Blogging, or not so much
I’m sorry—although mostly to myself—for my non-blogging lately. There are things I’d like to write (e.g., Green on following Humanities sources) and some I even started on (e.g., Hope Olson) amongst others. But I’ve been working hard at keeping on a reasonably even keel emotionally and mentally, while trying to get in as much learning as I can before this school gig is up.
I’ve been fairly disappointed in myself for the state of this thing for a while now, but I’m also aware that it has gone through various cycles and states since the start. So for those of you who are still out there and read some of this, I truly appreciate it. And I really appreciate those who comment, whether it is to take me to task or just to say, “Me too!”
Last night as I was getting caught up on my blog reading I came across two posts by two wonderful ladies who made me feel very special: Jennifer and Iris.
I’ve been avoiding this meme because I’m not a fan of the loose use of the word “hero.” I’m well aware that it means little in today’s overly celebritized society and that the language change genie cannot be put back in the bottle, but I can try to reserve it for serious use.
But rest assured that those two ladies with so many interesting things to say said well are on my list. Besides their wonderful writing, they have both offered me a place to question and to discuss.
And because I’m not a fan of numbered favorites or favorites period, and because I am actively trying to learn to color outside the lines, my (current) list will be seven in number, in no particular order:
Iris Jastram (Pegasus Librarian): As I said, she writes well about many important things, things which I don’t have a direct connection to seeing as I am pursuing a different area of librarianship. But they are things of which I need to be aware to do my job. And as she mentioned, we have become good friends. A few months back, Dorothea (see below) had a mini-rant about “Friends” where she started with the following:
Online friends versus real friends. Online life versus real life. All these briar-fences and hedges we construct when we speak so that we don’t admit the possibility that people we meet online are, you know, people, meaning as much to us as people we meet elsewhere.
I don’t want to hear that nonsense any more, and in fact I intend to laugh loudly and point a derisive finger whenever I do hear it.
While I understood her point philosophically, I still distrusted it a tad experientially. While I had made good friends with several people whom I’ve spent at best a couple to several hours with at a conference and then stayed in touch with, I had yet to make an actual friend with someone I had only met online. In case you are new to this blog, “friend” is a concept and term even more dear to my heart than “hero!”
I am proud to say that Iris is my first friend who I met online. I joyously look forward to the day I actually meet her in person.
Jennifer Macaulay (Life as I Know It): Jennifer writes eloquently about other issues within librarianship that often impinge on my own work, about LIS and distance education, and simply has a lovely site. Hers and Walt’s are two blogs that I am guaranteed to click through to to read. I’m not sure why, but her blog header puts me in a better frame of mind, and the simplicity is simply elegant. She makes me think and allows me to question. I sincerely thank her for that.
Jenica Rogers [Sorry, kid, can't remember if you hyphenated your name or not.] (Mermaid - Thinking Out Loud): All I ought to say is go read her about page and see why I love her. But. I met Jenica at ACRL in Minneapolis in April 2005, which is also where I met Dorothea, Joy Weese Moll, ranger, Jane/Michelle Boule and a few others.
Jenica is absolutely relentless, in the best possible way. 
I am completely amazed at what she can accomplish, in any amount of time. Her blog is a direct reflection of the human being that she is with none of those stupid walls of fragmentation. I feel completely safe to question in her space and that, my friends, is a difficult thing to achieve.
Dorothea Salo (Caveat Lector): I don’t know what to say that hasn’t been said elsewhere, but I think Iris may have said it best:
But Dorothea’s authorial voice keeps me coming back for more, no matter the content. I’m equally happy listening to her talk about the weather or about mysterious tech-ish script-ish things that I don’t understand at all.
I may have a slightly better grasp of some of the techy stuff than Iris, but I agree with her point. There are so many things for me to learn from Dorothea, not the least of which are how to vehemently disagree in a civil way, humility, and how to apologize. One classy librarian.
Meredith Farkas (Information Wants To Be Free): “Not another person pointing to Meredith,” you ask? Well, yes.
She’s prolific, thoughtful, expressive, questioning, and allows others a space to question vehemently (as long as they’re civil). While we certainly do not agree about everything—none of the people on this list do, thankfully— I’d have her back in a heartbeat on most anything. Oh. I already did that, didn’t I? And I’d do it again.
Another very classy lady I am proud to know. And welcome to the wonderful world of Macs, Meredith. 
