Robert Hruzek on May 30th 2007 at 7:00 am Communication, blogging, memes, projects

Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building

If you're new here, I just want to say how much I appreciate your dropping by! Oh, and you may want to subscribe to my feed. Thanks, and a tip o' the hat to ya!

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!

You know, it would just be absolutely finer than a frogs hair if you would subscribe to my RSS feed!

29 responses so far

29 Responses to “Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building”

  1. # Charon May 30th 2007 at 8:41 am

    Very insightful! I am going to add you to the list I have going at my site.

    Thanks!

  2. # What’s Your Metaphor?on May 30th 2007 at 8:43 am

    […] Zone Musings with Blogging Metaphors: Bridge Building RSS 29. May 2007 (09:37) Filed under: […]

  3. # Robert Hruzekon May 30th 2007 at 11:47 am

    Thanks for the kind word, Char!

  4. # clklon May 30th 2007 at 1:23 pm

    I like this one.

    When the traffic flows too fast and out of control, it’s like the Old Tacoma Narrows bridge.

  5. # Robert Hruzekon May 30th 2007 at 1:45 pm

    Howdy, clkl! I’m thinkin’ this might be more of an example of an overwhelming spam attack!

    Thanks for participating!

  6. # Drew McLellanon May 30th 2007 at 4:28 pm

    Bob,

    Shhhhh! No giving away your e-book secrets! :)

    Drew

  7. # Markkon May 30th 2007 at 5:03 pm

    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.

  8. # Robert Hruzekon May 30th 2007 at 7:41 pm

    Oops! Looks like the e-book police caught me! Darn you, Drew WordPress!

  9. # Robert Hruzekon May 30th 2007 at 7:42 pm

    Hello, Markk; you’re absolutely right! It’s like a trip around the world every time I light up the ol’ computer…

  10. # The First Submissions: Your Blogging Metaphors - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once.on May 31st 2007 at 12:48 pm

    […] Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building at Middle Zone Musings […]

  11. # Dawud Miracleon May 31st 2007 at 7:36 pm

    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.

  12. # Robert Hruzekon May 31st 2007 at 8:27 pm

    Howdy, Dawud; thanks for dropping by!

  13. # Follow on to Blog 101: Other Blogging Metaphors » What Would Dad Sayon May 31st 2007 at 10:09 pm

    […] Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building at Middle Zone Musings […]

  14. # Blogging Metaphors Galore! : A Politically Incorrect Entrepreneuron Jun 2nd 2007 at 7:55 am

    […] Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building at Middle Zone Musings […]

  15. # Blogging Metaphorson Jun 4th 2007 at 7:26 am

    […] Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building at Middle Zone Musings […]

  16. # Loosely Speaking—A VA’s Blog » Kayaking as a Metaphor for Bloggingon Jun 4th 2007 at 4:10 pm

    […] at Romance Tracker Equestrian Ecstasy - Portal to another Reality at INNside Innkeeping in Montana Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building at Middle Zone Musings Blogging Metaphor: Blogging is like Exercise at Virtual Impax My Blogging […]

  17. # The Complete Metaphor Project Listing and Winners - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once.on Jun 16th 2007 at 11:10 am

    […] Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building at Middle Zone Musings […]

  18. # Romance Tracker is a winner in the Blogging Metaphor Projecton Jun 16th 2007 at 3:33 pm

    […] Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building at Middle Zone Musings […]

  19. # Blogging Metaphor Final List » Okay so your a plumber Easy Blogging is like unclogging a drain, you, they, Successful Blog, Blogging, Metaphor, Blog, Business, Metaphors, Like » Just Thinkin'on Jun 16th 2007 at 9:11 pm

    […] Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Buildingat Middle Zone Musings […]

  20. # My Top 5 from the Successful Blog Metaphor Projecton Jun 17th 2007 at 5:38 am

    […] Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building “See, like a bridge, a blog is a connector between here and there. “A connector? A […]

  21. # The Blogging Metaphor Project and Winnerson Jun 17th 2007 at 7:19 am

    […] Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building at Middle Zone Musings […]

  22. # A whole host of blogging metaphors @ Better Business Bloggingon Jun 19th 2007 at 4:02 am

    […] Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building at Middle Zone Musings […]

  23. # Middle Zone Musings - One Year Old Today! | Middle Zone Musingson Jun 22nd 2007 at 6:04 am

    […] know people in an intimate way, simply by reading their words. It’s sortof like… well, building a bridge, to er, coin a metaphor. It’s a process, not a sudden […]

  24. # Blogging Metaphors–From Blob to Blog | Word Sell, Inc.on Aug 31st 2007 at 1:48 pm

    […] Blogging Metaphors: Bridge-Building at Middle Zone Musings […]

  25. # Blogging is Like….on Dec 27th 2007 at 12:55 pm

    […] Blogging is Like Bridge Building […]

  26. # Blogowanie jest jak… » Google Ad$ense » Archiwaon Dec 27th 2007 at 5:35 pm

    […] Blogging is Like Bridge Building […]

  27. # Writing Blog » Blog Archive » Blogging is Like….on Jan 3rd 2008 at 6:37 am

    […] Blogging is Like Bridge Building […]

  28. # Fat Kid Unleashedon Jan 20th 2008 at 1:35 am

    Blogging metaphors…

    I like it and I see where you are going. Though my blogging is a bridge from no one to someone ;)

  29. # Robert Hruzekon Jan 20th 2008 at 8:32 am

    Fat Kid Unleashed: Says you! But the ones who connect to you would probably say different. Hard to have a one-sided conversation, don’cha know? :-)

Trackback URI | Comments RSS

Leave a Reply