In a blog post entitled ”The Dangerous Effects of Reading”, David Tate presents the view point that the more we simply read (or consume) data the less we really learn. He posits that this means that we are more likely to make snap judgements or dismiss things out of hand as a result. Instead of thinking for ourselves or adding any value to the conversation, we simply share things out of hand.

Instead, he argues, we should create things for ourselves, whether or not anyone else likes it, we should just do it and seek some kind of feedback. It is through the discourse that may ensue that we will truly learn.

The more I think about this point of view, the more I find its applicability to myself. I can’t count the number of times that I’ve found something of interest on the Internet and blindly forwarded it on without even bothering to spend the time adding some context as to why I might have though it would have been of any interest to those poor people I have inflicted this on - and in this I am not alone.

This is something that I had recognised in myself for a while, hence my renewed interest in blogging. If I can think of something (anything?) to write about and possibly get some feedback (good or bad) then perhaps I can either have confidence that what I am saying is interesting or useful, or even discover new points of view and thus expand my personal horizons. Sounds like a winning formula to me!