So, I've been getting a goodly amount of e-mails lately ("goodly" here being a term hilariously relative to the normal amount of non-work e-mails I generally get, which, excepting a steady stream of Very Useful Linkedin endorsements, approaches zero most days). E-mails from Hubski. To the tune of, "Hey, Fuffle, what the hell?" And it's not an unfair question. What the hell, Fuffle. So here's a quick explanation to those who were asking, and then, because I don't like submitting posts without some point greater than my own self-affirmation, a stumbling attempt at tying my absence and subsequent return to a more highfalutin point about community-mindedness in a post-communal world.
So first off, the obligatory and very boring litany of apologies and excuses. Sorry I've been gone, please don't take it as a referendum on this site or the people who make it what it is. I have my reasons for not having been present and accounted for; none of them have anything to do with Hubski or my interactions therein. All of them are incredibly banal. Without getting into gory detail, they include a mix of the following: New job responsibilities that eat up free time; a shift in spousal work schedules that allows for less "me" time; a push to finish personal projects before twins come; and, absurdly, an architectural layout that, in conjunction with my poor sense of Feng Shui (or would that be just no sense of Feng Shui? Can you have a bad sense of Feng Shui?) makes domestic computer access exceedingly difficult. See? Don't you wish you hadn't wasted time reading that list? To those who were smart/lazy enough not to: sorry, stuff happened, I got caught up in it, and now, hopefully, I'll be more present in days to come.
So why waste time writing such a useless paragraph? Why not just quietly re-enter the fold, or else wander further away from it? Wouldn't that be easier? Whelp, as I've learned in the last couple months, no, it wouldn't.
All too often, the term "online community" is self-negating. Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, what have you- sure, you can throw a brick (or whatever the digital analog to a brick is- brixel?) online and find some loose approximation of community. Group of individuals congregated around a central interest/philosophy/kink, whatever. Repeat users, in-jokes, political trends, the whole nine. And people within those forums, they're happy to tell you about how this is the new social marketplace, the new polis, this is where everybody is now while you're bowling alone. But here's the thing: Reddit is no more a community than, say, the dumpster behind your local Whole Foods (unless you're a freegan, and then I guess Reddit is much less so). Nobody cares when you leave. Nobody corresponds with you outside of that system. Many people don't remember interacting with you. Shockingly few people hold you accountable for what you do within said communities, or more relevant to this post, when you apparently abandon the same. So no, Reddit isn't a community. Neither is Pinterest. To the best of my knowledge (and here I'm willing to grant a fair amount of confirmation bias given that I'm no longer young or relevant by any young, relevant accounts), neither is Facebook, which is ostensibly all about keeping in touch with real friends. I keep in touch with more friends via postcards these days than I do over Facebook, and to better result. Last time I checked Facebook (last week (okay, yesterday (ahem, this morning))), I had more targeted ads in my timeline than posts from people I knew. And of the actual human posts, I cared about exactly two of those people- the rest were passing acquaintances talking about their breakfasts (and, despite prevailing opinion, those breakfasts didn't look that amazing). I, in turn, don't really post to Facebook, and nobody on Facebook has ever asked where I've been.
So yeah, more and more people are eschewing their meatspace communities for these online communities, and fewer and fewer of these online communities can deliver the most fundamental values of true communalism. Which is why I dug around for Hubski, and why I was so happy when I found it, and, ironically enough, why I was so ashamed when Hubski started needling me via e-mail with questions about my disappearance. Congrats, you meet all the criteria for community. Common interests? Check. Interactions that assume personhood? Yep. A lasting concern for contributors that follows said contributors, some might say hounds them, far outside the confines of the Hubski interface? Well goddamn. Yeah. That's what I signed up for, and that's what I got. Which puts the pressure on me, as a member of the community, to respond in kind and act like I'm part of the goddamn solution.
So, to recap: 1) sorry. 2) I'll try to be better in the future, because I really like this place. 3) Impressive job, Hubski.
Thanks to thenewgreen, NewMonya, flagamuffin for shaming me into responding, and the various curators of the book club for keeping me in the loop despite never contributing. Will try to do better in the future.
Until any of you visit my stomping grounds in Seattle, You'll have to settle for this stock photo.
