stat uncounter?

So, apparently this blog has had 0 visitors since April of this year. I don't check statcounter much anymore, being content with simply naively trusting that there is something like a readership in existence. (Perhaps my alien friends don't get counted on statcounter? Which suggests a cosmic xenophobic bias in the statcounting technology, there. Get to work on fixing that, please.)

So...helloooooooooooo? Are you there, Readers? It's me, JTB...

do look down

I'm kind of excited about a nifty new feature I've added to the blog.

The folks behind Ameritocracy, which I blogged about last year, have been developing an app called "Insight" for use on individual websites which provides a space for the same kind of feedback ameritocracy.com did, only this time, it's website content that can be responded to, questioned, and evaluated by your readers.

It's not really meant for a little personal blog like this one, probably. But as it's in beta testing and free right now I thought it would be fun to use for awhile.

Look down at the bottom of the page, and you should see a little bar that invites you to highlight text and give your feedback. I think you will need to become a part of my "group," which I named "posthumans for a liveable world," and feedback, in the form of questions or comments or facebook-like quick ratings (think the "like" button Facebook status updates, only with more options) is displayed on the group's page.

I think what I like most about the app is that is highlights some of the basic functions of any epistemic community and the way that knowledge is collectively constructed by those that are a part of it. All of the same things happen in the commentary already to be sure, but the app makes it a little more obvious how/why pieces of knowledge get constructed the way they do, by making explicit evaluations and sources of info, etc.

So, if you're as into social epistemology as I am, enjoy! If not, you can still join us posthumans in our attempt at constructing a liveable world. I mean, the more the better...seriously.

culling the crowd

Some of you may have noticed that this blog, unlike many others, does not require a word verification or a blogger name/password in order to comment. That's mostly because I blog about things most people aren't interested in discussing--personal news, occasional theology and posthumanism just doesn't get much traffic. That's fine, because that's how I like it.

But other blogs and groups are organized around the purpose of generating discussion and/or debate. GKB's was a veritable hotbed of controversy back in the day before he got kindler and gentler. It can be an enjoyable or exasperating distraction, and it can sometimes lead to a helpful clarification or expansion of a topic, a sort of virtual seminar, if it goes well. But it doesn't always go well and probably mostly doesn't; many people have noted that the anonymity and disembodiedness of virtual encounter in the blogosphere tends to encourage loosened standards with regard to the epistemic virtues of intellectual rigor, honesty, humility, and courtesy.

Which brings me to my question. How do you determine when enough is enough? What standards are fair when deciding to block comments or bar participation? And how do you balance this with maintaining a spirit of openness to dissent--an absolutely necessary component to any collaborative human effort at seeking truth together? When does moderation become censorship? When does dissent become blasphemy? When does consensus become tyranny?

And what might our alien friends think of all this misbehavior?

exciting finds!

I knew there had to be more PTS bloggers out there...and I was right! And what's even more exciting than adding a bunch of cool new blogs to my links is the fact that I actually know so many of these very cool people. I even have a blogging neighbor! Who knew!

Anyhow, if you like reading theology-type blogs by seminary-type people, check out the new stuff in my PTS bloggers section. I can't say that I'm in agreement with all that I've read on these blogs--in fact I can definitely say that I'm not--but as GKB tirelessly demonstrates for us, disagreement in the blogosphere is one of the most stimulating (distractive, addictive) things around.

my other audience

Hello aliens,

I hope you're still reading the blog. I know that generally the concerns addressed here are rather parochial from your undoubtedly cosmic point of view but I like to think that my blog-in-space efforts have an audience. Unfortunately, statcounter isn't able to track you (what's your ISP?) so I can never really be sure.

But it looks like we may have found your home. Or maybe a neighbor? Or maybe we're way off...but if we're right, then you might have water, like us, your planet might be rocky or might be one big ocean, and you're probably a lot shorter and stockier than we are 'cause your gravity is 5 times the 9.8 m/s2 we've got going on here. But there's a chance that, if your planet's like ours, you might be a great deal like us...enough that we could maybe communicate. Of course, reading this blog kind of answers that question. Please feel free to leave a comment. And if we've got you confused with someone else's planet, it would be really helpful if you'd let us know. Maybe a map? Or at least a nudge in the right direction.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/04/24/exoplanet.reut/index.html

PTS blogs

Okay, so I found one of you through statcounter and I know who you are...so I have added you to my links and you are, for now, the sole representative of the category "PTS bloggers." But surely there are others. Not everyone can be so driven that they haven't discovered the Great Timewaster, the internet's Gift to All Procrastinators and Free Thinkers, the Electronic Abyss into which we type our best thoughts...ah, blogging.

Are there any other PTS bloggers out there who want to 'fess up?