My move from a blog to a lifestream format has elicited two kinds of
responses so far: approvers and doubters. I don't think this has anything to do with me, but rather it's reflection of how we're adjusting to the broader shift in media.
The web is slowly moving from an architecture of pages, to one that
looks like a stream. Such models favor immediacy over reflection.
This was something John Borthwick from betaworks and I discussed this morning over breakfast. It's definitely front and center in his mind. Twitter, Friendfeed, Facebook, Tumblr and Posterous are all platforms that embrace the stream metaphor. Blogs, RSS, static news stories are remnants from the era of pages.
The stream is where the web is going. Does this mean thoughtful
analysis is dead? No. However, the ubiquity of the stream and the tools
to filter it, the increasing consumption of content on mobile devices
and finite attention spans means there's a greater focus today on
immediacy than reflection. This was a major factor in why I shifted how
I publish and embraced a tool that lets me contribute more in a
streamed format, yet still have a home base on the web.
Perhaps I am wrong, but it feels like those who are most critical
of the transition from blogging to lifestreaming perhaps are not ready
to embrace such a format. Maybe there's room for everything. What's
your view?
Immediacy vs. Reflection
31 comments
http://dave-lucas.blogspot.com/2009/07/bloggers-taking-tweeting.html
Jul 01, 2009
Michael Gambale said...
I don't think you are wrong in that the stream is where the web is going. There are tools to manage the different streams of data. RSS Readers can be considered one tool for managing different streams of information and there are many others. For me I manage thoughtful analysis outside of viewing the stream or I simply turn away from computer and write my thoughts in a journal. I do this even though Google Reader points out through their trends that I have read/scanned over 5000 posts (from RSS subscriptions) in the last 30 days.
I agree that people may not be ready to embrace this format. For whatever reason (culture, behavior, different views, lifestyle, etc) I think many people can not easily weave in and out of the stream.
-Mike
Jul 01, 2009
Jay Small said...
Put me in the "room for everything" camp. Information streams alone, without averting attention long enough to reflect, resemble watching cars from the interstate roadside. You can count them, you can even make out colors, makes and models, but eventually, you either start to wonder what it all means, or just pass out from the exhaust fumes.
Jul 01, 2009
jack said...
You forgot the 3rd group. Those tired of the subject. It'll be nice when you actually start writing again. The format really doesn't matter. The only question left is how long will you milk the subject.
Jul 01, 2009
Anthony Scaffeo said...
I think what I can out of this is this: ideas can be push forth with Lifestreaming with SOME context which users can appreciate and build from very quickly and seamlessly. Tools are available & quicker to do this and are dropping in price. I am starting my own lifestreaming soon but lack the potential capacity of followers for commenting as this time.
Jul 01, 2009
Rich Pulvino said...
I feel, being very new to the blogging world, that I would not be able to handle maintaining a lifestream because I am still a greenhorn when it comes to maintaining a blog. However, I do enjoy reading the lifestreams of others because the lifestream can show the evolution of an idea as new thoughts emerge. Someone like yourself who has been an influencer in the blogging community should embrace the lifestream because it is a new format that needs to be tested and observed to see if people (both the writer and the readers) benefit from the information published.
My only concern with lifestream, similar to what Jay mentioned, involves the ability to comment and analyze the information that is being produced and published at such fast speeds.
Sign me up as an observer of the lifestream and how it will evolve (or possibly devolve?) over time.
Jul 01, 2009
Steve Rubel said...
@Jack, got the message. Thank you.
Jul 01, 2009
Bruce Keener said...
@Steve, I think you have captured the "shift" well, although I am in the camp that says both are needed (so there is an addition, rather than a shift, or perhaps a partial shift). I believe that we do not do enough real thinking, and that most people operate almost exclusively in automatic, with little reflection. Books like Nudge and Predictably Irrational, and at least a dozen others, bring this message home. So, I don't want to see us get worse at not thinking, and just get caught up exclusively in a stream of streams. But, I am beginning to understand the value of streaming. Good post.
Jul 01, 2009
Gary Mintchell said...
The masses will go with low value musings for a while. I'm losing interest in the twitter stream overall. Too much to filter out. Too few tools. I get news from RSS feeds from folks I trust. Don't care what it's called--blog, news, something else. Can do conversation on any of the media--even, gasp, a phone.
Jul 01, 2009
Dave Lucas said...
Steve, I love you but I don't agree with you! Citing this:http://dave-lucas.blogspot.com/2009/07/bloggers-taking-tweeting.html
Jul 01, 2009
stuartbruce said...
Not sure what you're saying with "but it feels like those who are most critical of the transition from blogging to lifestreaming perhaps are not ready to embrace such a format" It's not you or me that matters, but the vast majority of people out there who are just vaguely interested. I'm ready, able and capable of embracing it, but really don't think it is a good idea as outside the 'bubble' most people aren't anywhere near ready.
Jul 01, 2009
Steve Rubel said...
@Stuart true, but they weren't ready for blogging when we started, right?
Jul 01, 2009
Kahlil Lechelt said...
I think it's great that you are doing this. I really feel that Posterous and it's likes are the perfect tools for sharing your thoughts, having an online identity and add to the stream of information and interact with people.
Jul 01, 2009
tjcsmith said...
My thoughts are that the perspective of the producer is insignificant. If you want to stream, tweet, blog, handwrite html or send smoke signals it's up to you to decide the effort you wish to deploy to get your word out. If it is interesting, then the receiver/consumer of the information won't really care how you produced it, just that it is available and interesting.
Jul 01, 2009
Jim "Genuine" Turner said...