Jennifer Graham (jennimi): I met Jennifer at ASIST last November and was immediately “smitten” with this caring, thoughtful new librarian with one of the biggest hearts I have ever met. She is the epitome of someone dearly enamored of technology in the service of people. She’s also a lot of fun and gave me, perhaps, the best birthday present ever!
Walt Crawford (Walt at Random): Many would call Walt a curmudgeon or, perhaps, worse. While those folks certainly have a right to that opinion, I don’t think it is one that counts for anything. Walt is the best reason I can think of for generally using the concept and term “librarian” loosely. Once in a while, a context might require us to draw the specific lines a little tighter, but I would not be comfortable in too many (any?) conversations about “librarians” that excluded this true professional.
Walt provides an amazing service to a broad swath of folks through Cites & Insights. I’ve read it for a couple of years now and almost always read it “cover to cover” as soon as I download it. When he started blogging (on April Fool’s day no less) I was ecstatic. Always thoughtful, often insightful, and never irascible, he puts a much needed voice of reason into many discussions. This gentleman has a lot to teach me and I’m doing my best to pay attention.
While compiling this list I came across this post at W.a.R. I guess I should get over feeling bad about my blogging and just get on with what I’m doing.
And, yes, it is true that Walt helped name this blog. See the comments here.
[I also just determined that Bloglines is broken again!! There are several posts at jennimi I haven't seen and the above one from Walt. Grrrr!]
As Iris said at her post, this list is about far more than libraries and professional contacts. These are all people I have corresponded with in more than one format. I have met all but 2 of them and look forward to seeing them all again, or especially for the first time. Dorothea and Jenn will be at ASIST in October. Yay!
Everyone of these folks are special to me for one or more reasons, and while they may not be my heroes, I know that a few are my friends, and I’d be honored to call the rest by that very important word, too.
16 responses so far ↓
1 Iris // Apr 7, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Aww, thanks Mark. And now I have yet another new blog to find.
2 jennimi // Apr 7, 2007 at 2:03 pm
blush blush blush interview coming more after blush.
yes Bloglines… I am liking google reader. sigh. people are missing my posties.
Thanks to you and Washtub for introducing me to Dorothy’s blog. I love this strong articulate techy woman’s blog!
3 Meredith // Apr 7, 2007 at 2:42 pm
You are beyond sweet, Mark. I would definitely have your back too. I always know that when you disagree with me, I will come out of it seeing things in a different way.
The rest of the choices are terrific, and are all people I don’t just enjoy reading, but whom I like on a personal level. They just seem like really great people; the sort I would definitely want to go to the local diner with if they lived around here. Of course, you are included on that list!
4 Mark // Apr 7, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Iris … hmmm? I won’t ask which one although I know it’s one of two. Sorry about that cause I know you like to keep your aggregator slim and trim, but…. Speaking of which, could you maybe come feed some Slim Fast to mine?
J, you are very welcome. [Psst! It's Dorothea, btw. ;)] I *really* have issues with the big G. I don’t currently have any accounts with them and I’d love to avoid it entirely, but I doubt that I can for long.
And, ooh ooh, I so want to give myself away. But, NO! I’ll be good.
Meredith, a very wise woman once told me that only a sweet person can recognize sweet.
And a diner get-together, now there’s a great idea!
I like them all as people, too, but the blog people that they play on the internets are really cool personalities.
5 Dorothea // Apr 7, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Bleh. I got smacked in the face for being uncivil today, and I deserved it, too. I have my moments… but on the whole, last week was not among them.
Thank you, though. It matters to know I’m not non grata everywhere.
6 Jennifer Macaulay // Apr 7, 2007 at 7:41 pm
I’m glad to have made you feel special. In a lot of ways, you inspired me to let loose a little in the blogging world - and to consciously put a bit more of myself into my posts. I will always appreciate that. And now, I will appreciate your kinds words!!
Remember to give yourself a little bit of slack every now and then!!
7 Mark // Apr 7, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Hi Jennifer. I did? Well, it seems my work is done here, folks.
But seriously, you did make me feel special and I was beginning to need it. I’m not sure why (stupid ants!) but I was beginning to approach the “cliff edge” by last night, and now all might not be right with the world but my little part of it is MUCH better. I’m glad I could reciprocate in some way.
I do cut myself some slack once in a while and I’m getting better at it. I just got back from having dinner with a friend, and I wasn’t even hungry–now I’m stuffed–but we both needed a break. Good conversation and company and a little time to make each other feel good about things for a few minutes….
