As some of you might already be aware, your favorite ultra-hip social networking Web site has added an enticing new feature. That’s right, Facebook recently implemented a “Notes” section. More widely known as a blog, Web log or Internet Web log, this new section offers quite a few advantages to the more gregarious of our esteemed studentry. Unfortunately, a few very significant problems also arise with the implementation of this fabulous new component.
I know what you are saying, as the reader of this article and as a devoted Facebook user. You’re saying, “Nothing bad has ever resulted from anything ever posted to the Internet. Ever.” And you are absolutely right, but that doesn’t mean things don’t change. Of course, as an American, I fear change, and that is why I am going to provide you with a few important tips on blogging.
In the spirit of blogging and also in the spirit of enhancing my argument, I would like for you to pretend that this article is an entry to Facebook Notes. If your imagination is lacking, it might help to read the online version of The Reflector rather than the print copy. Now, consider the blogosphere, with its vast array of sites such as Myspace, Friendster and Live Journal. With all of these options, you must learn to diversify your blog-folio. For example, should I post this entry to all 17 of my blogs? This exact message? My goodness, no. Of course not. What a stupid question.
You must first develop the imperative ability of pinpointing your target audience. You cannot just go posting willy-nilly, expecting everybody to love your message on every site. This is because the various blogs happen to be more diverse than even this great country of ours (and everyone is welcome in the blogosphere). So you really have to think it through. Spend some time on it. Don’t rush it, not this. Not something this important.
Only once you have spent sufficient time sequestering your ideas (using perceived audience attributes as a guide) should you consider posting. For instance, I personally would never post this message on Xanga. The Xangan elitists would tear this entry to shreds. Is there such a thing as negative e-props? I don’t want to find out, and neither should you.
Secondly, how much time should you invest in this new blog as compared to the old ones? An hour a day (per blog) seems reasonable, but I am now literally losing sleep over this dilemma. So you might wonder, should blogs be prioritized? Is someone out there going to be offended by a discernibly diminishing allegiance to Xuqa? What are the repercussions? Once again, we are better off never learning the answers to those questions. The solution is to simply increase your workload. You must post to your new Faceblog on top of, not in place of, your older blogs. Be consistent in your entries; otherwise, watch your back.
Obviously, these are only a couple of the more important tenets to upholding an enjoyable, safe blog lifestyle. The most important rule, of course, is to simply exhibit common sense at all times. But more than anything, have fun with blogs. Enjoy yourself at all costs. Post a hate-inspired diatribe, upload some incriminating photographs, threaten somebody, expose personal information . . . whatever it takes to make it fun.