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Welcome to the Bloggernacle

Welcome to the Bloggernacle. Miller-Eccles Study Group March 24-25, 2006. What is a blog?. Blogology 101. “Blog” is a neologism formed from the words “web log.” The word is both a verb and a noun; one who blogs is a blogger.

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Welcome to the Bloggernacle

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  1. Welcome to the Bloggernacle Miller-Eccles Study Group March 24-25, 2006

  2. What is a blog?

  3. Blogology 101 • “Blog” is a neologism formed from the words “web log.” • The word is both a verb and a noun; one who blogs is a blogger. • A blog is a type of website on software that allows easy, text-based updating. • Because of this, blogs tend to include a lot of entries (posts) and are often updated frequently.

  4. Blogology 101

  5. Blogology 101

  6. Blogology 101 • How did the blogging phenomenon start? • The first blog dates to 1997. • Since then, the number of blogs has exploded. • Millions of bloggers now. • Blogging software has improved greatly – easier and more interactive. • Blogs differ from other electronic media such as message boards and listservs.

  7. Blogology 101 • Are blogs a Mormon-only thing? • Heck no! • People blog about a variety of subjects: • Food • Their love lives • Cats • Blogs have been increasingly prominent in the political arena. • And yes, people blog about religion.

  8. What about Mormon blogs?

  9. Bloggernacle 101 • Ahh, now we get to the interesting part. • The bloggernacle. • How was the bloggernacle started? • It’s a relatively recent phenomenon: • 11/2002: Appearance of anonymous group-blog, Metaphysical Elders, that discusses Mormon issues. • 08/2003: Solo blogger “Dave” launches Dave’s Mormon Inquiry blog.

  10. Bloggernacle 101 • 11/2003: Times & Seasons is launched by Nate Oman, Matt Evans, Adam Greenwood, and me. • It is an onymous group blog that springs out of e-mail discussions on the LDS-law listserv. • Following the launch of T&S, the bloggernacle starts to become a self-feeding phenomenon.

  11. Bloggernacle 101 • T&S traffic stats: • 11/18/2003: Blog begins; no audience. • 11/30/2003: 65 visits a day. • 12/5/2003: 140 visits a day. • 2/2004: 400 visits a day. • 6/2004: 900 visits a day. • 12/2004: 1800 to 2000 visits a day. • Since 12/2004, traffic has held steady at around 2000 visits a day. (Sometimes dipping to 1800; sometime rising to 2200 or 2400).

  12. Bloggernacle 101 • Other large group blogs follow: By Common Consent in 3/2004; Feminist Mormon Housewives in 8/2004; Millennial Star in 1/2005 • In March 2004 (in response to my own on-blog call for a name for the community) the term “bloggernacle” is coined. Appropriately enough, it comes out of blog comments on that post. • In early 2005, we see the first major aggregation service, “Mormon Archipelago” at LDSBlogs.org • Today: Depending on who’s counting, universe of Mormon blogs is between 40-50 up to 200+

  13. Bloggernacle 101 • And what are we all blogging about? • A number of different things: • Questions about church doctrine or history • Personal posts about (Mormon) life • Interviews with scholars; book reviews • Announcements and events. • Navel-gazing • A hundred different things; every blog different. • Many blogs (particularly in the bloggernacle) allow readers to make comments as well.

  14. Bloggernacle 101 • At one blog alone, Times and Seasons, there is nearly 10 megabytes of blog posts in a little over two years, and over 60 megabytes in comments. • What does that mean? • Each megabyte, printed as straight text in a Word document, equals about 250 pages. • That’s about 2500 pages of text in posts alone – and over 15,000 pages of comments. • That’s over five times the size of the Encyclopedia Britannica. . . . . . and that’s just one blog!

  15. Bloggernacle 101 • How many people read the bloggernacle? • It varies widely. (There are also some technical gaps in our ability to measure this accurately). • The numbers that we have: Times and Seasons: 2000 to 2400 a day; By Common Consent: 1000 to 1200; FMH 1200 to 1600. • Newer blogs and solo blogs draw less traffic. • Popular solo-blog Splendid Sun: 300-500 a day. • Recent entrant Blogger of Jared (3 months old) currently draws 60-100 visits per day.

  16. Bloggernacle 101 • As noted above, commenter participation is a big part of the bloggernacle. • How many people comment on the blogs? • Some numbers from Times and Seasons: • All who have commented: 3241 since blog inception in November 2003; 1271 in the past 6 months. • Every commenter who has made more than ten comments: 617 since inception, 267 in the past six months. • Every commenter who has made more than 50 comments: 219 since inception, 73 in the past six months.

  17. Bloggernacle 101 • What do these statistics show? • A core group of 70 frequent participants (50+ comments in 6 months). • A much larger group of semi-frequent participants (10-50 comments in same period). • A very large number of people who make one or two comments. • In a day, T&S usually draws 100-150 comments. • The bloggernacle can be distinguished from non-Mormon blogs by its comment level. • Popular political blogs (for example) typically don’t generate nearly this level of comments.

