10.24.05
a story of beginnings
ADDENDUM: Because several readers have seen fit to berate me publicly elsewhere because of this post, I’ve taken the opportunity to clear things up a tad. If you’re interested in hearing both sides of the story, and it seems that some people really aren’t, you’d do well to read this link. This is the original start of the post:
I don’t know that any of you will be particularly interested in this story. But, I’m going to tell it anyway. I study organizational communication, well, at least that’s the area of the discipline that I hope to be able to make me some money someday…but I also have a distinct interest in Computer Mediated Communication. Thus, my affinity for blogging. I find the relationships and communities that develop online to be simply fascinating.
As I was thinking about online communities, I got an email from an old friend back on the Relevant Magazine discussion boards. His name is Kevin. Kevin’s doing his undergraduate thesis on Relevant Magazine. I’ve no doubt that it will be an interesting read–at least if you’re a geek like me. Anyway, his email asking me about people involved with relevant sort of brought me back. Way back. Back to the beginning of my little experiment with online communities.
Honestly, I can’t remember if I’ve written at length about this story. I know I’ve told parts of it, but, I thought it might be nice to get it down onto virtual paper. It all started back in the spring of 2003 when I picked up my first copy of Relevant Magazine. I thought it looked pretty cool, so I looked up their website. Lo and behold, what was I to find but a marvelous little message board.
The community there was a welcome reprieve from, well, work. When I needed a break, I would spend some time chatting, discussing, arguing…mostly arguing, with people about theology, life, and the confluence of the two. I found that for as ‘cutting edge’ and ‘progressive’ as the magazine sold itself, the folks in the online message board community were a tad on the, how to put this nicely, conservative side of things. Fair enough, though. Lively discussion ensued.
I really did meet a number of really great people there. Eventually, though, my critique that the leadership of the board was one-sided, arrogant, and totalitarian landed me so firmly in the shit-list of the Relevanteers that I was given a one-way ticket outta there. Banned for life. Since then, the leadership of that board have moved along to other projects–projects which I’ve chosen to not rear my bad Christian little head into.
As a short aside, I will give a plug to both the books and poetry editors for Relevant Magazine online. I can wholeheartedly say that Relevant scored big when they nabbed these two to serve as editors for their online magazine.
Much fireworking and nastiness could be recounted, I’m sure. But, I doubt much of it would prove either fruitful or accurate. One positive spinoff, though, of one of the Relevant Magazine fallouts was the birth of a new online community. A smaller community of ‘like-er’ minds. It was called the Balcony. If you’d like to know the etymology of the term ‘the balcony’ I’m sure some handy searching of the site will find you what you’re looking for. This real, if more crass, community was an online community for me after I’d received my lifetime banishment from Relevant.
Though I don’t frequent the place anymore, I will say that the folks (mostly fellows) there were a really supportive group of people. I really got the sense that they cared (and still care) for one another. From the talented site designer–who, by the way, if you’re looking for site architect, is one of the best in the business–to some of my friends who spend/spent their time at the balcony, it was (and is) a great place.
In about June of 2004, it became the cool thing to do to start a blog. Everyone at the balcony was doing it. I followed suit, I mean, I had this webspace lying around with not much to do with it. So, to challenge myself, I decided to see if I couldn’t figure out how to install blog software on my own. It worked.
Eventually, my ability to be both a straight “A” student and a regular ‘time spender’ at a message board dwindled. For the very first time in my life, being a good student won out. Luckily, I found that having my own little chunk of cyberspace via a blog was a nice parting gift. Further, I found that there were a number of loosely connected communities floating around in the blogosphere that I didn’t mind being a part of.
And there, for the past year and a half, I’ve stayed.
So there, that’s how I got to the point where I am now with reference to online communities. I hope you enjoyed my little walk down memory lane. I found it to be relaxing! Of course, that makes sense because it was my story. What a self-gratifying post! You know, I think we all need those little “my-stories-are-important” posts from time to time. We all need the opportunity to share our stories, to tell our testimonies to eachother. I look forward to hearing yours.
Jim said,
October 24, 2005 at 9:14 pm
I would spend some time chatting, discussing, arguing…mostly arguing,
NO! You? Argue? Surely you jest.
