3/4/2009 2:30:00 AM I recently learned about blogging
By Dick Wolfsie Life in a Nutshell
"I really think you need to do this," said Mary Ellen the other night. Fact is, she'd been pestering about it me for weeks.
"Look, I'm too old for this. Can't I just take up skydiving or get a motorcycle?"
"No, I think you need to learn how to blog."
My wife works in the business school at Butler University and she is on the cutting edge of all the newest technology being used to boost business. She thinks a blog would help my book sales. The other night at a restaurant we happened to sit next to a former student of Mary Ellen's. Cindy is now working for a company that teaches young entrepreneurs how to use blogging to enhance retailing efforts.
"Dick, say hello to Cindy. She blogs for a living."
"Hi, Cindy. I'm sure your mother is very proud of you. Okay, Mary Ellen, let's order."
"No, Dick, first I want Cindy to explain to you how blogging can help you increase sales."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Wolfsie. Would you mind if I ask you a few personal questions?"
Have you noticed that no one ever responds, "Yes, I WOULD mind"? I was tempted to say this, but my wife was wearing pointy-toe boots and we were sitting across the table from one another.
"OK. Shoot, Cindy. I'm an open book. And one that I want more people to read."
"Are you on MySpace?"
"I don't see how. We had reservations and we were here 10 minutes before you and your friend even arrived."
My wife glared at me. Apparently I was supposed to take this conversation very seriously.
"No, Mr. Wolfsie, MySpace is a social website with an interactive, user-approved network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music, and videos. Even way older people like you can use it, too. You can't be hip or cool-as your generation would say-unless you have a face on MySpace, or a space on Facebook."
I was a little put off. "I want you to know that when I was your age, young lady, I was up tight and outta sight."
"How nice for you. And I bet your mother was very proud, also."
Cindy's friend started googling on her iPhone to see what that '60s phrase meant. I panicked because I suddenly remembered that it might have meant something dirty. But back in the '60s, this wasn't the kind of thing you could look up in the World Book.
"OK, Mr Wolfsie, let's get down to business. Do you twitter?"
It was a good question. I don't know what you'd call what I do all day. I asked Cindy what it meant. "Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates, known as tweets."
Another glare from Mary Ellen. Translation: Do a stupid bird joke and be prepared to limp home.
I listened intently to Cindy's explanation. Actually, she was a charming young lady. I was somewhat intrigued with the whole idea. So after we paid our bill, I asked Cindy for her business card and said I'd contact her about this tweeting thing.
"A business card? I don't have a business card. I'll just jot down my email address. May I borrow a pen?"
"A pen? That's a bit old-fashioned, don't you think?" I had to turn away to hide my self-righteous smirk. I moved my chair way back. Mary Ellen has long legs.
I wonder if Cindy will ever see this newspaper column. Probably not. I better put it on my new blog.
Dick Wolfsie appears weekdays on WISH-TV sharing his humor, stories and video essays. His column appears weekly in The Paper.
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