This is just speculation, but how do you think modified would be if the footblogs forum was removed? Would there be less members, or the same members? Would there be more interactions between people, or less? Would other sections of modified, become less or more active?
Here's really what I've been thinking about - It seems to me that are two ways of framing internet forums - as a resource or as a conversation. A resource means that the value is in the content of a post. A conversation means that the value is in the interaction between the people involved. In a sense we have information capital vs social capital. Of course it's not really a dichotomy, everything is a mix of the two.
The rise and dominance of the internet over traditional media is attributed by a lot of people as being because it has a much stronger emphasis on taking advantage of social capital over information capital, and forums in particular have the appeal of being a place to interact with others of similar values, rather than a place for reading information.
At the same time, it seems like footblogs reduces interaction. While they still have some interaction, most of the posts by people who aren't part of that blog are people with strong connections to that person. Each blog is made up of the person of the blog and their close friends and without meaningful connections between blogs. If there were no blogs would people post the same kind of content in more interactive subforums, or just not post it at all? Does the footblogs forum build community or segregate it?
Given the popularity of the footblogs section, it seems like it would be a very unpopular decision to get rid of it (although not necessarily bad for modified or footbag in the long run), so I doubt that would happen, but personally I'm going to try to not post here any more, at least unless someone can put forward a convincing argument that it's actually beneficial.
Removing Footblogs
Why would anyone need to put forward an argument over whether posting here is beneficial? Is it not enough that people enjoy posting in their blogs?
I enjoy chronicling my thoughts about whatever and writing about my game, and I like that I can look into people's blogs and get a taste of their world and their scene. I like how loose it is and a lot of my favorite posts in other people's footblogs really have nothing to do with footbag. A lot of us know each other, are pretty tight, and I love that this is a hub that let's me speak to a specific group.
Why does this need justification?
Also, I would be VERY upset if my footblog got deleted.
I enjoy chronicling my thoughts about whatever and writing about my game, and I like that I can look into people's blogs and get a taste of their world and their scene. I like how loose it is and a lot of my favorite posts in other people's footblogs really have nothing to do with footbag. A lot of us know each other, are pretty tight, and I love that this is a hub that let's me speak to a specific group.
Why does this need justification?
Also, I would be VERY upset if my footblog got deleted.
Nicholas Laroche
Maybe I didn't make myself clear.
I wasn't asking for people to justify why the forum should remain - I agreed that it's very popular and that it would be very unlikely for them to be removed. I asked for justification for me personally to participate in the footblog section - a demonstration of a reason why they aren't segregative rather than fostering community.
For the record I was the person that introduce the footblog section to modified (although Allan Haggett had the original idea).
I wasn't asking for people to justify why the forum should remain - I agreed that it's very popular and that it would be very unlikely for them to be removed. I asked for justification for me personally to participate in the footblog section - a demonstration of a reason why they aren't segregative rather than fostering community.
For the record I was the person that introduce the footblog section to modified (although Allan Haggett had the original idea).
My bad.
I didn't realize you we're referring to your own will to post here... (maybe change the subject?)
I'm not sure anyone else would be able to justify you posting in the footblog section, except yourself. If I understand your position correctly, although Australia does have a scene, you're pretty far from anyone else and end up kicking alone most if not all the time. Also, I don't think you play that much anymore. Furthermore, having not been to any really large footbag gathering, you don't have that real personal connection that a lot us do.
I'm sure most if not all of us only read footblogs of people we know, and that can make it pretty lonely for someone without those relationships.
I didn't realize you we're referring to your own will to post here... (maybe change the subject?)
I'm not sure anyone else would be able to justify you posting in the footblog section, except yourself. If I understand your position correctly, although Australia does have a scene, you're pretty far from anyone else and end up kicking alone most if not all the time. Also, I don't think you play that much anymore. Furthermore, having not been to any really large footbag gathering, you don't have that real personal connection that a lot us do.
I'm sure most if not all of us only read footblogs of people we know, and that can make it pretty lonely for someone without those relationships.
Nicholas Laroche
Dictionary.com describes a blog as
So on that basis, my opinion is that if you feel your blog should be something more than just a personal record, or you want more from the whole blogging experience, then perhaps its not for you.
The only thing i dont like is that my footblog is still just a forum thread, not a blog, but hundreds here tolerate that and these days so do I, although I am looking to move mine to another server and post links and summaries to my blog here.
Which if you take the word "thoughts" and switch it for "tricks" would probably sum up the footblog section. For me, thats just it, its a personal thing, it doesnt matter to me that theres limited or no interaction on it, I still like to flick through my old vids and see my progress even if the rest of y'all dont!a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page;
So on that basis, my opinion is that if you feel your blog should be something more than just a personal record, or you want more from the whole blogging experience, then perhaps its not for you.
