Comments on: Looking Forward

By: Cedric

Cedric — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:51:19 +0000

While I’ve been using the Internet for well over a decade I haven’t had a presence on it until the last few years and have not been as prolific as the people I follow including yourself. The thing about the Internet assuming it exists in one form or another for as long as humanity does, is that it is a culmination of humanity’s thoughts and ideals for better or for worse, a bit like a giant time capsule but never buried in the ground. But I suspect that in generations to come people will stumble across the writings, the photos, the comments etc we leave behind today and they may get the same enjoyment I get when I stumble across a dusty old book in a second-hand bookstore about something that may be no longer relevant but allows me an insight into another’s memory. As Ove says, “old posts don’t make much noise” and we have no idea what they will be whispering to the generations that follow.

By: Ove

Ove — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:53:56 +0000

Well, having being away from the Internet for almost two months, I must say most still look the same. After a year, what do I know, your posts might be too old to be relevant. But, I’m not so sure about this. When I look back on my first posts, in 2003, they feel not completely outdated. I’m still on the same page as I were then. The only difference is what I did and how I lived. Nevertheless, old posts doesn’t make much noise, and I don’t bother having them stored forever.

By: photo buffet

photo buffet — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:03:28 +0000

Paul, clutter comes in many forms. Web clutter, physical clutter, head clutter. It weighs us down. I think a lot of people are pushing for simpler lives these days.

Nice column – lots to think about.

By: Anita Jesse

Anita Jesse — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:15:27 +0000

I’m with Earl about the possibility of abandoning my posts, but not wanting to lose the comments. Still, the comments without context might be strange. Besides, I like the diary/journal aspect. Maybe I will see this differently by the time I have been blogging four or five years.

By: Earl

Earl — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:33:27 +0000

I don’t believe my old work is important from an information or knowledge perspective, but as Markus stated it’s important in that it marks a path and development. Heck, when I started Meandering Passage four years ago it was a technical/computer centric blog and now it’s mostly photography. Wisdom perhaps would of advised me to start over a number of times–but who am I to start listening to wisdom now?

I think I’d hate to loose the comments more then the post. Perhaps I see this blog like my life–no do-overs, it’s one long journey.

I do like your idea of setting the related post plugin to the last 12 months–I might borrow that concept from you.

By: Ray K

Ray K — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:32:28 +0000

I don’t spend much time thinking about what I have done just what I am doing or going to do. Past is only important to me as a path for where I am now and not all that relevant to where I am going. Every moment is a place to begin a new past.

By: Markus

Markus — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:34:07 +0000

My interest in my old pictures and posts is based on the development aspect – my images and my approach to photography have changed a lot over the years, and at least for me it is interesting to look back and see the differences.
No, at least now, I would not take this step. On the other hand, it is much more important (again for me) to be able to go on, to make pictures, to create. As long as I can do this, the old images have their importance, but definitely minor to the ones yet to be taken.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:59:46 +0000

I wouldn’t say that nobody looks at your old content! Actually, I just did it a couple of days ago. To be honest, more with a focus on your photos – and I found it really interesting on how your photos changed over time.

Also, you have written tons more than I ever did. So it would certainly be a much bigger decision to throw it all away. I don’t think I would ever dream of it, if I were in your shoes. Your site is a blog in a very positive sense: a diary of events and a collection of personal thoughts. Keep it, and keep it coming!

BTW, I’m going to put at least my “keepers” into my Smugmug gallery.