Logo

Tech Corner

Here's some basic information about blogs and blogging from the Grand Lodge Webmaster, himself an active blogger!

 

Blogging

Everybody talks about blogs today but few people seem to understand what they really are. Fewer still appreciate their potential.

Some history might help: blogging grew from the concept of an online diary or journal. Entries, unlike in a paper diary/journal, appear in reverse chronological order.

Within the past couple of years, blogging has exploded. In political campaigns it allows political 'junkies' to read all about what's going on and in the case of fast-breaking news stories world-wide, it allows immediate updates of information. Blogging software, both for creating a blog and for reading one (or many) is SO simplified that a very basic understanding of computers is all that's required.

Blogging can be the exact opposite of web 'surfing'. In the latter, you go from website to website to see what's new there while when blogging, you have new content to come to your attention automatically. A blog is very much like a website, however, and can be viewed in the 'traditional' browser way. In some cases, it's simply a section within the website.

Software to keep up with blogs comes (basically) in two 'flavors': there are programs that reside on your computer and which you manage just like any other piece of software and there are websites where you can go to have all of your chosen blogs presented in one place. It brings the news to you rather than you having to scour for it.

How does a blog differ from a website?

  1. It's far easier to get information from than pawing around a website
  2. It uses an 'aggregator' concept to provide you with all of the blog additions of interest to you right in one place
  3. Most blogs are advertisement free when delivered using software on your own computer. This will probably change by next week! <sigh>
  4. The information is generally MUCH more timely
  5. Blogging reflects a 'stream of consciousness' mentality that often makes reading them akin to reading someone's diary, complete with poor grammar, awful punctuation, and faulty logic.
  6. There are dozens of FREE blog hosting sites making this available to anyone with time and something (or nothing) to say
  7. Blogging allows COMMENTS! You can write back to the author and have your comments seen by everyone.

There are a number of blogs with Masonry as the primary topic. There are many others that occassionally mention Freemasonry. There are currently - to the best of our knowledge - any Grand Lodge-sanctioned blogs. As a result, the blogs you'll encounter reflect the opinions and feelings of the blog's owner, including their ethnic and political biases. Consequently, the blogsphere is a venue ripe with misinformation and disinformation. Use discernment when reading blog entries about Masonry: from my perspective, they tend to be FAR less reliable than postings you might see in a mailing list of a research lodge, for example.

Want to read more? Here are some links to information and software.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
The Grand Lodge of Masons in Maine does NOT recommend any technology or product. Links are provided for informational purposes only and are NOT recommendations from Grand Lodge!

Wikipedia - the online contributor-created encyclopedia's entry on blogs

A blogger's blog entry about software to read blogs as well as hot to find blogs of interest to you.

If you've got a Google account for gmail or some other purpose, you can use their service for your blog reading. They - and many other services - allow you to create a blog on your own as well.

Bloglines and Technorati are two places where you can find out about blogs that might interest you.

So whether you interest is Freemasonry, fabrege eggs, the political situation in East Timor, camera repair, cement mixing or all of the above, you can find blogs that will provide timely if not always 100% accurate information.

As time moves forward, more and more businesses will adopt blogging as well hoping that you'll want to know about the latest sales and products. Having their message in a 'pull' rather than 'push' technology (such as e-mail) will likely keep you coming back - AND can attract others who might not want to read every day e-mail just to find out about that once-a-year special on chocolate carmels. Incidentally: you should you find such a sale, please remember that every week is 'Be Kind To The Webmaster' week and send gifts accordingly!

At present, only two Maine Masons are known bloggers:

  • Christian Ratliff's Dispatches from Maine was the pioneer and has information about his personal, work and Masonic life was the pioneer.
  • My own Masonic Musings from ME looks at Freemasonry and all the parts therein from a personal perspective.

if you create a blog, let us know so we can add you to the list.

And always remember online or off::

YOU ARE SOMEONE'S IMPRESSION OF MASONRY!

Ed King, Webmaster, Grand Lodge of Maine, AF&AM
July 1, 2006