From Lurker to Blogger

This is my first blog post of any kind.

Virginia Heffernan (I’m an avid reader of her blog The Medium) wrote an article in November of 2007 that nailed my Internet usage. I’m a lurker. I’m not contributing in any meaningful way and I’m not happy about that. As Virginia eloquently states:

Lurking is very not in the spirit of interactive media. When Michael Hirschorn recently praised Facebook in an article in The Atlantic — “You have to give information to get information” — he admired, in essence, the tariffs Facebook levies on lurking. Online, you’re clearly supposed to interact, not hide, eavesdrop and slink away.

As a lurker, moreover, I’ve sinned.

We are in the midst of a renaissance. Anyone with Internet access can participate. I must shake my lurker status. No excuses.

Ross

~ by barbash on April 22, 2008.