BackStage


Building a Bird’s Nest
June 13, 2008, 2:18 pm
Filed under: Questions | Tags: , ,

more about “Building a Bird’s Nest“, posted with vodpod

See website at end here.

While there are some successes in building communal knowledge, Wikipedia is a great example of this, at times all of this seems a little pie in the sky and idealistic. For example, the video says that the internet gives information to those who can’t afford to buy it. But, not everyone can afford internet. We can’t all participate in these online communities. Moreover, I’m wondering how successful most of these attempts are. As Aftersox writes:

I say it’s just a new way of thinking - not a better or worse way. So… I’ve hit my three paragraph limit here. I don’t expect anyone to read further than this.

I’ve noticed that sometimes, the posts in the socioblogopia (search on it here… thanks Anomie) that are the most complex, which often means they have the most ability to be developed into a communal idea, are not commented upon. I don’t know. Perhaps it’s the highly specialized nature of the knowledge we tend to share on these blogs.

For example, in a previous post I talk about affect control theory. While I know there are a few blogging social psychologists out there, that doesn’t mean they are familiar with that one particular theory. And, even if they are, that they would be able to answer a statistical question. And, for those that come with statistical or mathematical knowledge (like C.J.), may not understand enough by my admittedly overly simplistic description of the theory and research question to be able to give me input.*

So are some particular types of knowledge more eligible for this Utopian knowledge development? Or, perhaps it’s because millions of people do not read socioblogs, whereas they do Wikipedia? Perhaps this WILL get better as more people read blogs? As it becomes more common to be a part of this world? For example, if Heise was a blogger, maybe he would be full of comments on my idea.

*I know I just put the original ACT post up, so may still get comments. It’s just an example.



JoJo the Idiot Circus Boy
May 31, 2008, 11:15 pm
Filed under: Questions | Tags: ,

I’ve recently posted about how much I overload myself. I know I need to stop doing this, but I’m not sure how to. This is because of two parts of my nature. First, my love of constructing theory. I adore writing a new theory, and get excited by it. Second, is my inability to rewrite. It seems so massive. It seems like a high wall that cannot be climbed. Even trying to take it part by part doesn’t work. The excitement is gone by this stage. Both of these characteristics are summarized by this (just replace sale with research project):

God, I am sick.

Quite different from the ideal found over at whatisthewhat. Particularly note the insane shredding of the roll as research project. The original writing is me stroking the roll (oh YEAH!). But I write, construct this (to me) beautiful thing that I know has imperfections, but still, I create this logic. But, in the process, I become JoJo the Idiot Circus Boy. ARGH.

Once I write something and get comments I have a horrible time rewriting. It’s terribly hard for me. I almost just want to throw it out and start from scratch. How do you guys rewrite? Do you have any method to attack the madness?



Making Use of the Scatter Effect
May 15, 2008, 12:53 pm
Filed under: Questions | Tags:

Well, I have no doubt that soon my blog traffic will be back to its normal level. But, before it does, all you sociologists and others that are now visiting this site, I have a question for you:

How the heck does the blogger meeting at ASA work? If we are trying (probably in vain) to remain anonymous, how exactly do you meet face-to-face and talk about blogging?

*Anomie suggested the Scatterplot Effect title rather than the Freese Effect to explain the jump in stats.

UPDATE: While there are GREAT comments on this post, more comments on anonymity or not at bloggers’ parties can be found at Belle’s cross-listing of this post here. Now I really have something to consider. Cross-posted on scatterplot twice in one week means that people may have actually looked at my blog. Before, I really didn’t have to worry about that!

UPDATE TWO: I have the solution, we all just need to get these. Seems better then assless chaps (although I do have my eye on this pair, I quite like the whole outfit).



Seriously Screwed
April 28, 2008, 3:18 pm
Filed under: Questions | Tags:

Okay, Internet sociologists and others who stumble my way. Here is what I have been looking at for the past FOUR HOURS.

This is after several days of looking at the same thing.

How do you get past severe writer’s block?



To Blog or Not to Blog
April 18, 2008, 7:04 pm
Filed under: Questions

I’m thinking about the reasons that I had behind blogging. Why did I decide to do so? Is this really a backstage (yes, Anomie, I swear I’m going to return to that question; but I find myself slowly changing my ideas surrounding that–and need to come down somewhere before I put fingers to keyboard)?

If you blog: Why do you do so? What is your purpose? Is your experience matching up to that expectation?

If you just read blogs: Why don’t you blog? What do you want from the blogs you read? Why do you read this one?

Please think about this and jot me a note.



A Call to Social Movement Researchers
April 13, 2008, 6:24 pm
Filed under: Questions | Tags: , , ,

Anyone out there that studies social movements, I need to know where to look for research on where social movements are likely to occur. I found one book, Geography and Social Movements, but need much more than that. Is there a theory that attempts to predict the location of movements? Not just when one will occur, or why, but WHERE?



It’s Friday Night…
April 11, 2008, 10:13 pm
Filed under: Questions | Tags:

…and while my friends and Blue are out on the town, I’m stuck at home writing my own letter of recommendation.

Everyone I’ve talked to about this thinks it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. I can say whatever I want, make it as strong as I want, and the professor–seemingly–is just going to sign the sucker. Possibly edit a bit. But, I’ve spent the last N number of years in an environment that has constantly pointed out my shortcomings and has spent little time exalting me. I don’t know how to flatter myself.

Remind you of this?

Well, it’s done. After seeing my distress, another graduate student helped me by giving me a good outline (thanks Killa!). I bragged and bragged, and now I feel dirty. Real dirty. And wrong.

So, question for all of you graduate students out there: How would you recommend yourself?



Randomness
April 7, 2008, 7:34 pm
Filed under: Questions | Tags: , , ,

I have a huge lit review to get to today. A professor and I have been working on this paper for months, and now that I *think* I understand the theoretical problem I was having, I must needs return to the mad theory building. But before I do, I have two random thoughts/questions.

1. What is the term for when a certain idea or concept is really salient to you, you start seeing it everywhere? I know there is a term for this, but have been racking my brain and can’t come up with it.

In context:

I lost someone very close to me to suicide around two years ago. Now everywhere I go, there are suicide references. Today (by 2 pm my time):

  1. Husband (from now on referred to as Blue, since Mad Slave doesn’t seem to think Husband is a good enough term) was watching Last of the Mohicans and the sister throws herself over the cliff to die.
  2. Downloaded a Kimya Dawson song where she talks about shooting herself in the head and then stuffing Kleenex into the wound.
  3. A blog I read talks about suicides and the blogger’s own suicide ideation.
  4. Got an email from a professor in our department about someone who is coming to campus to talk. One of his talks is about suicide (I’ll be skipping that one).
  5. Oh, and my Dorothy Parker quote for the day on iGoogle? If wild my breast and sore my pride, I bask in dreams of suicide, If cool my heart and high my head I think “How lucky are the dead.”

The day is still early. Anyway, in general suicide references no longer bother me–but I still notice. And, now not remembering this term is driving me up the WALL.

2. I’m not sure if I just find this funny or if it bothers me–and if it bothers me, why?

Peabody Stickers on DoritosHere we have someone stickering bags in Louisiana. Although I just noticed they also put stickers on Lays, heh. See the stickers here.

Of course it is funny. But, the fact that people will go out and sticker bags? It reminds me of a flash mob. Maybe it slightly bothers me that Stephen Colbert can get people to take action on behalf of Doritos.