Reading the book...

So I started reading the Shirky book this week - it's an easy read and I like it so far!

I think that one of the things that holds me back from being an active participant in social networking is the feeling of responsibility to continue to be engaged. For example, I almost didn't make this post because spring break is starting after 3 pm tomorrow (yes!). I know I won't be able to respond for the next week or so to any replies that are left here (my family will kill me if I'm too connected while on vacation!) Of course, I don't want to appear rude, practicing bad netiquette. So, to post or not to post?!

As Shirky pointed out, Evan (the man in the book who fired up the networks to find the lost phone) couldn't just stop once he'd gotten the ball rolling. And so it makes me think about social networking in general...how easily can one gracefully pop in and out of an online community? Really, it looks quite easy to do on a large PLN, but what about in smaller groups? The idea that one must stay connected to be a "good" group member makes me hesitant to join in. When I was an active member of a fairly small yahoogroup years ago, I always felt I needed to comment on most posts, and to notify my fellow group members that I'd be offline for a few days, etc, as that was the norm for that group. My stumbling block now is really mainly still about the time commitment.

Tags: socialmedia101

0 members like this

Comment by Jeremy Kaiser on March 10, 2010 at 10:01pm: Being part of a social network should be fun. If a person is feeling pressured to be posting all the time, then the network is probably not going to work out. Honestly, I have never felt like I needed to post all the time. I check in when I get a chance, and if I have something to share, I do.

Comment by Ellen Wilke on March 11, 2010 at 12:19pm: Thanks, Jeremy. You're right, I will try not to let my previous experience cloud my vision, and I'll try to just relax and not feel pressured. Thanks for the input!

Comment by Roxanne Warner on March 20, 2010 at 11:40am: I had the exact same thoughts about feeling the responsibility to be engaged all the time on our social networks, Ellen. I know my schedule changes day-to-day and week-to-week. I have not had the chance to sign on to classroom2.0 for over a week now. When I see comments left by others on my wall, I feel guilty that I was not able to reply to them right away, since that is what I am used to doing in other venues, like email and facebook. I guess it is ok for us to post and reply only when we have time, and we will still be able to get a lot out of and contribute to our PLN and still learn a lot, even if we don't have a chance to post every day or week.

Comment by Christy Prudence on March 21, 2010 at 3:42pm: I have never been apart of a PLN, but I have taken enough master's classes online with posting and responding to last a life time! I think the big difference is that a PLN is for you, so if you want to reply back, then do it. If you can't or don't feel like it needs a response, then don't. I wouldn't take offense to it! A course where posting and responding is necessary in order to be held accountable is different. This is probably why we have the feeling that we need to respond immediately. Bottom line...don't feel bad if you are caught up and can't partictipate as much as you would like!

Comment by Ellen Wilke on March 21, 2010 at 6:12pm: Christy, I think you're right! I earned my Master's in pre-internet days (gasp!), so I've never had an online course, but I can imagine how it would feel to be required to post and reply online on a regular basis. Although the internet's benefits far outweigh its drawbacks, it has definitely made us feel like we are "accessible" 24-7. Finding the right comfort spot along the "continuum of connectedness" is something I haven't quite zeroed in on yet. :-) Thanks for your comments.

Comment by Drew McAllister on March 22, 2010 at 8:27pm: There's some great conversation here. It seems that a PLN is functionally different than, say, Facebook, according to my experience and Roxanne's. The interfaces are spread out across multiple applications and websites, and the interactions certainly don't have to be as immediate (though Twitter facilitates some pretty quick turn around). More than that, I think your observation about communities, Ellen, is spot on. Picking a PLN with laid-back norms seems to be the ideal, and I think Jeremy makes a point with which I think many in the education community would agree: we're busy - really busy - and we don't mind it if someone drops in and out, because we're all in the same boat. I like that freedom.

Comment by Francisco Navarro on March 25, 2010 at 5:21am: Yes, the time factor is really an obstacle for me too. Also, I'm just not used to being connected. I have a hard enough time keeping up with email - responing to it anyway. It really requires some work and a routine of some kind to make a meaningful PLN.

Comment by Janice Burroughs on March 25, 2010 at 11:39am: Reading these posts make me feel a bit better. You offer such great advice for managing that overwhelmed feelings. Thank you for your suggestions and observations.