I didn’t mean to be critical when I wrote that we each focused on our own projects. I was as guilty of “navel gazing” as everyone else – I think that the structure of panels encourages it.

No wonder no one took you seriously.

I am amazed at your tenacity (you do admit that your initial description was half-hearted). You keep participating in these forums where it seems like most of the participants are more interested in navel gazing than reexamining the implications of the new medium.

I doubt that my blog empowers me. If anything it distracts me from engaging the activities that would and that could make a difference. So perhaps I should recuse myself from any further discussion.

But if I do have anything to say in the future, I will make sure I wear a sports coat…