Things on my mind…
Today Buzz took me over to see Steve Ball (he runs the audio and other media teams at Microsoft). Steve let me hold his new daughter. You can see her in this Kyte video that I shot with my Nokia N95 (which is why the video is a bit small and blurry).
Holding someone who is 19 days old is a cathartic experience. She is especially precious. I looked at her and asked myself “how am I making her world better?”
Then I thought about Maryam and Patrick, my son and partner in all things geeky, and Milan, our new son who’ll be here real soon. I haven’t been the best parent I could be. The best husband I could be.
Tonight I looked over my Twitters and blogs. They are angry. Confrontational. Disturbed. Hurt. Dismayed.
Those are not words to describe someone in a state of mind to improve the world. Part of it is so many people are making stuff up about me and/or my employer without any care as to my feelings or the truth that I’ve got to get some distance. Over the weekend a variety of people said I had quit my job. Then another “A-list” blogger said I had been fired. Neither are true. Much of what I read over on that Silicon Valley gossip site lately isn’t true and they have demonstrated over and over that they really don’t care about the truth. It really depresses me cause I thought blogging would be a tool for humans to get smarter, not stupider. Depression isn’t fun.
So, I’m going to try something else for a while.
Add to that the fact that I’ve learned more by having a conversation with an IBM lawyer for 30 minutes than I’ve learned from the average blog lately. Heck, I look at TechMeme and see articles about Glam. A copy of Digg. Instructions for leaking your own TV show on the Net.
Glam?!? Bubble?
This isn’t what gets me excited. In our book Naked Conversations I wrote that a good blog is “authoritative and passionate.” Truth is that when I looked at Steve Ball’s baby I realized I’ve been neither. I’d rather go hang out with someone who is building something interesting.
I’ll be back blogging when I can add value again. My video show at http://www.scobleshow.com will go on (I have a ton of great videos coming this week) and I might do a Kyte video or two since I’m doing R&D there for PodTech. I’ve been having a ball with videos in both places lately and you’ve probably noticed that the quality of the videos is going up. I can’t wait for you to see the vid I filmed with Marc Canter at Gnomedex.
Anyway, have a great week and while I’m not blogging I’d love it if you left some ideas on things you’d like me to learn for when I get back.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:22 am
You always add value - at least to those who care about what you think. You have always been a good source for me for a second thought on some piece of technology. The only problem I have with you is that so much is coming and I simply don’t have the time to consume all your content!
Don’t let yoursef make down.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:25 am
It may sound odd to say “I’m happy for you” considering you sound so depressed, but I actually am, just not for you being depressed but for taking a break.
You don’t think you’re passionate? Heck, if you’re not passionate, I don’t know anyone who is. Your sin might actually be that you’re too passionate about things that perhaps don’t matter that much to most people. Now it’s time to (also) be passionate about other things, right? Good for you!
Enjoy your family and especially that little one that’s coming. Sooner than you think I think you’ll be missing logging into your WordPress account :-)
August 13th, 2007 at 3:25 am
Good work. Stepping back and having that sort of realization is an amazing, healthy thing to do. I’m glad you’re taking this approach; it says a lot. Keep up the good work and keep on working to change the world for the better.
When you come back, tell us what you’ve learned in your time away about doing just that, and let us know how we can help.
Thank you. :-)
August 13th, 2007 at 3:28 am
Hey take it easy Scoble, when your new baby arrives, it’ll put everything into perspective for you - that’s the thing that’ll get you back adding value! :-)
August 13th, 2007 at 3:32 am
Scoble, you ad value to my internet!
August 13th, 2007 at 3:36 am
Dude, you are one A-List blogger who goes beyond your blog to add value to users. But you definitely need a break. Take off and have some good family time. You deserve it.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:37 am
You and Chris Brogan had very different experiences at Gnomedex. Maybe see what he got out of it that you didn’t, and vice versa. There’s a lesson in there, I think.
EDITOR NOTE: Here’s a link to Chris Brogan’s blog: http://grasshopperfactory.com/cbc/learning-what-i-dont-know/
August 13th, 2007 at 3:38 am
Good on you, Robert! I think it’s a healthy thing to take some time away from all the madness, breathe some real fresh air, see some real people face to face and talk about something non-technology related.
It’s likely to strike all sorts of new fresh ideas, and give you a chance to decompress, so that can’t be bad.
Enjoy the break from the net nutters…
August 13th, 2007 at 3:40 am
Good luck with your break, Robert. I look forward to your rejuvenated return!
