One of the most fascinating additions to the video game world is the ability to be as completely immersed into the world. Games now boast that everything in the game is “in play,” meaning, you can leverage nearly any object as a weapon or an object to fulfill a quest or requirement.
You see, the environment is no longer something to be observed, it’s now something that can be leveraged and used.
As you approach the blogging medium through a new lens and a new perspective you can begin to see the blogging platform as a much more flexible, dynamic, and malleable object rather than a rigid rule-based object.
What I encouraged the listeners to do is to begin to see the blog as an opportunity, an opportunity to use it in ways that were never originally intended.
The metaphor that I used was a chair. You see, a chair is only a chair until you begin to use it.
For example, as it sits there doing nothing it is a “chair.” But, if I start putting things onto it it becomes a “table.” If I stand on it the chair becomes a “stool.” If I prop it against a door it’s not a “door stop.” If I throw it at someone it’s now a “weapon” or a symbol of “violence.”
You see, the object becomes it’s intended use.
Daniel_Berman says
I have wondered about combining the metaphors of MMORPGS, Social Networking, combined with global Christian community to see what I come up with. At the very minimum the concept that you can interact with other people on a basis that affects them, while being far beyond your physical reach is a concept that should not be underestimated.
The need for the skills to communicate cross-culturally, and across language barriers is critical. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate, and if the other person isn't understanding what your trying to say, your the one who isn't communicating……
Matt Harrell says
Good stuff here John. All these things are tools. Social media is a tool, blogging is tool, communication portals are a tool twitter is a tool. It's all about how YOU use them. Just take a look at what Guy Kawasaki does with Twitter. No one is using Twitter in such a unvarying and deliberate manner as he is. Or at least I haven't seen them. So yea I agree with the general message of these posts, that it's all about having a plan and deciding how you and your church is going to use them.
Mikes says
hmm… a lot of social media are useless. i now have hmm 250 to 300 followers in twitter but never, i mean not for once did my follower click on the link i tweeted. Useless!
i'm still studying how to make use of digg, mixx, stumbleupon coz i only received very few hits from them. hopefully soon i can grasp the whole idea of them and use them as "weapons"
reddit is my favorite. people actually read the links i submit.:*
Josh Wagner says
This idea of everything being "in play" is something I've wrestled with before. Did a post on my blog about this idea and music (if you're interested, link here: http://tr.im/kwSo ). I think you summed it up better than I did!
But in all seriousness, we need to realize that our tools are not the end. The tools change but the source remains. If we can leverage blogs/Twitter/Facebook/(insert cool new app here) to show the world Jesus, then we have done good.
Jim says
So we need re-contextualize blogging just like the church? Rethink our thought process and how we use it. I like it.