The only thing i dont like is that my footblog is still just a forum thread, not a blog, but hundreds here tolerate that and these days so do I, although I am looking to move mine to another server and post links and summaries to my blog here.
I would have to go with: very unclear. Your initial post contained many questions in the first and fourth paragraphs. Those questions are about footblogs in general as opposed to your taking part in posting on your own. Asking them will obviously result in generalized justifications. Only the last sentence of your original post gives some indication that you also wanted some feedback on your personal involvement, if people wished to supply it.Jeremy wrote:Maybe I didn't make myself clear.
I wasn't asking for people to justify why the forum should remain - I agreed that it's very popular and that it would be very unlikely for them to be removed. I asked for justification for me personally to participate in the footblog section - a demonstration of a reason why they aren't segregative rather than fostering community.
I don't know you very well, but if I met you at a tourney and wanted to learn more about you and see how your game was/is progressing, this is where I would do it. A demonstration of a reason why they are not segregative is the simple fact that anyone can post in anyone else's footblog at any time. They don't foster "cliques," but rather provide a place for people who don't connect via other mediums (phone, email, facebook, IM, letters, Morse code, etc.) to keep in touch and strengthen relationships.
It really all comes down to you -- I don't see how others can supply you with an argument that will be the catalyst to your either continuing to post here or not. If they tell you that your footblog inspires them and that they love reading about a mixture of footbag and touch football, it' still up to you whether or not their enjoyment of what you proffer is important to you.
I read it, but is that enough?
Mark Bull
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Jeremy wrote: The topic is speculating about whether or not the footblog section is good for modified, and what would happen if it were removed. At the same time I recognise that it would be very unpopular and unlikely for it to be actually removed.
Jeremy wrote: I wasn't asking for people to justify why the forum should remain - I agreed that it's very popular and that it would be very unlikely for them to be removed. I asked for justification for me personally to participate in the footblog section - a demonstration of a reason why they aren't segregative rather than fostering community
Nicholas Laroche
The topic is about what it says it's about in the first post. You misread it and launched into some reactionary post about how angry you would be if the footblogs were deleted. I then basically reposted the parts of my post that explained how the footblogs wasn't going to deleted. You then again misunderstood and thought that this was a topic about something other than the initial post.
I just assumed when you said; "Why does this need justification? " that you were referring to the part of my post where I said; "personally I'm going to try to not post here any more, at least unless someone can put forward a convincing argument that it's actually beneficial."
Reading over the first post, it is straight forward. The second only confused things because I didn't repeat the actual topic I was bringing up, only repeated the bits to address Nick's concerns.
People who wonder what this topic is about should just read the first post in its entirety and respond to that, rather than to Nick's reactionary outrage or my responses to it.
I just assumed when you said; "Why does this need justification? " that you were referring to the part of my post where I said; "personally I'm going to try to not post here any more, at least unless someone can put forward a convincing argument that it's actually beneficial."
Reading over the first post, it is straight forward. The second only confused things because I didn't repeat the actual topic I was bringing up, only repeated the bits to address Nick's concerns.
People who wonder what this topic is about should just read the first post in its entirety and respond to that, rather than to Nick's reactionary outrage or my responses to it.
Re: Removing Footblogs
I feel modified would be a litle less personal but I would still come here...I come here for the videos not blogs. There would be the same amount of members. Interactions? Honestly I think their would be less interactions and this place would be more like a library. "October 15 2010-Penske hits his first arch nemesis>nemesis" and stuff like that. Obviously the new moves an new runs threads would be crowded.Jeremy wrote:This is just speculation, but how do you think modified would be if the footblogs forum was removed? Would there be less members, or the same members? Would there be more interactions between people, or less? Would other sections of modified, become less or more active?
At the same time, it seems like footblogs reduces interaction. While they still have some interaction, most of the posts by people who aren't part of that blog are people with strong connections to that person. Each blog is made up of the person of the blog and their close friends and without meaningful connections between blogs. If there were no blogs would people post the same kind of content in more interactive subforums, or just not post it at all? Does the footblogs forum build community or segregate it?
If there were no blogs people would not write the same type of posts. Maybe there would be an event write up thread or some things along those lines but you would not have those personal "write whatever is on my mind because I am procrastinating" posts that are fun to read. In regards to the segregation well I would say 51% segregated. I am obviously noy going to go posting in the Chicago footblog but if im in school Ill read it. I think most people like seeing somebody post in their blog so that is building community I guess.