August 13th, 2007 at 3:45 am
Good luck with the break Robert, spending time with your family - both new and old really - shows you what the *really* important things are.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:47 am
Thanks everyone.
Financialaid: I just read Chris Brogan’s blog. I don’t think we had all that different a Gnomedex. In fact, sounds like we reached much the same conclusion. I do admit I didn’t enjoy Robert Steele’s speech, though. I thought it was dreadful. It did make me think, though, mostly about how I could be a better speaker. :-)
And with that, I’m out of here.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:56 am
It needs courage to make a decision like this and you show courage! Though I’ll miss your thoughts I respect your decision. By sharing the reasons with us I hope others will start thinking about what they did and should’nt. Thus you still improve our world and add value! Thanks, take your time and hope to see you back soon!
August 13th, 2007 at 4:00 am
It’s hard to imagine you getting much out of a conference where you seemed to spend most of your time in the hall. If I were Chris and you were my friend, I’d be offended.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:03 am
You do need to spend more time with Maryam, she’s going to be very busy over the next three years.
Thank-you for not telling us Milan has his own page on Facebook with 2600 friends.
Marc Canter coole-O, he enjoys his children without ever having to twitter them.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:04 am
Brett: I attended five sessions. It’s my job to network with people. I can watch the sessions online. I can’t have hallway conversations with people at home.
Now I know I’ll never attend one of your conferences cause you have no clue about where the real value of conferences is.
They videotape the sessions for a reason. Anyway, I’m outta here. Gotta stop visiting WordPress. Sigh. I’m such an addict.
Paul: Marc might not Twitter his daughters but he talks about them in his video. And Milan can’t join Facebook until he’s in High School. Learned that lesson already.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:06 am
Hi Scoble,
Heck, your blog is part of my Google Reader RSS feed - if I didn’t find value from your insights, I could have dumped it after the first few articles.
Anyway, blood is thicker still and I commend you for taking a break and spending more time with your family. I know how it is to prep for a new baby (heck, I already have four!) so take as much rest as you can…
Looking forward to the revved up return. :)
Cheers!
August 13th, 2007 at 4:08 am
Robert, to me your blog is a breath of fresh air. I hope you enjoy your time away and look forward to your return.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:13 am
You’re on too many platforms. It’s not good for you or for your audience.
Maybe you should also figure out what “friend” means and not use the term so loosely and cavalierly. Nobody can claim thousands of friends without ultimately making half of them enemies.
IOW, you need to get much better about setting boundaries for yourself and making them clear to others, IMO.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:13 am
Getting into a massive comment fight really drained you huh? I would say, and same with the jason/dave thing that sometimes personal squabbles should be offline (or at least done via email). Its tough when business is intertwined in that I know, but there needs to be some level or separation.
Don’t get me wrong, it makes great reading sometimes but generally distracts from the larger and more important issues.
Also read my blog about gnomes and trolls (above).
August 13th, 2007 at 4:16 am
Hi Robert,
Your videos add a great deal of value! At the moment, I find ‘watching’ info more exciting than ‘reading’ it.
That’s why I’m gonna do ‘videoblogs’ too, while I am in NY in September, talking to people in the music scene/business. I’ll have a Kyte Channel on my blog:
http:newyorkstateofmind.wordpress.com
I copied that idea from you so thanx very much.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:31 am
Robert, in the words of Plato, the unexamined life is not worth living. I think you’re more introspective and connected than most. Taking a breather and gaining perspective is always good no matter what one does. You gush energy, and sometimes it’s good to recharge the batteries. Of course, we’ll all be here on your return.
Cheers, man. Keep up the good fight. And breathe.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:31 am
You add lots of value, I have learnt a lot about the new media world from you or the links you provide, and I greatly admire your conversational style.
As someone above mentions though, maybe you’re speading yourself too thin at the mo. In this hyperconnected world, the slightest slight (sorry!) can take on apocalyptic proportions. And when you’re as connected as you are - across so many platforms - you are going to encounter a lot of hostility.
Having said that, I do find sometimes that you take criticism very personally and I think that’s because 1/ you are very passionate, 2/ you are so knowledgeable about the industry that maybe you find it difficult to accept your views might not be universally accepted, 3/ you are stressed because you work too hard and have a kid on the way.
It’s great that you’re having a break. Concentrate on what’s really important for a while - family, health and well-being.
Looking forward to learning more from you when you’re back.
Vi ses (as they say here in Denmark!)
