Update:
It's been less than 24 hours since posting "Thankful Experiences" on the Critical Mass blog. I'm a bit overwhelmed at the nature of the 62 comments. They are personal, genuine, thought provoking, funny and some reveal the vulnerability we all feel as human beings. You really owe it to yourself to read through the comments there. You'll be inspired—I guarantee it.
I think the thing that's always drawn me to the digital medium is how human it really is. Warts and all—it's a reflection of who we are. It captures our best and worst moments and is sometimes utterly unpredictable. In the case of "Thankful Experiences" it was delightfully unpredictable. I want to thank each and every one of you who participated, and I'll leave you with an excerpt from my contribution to the Age of Conversation. I think it's ironically appropriate:
"But are we also seeing another Renaissance unfold before our very eyes? A Renaissance built off of us discovering each other? A Renaissance composed of a human Web woven through shared knowledge, interests, creativity, and yes conversation? Is it simply a resurgence of connectedness and an answer to this question:
Am I alone?The answer is no. You are not alone. "
Happy Thanksgiving.
If you're a regular reader of L+E, then you know I like to shake things up when possible. For the past couple of months we've been giving the Critical Mass blog a good effort—posting relevant short essays that are related to the the industry in some shape or way. We've gotten our share of comments and links—the blog is doing OK.
But I think something is missing. And it's your voice—not just commenting on something we said, but sharing something about yourself. So I'm asking people about the experiences they are thankful for. If you have a moment, please do come over and share. I've shared one of mine—and we want to hear about yours. And I'll be honest with you—this may help prove a point. That sometimes in order to "join the conversation" you need to be willing to strike one up. And that begins with sharing something of yourself.
