Archive for May, 2008

I gained a lot from focussing the blog, but…

May 14, 2008

All my life I have felt torn in different directions by the diversity of my interests. The crucial thing I got from readingĀ  Stephen Downes’ “How to be Heard” was to look at this from above, seeing myself at the centre with lines radiating to all those things no matter what they are - and to turn the arrows inward. Instead of being pulled apart, I am what draws these diverse things together. There needs to be no justification for the diversity of my interests, no connection between them, other than that I exist and I relate to these things. Downes says

The point here is that it is better not to focus on some specific topic, the way a university course does, but rather, to aim at some sort of intersection that touches on all of your interests. Anybody can write about e-learning, but only you can write about themes found in e-learning, romance fiction and skydiving. What would that look like? I haven’t a clue - that’s why I would need to read your blog.

So keep reading. I haven’t a clue what’s coming next either.

Old blog, new tricks

May 13, 2008

I am de-focussing this blog, as of now. Initially, on the advice of someone I greatly respect, I went to a lot of trouble to focus on/around a topic. That person still has my great respect, but I’m abandoning that idea.

The simple reason is, it has been a conversation stopper.

From now on I will write about whatever occurs to me, whenever.