Webupon

The other day on the morning train, I overheard a conversation that a girl next to me was having on her cell phone. This girl was talking to her friend about a meeting that she had been to with someone and she casually said “We were sitting there having a conversation and we suddenly got to talking…

Now this may sound like a contradiction in terms, or at least overly redundant (how can you get to talking if you are already in the middle of a conversation?) but I understood immediately what she meant. She was referring to something that many of us have experienced. She had evidently been having a light discussion on some topic with someone – nothing heavy, maybe something not too important even – when suddenly the exchange of ideas became hotter, and the topic suddenly swerved to something completely different.

This new issue was something that obviously had a greater shared interest to both parties, and the passion of the alternative topic swept up the individuals in a “new conversation” that left the “old conversation” far behind. This new territory was finally more interesting and satisfying and the parties were now able to share a more meaningful exchange of ideas than they were able to previously.

In my eyes, this is exactly the concept of feedback comments. Someone may initially be moved by something that they have read on the Internet and decide that they will leave a response to the article. That response can trigger something in another reader, so that they too will leave a response. This time the comment may still be centered on the topic, but it can draw its inspiration from something that the other reader has mentioned. Now, the first reader may notice that his comment was commented on by the second reader. This may inevitably intrigue the first reader – who may be in agreement, or who may disagree to what the other has said. The emotions can occasionally run hotter (to put it lightly) than that, depending on the topic and the responses.

At this point, the “readers” may decide to become “writers”. The consequent conversation may be contained under the article comments, but are often a direct reply to the others’ responses. This breakaway threaded discussion takes on a life of its own and may even draw others into it if it has real relevance to something. Keep in mind, that relevance may occasionally have almost no resemblance to the original topic in the article (does anyone remember the original article anymore?) but it has relevance to those involved.

Think this sounds confusing? Take a look at an article that has more than 200 comments from readers – half of those responding to the original article, and the other half breaking off into a barrage of different subjects. Some of the discussions may respond to various topics that are tangents to the original issue, but the other half may scatter and ramble on as some conversations are apt to do…

This reminds me of another phone conversation I overheard recently. No, I am not a voyeur but an observer! Instead of getting annoyed by a phone conversation that someone may have as they travel next to me for 45 minutes, I try to notice things. Anyway, a young man was talking to someone on the phone and his conversation went something like this:

“Yea, we are learning about something…You know what it is…I know that you do it well…I can see that you are good at it…What? You know…It’s a… it’s a method…it’s a way of letting someone know…to let the other person know what…to let them know that you know …to let them know you understand… about what they are talking about…that you know what they mean…it’s a way…I think its something about…its sorta like…I think its called Communication skills”

Ahh… communication skills. It is good that this young guy is still learning about them. It still obviously hasn’t totally sunk in, but he is getting there. Everyone isn’t on the same level. Don’t be frustrated if you see others communicating about things that don’t interest you. There are those that “break away” from the relevant discussions to discuss the newest Paris Hilton rumors, but that doesn’t have to bother you. That is natural. Some people like to talk about those things and it is relevant to them.

I grew up in an age where a comment on an article meant typing out a formal “letter to the editor”, putting it in an envelope with a stamp on it, and hoping that it would show up in the publication within two weeks if you were lucky. There is still a place for this type of serious commentary on articles in the Internet (yes, it is quicker!) although that conversation may take place in the same arena as other discussions – a medium that at this moment, suddenly reminds me of the train. Some shouting, some rushing in and out, some sleeping, some talking on the phone, and some involved in conversations. Don’t forget about those that just like to watch it all go by…

The other day, an intellectual friend of mine told me that he had never in his life responded to an article on the Internet. He is on the web three to four hours a day reading, but he told me that he didn’t know why he should respond to something. He definitely had opinions, but he questioned as to why he should offer it to the web community. I told him that in my opinion, it can be very satisfying and enjoyable to discuss matters online through comments. Then I smiled and told him this. Remember, this is the thing about Web 2.0 comments and responses. It isn’t just for dummies anymore!