Seek

I Shouldn't be Surprised that louisgray's shared items still tops My Reading Trends

Back in February, I reported that "I had [unknowingly] shared more of louisgray's shared items than anyone else's in the last 30 days." As I explained in the original post, Google Reader Mobile doesn't tell me who shared a post with me.  It just tells me information about the source post.  I very rarely use the desktop version of Google Reader; however, out of curiosity I checked my trends tonight only to discover that Louis Gray is still leading the pack.

This probably should not have surprised me as Mr. Gray continues to provide a noticeable influence to the tech sphere I currently find myself within on-line.  However, I was surprised, because I have made drastic changes (more than once) to my feeds since that original post.

So, I just wanted to say "Thank You" to Mr. Gray for continuing to point me to information that I find interesting.  Perhaps, I should also say an "I'm Sorry" to anyone  out there that has to put up with the duplicates that I am throwing their way from my own shared items feed.

Echo Chamber Break Out

I want OUT! Of the echo chamber that is.  How?

• I know!  I'll add hundreds, even thousands of feeds.  Wait.  I've tried that.  FAIL!  After a short time, the information seems repetitive and echoes back at me.
• I know!  I'll join lots of social services.  Wait.  I've tried that.  FAIL! Even when my friends vary to some degree, the information seems repetitive and echoes back at me.
• I know!  I'll surf until I find other subjects, try new blog searches, and escape somehow.  Wait.  I've tried that.  FAIL!  Other subjects become boring and are within themselves their own echo chambers.
• I know!  I'll rejoin the mainstream. Ugh, never-mind.  I'm not that desperate yet.

Maybe, I don't really want out.  Or, maybe the echo chamber is really about perception.  Fresh voices and viewpoints are needed, yes.  They are actually there, of course, if we just take the time to notice them.  In the mean time, we also need trusted sources of information.  So, I'll try to look for the fresh voices and different viewpoints and consider just how much of an echo chamber I truly exist in.

For now, I'll leave the echo chamber behind for at least a little while by turning off the Internet, leaving the house, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Well, okay, not completely off. I'll take the MotoQ of course to check in and the iPod Touch in case I run across free wireless. 

Someone pass me some echo, will ya?