...jump into the conversation

Although no one ever told me directly, I always assumed blogs were for talking. I'd get a site with my name on it and spend the rest of the time talking about what I liked to talk about. The only problem is it gets a little lonely talking to myself. In fact, I can talk to myself at home, without a blog!

This assumption (and you know what they say about assumptions--everyone's got one!) that blogs are for talking is flawed. What I've discovered is that blogs are for conversations! Yes, a true "duh" moment for those techies in the know, but for someone new to the blogosphere a real "aha" moment, indeed.

I'm certain I was not alone in this discovery, and wish I could have figured it out sooner. Here's what I disovered in 3:

1. jump in!
Jumping into a conversation is hard. The water can be cold sometimes, but jump in anyway. Dipping your toe in the pool is not the same as a cannon ball, which is not the same as a belly flop. Be yourself, find a conversation you like and introduce yourself.

2. pick your side
Choosing a side of debate even harder. Where do you stand? Are you vegan? Do you hunt? Are you homeschooling or choosing public schools? You have something important to say that people want to hear.

3. defend it
Defending a position with style and grace, not to mention knowledge...that's where it's at. No one listens to an obnoxious know-it-all or the pessimistic I-told-you-so. People will, however, listen to a polite let's-debate-both-sides and a curious enlighten-me-to-your-side. It's a give and take, you defend your side, and so does your conversational partner.

Contrary to common thought, the cyber and real worlds are not that different. Who in the real world would let someone interrupt a conversation to launch into a lecture? Not many. Why then is it assumed that anything different would happen in the cyber world?