I liked reading your not-only-self-gratifying post. I love other people’s etymologies (I like that word, too).
Thanks for sharing.
goingape said,
October 25, 2005 at 12:27 am
Yeah, I’ve been frequenting relevant recently. And I’m getting tired of the same discussions and disagreeing with the same people. Then again, I kinda like being a reference for those with psychology questions. I get a lot of private messages with sex questions people are too embarrassed to post on the boards. That’s kinda fun.
Brandon said,
October 25, 2005 at 12:24 pm
I actually saw that you’d been posting there a bit, Nicole. In some of your threads I was encouraged by your sound advice…of course I was almost equally discouraged with the overwhelming amount of shitty advice given on many topics…but, I suppose, what do you expect when you ask for advice on a message board.
No doubt you’ve been blessed with the enchanting experience of having a run-in with ‘Hulkamania’?
Kevin said,
October 25, 2005 at 6:00 pm
oh hey brandon could you link to my blog instead of my record label? i’m trying to keep my academic life marginally separate from my business life.
Paul said,
October 25, 2005 at 9:48 pm
You are too kind. Entirely too kind.
I’m working on my repertoire to include “ability to kill with mad Photoshop skills”.
goingape said,
October 26, 2005 at 12:04 am
I haven’t tangled with Hulkmania yet, actually. But I’d love to kick NaterRater’s ass.
And what youth minister has enough time to post as much as JWCoffeeman?
Just some thoughts.
Brandon said,
October 26, 2005 at 12:12 am
A burned out one who no longer does his job…though I’m completely speculating, here.
J.R. Caines said,
October 26, 2005 at 11:45 am
Ah, B, you put a little tear in my eye. Come back and stick around for a while, we miss you much.
-J.R.
kevin said,
October 26, 2005 at 4:23 pm
Coincidentally, I read this post with my latest copy of Relevant Magazine in my hand. I found Relevant before they even had a magazine and for some reason just keep sticking with them. They’re growing rapidly but it’s still very much an indie company whose goals I can vaguely get behind even if it - an ‘edgy’ mag - is far too tame (and often banal) for me. I never really got into their messageboards but just reading user comments after articles lead me to conclude with you that there’s some disparity between purported progressiveness and actual values within their community.
Paul said,
October 26, 2005 at 9:18 pm
You got a pretty good read on the situation Kevin. I’ve written several things for their online site and the “comments” are so insanely negative and mean. I laugh. I wrote a blog post with the best comments hurled at me.
Christop said,
October 27, 2005 at 5:47 am
I’m on the Relevant message boards, but don’t find the articles that interesting. Disagree with pretty much the same people as Goingape does fairly regularly. It’s a lot better than a Christian messageboard I used to be on. On the messageboard I usede to be on I was told that since I don’t consider myself Catholic or Protestant, that amde me an atheist.
Konayahweh said,
December 1, 2005 at 9:21 am
You’re welcome to come back anytime. I remember you being there and I think I had some interesting discussions with you. We need all sorts of different people - conservatives, liberals, etc. Come on back! - Brian
JWCoffeeman said,
December 5, 2005 at 2:34 pm
Or maybe he spends so much time working with his youth group that he hasn’t had an opportunity to make many friends (and the ones he does have are extremely busy). And maybe his wife is a grad student who has to be away from home 90+ hours a week and so he has several hours at home each night with no one to talk to. But that’s just speculating. You’d have to actually know something about him to come to that conclusion.
Brandon said,
December 5, 2005 at 2:59 pm
Aight, man. Calm down.
We were talking hypotheticals and frankly, I was transferring a bit of myself onto the hypothetical person in question. Though, you’d have to know me to know that. Thing is, you don’t know me.
So, before we all get our panties in a wad, let’s just call this conversation a gross misunderstanding and move on.
JWCoffeeman said,
December 5, 2005 at 3:11 pm
Nothing personal. I really didn’t have a problem with what you said (it’s probably the same assumption I would have made). I was irritated that my name was brought up at all since as far I know, I’ve never done anything to the person who mentioned me. So anyway, I’m not losing any sleep over it, and, yeah, I was intentionally being a jerk, but it did seem a little unfair to call me out on a blog that I’ve never even been to. Like I said, I’ve got no beef with you, so I’ll just move on.