At long last

Jul 12th, 2006 by Accidental Thinker

This blogger is finally rejoining the fold. "It’s about time," I can hear you loyal visitors (all one or two of you diehards who are left) muttering under your breath.

What prompted this overdue return to the blogosphere, which I never meant to vacate in the first place? An invitation. Yesterday, I received an invitation to participate in a study that the psychology department at some small college in Iowa (anyone ever hear of Wartburg College?) is conducting about the opinions of women blog authors regarding online vs. "real life" friendships. The timing is a little ironic, given how inactive this blog has been recently, but it has motivated me to get back to it.

Regarding the study itself, I have no idea how they found me, though I’m flattered. Yet normally I’d have deleted such an email. However, they used the magic word. You see, if the study had merely been about "female bloggers," I’d have opined to let the lonely cyberspace adolescents on MySpace and its ilk have their say, and leave me out of it. But like I said, the study administrator used the magic word. She called me an author. Leave it to those psychology types to know how to inflate an ego! In my case, at least, it worked.

So has anyone else out there received this invitation? I’ve been encouraged to share the details with others, so if you are a female blog author between the ages of 22 and 45 (their rules, not mine) and are interested in participating, leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail (from the "Email me" link in the right sidebar of this page) with your e-mail address, and I will forward the invitation with the details.

Personally, I’m going to participate. I was a psychology major myself, and I know what a struggle it can be to recruit research participants. I’m more than willing to help in their study.

Posted in Blogging |

9 Responses to “At long last”

on 13 Jul 2006 at 8:10 am1Paul N.

I’ve heard of Wartburg College, but what’s an Iowa? Don’t stay away so long…
on 13 Jul 2006 at 9:19 am2the fool

I was about to leave a comment saying, ‘Welcome back! I’m firing up the grill and slaying the fatted calf!’

But I think this would be more appropriate:

Welcome back! I’m firing up the grill and slaying the fatted Guinea Pig!
on 13 Jul 2006 at 11:38 am3Karen

That sounds interesting and I’d like to know what they find. I think online friendships can be as good – if not better. 🙂
on 13 Jul 2006 at 4:10 pm4cassie-b

How interesting. I’m curious as to what kinds of information they want from you.

Cas
on 13 Jul 2006 at 6:41 pm5lz-blogger

Welcome back! Good thing I saved your blog link! ~ jb///
on 13 Jul 2006 at 6:57 pm6Fred

They left me out. Darn. When I get the email for men, I’ll let you know.
on 14 Jul 2006 at 8:00 am7meg

It’s good to see you back. I’d be interested in this research project so feel free to forward the email my way.

I love to have my brain picked. 🙂

I’ve had you in my “favorites” folder and it was just the other day that I came back and read a cluster of your posts. However, seeing you on BF’s site today made me come back again.

Take care.
on 14 Jul 2006 at 5:32 pm8Jamie Dawn

I wonder what they will find out about women and their blog friendships?
I think we women bond fairly easily whether it’s in person or online.
Who knows? This study may make it on the Oprah show!! 🙂
on 31 Jul 2006 at 9:43 pm9Peach

Funny you should bring this up. I received the same invitation but I didn’t quite welcome it the same way. I felt I didn’t blog enough to be a worthy participant. I should have taken it as an opportunity the way that you did. Good luck. Let me know how it turns out!