Response to Paula's blog on reputaion

I have just read Paula's post on the importance of reputation and I found it so interesting and informative that I thought I would write my own post about it. I also thought this would be a good oppertunity to practice putting a link on a word as this is something I have never done before. I would never even have thought to do it if Mark Iles had not suggested it to me. It is such a clever idea as it makes it so much easier to get involved as you can go directly to a site or a blog that the person has mentioned without having to search on the internet to find it.

Going back to Paula's piece, I couldn't agree more. Even if we don't realise it, we base some of our opinion on someone's reputation and the opinion that others have of that person. Subconsciously I have come to rely on the people who have been commenting on my blog and actively posting on their own blog. Even though I did not consciously make a decision I have now formed an opinion that they are reliable people just because they are involved.

When I have received comments on my blog I have found it so much more helpful than I thought I would. At first I found the idea of having an 'online relationship' with someone a bit strange, but now I realise that it is not strange at all and in fact adds a new dimension to the way you talk to that person and the way you view them.

When we meet someone in person we are so influenced by the way the look, their physicality and their mannerisms. However, when you are talking to someone via their blog you are forced to judge them on different qualities and it is these qualities which help you form your opinion of them and if and when I see some of the people in person again I will view them with a completly different mindset.

I think that communication via the internet allows a lot of barriers to be let down that we have when we meet people in person for the first time. There is much less awkwardness and everything is more open. I'm sure this is largely due to the fact that we don't feel like we are being judged by the other person as we are in the safety of our own home, behind our own computer and the person cannot actually see us.

After writing this blog, it has lead me to think  about the reader and the thoughts I had after reading it. I now feel like I need to go back and read it again, while also looking more in to the additional reading for a more informed opinion. I will do that now and come back with more developed thoughts.

Thank you to everyone who has comented on my posts so far, it has most definately been helpful!