How to Boil the Ocean?

Berlin FangOklahoma Christian University

March, 2011

“Kids on the web, what do we do about it?”

Fear of the “Web”

Am I losing personal touch?

Can I have a presence at a distance?

Why do people blog?

“Wall Posts” from the Past

Why Blogs in the Age of Twitter and Facebook

What really matters? Using the tool?

College Essay Assignment:

“If you were a bird and you were to tell humans about environment protection, what would you say? Please limit your length to 500 words.”

What really matters? Or using the tool to post quality content?

Student:

“Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet… ”(The word is repeated 500 times.)

Blogger rolesCitizen journalist

West Virginia Mine Disaster Example

Writer“Nothing has happened unless bloggers are talking about it”

Teacher“I learned…”

“Window”“Window to the world”

“Lobbyist”Workers’ Union example

Blogging changed my life

Articles

Columns

Books

Awards

Friends

Respect at home?

Missions

From Blogs to Podcasts

Blog is media

Most Read1. “Too close vs. too clear” (220,730 views/676 comments)

2. Pre-marital questions (106,018/174)

3. The relativity of wealth (83,825/370)

4. Who tricked women out of their Homes (77,347/324)

5. Tattletellers will have no treats (76,078/206)

6. On passports and national power (74,152/194)

7. Deadly Complex (72,436/159)

8. From a truck to Harvard (71,887/178)

9. Yes, there is a difference between man and woman (68,619/78)

10. Carrots, not sticks: how Americans do census (63,971/121)

Implication for Online Discussion: What Drives People to a Blog or

DiscussionStory

One ounce of story is worth a ton of argument

FamiliarityIf people know well enough about you, they will read

RelevanceIf this is something they can relate to, they will come

PracticalityIf this is something useful, they will come

CuriosityIf this is something they always want to know about, they will come

Intergenerational Chart

Most Commented1. After Lu Xun, can we have Lin Yutang (61,390/924)

2. Guo Jingming (45,468/914)

3. “Too close vs. too clear” (220,730/676)

4. Chinese literature is a lonely island (25,890/670)

5. How far is Hanhan from becoming a public intellectual (25,917/432)

6. The relativity of wealth (83,825/370)

7. Who tricked women out of their Homes (77,347/324)

8. Liu Qian’s Magic (37,985/307)

9. End of brand loyalty (52,931/305)

10. Dignity by design (39,500/287)

Implication for online discussions: why would a reader participate?

“Duck” effect

Dull arguments are not conducive to discussions

Duck vs. Portfolio

“Watchdog” effect

People are on guard on errors

“The masses’ eyes are snow-bright/razor sharp”.

“Dragonfly” effect

Reader cannot tolerate incongruity

“Safety valve” effect

Readers feel rather safe to comment if you create a non-threatening atmosphere

“My turf” effect

Everybody is an expert at something

“I’ve got to say something”

There are those readers who are determined to say something, anything

Portrait of An Engaged Learner

Cases: robbing the old

Cases: Forks and Chopsticks

Cases: Hey couples, talk your way to bliss

Power of A Good Controversy: Tiger Mom

Cases: tiger mom method can wait

"I reckon you wouldn't even be human being if you didn't have some pretty strong personal feelings about …”

-- Dr. Strangelove

Passion is What Matters

Catalyze Passion

“When you create a product or service that some people love, don’t be surprised when others hate you. Your goal is to catalyze passion – Pro or anti. Don’t be offended if people take issue with what you’ve done; the only result that should offend (and scare) you is lack of interest.”

Guy Kawaskaki, The Art of the Start

Design Controversy

StoryInstead of using an argument, try starting your discussion with a story, anecdote, quote

PurposeNot just for the “eye-ball”

ParticipationMonitor if someone is “off-the-mark”

SaturationClose your comments when you have gathered all possible important angles

Advice for managing your blog

8. Keep your design simple and straightforward

7. Use multiple channels for promotion

6. Write with your grandma in mind

5. Blog to change the world, one reader at a time

4. Share your expertise

3. Find the right start

2. Do not worry about fame

1. Respect the media

Lessons Learned

Write offline and save often

Write as if you are going to publish it

Be yourself: you do not need to behave like a geek

Do not post things you will regret

And try not to get fired

A Call to Action: Web Is Not Just For The Young.

Start A Blog Too!

Berlin Fang

Berlin.fang@oc.edu

Twitter: @berlinf

Personal Blog: http://berlinfang.blog.163.com

Professional Blog: http://ni.oc.edu

Group Blog (Just starting): http://www.oc.edu/occreativeminds