Footprints

I've been thinking a lot about my "online footprint" in recent days.

A proportion of the British press have expressed concern over Google's future plans, most significantly the Independent, which carried this worrying story on it's front page this week. When I think of all the different sites that I am registered with, all the online groups that I am part of... even under a plethora of pseudonyms, I realise that I have a fairly significant presence. I'd argue that among the people I know closely... none of them is as established on the Internet as myself. I'm not boasting... it is not about any delusions of "celebrity", it's just that I have been much more thorough in exploring the cyber neighbourhood than they have. That is the trouble with being an extrovert trapped in an introvert's body.... you grow rather fond of armchair expeditions.

An example of how worryingly accurate Google's algorithms can be arrived in my statistics page this week. Half a world away from Nick's Sanctuary, I regularly visit a bulletin board under a pseudonym of one of the knights of the round table - Galahad. Now another description of a sanctuary can be "safe haven". The other day, Google directed somebody to my blog simply on the search term "Galahad's safe haven". I performed a search on Technorati and a cached Google advanced search, specific to the url for Nick's Sanctuary. Guess what? I don't refer to Galahad at all... Google knows me well enough by association... the same is true of other handles I travel under - scary.

Google's chief executive has revealed the following corporate vision:

"The goal is to enable Google users to be able to ask the question such as 'What shall I do tomorrow?' and 'What job shall I take?'."

It is bad enough having a "nanny state" without having to worry about a "nanny site". The Independent has also pointed out that Google has bought up a genetic research firm - 23andMe and is also bidding for DoubleClick - a cookie web tracking software company. It does all sound rather worrying.

However I didn't just want to look at potential corporate Orwellian threats... I wanted to make people think seriously about their blog content, particularly fellow Christians.

Footprints are funny things... you can walk along a shoreline and leave a set of hundreds of personal impressions in the sand, knowing that when the tide comes in... they will all be long gone. Yet there are places on this planet, where footprints endure long beyond the time they were created - in the form of fossils.

The question I wanted to ask is this: when you leave your marks on the web, which ones will remain? Which articles are going to be the ones that people remember and actually have an effect on others... and which ones will simply wash away with time and tide?

You may never know. So I encourage you all to write from the heart, the things that really matter... the more important things you write down... the better chance that your better qualities will be preserved - set in stone.

For Christians this idea carries extra depth. I spoke about former US president Jimmy Carter the other day... in my research I stumbled upon a question that had been a key motivator in his early development:

"If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"

It has become a cliche... but the truth behind it remains all the same.

Now I want you to think about the famous poem "Footprints" - the story of a man walking with Jesus along the beach who at times of hardship and stress, discovers that one set disappears. Jesus points out at the end of the journey, that in those times... he carried the man on his shoulders.

The question I want to challenge myself and any other Christian reading is... of all the experiences I/we write about... do people see two sets of footprints (those of Jesus as well as our own), in our blogs? Also, do we have the conviction to write about the hard times in such a manner that people can see Jesus carrying us through our difficulties?

I'm not talking necessarily about content here... but attitude. There are many Godcentric blogs that make me wretch - one or two even have the bare faced cheek to claim to be speaking as Jesus in the first person in terms of spirituality and also political endorsement. They seriously need a reality check.... they come across like the "super apostles" who Paul had a problem with.

When I visit a blog, especially a Christian blog... I am less worried about the subject matter and more interested in seeing how the personality of the author comes across - and where applicable, how their relationship with God is conveyed in their style of writing.

When I write, I want people to know I'm totally on the record..., yes I want them to see God... but I also want them to know I'm a genuine human being too... I want to relate to others. I want to walk among them not upon them.

Isn't that what you want?

Please Put A Penny in Your Politician's Hat

Tis the season of goodwill... this must be why the politicians think we will be happy for them to grant themselves a 15% pay rise. I don't think they deserve it. I also don't think that their job warrants as much pay as they would claim is fair.

They might say the responsibility that comes with their position merits high pay. However, politicians don't just have responsibilities... they also have influence. That one word - influence, has value in terms of remuneration, it is practically a blank cheque. Corporations and businesses know the worth of having a politician on their boards of directors. To have a Member of Parliament lobbying issues that are beneficial to your organisation is very desirable. So a successful politician can expect to be approached by various businesses, all of whom wish to use the power of politics to boost profits. Although from a high moral standpoint, I believe this is wrong... for the purposes of this blog entry, I am looking at it purely in monetary terms. Other wealth generators include the writing of memoirs and guest appearances as speakers at dinner parties. You can also add a healthy tab in the form of expenses.

All of this and yet they abuse their positions terribly. Yesterday for example, a debate was taking place with regard to the definition of Law regarding defending your home against a burglar. One Labour MP was so opposed to the proposal, that he made a speech for three whole hours... just to make sure that the Commons didn't have time to vote on the issue.

That is one man imposing his will on the whole of Parliament. No better than Blair or Thatcher. As some of you know, I am opposed to the use of the Whips and political blackmail to press gang MP's into voting a particular way. Conscience and the will of the constituency should be the only contributing factors in a true democracy.

I have a much better solution. If politicians truly represent the people, then they should be paid according to their electorate. What I mean is that a politicians pay should equate exactly to the mean average pay of people in their constituency. It would never happen, but it would be fair.

Personally I think Parliament should be purged anyway. Although I find Cromwell quite a disturbing historical character and his campaign in Ireland was completely unjustified. I stand by him on one quote... someone should repeat these words in the House of Commons:

'You are no Parliament. I say you are not Parliament. I will put an end to your sitting.'

Viral Marketeers on Blogs

I recently found this article on the BBC website: Blog Advertising

In my time blogging, I have browsed many sites... not least because I'm affiliated with blog trafficking sites that increase your readership if you view other member blogs. Very often now, I get annoyed because of the amount of business or marketing blogs that are out there... to me it isn't what blogging is about. It is like bumping into one of those tacky business magazine periodicals that are routinely mocked as "guest publications" on BBC's Have I Got News For You.

I'm not interested in learning about the specifications and tensile strength of vulcanised rubber or anything like that. When I blog I'm just interested to know what interests the author, what makes them tick as a person... and what they think/believe about what is going on in the world around them... whether it be serious or jovial.

When it was just about blog types, I could choose to ignore or dismiss the business or marketing sites (which believe me I take great pleasure in doing). However... according to the BBC article, the advertisers have gone on the offensive. They are using the comment fields to insert adverts and trackbacks to their own website. I agree with the Beeb on this, I find it highly disrespectful. As it is, I'm not entirely comfortable with the view that you can go on to someone else's blog and advertise your own blog out of context. I think you should leave comments and trust that your opinion and manner of approach to the blog's author should be enough to encourage a return visit from them. I think stuff like a comment I received the other day (blatantly advertising your blog while showing no interest in what the author has to say) is a bit rude.

However, I have been lucky so far. I have not had any detergent manufacturers or salesman abuse my web site. Have you had visits of this nature yet? I pray they don't become more commonplace. Rest assured all you sales and marketing people... ANY product placement on this blog will be treated with the disdain it deserves and will be summarily deleted on sight... just try me and see.