I came across this today, a Manifesto by Todd Sieling, for a movement called Slow Blogging. It's wonderful to read something that describes exactly what I've been thinking and feeling about the internet. It was written in 2006 and featured in The New York Times in 2008 so I've been slow in finding out about it!
Especially significant to me are what he describes as 'the daily outrages and ecstasies ... switching between banality, crushing heartbreak and end-of-the-world psychotic glee in the mere space between headlines'. It seems to me as if half the people on the internet are in a state of psychotic glee and the other half consumed with hate. Occasionally I feel inspired by an image or a post but most of the time I wonder what on earth the internet is doing to human beings (perhaps, rather, what we are allowing it to do to us) and is nobody concerned about where it's heading? Seemingly not.
9 comments:
I guess I'm more of a slow blogger. And I have been lucky that I have found most people to be thoughtful and kind. But then, I won't read or follow the ranters and haters. Everybody can have a bad day now and then, but there are a lot of uplifting, ordinary people out there who usually think before they type. :)
I agree and have also been applying a similar way of thinking to my painting.. Instead of trying ton produce "daily paintings" and posting everything i do asap I'm letting paintings take as many days as they need....slow painting that then gets slow blogged.
Thanks for the link to that Manifesto Felicity - I think we're all learning, slowly, how to deal with the internet, and slowing down is - for me anyway, a necessary self-preserving inclination. Good to have affirmation!
Rita, I was thinking not so much about bloggers (as haters/ranters) but those who are all over the internet on Twitter, forums, commenting on newspaper sites etc. I feel that the ordinary people with more balanced views are being drowned out.
Jana, it sounds like a much more pleasurable experience too! Daily painting is fine but it seems to be the norm now that we all have to speed up and produce art quickly.
Cathy, glad you liked it. It's about self preservation for me too.
Okay, I see what you mean. That's true. Sometimes I think people feel safer being nasty, cruel, or angry online when tossing out comments more anonymously. Very sad.
I admit that I do love the feeling of community among Bloggers. However, I do agree that some people live and breathe the 'whole' internet spectrum like it's their only lifeline. As much as I love blogging, I find it hard enough to keep up with at times.
It certainly has become a very technology-reliant world.
Serena, lovely to hear from you! A lot of bloggers seem to have either slowed down or given up and I miss that old community. I think many may have gone to Facebook which I tried and didn't like at all! Now it seems easier to keep up with the blogs because those that are left aren't updated so often either. I find it sad as blogs are such a great showcase for artists' work. I guess many will be going to Google+ and whatever shiny new thing comes along!
Thanks so much for posting this manifesto. I really needed to read it! I love blogging, but sometimes the speed of the 'blogosphere' overwhelms me. I keep trying to remind myself to take things at my own pace. This manifesto really helped. Thanks!
Thank you JaneA, lovely to read that!
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