Everything You Do is Permanent by Motte Brown on 11/08/2007 at 5:10 PM

New media is accessible, inexpensive, and user friendly. Which means a lot of people are doing it. It also means that there are a lot of people doing it poorly.

Christians doing new media well was a theme that ran throughout this morning's sessions. First, Dr. Mohler said that the Lord will hold us accountable for the opportunity we have. And then Dr. John Mark Reynolds, founder of the Torrey Honors Institute, reminded us that the virtual reality is ... real.

Dr. Reynolds likened how we communicate online with a conversation. Except, unlike conversations, what we write is more permanent. He said, "Everything you do is permanent." And though we've developed a certain tolerance level communicating poorly, we need to realize that when we blog and podcast, we are doing it in the real world, with real consequences.

Here's his advice for communicating well in the real virtual reality,

1. You are who you are and you can't become someone else. You can't recreate yourself with a shiny website and self-declaration.
2. Write and speak less about yourself and more about external ideas. Dr. Reynolds said the most interesting people he knows are interested in other people and ideas.
3. Do not pose as an expert if you aren't one. You'll look like a fool.

This is really helpful. But I can see how it might be more beneficial for all you lone bloggers and podcasters. My fellow contributors and faithful commentators at the Line do a pretty good job of humbling me when I communicate poorly.

Everything You Do is Permanent by Motte Brown on 11/08/2007 at 5:10 PM

New media is accessible, inexpensive, and user friendly. Which means a lot of people are doing it. It also means that there are a lot of people doing it poorly.

Christians doing new media well was a theme that ran throughout this morning's sessions. First, Dr. Mohler said that the Lord will hold us accountable for the opportunity we have. And then Dr. John Mark Reynolds, founder of the Torrey Honors Institute, reminded us that the virtual reality is ... real.

Dr. Reynolds likened how we communicate online with a conversation. Except, unlike conversations, what we write is more permanent. He said, "Everything you do is permanent." And though we've developed a certain tolerance level communicating poorly, we need to realize that when we blog and podcast, we are doing it in the real world, with real consequences.

Here's his advice for communicating well in the real virtual reality,

1. You are who you are and you can't become someone else. You can't recreate yourself with a shiny website and self-declaration.
2. Write and speak less about yourself and more about external ideas. Dr. Reynolds said the most interesting people he knows are interested in other people and ideas.
3. Do not pose as an expert if you aren't one. You'll look like a fool.

This is really helpful. But I can see how it might be more beneficial for all you lone bloggers and podcasters. My fellow contributors and faithful commentators at the Line do a pretty good job of humbling me when I communicate poorly.

Comments

[1. Kathryn said the following at 3:09 AM on Nov 9:]

1

Write and speak less about yourself and more about external ideas. Dr. Reynolds said the most interesting people he knows are interested in other people and ideas.

My personal blog was set up to inform my friends of the comings and goings on in my life. My friends also have blogs, and they have the same sort of deal with theirs. Occasionally we also post about our opinions on various things. In doing just this, having our own voices and posting our own opinions, many debates over religion have ensured.

I think it very much depends on the nature of the blog and the purpose it was created for.

I read a couple of other bogs that only ever echo what someone else's blog has already said. Now THAT is boring! I'd much rather read about the lives of my friends and their opinions on things, than read an essay.

[2. Amy Jane (Untangling Tales) said the following at 10:44 PM on Nov 9:]

2

It is true that I use my blog as a communication tool about myself (I've heard it called inexpensive counseling). But it is undeniable that my most popular posts have been those that aren't about me:

e.g. Fairy tales and kids, Wedding-night advice, helping husbands help (i.e as a young mom).

Any of these have far outstripped "personal" catigory posts in page-views. And, really, I think that's how it should be. Those are the ones that take more thought and organization to write, so I appreciate that being "acknowledged" (as it were) by more attention.

[3. Adam T. said the following at 4:08 PM on Nov 10:]

3

Wedding night advice!? I'm there.

[1. Kathryn said the following at 3:09 AM on Nov 9:]

1

Write and speak less about yourself and more about external ideas. Dr. Reynolds said the most interesting people he knows are interested in other people and ideas.

My personal blog was set up to inform my friends of the comings and goings on in my life. My friends also have blogs, and they have the same sort of deal with theirs. Occasionally we also post about our opinions on various things. In doing just this, having our own voices and posting our own opinions, many debates over religion have ensured.

I think it very much depends on the nature of the blog and the purpose it was created for.

I read a couple of other bogs that only ever echo what someone else's blog has already said. Now THAT is boring! I'd much rather read about the lives of my friends and their opinions on things, than read an essay.

[2. Amy Jane (Untangling Tales) said the following at 10:44 PM on Nov 9:]

2

It is true that I use my blog as a communication tool about myself (I've heard it called inexpensive counseling). But it is undeniable that my most popular posts have been those that aren't about me:

e.g. Fairy tales and kids, Wedding-night advice, helping husbands help (i.e as a young mom).

Any of these have far outstripped "personal" catigory posts in page-views. And, really, I think that's how it should be. Those are the ones that take more thought and organization to write, so I appreciate that being "acknowledged" (as it were) by more attention.

[3. Adam T. said the following at 4:08 PM on Nov 10:]

3

Wedding night advice!? I'm there.