Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building

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BridgesHere’s my metaphor for blogging: Bridge-Building

In response to Liz’s Blogging Metaphor Project, my thoughts almost immediately went in this direction. I mean after all, I’m an engineer – even though I don’t play one on TV (*sigh*) – and I tend to look at things from a “how’s that made” perspective. In fact, “Bridges” is the title of my chapter in Drew & Gavin’s upcoming e-book, The Age of Conversation.

Actually, it would be simpler to reproduce the chapter here, but all the authors agreed not to do that for a while so it wouldn’t affect book sales. But I can at least give you a teaser, and the basis for my opening statement:

“A bridge, in terms of its function, connects or reduces the distance between two points. In other words, it makes it easier for you to get from here to there. Sounds reasonable, don’t you think? But what I find most interesting is the word applies equally to physical and non-physical worlds.”

Now, I realize that reading this has caused you to instantly want to drop everything and immediately rush out and purchase your copy of the book, but… try to restrain yourself for a moment and let’s think this one out. (Besides, it’s not available yet. But when it is, then you can rush out and… er, well, you know.)

But what’s really amazing about bridges, and what makes the metaphor so perfect, is the almost endless variety of bridges out there! Truss, cantilever, suspension, arch, beam; and many different forms of each. And no matter how similar or how close any two bridges might physically be to each other, they are never exactly alike! Even the ones meant to be the same are not, really; even visibly identical bridges always have unseen engineering differences.

Each is unique; just like every blogger is unique.

See, like a bridge, a blog is a connector between here and there. “A connector? A connector of what?” you may ask. Well, the obvious answer is “people” – but there’s so much more to it than that. Blogging also connects ideas, minds, hearts, cultures… yep, now you get the idea.

Here’s the thing; you can only ever build a half a bridge! That’s because, when a post is published, only one end of the bridge is built; the other end is hanging out there in cyberspace somewhere. Where will it land? Well, when a post is read, the other end of the bridge just got connected - voila! Now notice, class, the incompleteness of the one without the other.

Ah, but now look at what we’ve built together!

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39 thoughts on “Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building”

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  7. I like that metephor. And it’s very true about connections of ideas and cultures! You learn so much about other cultures and lifestyles by reading blogs.

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  11. you can only ever build a half a bridge!

    Yes, I love that. Great metaphor. I love the idea that we’re only able to build half of the connection. Thanks.

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  35. I think that bridge gets connected in more than just the one way. In fact, it’s actually a multi-pointed bridge because once the post is published, it gets that connection with the reader, it also gets connections with RSS subscribers and other content syndication, there’s the ever popular connections with search engines and their results pages.

    Then there’s trackbacks, pingbacks from other blogs, mention on people’s facebook and myspace pages, Etc.

    Oh, and let’s not forget “CommentLuv”.

  36. Ed – Well, I never said it was a perfect metaphor! I see your point, too. But mainly what I was talking about was the fact that it’s people to people.

  37. Hi, I came by as I was searching for a picture on bridges and I read your whole article! One of my favorite sayings is: “I’m out to build bridges”! I first read it in Ann Kiemel’s book called “I’m celebrating”!A bridge establishes a connection, the ability to extend oneself from a comfort zone and reach out to another. This takes courage, a willing to risk, to share, to relate. A bridge also takes us above canyons, rivers of difficulty, rifts, onto the other side. It ends our loneliness and it helps us connect and to live above our circumstances. Thank you for building bridges dear engineer!  Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

  38. Really Good Post. Yeah, Bridge is connected in many ways like with your RSS feeds, your facebook and twitter accounts. your forum post. But the most important thing is that these bridges do really encourages your reader to come on other side of bridge i.e. to your blog.

  39. Your blog touched a spot in my heart/mind interface (I’m an Electrical Engineer from Purdue (69)) [note the double set of closed parentheses].
    You can use a lot of metaphors for bridges:
    Some are one way – either weight limits or local conditions (cultural perhaps) require it.
    Some are multiple level with trains or other traffic on one tier and the opposite on another. People are almost always like that, don’t you think? Especially as you use bridge A to communicate and they are loading their own traffic on Bridge B for response.
    Some bridges are built for utilitarian purposes and while others put great store in architectural beauty. The utilitarian use must win out. Just as in human communication you have to get the real message across.
    Some bridges, according to some crazies, are for jumping off of; abandoning the communication on a whim.

    My folks, when I was much younger, told us to duck whenever we came to a bridge. We all did, religiously. That was route 40 in the early 50′s. I don’t duck anymore, but I’m sure the fear of heights and the vulnerability of crossing (communicating) makes many people pause.
    Than there are the toll bridges; sectional lift or rotational bridges that are intended to let other traffic get through (take turns talking children). Maybe the bridges which are designed to allow for passage of river, lake traffic are the bridge builders way of saying “Now is the time to listen.”
    It’s 4:41 am here in Virginia.
    Thanks for your blog. It and 2 bananas and some prune juice got me going this morning.

    dutch

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