An Image Is Worth A Thousand Words! Huh?

Posted on June 2nd, 2007 by Jon - SmartWealthyRich

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Sometimes even an image won’t do, sometimes you need a lot more than a thousand words to explain something, and sometimes people just won’t get it. No matter how hard you try!

Try to explain “blogging” to someone who has no idea what you’re talking about! If you run a blog, you already know that blogging is not just about words. So if you tell someone you’re a writer, while being absolutely true, it doesn’t do blogging justice really. There’s much more to it!

So how do you explain blogging then? Use metaphors!

Liz started a group writing project recently, and I thought I could join in the fun! What’s your blogging metaphor?

Charlene from Essential Keystrokes found a good way to explain blogging to her mom! Dawud’s metaphor is pretty interesting, comparing blogging to a conga line! Phil, on the other hand, says blogging is just like dating!

Well, i tried to explain blogging to people before, but I couldn’t find any metaphors to explain it effectively! I know this may sound weird, but I just couldn’t find any! Now what I do, is I ask them questions. Trust me, after this they have a pretty good idea what blogging is. Here are some examples:

You know what a newspaper is, right?

Have you ever read a magazine or a book?

You heard about this thing called the internet?

Do you watch the news sometimes?

Would you like to be able to comment or reply sometimes?

You like it when you read something you can relate to?

Would you like to read more from a particular writer, opinions and thoughts?

Would you like to read more on a particular topic?

You like to express yourself?

You know how to write?

Ok, so now you know what my job is! Blogging! Go read my blog!

Usually the answers to those questions will range from “duh, of course” to “what? get to the point!“… But it always works! The results are the same in the end!

So how do you explain blogging to someone? What is your own blogging metaphor? I’m a really creative guy, but couldn’t find any “blogging metaphor”, and I found that asking people questions, gradually explaining to them what blogging is as they answer the questions worked like a charm (for me).

Now it’s your turn, the mic is yours! What is your blogging metaphor?

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Tags: Blogging, Creativity, Fun, Writing //

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26 Responses to “An Image Is Worth A Thousand Words! Huh?”

Liz Strauss // Jun 2, 2007 at 9:53 am

Jonathan, it seems to me that your metaphor is a think tank that anyone can visit for the ultimate educational system. You’re a teacher and a learner in among a community of teachers and learners. :)
Jon - SmartWealthyRich // Jun 2, 2007 at 2:13 pm

Liz, reading your comment makes me want to say “wow”! :D

I’ve always found that asking questions makes it easier for people to understand something, so they can answer the questions in their own words.
Liz Strauss // Jun 2, 2007 at 3:42 pm

Socrates used the same technique. :)
Jon - SmartWealthyRich // Jun 2, 2007 at 3:44 pm

hey now that feels good to hear! ;)
Catherine, the redhead // Jun 2, 2007 at 3:50 pm

A guy I once dated referred to my site as a “Blob”, which pretty much explains why we don’t date anymore.
Catherine, the redhead
Jon - SmartWealthyRich // Jun 2, 2007 at 4:07 pm

Hi Catherine! welcome to SWR, make yourself at home! :)

Why did he referred to your ste as “blob”?
Char :: Essential Keystrokes // Jun 2, 2007 at 10:51 pm

Thanks for putting your own spin on this project. It has been very interesting to see all the creative minds at work and the pictures they have painted trying to explain blogging.

I, too, find that asking questions is one of the best teaching methods you can use.
Jon - SmartWealthyRich // Jun 2, 2007 at 10:52 pm

Hi Char! I really liked your post, I think it’s brilliant! Asking questions, so that people can answer in their own words I find is usually a good way to make people understand something

Welcome to SWR by the way!
Scott // Jun 3, 2007 at 4:06 am

I guess I run with the wrong crowd. I have yet to try to explain blogging to someone who didn’t know what it was.

On the other hand, If i ever need to, now I’ll know how
Jon - SmartWealthyRich // Jun 3, 2007 at 12:48 pm

Hey Scott, try asking questions, works for me! :)
Welcome to SWR by the way, make yourself at home!
Sharon // Jun 4, 2007 at 12:03 am

I guess my technique in trying to explain to my friends about blogging is not working obviously …. :)

I guess I shouldn’t try to follow up the explanation with YOU SHOULD TRY IT SOMETIME, and that’s when I really hit the big wall.
Jon - SmartWealthyRich // Jun 4, 2007 at 12:12 am

Hi Sharon! lol, well if you ask them the right question and get them interested, saying “you should try it” should work! :)

Or maybe a metaphor would be a good wway to explain it to someone, I haven’t had any luck with that, but it works for some!

Hey in the end, if they don’t wanna blog, it’s fine, already 71 million blogs out there so. hehe
Sharon // Jun 4, 2007 at 3:44 am

Hey, I’m open to try anything. …..

I think I’ve been banned from the inner circle from talking about blogging too much.
Jon - SmartWealthyRich // Jun 4, 2007 at 4:02 am

hehe, I see what you mean, I think and talk “blogging” maybe a little too much sometimes, not that i I think it’s wrong (maybe it’S people that think it’s wrong lol), but let’s say the people close to me, they know exactly what blogging is!
Sharon // Jun 4, 2007 at 12:06 pm

lol,,,, :)
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Dawud Miracle // Jun 5, 2007 at 1:43 pm

Blogging really is like a conga line.
Jon - SmartWealthyRich // Jun 5, 2007 at 1:45 pm

Hey Dawud! I hear you! It is like a conga line! ;)
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