8 walt crawford // Apr 8, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Thanks, Mark (and thanks, those where I haven’t commented directly: it’s still appreciated). Well, truth is I can be curmudgeonly at times (for a while it was a deliberate pose, but I’m trying to move away from it), and I can certainly be irascible (although, thanks to good advice from Dorothea, I’m getting that under control as well). Nice of you to say otherwise, though.
Oh, and do indeed cut yourself some slack. Life trumps blogging–and quality trumps quantity. Every time.
9 jenica // Apr 8, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Thanks, Mark.
So, up until my mid-20’s, I was utterly convinced that people were only nice to me as a favor — that they couldn’t really be nice to me because they liked me, it was just a kindness. I was *that* insecure. I’ve grown up a lot in the intervening years, but some of that insecurity still remains under everything else. So, that personal history understood, knowing that the writing I do about my life and my work and my hobbies and my joys and my pains is truly *interesting* to people… well, on the internet, it’s unlikely you’re being nice to me just as a kindness. You probably really mean it. Which is pretty cool.
Thanks!
10 Mark // Apr 8, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Walt, you are quite welcome. I had meant to add that even if you *are* a curmudgeon then that was one of the things I was looking to learn from you, i.e. how to be a *proper* curmudgeon.
As to irascible, well you can have it if you want it. I started to use it and checked my basic dictionary (Oxford American–near at hand) and decided the 2 senses listed did not describe you. Maybe if I checked the OED I’d have found the less nasty sense that I was looking for.
Dear Jenica, of course I’m being kind. Besides the fact that I’m trying to become a genuinely (generally) nice guy, I try even harder with the people I like. BUT. That is because I like them for who they are!
I have a very Aristotelian notion of friendship (minus the elitism and sexism!), which is why I can barely understand, much less accept the last 2 or so generation’s conception of “friendship.” [And, yes, I realize that's a gen-gen.] But ‘friends’ in MySpace or Facebook, etc. drive me bonkers. Even the limited (but far greater) amount of control in Flickr drives me nuts. You have to end up ‘friending’ someone who really isn’t your friend so they can see your photos of some event they were at too.
Anyway, I pretty much think of you all as my friends or, at least, people who would be my friends if we had more time to actually interact; via whatever media/form.
And while I would certainly be more truthful with my friends than a stranger, I also try to be kinder to them. Because. I like them.
But I also understand insecurity. I’m glad to hear you’re better now even if you’re still journeying down that road. I know am sure am.
Besides, if you weren’t at least somewhat insecure you’d take over the world right quickly! Not that that would be a bad thing, but no single person in charge would be a good thing.
I like to think that either of us fully believing in ourselves would be a dangerous thing. In a good way, of course.
11 Mark // Apr 8, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Dorothea, I’m so sorry! Somehow I got confused about your comment and thought it was an email.
Too much reading about relationships and ontologies can clearly addle your brain.
I certainly hope you meant figuratively! But, yes, we can all be uncivil at times. And when we are, it should be pointed out to us. The trouble with it is that incivility often leads to more incivility.
You are certainly welcome in my camp [or tribe or whatever these extended family/friendship things are called nowadays] any time.
12 Can You Feel The Love? « Life as I Know It // Apr 9, 2007 at 2:26 pm
[...] blog did absolute wonders for me. I admit it - being mentioned by Walt Crawford, Meredith Farkas, Mark Lindner and Jason from Thus Spoke Pragmantic Librarian lifted my spirits - and helped rejuvenate me quite [...]
13 Helen // Apr 10, 2007 at 9:42 pm
Me too!
I read your blog in Google Reader, so I almost never comment. But I’m out here reading you.
In fact, I’m here because I was inspired today. I found a delightful blog/computer culture t-shirt and you and Richard were the first to pop into my head for people who might like it. Some one should have it anyway, it’s that good.
I firmly believe that people should show Diesel Sweeties some love. It’s a great pick me up for the daily blues.
14 Helen // Apr 10, 2007 at 9:42 pm
http://www.dieselsweeties.com/shirts/index3.shtml
and there’s the link!
15 Mark // Apr 11, 2007 at 5:43 am
Hi, Helen. Glad to know you’re out there,
Thanks for the link; there’s some great shirts there.
16 One down, more to go … but it’s reward time // Apr 17, 2007 at 8:18 pm
[...] kind of wish I was at CiL as so many of my “diner friends” (see comment 3 & 4) are there, but I have a place I need to be right now. And that is [...]