You have yet to convince me that this is any different than blogging. The semantics between Blogging and Lifestreaming confuse me. Yes it may be less thoughtful on your part and you are getting your Journalistic views and your Twitter views blended here. I am not sure and I will wait and see what comes of it.
Jul 01, 2009
Brandon Mendelson said...
I think it's a good move, and an interesting one. I think where I have issues is, with any lifestream, sometimes the context is lost in what you're sharing. For example, you may show someone a funny video on your Tumblr feed, but it's just a video without any context.There is plenty of room for both, but I'd hate to see context become a victim in lieu of immediacy.
Jul 01, 2009
Sally Church said...
For me, there is room for both lifestreaming and thoughtful blogging. Many of my clients have short attention spans but still want the analysis, so figuring out how to balance them is something I've been struggling with for much of this year until realising that incorporating Posterous and Tumblr allows me to have the best of both worlds while still providing analysis via my blog.
Jul 01, 2009
Steve Rubel said...
What if I were to put together a schedule - think pieces on Mondays, videos on Tuesdays, etc. That would help you manage the stream better. Hopefully Posterous will add feeds for tags and everyone can get what they want.
Jul 01, 2009
Norbert Mayer-Wittmann said...
I don't know why, but SteveRubel.COM stream sounds weird to me! ;D
Jul 01, 2009
Mario Losasso said...
Steve, as a very green Posterous user I dont see the issue many are having. A stream can be used exactly like a blog. Its all about how the author wants the interaction. Moving from blogspot to Posterous saves me time and energy. It allows me to do the things I did in 12 different spots all in one place.
The adamant blog crowd sounds like the Mainstream Media did years ago when blogs were green.
Jul 01, 2009
Ken Clark said...
I am not so sure it is an either / or proposition. I believe the next-gen blog (stream) will contain both essay-length content and stream-sized nuggets. I'd actually be very surprised if 2010's "Top 10 Posterous Blogs" aren't a healthy mix of both.Re: your scheduling question, I'm personally indifferent. It would not have a significant impact, positively or negatively, on how I read your content.
Jul 01, 2009
Sametz said...
Perhaps the blog v. life stream camps show the divide b/t those who prefer internal v. external filters.
Jul 02, 2009
Alan Weinkrantz said...
It's not that there's room for everything; it's that some types of content are not appropriate for my blog(s) but are for streaming. I find that when I travel, Posterous is best: I am stimulated by a new environment and my brain goes into creative overdrive. I look at and photograph more things with my iPhone, which in itself is become an art form for me, as I must discipline myself with a fixed lens, that is not exactly what I am used to with my various Nikon lenses. I post on Posterous from emotion and not out of deep intellect and thought. Yes, Steve- there's room for both. You just have to make room.
Jul 02, 2009
Vivian Beer said...
I can see it moving to a stream, as I can already see how well it integrates with how I search on the internet. Before, when I found something interesting, I would email my colleagues or friends on something of significance to them. If it was newsworthy enough, I would create a blog entry, but when I am busy with projects, it can be difficult to find the time. A stream allows me to post the trends that I follow as a marketing person working in emerging industries. What I get is a scrapbook/diary/linear stream of research and what my colleagues and readers get is a stream of ideas, links and learning that is not lost in bits and pieces in their email.
Jul 02, 2009
Jeremy Hoover said...
Steve, I like what you're saying about lifestreams and blogs being "remnants from the era of pages." But Posterous is still built like a blog, and each post, even on Twitter or Facebook, has a permalink (page-based?) to it. So I'm a little confused.Can you shed some light on how these differ? Thanks.
Jul 02, 2009
Steve Rubel said...
Sure, Jeremy. I believe this will come across more in the style of posts and the frequency as opposed to the structure. The style will be faster and more visual. It will delve out more quick bits rather than longer posts. It will sit somewhere between tweets and blogging.
Jul 02, 2009
Jeremy Hoover said...
Thanks, Steve. I think I'm seeing it now. It's a difference in type, format, and length of content. I see lifestreaming being more about recording insight, and sharing pictures and links as they happen. I really like your approach.
Jul 02, 2009
Steve Rubel said...
@Jeremy, exactly, You get it. However, that doesn't mean I won't post essays that round up what I have learned. The stream is about pieces that are loosely connected, to quote David Weinberger.
Jul 02, 2009
Jim Coen said...
I concur with Ken Clark that there should be "both essay-length content and stream-sized nuggets" - one is about the journey and the other reflects on the trip taken. I look forward to both from you. But you are also correct that the stream metaphor is here to stay.
Jul 02, 2009
Steve Rubel said...
@Jim, there will be both.
Jul 03, 2009
Alexandra Armeanca said...
I agree. I find myself adding numerous blogs and publications in my reader and find it difficult to read all that information every day. I guess that's why Twitter is easier: you get bits of information, easier to digest and leaving you hungry for more.
Jul 07, 2009
Dave Lifson said...
I'm a big Tumblr user - http://caterpillarcowboy.com - and I think you're missing the point somewhat. The key innovation here, easy-to-use UI aside, is the interactive community. Commenting is archaic; I want to reblog your post into my blog (or lifestream, to use your phrase) and add my commentary, so that my audience can benefit and reblog with their own commentary (or reblog without comment simply to pass along the value to their audience).This is exactly what retweeting is, but on a blog-scale. And the "conversations" that happen via reblog can be valuable and in-depth (although here I would suggest that Tumblr's execution of the conversation UI is lacking, which they admit).
So whether you post long essays or nothing but pretty pictures, it's still a blog. When you make the jump to participating in a blogging community... that's when you experience a whole new dimension.
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