Google has launched a new tool in its bid for Total Global Domination - the Follow module. We used to have blogrolls and favorites, but that wasn't quite biblical enough, so now we are told to choose those whom we "follow". It's the RSS feed in new clothes, same as it ever was except that "following" implies a good deal more than simply "reading". Followers are sheep walking in the path of their lead ram - an icebreaker tug towing the flock through dangerous ice flows (remember the Titanic). Can I follow any and all prophets? Do they all lead to the same safe port?
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
3 comments:
Hi
I found the word 'followers' a tad ' really , do we need that', though of course I'm allowing for my cynical take on that 'word'.
A couple of people have decided that they may be called 'followers' of my blog, though I find it difficult to put them on my blog, even though I am absolutely sure thay are wordly enough to interpret the word as 'interested in'.
Flower , flow-er seems more synchy, but I don't know how to respell.
' People interested in this blog' I feel = more accurate
'People contributing to this blog' etc etc, but Follower , dear oh dear.
Wordsmiths are used in business , words such as this aren't picked willy-nilly, so I do 'screw my eyes up' somewhat at this researched choice, yet I also realise many people might not see it in that context, and may be quite happy with any word that show 'support' or 'temporary, intermittent mental kinship'
Yea, pretty much my take. It is possible to follow a story or a team's effort toward a cup without subtle implications of religious cultishness, though you would call yourself a "fan", not a follower.
The deliberate choice of this word IS interesting, and it makes me ponder the differences between admire, follow, respect, worship, and "temporary, intermittent mental kinship".
Should we be happy when we achieve 12 followers? Or maybe go for the entire world...
Cheers, Michael
That's the thing if u get one what does it say if one feels compelled to acquiesce for more [ a personal thought, not related to those whose 'egos' find no problem with any appelation, despite what others like me may think]
Nevertheless my feeling remains at pres, if I visit a blog that;s a form of support and thus relinquishes any need for an 'avatar'
'Fan' has the idea of 'fanning the flames' - great when one needs warmth , a pain when it burns.
Re-spect , with the meaning tending to etymology looking again , appears relevant, though I feel the word's got hijacked.
allow? or ally [all-high]
Whatever , it does help us refine our words.
Cheers
Post a Comment