Of blogs and boards

A few weeks ago there was a lively discussion* at my e-group Family-Centered Learning. The discussion centered around which medium, e-groups or blogs, allowed for greater community and fellowship. There were supporters on both sides and in the end we basically agreed to disagree and all remain friends. It was stated that e-groups are more private because someone has to actually join the group and a blog is generally readable by anyone. That may be true but it’s interesting to note that that particular e-group has over 700 members and this blog has no where near that many readers.

Whatever your preference I am about to offer you another one. A bulletin board. They’re not new but they have improved over the years. When I first got online I much preferred e-groups because boards felt unwieldy and confusing to my very visual way of relating. Not anymore. They’re lovely and frankly my preferred way of online fellowshipping.

A while ago I started a craft, sewing and knitting board as an offshoot of my On Pins and Needles blog. It’s been quiet lately and a few friends (and my husband) have nudged me to expand it into a larger, more diverse forum. So I have!  Needless to say I’m pretty excited about it.

Family-Centered Living went live this afternoon. Membership is growing fast and discussion is flowing already. Won’t you join us?

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*Why is it that as soon as two people disagree and a discussion becomes lively some people get upset? Why is a lively discussion suddenly a debate and since when is debate a dirty word? Why is it a problem to look at our differences and discuss all sides?

Having someone disagree with you isn’t a personal attack (unless they make it a personal attack but for all my years online I have rarely seen that). So what if someone has a different opinion than your own? Why is that not OK? It really should be.

If I don’t agree with you it doesn’t mean I don’t like you, it just means that, well, I don’t agree. If I think you are wrong about something I will say so (especially if it’s a moral issue) but that doesn’t mean I don’t like you. In fact if I didn’t care I probably wouldn’t bother to say anything at all (which isn’t to say if I don’t say something I don’t care – it may be that I simply don’t have time)!