The State of B2Blog (1.5): Filtering the noise

Posted on May 19, 2008 by Dave J.

As a follow up to my post about Noise in the B2Blogosphere, I just found this relevant post from Rex Hammock in my Bloglines: Let’s hear it for the noise:

“Using the idea of ‘noise’ as a metaphorical framework for understanding how much of a filter you want before learning something that in your world may be considered ‘news,’ is a great way to start understanding that the Internet and all this stuff we call Web 2.0 is as much about information and data and conversational flow as it is about technology.”

Rex is reacting to a post by Robert Scoble (who isn’t in my Bloglines) about why he is a noise junkie.

Filtering
Robert feeds on the noise (via Twitter it seems) and filters it to his blog. People like Rex read Scobleizer and filter his noise till he sees something worth posting about, and then I get to read and learn about it. Rex says that where you choose to get your information is determined by how much filtering you want, or need.

Notice how I have quoted and reacted to what Rex wrote and posted. He took what Scoble did and added his own take about consumption of content. Scoble is only a tiny seed, but this is how blogging is supposed to work.

Clarification necessary?
Maybe I should clarify that the B2Blogoshere has ‘noise’ and it also has ‘static’. Static has no real source or message and just clogs up the airwaves. Noise can have value, if you can tune into it the way Scoble does. Its why I post in reaction to the world around me…it has an organic message that I hope adds to the noise of the B2Blogosphere in a valuable way.

On the consumption end, I view marketing as a long-term process, and the intensity of raw noise that Scoble reads and posts doesn’t support my day-to-day needs. But I’m thankful when other bloggers are acting as filters for me.

Okay, now I can talk about ‘signal’ in the B2Blogoshere next.

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  • Rex Hammock

    Thanks, Dave. Because I, like you, use filters (although I’ll admit to being a noise junkie), it took me until the next day to discover your post in my newsreader. Thanks for noting that I added my take to Robert’s first post. Typically, I use del.icio.us/rexblog to bookmark posts I think people who read my blog may find interesting, but that I may not have anything more to add — I think bookmarking is one of the best noise-filtering services I can provide people, short of doing a post like I (and you) did when we can use a link to interpret something to others who may not follow these things as closely as you or I may. By the way, I have always perceived of my “target audience” (who I’m filtering for) as being those who work at my company who I’d rather be focused on their job than hassling with all this other noise. ; )

  • Rex Hammock

    Thanks, Dave. Because I, like you, use filters (although I’ll admit to being a noise junkie), it took me until the next day to discover your post in my newsreader. Thanks for noting that I added my take to Robert’s first post. Typically, I use del.icio.us/rexblog to bookmark posts I think people who read my blog may find interesting, but that I may not have anything more to add — I think bookmarking is one of the best noise-filtering services I can provide people, short of doing a post like I (and you) did when we can use a link to interpret something to others who may not follow these things as closely as you or I may. By the way, I have always perceived of my “target audience” (who I’m filtering for) as being those who work at my company who I’d rather be focused on their job than hassling with all this other noise. ; )

  • Dave J.

    Rex–Thanks for noticing…wasn’t sure if I was on your radar. I’m running a bookmark-tool on one subject, but hadn’t thought about doing that for more general stuff.I like your strategy for filtering…me, I write for myself, assuming it would be interesting to those in the same position. Hopefully it resonates. But more about that next post.

  • Dave J.

    Rex–Thanks for noticing…wasn’t sure if I was on your radar. I’m running a bookmark-tool on one subject, but hadn’t thought about doing that for more general stuff.I like your strategy for filtering…me, I write for myself, assuming it would be interesting to those in the same position. Hopefully it resonates. But more about that next post.