Killing 125, why is it that we turn up the TV to hear this type of news or click on the links to read about it online? Why is it that we want to know about this awful occurence, even though it's not necessarily relatable. What happened? Who did it, and where was it? Our emotions churn and we want to know more. Add to that the number 125 and our senses are overwhelmed.....Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How....this is all we want to know.
Joe Blow killed 125 people
Would you take the time to read that? You bet you would. But change that headline now, get rid of the sensationalism: Blogging Buddy writes 125 posts in 6 months....
Would you stop what you were doing to read that? Would you give that more than a cursorily glance if you saw it online? How about "I just passed 125,000..." would you stop to read that if you didn't know the person? Probably not....
If it didn't affect you, or me, and it probably didn't, we just give it half an ear or half a glance and move on. If we knew who the Buddy was, we might read it if we had time. Something has to make us listen or read.
Remember those Journalism classes, where we were taught the 5 W's. Answer those questions and do it in the first paragraph if possible. "Put all the important information in descending order, with the least important information last." However, emotions rule most people, not logic. Who killed who.....do I know them? Where was this, and where are my kids, my family, my friends.....are they safe?
These are the emotional reactions that have us click on a headline, or stop what we're doing to listen to the news, call a service person, etc. Many of our initial reactions are based on emotion, logic doesn't seem to come into play until later, with some people never seeming to get to the logical part of a decision.
Alright, alright.....is this another preaching post or another how to? Nope......it is only my midnight thoughts :)
I have been giving a lot of thought to my new "Outside Blog" and what I want it to be for. It is moving one step closer every day to becoming a reality. That is what woke me up...a million thoughts going through my head....what do I want this blog to do? What is my focus.....am I even focused? And what do I write that will be something that people will even want to read. To Subscribe to the blog.............
What motivated me to wake up, turn the computer back on and write this.........what emotion? Fear! Fear and the desire to be accepted, to have my blog be "good enough" in that big blogosphere outside the safe confides of my friends here on Active Rain.
***Sometimes we trip and fall when making our decisions on emotion only***
I might have doubts, and I know I am losing sleep thinking.......but no matter what, I will have my outside blog soon. And I will work towards making it something useful, a place people want to come to, but tonight....well tonight I'm going back to bed.......... LOL :)
Please share what you like to read on a blog, and if you have one off Active Rain ,what lessons have you learned with it? Links are welcome.
By: Kathy Mcraw - CELLing Realty
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