  18. Bloggernacle 101 • Do the comments add to the blog’s value? • Yes and no. • Comments may come from professors, lawyers, scholars, artists, or experts on some topic, for example. • On the other hand, at most blogs, just about anyone can comment. • Noise-to-signal ratio isn’t always ideal. • Problem commenters (“trolls”) can be edited or outright banned; software helps control spam.

  19. Bloggernacle 101 • How do we decide who blogs with us? • Nearly every blog has permanent members; many also invite “guest bloggers” who post for a short time. • Decisions on who to include are typically made by the blogger, or group. (At T&S, we regularly vote on potential guests). • How to locate guests? • Blog commenters; networking; cold calls.

  20. Bloggernacle 101 • Former guest bloggers at some of the major blogs include Richard and Claudia Bushman; Daniel Peterson; Jed Woodworth; Greg Prince, and many other scholars. • Similarly, interviewees include Neil LaBute; Todd Compton; Terryl Givens; Armand Mauss; Sen. Robert Bennett; Kathleen Flake; Sally Gordon; and numerous other scholars. • By Common Consent is in a partnership with Dialogue, where a number of Dialogue staff and editors post at BCC. • Choice of guests and permabloggers, as well as editorial decisions, create tone.

  21. Bloggernacle 101 • T&S comment policies: No insults; no questioning others’ righteousness; no attacks on all church members generally (“all members are idiots”); keep it clean and on topic. • Similar comment policies in place at many blogs. • T&S: Strives for neutral, thoughtful tone. (Downside: sometimes perceived as dry.) • Other blogs have different reputations. E.g., BCC is sometimes perceived as less orthodox or less formal. • Such reputations are at best, highly simplified. • It’s not like the bloggers are sacrificing goats at BCC. • (They sacrifice chickens only.)

  22. Bloggernacle 101 • And now you’ve learned all that you need to know about blogging! • Well, at least you’ve gotten a basic explanation. • Just enough information to make you dangerous. • Or rather, to let you understand the rest of the panel discussion. • Now, for a (slightly) more substantive topic.

  23. Why blog?

  24. Why blog? • Everyone blogger’s reasons will differ. • Both inside and outside the bloggernacle, there are a panoply of standard reasons • For instance, people blog for money or for fun. • Besides the standard reasons, there are three important reasons for blogging in the bloggernacle in particular: • Testimony • Criticism • Community

  25. Why blog? • First, bloggernacle blogs may help participants develop or strengthen testimonies. • They can be a forum to discuss topics with others who have similar experiences or questions. • Blogs provide an ability to ask “non-Sunday School” questions in a forum that isn’t hostile. • At least one blog reader was baptized (and e-mailed to tell us).

  26. Why blog? • Second, the bloggernacle provides a forum for criticism. • Participants may be able to analyze and discuss (and criticize) church policies. • Participants can find others who have similar criticisms, and discuss the issues. • This may result in a decision to leave the church. (One reader said that the bloggernacle led directly to her exit from the church). • However, it is also a forum for those who don’t leave – a way to air and deal with concerns.

  27. Why blog? • Finally, the bloggernacle provides a great community • It’s a community of people for discussion, support, friendship. • People come, read, comment. • Bloggernacle blogs are typically designed to facilitate commenting and dialogue. • One reader described her reaction as “pure joy” when she realized the comment dynamic in the bloggernacle. . . . . . and then she went and started her own blog.

  28. Why blog? • Bloggers ask questions – how do I prepare for the temple? – and discuss topics. • They write about jobs, about family, about marriage, about death. • Do we ever meet in real life? • Hello! Look around the room. • There are bloggers all around you, and you don’t even know it. • Sometimes bloggers meet for real-life “bloggersnackers.”

  29. Why blog? • The bloggernacle has also been the venue of miracles that have helped forge the community. • 2/25/2005, at 12:02 a.m. Geoff J. wrote a blog post titled “Please pray for my boy.” “I just came home for a few minutes from the ICU to write this post because I believe it could make a difference. We found our sweet three year old son Quinn face down in the pool this afternoon. He is alive and stable now but there remains a very real risk of brain damage. You bloggernacle citizens are righteous people—I can tell. We are praying for a full recovery for Quinn. Can you please help?”

  30. Why blog? • Dozens of comments poured in. • Readers from around the bloggernacle prayed for Geoff’s son. • Later that evening, Geoff wrote “All is well.” Quinn was doing better; full recovery expected. • At last report, Quinn was doing normal little boy activities like harassing his sisters. • So, so miracles happen in the bloggernacle? • Just ask Geoff.

  31. Why blog? • So, what is the future of blogging? • We really can’t say. • Perhaps technology will render the medium obsolete in a few years. • Perhaps socio-political conditions in the church will make the forum inhospitable. • Perhaps we’ll all just get bored and go home. • But for now, the bloggernacle is the place to be.

  32. Why blog? • Finally, why do I blog? • It is a good way to relax and unwind. • Blogging lets me figure out my own balance between spirituality and intellect • It’s a fun intellectual exercise, and a fun medium for spiritual growth. • I like the community; I’ve made great friends. • There are even career benefits! (Whether they are a net gain, I can’t say.) • Many great reasons to blog. • But the last reason I’ll leave with you . . .

  33. There’s something for (just about) everyone in the bloggernacle.

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