Thing 11

I still feel somewhat uneasy leaving comments. I feel like a stranger in a public place sharing unsolicited advice. I tried to be complimentary every time I left a comment and to be as brief as possible. On many of the blogs I chose to comment on the pictures that my peers had dowloaded from Flickr. It felt a little less awkward to comment about a third party's CC licensed photograph. I didn't feel as intrusive. Comments in my mind presuppose a level of familiarity that I simply do not have with professionals outside of my school or the associations to which I belong. I am an introvert by nature and leaving comments stretches my comfort zone. For those who actively solicit comments I can understand how this bi-directional medium can enhance learning and build community. For me a blog still remains rather personal and I would prefer to be invited by a peer to converse about a topic where we can learn from each other. I also must admit that it is difficult to establish a context for any aspect of a post that catches my eye. I do not want to telescope arguments or decontextualize reflections by a blogger. That's why pictures feel safer. When a post captures sustained and complex thought, the challenge to the person commenting is to demonstrate active and charitable listening while giving evidence of authentic engagement. I don't know how to do this yet in a meaningful way.