Wow. That was all excellently well said. Hubski definitely feels like more of a community than, say, reddit or Facebook. This part of your post particularly rang true: I just checked my Facebook page. Half the stuff is by three sources (which I primarily use for news) and the other half is misc. people I've friended posting about something I don't care about. If I message anyone it's either my roommate, or I message them first. I could easily just stop using Facebook or even close my account. I don't really think anyone would care. Here, it almost feels like I'm obligated to come here. And really, I've kind of stopped coming here for the content. Most of the stuff is just misc. articles. Some of it is neat, but there's quite a bit that I don't care for. Yet, I keep coming, and reading, and commenting on this stuff. Just as I would if it were real life and I really didn't care for the topic. I find that I write longer replies than on other online "communities". And I find that I'm replying to the person rather than to the comment. So really, I think what you are saying is correct. Hubski is the closest thing to a community that I've been in since my old Ragnarok Online days. And that's saying something.Last time I checked Facebook (last week (okay, yesterday (ahem, this morning))), I had more targeted ads in my timeline than posts from people I knew. And of the actual human posts, I cared about exactly two of those people- the rest were passing acquaintances talking about their breakfasts (and, despite prevailing opinion, those breakfasts didn't look that amazing). I, in turn, don't really post to Facebook, and nobody on Facebook has ever asked where I've been.
I think "replying to the person rather than to the comment" gets right to the core of it. It's really easy on other sites to respond to the comment and never follow up on the person. The layout here puts that personal interaction aspect front and center. Really good UI from a social engineering standpoint.
1. Thanks for this, it was really nice to read and I'm glad you are well. I was kind of worried about you pal. 2. Twins? When are they due? 3. Is there any chance of you moving to Asheville NC still? I know that was loosely mentioned a while back 4. Been listening to your music quite a bit. Great stuff. Anything new to share? EDIT: There have been a number of new features added. I mentioned all of them here: http://hubski.com/pub?id=111921
Yeah man, sorry for the long silence. Like I said, trying to get back on the horse. Now that I don't have any projects competing for computer time, should be easier to keep in touch with the scene. Twins! Due in the next few weeks. Probably sooner rather than later. This'll probably mean even more sleepless nights with nothing to do but stay awake until next feeding time. You can look forward to accordingly loopy posts, hopefully. Asheville, sadly, is out. We did the cost-to-income analysis, couldn't square it. That place is expensive. Right now, we're looking at Louisville, KY. Which is decidedly not very close to NC. But you travel a lot, right? That's like a hop skip and a jump. A couple jumps. Re. new stuff- just finished off (maybe) what's looking be an EP. Once I've confirmed that there are no more songs on the horizon, shipping it off to the label to see if they'll bankroll it without any promise of touring, which I don't plan on doing ever again. I'll keep you posted! What about you, working on new stuff? Good to be back, man, thanks for rooting me out.
edit: I did a bit of research and you need at least 5 kids to qualify as a "gaggle". Oh, and they need to be geese. -Get on that.Twins! Due in the next few weeks
-We have a son due to arrive late february. I've not really processed the changes that are heading my way and that's just with one baby. You are going to be a busy fella.That place is expensive. Right now, we're looking at Louisville, KY
-I'm telling you, the cost of living in Durham is pretty great. Lot's of opportunities for employment, we have Duke, UNC and NC State all right here, a great music scene and a great place to raise a gaggle of kids -which you will soon have.what's looking be an EP. Once I've confirmed that there are no more songs on the horizon, shipping it off to the label to see if they'll bankroll it without any promise of touring, which I don't plan on doing ever again
-Looking forward to hearing it. I can't say I blame you on the touring. I do miss playing live but I've got no desire to be off touring or even playing every weekend. I'd love to have one great show a month. As for my music, I recently met a drummer and I'm thinking of putting some new tunes together. I really miss making music with other people. I've been recording a bunch of stuff on my own and it all begins to sound similar to me. I need some outside influences on my songs.
Hey hey! New youngun for you guys, too? Congrats! We'll have to commiserate when we're both good and sleepless. Re. Gaggles- if it can be done with swans, it can be done with geese.
And with that image I shall head off to bed. Thanks for the ensuing strangeness that awaits me.
What the hell fuffle?! You come back and make me read a beautifully written post about your absence right off the bat!? But in all seriousness, it's good to see a post from you. The Facebook part isn't necessarily something that I agree with, because I am a part of some communities that talk mainly through it (such as some aspects of the local music scene, and some of the regional chiptune scenes) and through in-person interactions, but that aside you hit the nail on the head. The other part is that bowling alone is a cathartic experience. But I guess that's what happens when you spend 13 years of your life doing it. Last, congratulations on the twins! I wish you the best of luck with them.
What the hell, indeed. It's been too long. Like I implied- pretty sure people a little younger than I am actually use Facebook for its intended purpose, so I could very well be wrong on that account. By the way, Summer Song is awesome! Also, "Formalities" is a great project name. Hope the release goes well!
I don't know you as I joined right after you left, but I like your writing style. You make some good points. I mainly use Facebook because it's interesting to see what people who I barely speak do in their lives. Even though I'm aware of it, Facebook can be quite addicting, sadly.