This is a Guest Post by Ron Tuffin. He blogs over at Just Plain Ron.
As a professional software developer I read a number of blogs that deal with the practice and practices of writing software applications.
I recently read this post by Jeff Atwood over at http://www.codinghorror.com: The World’s Largest MMORPG: You’re Playing it Right Now.
For the uninitiated MMORPG is an acronym for “massively multiplayer online role-playing game” think “World Of Warcraft”, and if that does not do it think “playing games on the internet” or as my wife would put it “wasting time”. [Editor: You could go here too!]
Amongst other things (go read his whole post), Jeff said:
… like it or not, you’re participating in the world’s largest MMORPG. Lurking is always free. Those that choose to go beyond lurking, to add some tiny bit of content to the web, do it because they find it enjoyable. On some level, they’re having fun. If you want to cultivate a community of participants instead of passive, zombie-like TV viewers who contribute nothing, you should be designing to maximize this fun.
An example of this is right here on this site. What’s your comment ranking? Is your colour a bright gold? Pale yellow? Do you have a comment ranking? Where do you find yourself on the “Top 30 Commenter list?
How does that translate into online ministry? How can we engage our communities in ways that are fun?
Any Ideas? Are you doing something ‘fun’ that helps people engage in the largest MMORPG ever? Are there “gaming” elements that should/can be applied?
And playing multi-player games is so much better with real life opponents
How about, the ranking system gives you certain rights, like only people in the top 10 can guest post.
oops Ron – you better start commenting more
nothing like interacting with people on the other side of the world
Phill
are you talkin' to me?!
I'm not a computer gamer… I rarely ever even touch my PS2 or GameCube anymore. But I see where you're going with this. Whether you're playing a game online, and no doubt interacting with the community that goes along with said game. Or browsing blogs and interacting with that community. It's all kinda nerdy in a way
I'll admit… I'm a bit of a computer nerd. But there is something to this "nerdiness" that we enjoy. It's all about community. This stuff totally translates into online ministry. Whether we're engaging in deep conversations in the comment section of a blog post or ministering to someone in the chat of W.O.W… it's community and shouldn't be overlooked.
Good post!
Well a friend of ours likes to use polls on his blog to encourage participation. there's nothing like seeing how your opinion stacks against everyone else's.
i like the challenge throw-down!
Using aspects of gaming on blogs etc need not be about community between the users it could also just translate to engaging the individual user with the material.
good pt.
but that can't me measured, where as the number of comments is a indication of just how engaging the content of the blog or post is. I am assuming that an engaged reader will be propelled into commenthood – not always true – but always desired, otherwise What is the Point?
wow, you mean there's a comment ranking?
I love me some ps2
That made me chuckle
Mr #2 on this site <span class="idc-smiley"><span style="background-position: 0pt 0pt;"><span>:)</span></span></span> But then who is competing right?
i usually prefer #1, but the powers that be had a head start. i'm also #2 on 2 other sites.
because, master, you are the commenting ninja.
Stop, Grasshopper, you make me blush!Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: IntenseDebate Notifications
Stop, Grasshopper, you make me blush!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: IntenseDebate Notifications
I commented not because I have something credible or profound to add to this conversation — but I wanted to find out where I stand in the ChurchCrunch MMORPG rankings.
Sweet!
Four more levels and I'll start questing for my Epic Spiritual Armor set!