Have you ever thought...

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Just thinking...

Have you ever given much thought
to the kinds of relationships
that you are forging here
in the blog world


The connections that we are making
daily
with what I call disembodied people
the way that we share our stories
and join with others around the globe...











Do you look for certain things
in a blogger
as you would in a friend
-perhaps a similar value system
or a similar outlook on life



Are some bloggers
destined to become friends
others acquaintances
and others still
ships passing in the night










Do you expect anything
from the blog relationships
that you have made
Do you wish for certain things
in these connections

I read many many blogs
but do not always comment
What makes you comment
on some and not others











One of Abraham Maslow's
fundamental human needs
is that of belonging
of connecting,
another is that of self esteem-
feeling valued and worthwhile


Do your blogging relationships
help you to meet those needs
or do blogging relationships
by virtue of being two dimensional
seem shallow and superficial
leaving you feeling needy,
disconnected...

Bonnie's post of 23/8
stimulated a thoughtful discussion
On re-reading the post
the following day
I summarised some of the comments
made by her readers
and submitted it to Bonnie
who suggested I might like
to post the summary

Bonnie reveals in her blog
that what she is looking for is
truth,
responsibility
and depth,
and that she realised
if she was wanting to receive these qualities
then she must also be prepared
to give them too...



Bonnie says
to be real and meaningful
we need to take a risk
to share our fears and vulnerabilities
- to be authentic










here then is my comment to Bonnie:

This has been a great discussion and after re-reading it again this morning and reading all the wonderful comments a few words and ideas seem to stand out.

Firstly, blogging is a new way of connecting with others and we have to let it do what it does best in the way it does it and not expect it to be any other way...


Second, to feel connected with others we like to feel they are being real, genuine and sincere.
And therefore that is also what we need to offer them. We need to be authentic.


Thirdly, blog friends are not real friends so we cannot have the same expectations of them that we do of our real friends


Fourthly, some will disappear and we will never know why..


Fifthly, we can flow with the process and let it grow into what it can best be


Sixth, respect for others is just as important here as in real life, and we must hold the disclosures of others with respect and feel honoured that we are the recipients of that sharing


Seven, empathy and understanding and kindness cannot ever be overestimated...


Eight, sometimes we post a powerful story which attracts much interest and comment, other times we will post a regular entry but it would still be nice to have our efforts acknowledged because any posting does take time and thought and effort...


Nine, some people we meet we would sincerely love to know them as friends, some as acquaintances, and some as ships in the night, just passing by...there will be a range of connections as there are in the real world


And ten, above all else, we are learning more about ourselves through this medium and that must be good...

I know that Julie in Denmark
and Bee in the UK
have hosted blog camps
I wonder how much richer
these blogging relationships are
now that the campers have met
and shared in the real world

What do you look for
in a blogging relationship
Do you think that we expect too much
from blogging friends,
or are you happy to accept
and enjoy the company
that is offered in this way
through this medium





How satisfying do you find
these connections...

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