Winner’s Delight

An issue always crops up again and again that why should one blog. The motives, aims and purpose of blogging as well as providing information and sharing it on internet, developing understanding of a topic on community basis open to all wherein rest of the observers keep a discerning eye on what and to what extend you can explain and provide a solution are all such issues which are made redundant by a sleight of hand and declaring that such a pursuit is useless and those who indulge in blogging or making web sites in their field of knowledge are merely wasting the time.

One of a senior teacher in a university in Sweden, David Richardson who writes on Education Forum and use web sites and community blogging as a tool in pursuit of knowledge once even remarked that we are just playing with these tools (the electronic gadgets like computer, audio visual blogs etc.) like a small child. It was not a criticism or some disenchantment. It was said in particular reference but if his statement is taken separately, it gives a different meaning and substantiate the argument of those who are not able to visualize that one aspect of ICT and that is blogging, can be really useful and satisfying experience.

Long back, Miland Brown showed his exuberance when he found a leading history scholar placed his lecture on the web. He had in his comment lamented that such an activity was not taken on a wider scale and the real potential of sharing information and knowledge through the technological advancement in form of Internet remained untapped. He had also commented that the activity of sharing information and knowledge on regular basis had its own reward.

Now if some of bloggers can really rejoice in the happiness of other people when such people achieved a success through sharing of a knowledge with others then they should check the Helping Hand on the site of Kevin M Levin and exhilaration and exuberance of the writer on finding that his work is really making rounds because he is able to reach people through blogging.
Without his permission I am here reproducing some of his comment which are oozing out the happiness the person has received when his research work has earned him that happiness for which no one rewards you but that is reward in itself.

Levin writes "Over the past few months I've had three graduate students contact me to talk about archival sources and my work on William Mahone, the Crater, and postwar Virginia politics and memory."

Then he further exclaims "My position on sharing my ideas and files is very simple: What's Mine Is Yours."

Further, he continues, "I should say that I am both surprised and pleased that my work is beginning to make the rounds. The ego gets a bit of stroking which is fine as long as it remains in check."
These lines are just an expression of happiness which he has felt on happening of sharing.

Then the historian in him comes out with a finest gem in form of explanation on the methodology of research in history. One can write such lines after reading good books. They can be written only after putting into practice the methods learned to undertake the research in history. But such lines do not come out easily. They sprout and then poured out only during an excitement and great emotional wave. The rest of the world receive in its hands a good definition and explanation. He writes, "More importantly, however, the contacts serve as a reminder that doing serious history is a joint venture. In my view all interpretation is incomplete. This does not mean that all interpretation is subjective; I have little patience with post-modernist theory that reduces everything down to the text or some type of pragmatic epistemology. It simply means that what the historian brings to the interpretive table is based on a relatively narrow reading of both primary and secondary sources. Because of this we share rough drafts as a way to bounce ideas off one another and we inquire into the location or availability of various sources. Behind it all - at least in my own case - is the hope that someone will share an interpretation that I've overlooked. … I guess it's some kind of rite of passage. In short, we learn as a community by disagreeing and challenging one another."

Similarly, Bill Turkel has expressed a sense of satisfaction and shared what he has been able to achieve recently with his students. He writes, "The summer is over and the first five digital history interns at Western have completed the projects … ." Bill has given fabulous definition on history in Department activity link which I am going to use in my class an notes.

The above extracts are surfeited with happiness gained through activity on Internet. It shows that how this medium is a revolution in itself and going to change the coming times. People are apprehensive about news changes impending in nano technology field – the new in thing. But herein, they are totally oblivious of a happening that is going to change the coming days. The bloggers are rejoicing in the rewards which they have received through their action. No institution is going to give them any commemoration, recognition and certificate for it. Their work has turned out be a reward in itself. It just shows that what is going to come in future.