And then, coming to a blog like First Things Evangel — when someone comments, there is a place in the form where they can put a link to their website or blog. I know because I do it myself, but I’m not the only one. Roll over the names of the various commenters and you will see that some of them link to something. (Perhaps I would not have noticed this if I was not making use of that place in the form myself.)

Nothing shameful about it. Just letting people know you’re there, should they be interested. I often am and have checked out some of those links to get to know people here a little better. To me, it’s part of the interactivity digital technology affords us.

My son has always been very good with people. Always outgoing, even in elementary school. One day he explained that he learned it from me — he observed how I would go right up to people and meet them by extending my hand and introducing myself. That is an act of self-promotion that says, “I’m someone you should meet and you might benefit by getting to know me.”

It can be abused, though. If self-promotion is simply about promoting me instead of promoting relationship with others, it can get very tiresome and off-putting.

Ah, I appreciate the clarification. As one of those young kids, I certainly understand the struggle to want to ‘earn’ the right to say what you want to say. That’s something I think a lot about.

David,

I couldn’t agree with your experience. It’s painfully sad, as (really) some of the best stuff I’ve written gets almost no attention. There’s got to be a shorthand name for this experience, as almost everyone I know that writes online has had it.

I know it wasn’t a failure to promote those posts, though, because I sure did that as much as I could!

I wasn’t referring to your article, but to the original one. It’s odd. It’s like writing a book about why people shouldn’t read books. Nevertheless, there are some who are on the internet, blog or otherwise, whom I do not believe are looking to simply self-promote.

Generally, I think most people have a sense of the difference. One of my biggest problems is with young persons setting the world straight about everything. Some want to take the Christian and/or political world by storm. That doesn’t seem like Christ’s way. I’m 31. There’s a lot I want to say, but I often feel that I simply haven’t earned it. Because I see myself that way, I’m leery of those who are around my age or younger who have this newfangled tool called the internet and they want to push an agenda rather than promote to the goodness of God.

Orthodoxdj, I am quite aware of this problem. So here’s my question: is it possible to say ANYTHING online about Trueman’s article without reinforcing the problem it critiques? How?

I may be attempting to vindicate myself a little too much here, but I did try to point out a few aspects that I thought he missed, namely, the virtues of obscurity and a possible remedy for bloggers.

matt

I agree that the internet has made it easier. Much easier.

There are other types of self-promotion that are more subtle. Before and after the internet people promote themselves by various means. From using a famous relative’s name to association with famous people (Mr. X has worked with so & so, etc.) and so on.

Even the people whose coat tails others ride on started with some kind of promotion.

On the other hand it can be very easy to become self-absorbed and self-centered in promoting ourselves. I can see how anyone could struggle with this as people love to make themselves an idol.

I suppose one could just hire a publicist and then it would not really be themselves promoting themselves, right? ;)

It is interesting to look at people’s blog sites and notice on the landing page what is the first thing you see/notice? What visual clues do you get by looking a person’s blog site where their priorities are?

It is an interesting exercise, particularly in light of this blog post.

PTM

And I completely agree with your assessment of him. His piece on The Shibboleth’s of Culture was brilliant, I thought.

Orthodoxdj, debates that go nowhere is a real problem, but I find it’s almost always the post that sets the tone. Flamethrowing starts at the top. And at some point, it’s important to say, “let’s just disagree for now.” Letting someone else have the last word is really hard on the internet–harder than in real life, from what I’ve found.

If we’re not going to self-promote in the same way, then it seems like it’s really important for those who do have large audiences to find talent and do the promoting for them.

This is important, for it helps a person experience how he is situated within and participates in a tradition of knowledge formed in relationships of grace-full receiving and giving.

It’s a gift economy which facilitates humility and responsibility to actual people. What a blessing such a practice would be, especially on the Internet…

I get too caught up in debates that are going to go nowhere.

Peace.

All kidding aside, Trueman is one of my favorite Reformed dudes. He brings real insight to a variety of matters.

I understand the dilemma completely, as I have been in your shoes and it’s tough. If we’re not going to self-promote in the same way, then it seems like it’s really important for those who do have large audiences to find talent and do the promoting for them. Joe has, I think, been exemplary at that, as has Justin Taylor and a few others.

matt