Improbulus, I Don’t Know
The question was set. What is your diet of new media? What do you consume? Make a list if you would. Put the most consumed at the top of the list. . . .
Shortly before SOBCon, my friend Improbulus asked that question. I wanted to answer, but truthfully, I didn’t know what to say. Sad to say, my mind might be clever and occasionally a risk taker, but my reality is flat out boring.
I’m a dreamer. Like Christopher Columbus, I’ll go sailing off to the edge of the planet in the most rickety ships. (Okay, so maybe his ships were state of the art, but mine wouldn’t be — unless Terry Starbucker and Chris Cree made sure things were in order.) I’m a pizza and beer kind of girl. I still like my music on CDs, preferrably timeless, musical, and with great lyrics.
I’m not sure I know what new media is.
New Media and the Writer/Blogger Girl
This is the story of new media and the writer girl who became blogger girl. . . . It begins with knowing that, as writer girl, all I need s is a great keyboard, a fabulous display, and my BOSE headset that sends back sounds bouncing off walls — so that I don’t have to, bounce off walls, that is.
A telephone is useful, but optional. Well, this writer girl talks a lot, so maybe it should be on the list.
Life was simple in Web 1.0.
The world changed when I started blogging.
Writer Girl Becomes Blogger Girl
Never one to learn just a little, writer girl jumped into blogging with abandon . . . well sorta. I’m a saturation learner. Okay so I walked into the water, shivering. The decision was made to get in and try. What was I going to lose? Writing was something I needed to do.
Like everyone else, blogger girl thought that blogging was about writing. Silly girl, I was as surprised as the next guy to find out that it’s about the people. I found relationships with fascinating people, who quickly became dear to me — head to head and heart to heart too. Next thing you know writing is only part of my time, talking to a new world of friends was a big part of my life too.
Suddenly my blogger girl media needs went beyond blogging platforms, and color-palette tools. I found myself using Skype, IM packages, document and photo transfer, all of the Sociable sites, and all forms of protection from Internet meanies who want to take over my computer. As blogger girl my blog was transporting me to folks all over the world.
I now have three browsers. Each is set with multiple tabbed groups for my reading short lists. I have feed readers I don’t use and a $100 million feed reader I do. I’ve shared and online spreadsheets, documents, conference calls, meeting rooms, chats, and webinars. I get IM’ed, and MyBlogLogged, and emailed, and Twittered, and Facebooked, and Stumbled. I wish I had a $1.00 for every link I have gotten or given away. Wouldn’t that be neat?
There’s a rush hour time to my computer and I won’t tell you when, but it’s pretty hairy navigating traffic when it’s on. On the other hand, it’s engaging and energetic — kind of like a video game. I don’t tell folks to stop, because well, it’s so nice to have them as part of my life.
Google calendar is very cool. I do a heckuva lot of market research on Amazon.
Most other stuff takes too long to set up.
I spent more time developing my Twitter home page than I did actually Twittering. I do go there to read sometimes. I’m too shy and my life is too uneventful for that interface. No I don’t need a webcam. I actually long for a cordless mic for my skype.
I’m amazed by the stats programs, but talking to people still reveals more. Their intuitive detail fills out the picture for me. Give me that voice connection. Let me hear the heart behind their clicks.
The Ultimate Blogger Girl Gadget
What is the ultimate, all-time, I-wish-I-had-it, new media gadget?
That would have to be the automatic to-do list maker/errand runner. It’s currently available in a a Web 1.0 version — a guy named Bartholomew who will do that work for a price. Unfortunately, I haven’t found him yet — not in my price range. (I know, I need the deluxe version Bartholomew, who comes with complete proofreading and copyediting skills.)
Writer girl was forever changed when I became blogger girl. New media was part of that change. It’s funny to know that, since I’m still not sure I know what new media is.
I won’t tag you, but do tell me, what is your ultimate new media gadget?
If you want to know why I wrote this, click on the bloggy tag to see the original inspiring post.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.