August 13th, 2007 at 4:33 am
Stop replying to comments mate and ENJOY some time away from blogging! You’ll never win them all. You are probably the only blogger whose blog I really enjoy reading from your side of the world. The rest is all copying each other and saying the same thing over and over again. Plus, for us techies outside of the US, most of it is worthless gossip about a ‘world’ that is incredibly small and closed off (kind of paradoxal when you think of it). And of course when all the gossip is about some kids ‘wining’ at each other over spilled milk, you’ll have a much more enjoyable time following an argument like that at home with your own kids! :)
Enjoy the new bub; kids are the best!
August 13th, 2007 at 4:43 am
Yeah - all too easy to get mad on the web - i had to take a deep breath when the OpenID guys started to flame me about my openid.org stuff.
Your kids are a real balancer tho’ - there is nothing more important and 5 minutes with them and you won’t be mad anymore - being mad when with your kids is horrible, so you drop it.
I enjoy your blogs - particularly those where you interview or simplly give insight to new ideas. Hope that continues. Best Wishes.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:47 am
Hi,
In Sydney, Australia we have a reasonable radio program in the evening on 2GB. A few months ago they had in an “expert” on the next new thing in retail sales. He said the next big thing is “Adding Value”.
He talked about the little things that are not necessarily the “core” business but are the things that make a difference such as the coffee shop in the book store, the lounge chairs in departmental stores with the sport on TV….
After a while these value added things overtake the core business of the operation and become indispensible to the success of the business.
I am in education and try to add value and you helop me do this.
Enjoy your break and see you on the otherside.
cheers Martin
August 13th, 2007 at 5:08 am
If the Podcast people weren’t going to fire you and you weren’t going to quit, why did you get so torqued, Robert? And you really are getting way torqued and you need to sit quietly and ask yourself that. They must have…probed a nerve, which maybe isn’t really about actually being fired or quitting but maybe just needed to nest or something on your part, and displacing that angst. But geez, Valleywag is nihilism and evil, ignore them.
And even that old saw about “taking more time with your family” is only good as far as it goes — but you don’t have to overdose it.
The planet has, what, 8 billion people that go and have families and find jobs and work and have fun and live and die. It’s more than fine if a few people don’t do it exactly that way, and do something different.
That fellow’s daughter actually has to make her own world better, and take responsibility for it in due course, and not expect Scoble to make it better for you. You can only do so much. Isn’t making your own world better part of it too? Must it always be about altruism which you can’t live up to anyway?
I can only say, keep learning and being excited and talking about technology, and playing with it and experimenting it and making lots of friends to show it to. It’s the best thing in the world — and you’re doing it. People who find it hard to understand what they can get out of Facebook or Twitter, I tell them go and read Scoble, mine his friends, watch how they do it and what groups they join, that will make it interesting for you, and it works.
If you need to go recharge batteries, recharge, but no need to take dramatic positions like “Akh, I am ceasing to read all blogs, jamais, never more, nikogda!” Let them pile up a little in Google reader, who’s to know? Then obsessively read them at 3 am during feedings, it’s fine, it’s all good.
Remember, sleep when the baby sleeps! Sleep *now* in advance because you will definitely not be sleeping in a bit.
August 13th, 2007 at 5:12 am
Robert, you are an inspiration to just about every blogger on the planet. I can appreciate that you need a break, though, and that you may come back with a slightly different approach. But, I have no doubt that whatever you do going forward will continue to show your passion and love for blogging. I look forward to continued inspiration from you.
August 13th, 2007 at 5:18 am
It is perfectly fine to get guest bloggers for those periods when it is not easy to blog.
Get a list of who posses those traits that are desirable in bloggers - and invite them to guest blog.
This not only adds a dimension to the blog, but adds perspective.
In terms of getting depress about the unfairness of life - it is a waste of time. Life on Earth is EXTREMELY fleeting for any Human Being and tomorrow is never a guarantee for ANYONE.
It is best to never waste the precious seconds of life allowing the evil from others to steal time from tomorrow.
August 13th, 2007 at 5:44 am
[...] August 13th, 2007 in Annoyances Scoble’s taking a break from blogging: I’ll be back blogging when I can add value [...]
August 13th, 2007 at 6:08 am
Robert - Enjoy some time away. I echo the sentiments of your true ‘friends’ and fans above. Your blog is arguably one of the most influential and ”affecting” on the blogosphere. I’ll miss you while you rest and can’t wait to pick up with you when you return. I’m already one of the ”4400” (smile) so I know I’ll stay there with you as well. Peace and blessings to you, Maryam, Patrick and Milan.
August 13th, 2007 at 6:13 am
Robert,
The thing about blogging is that, like everything else, it’s just a tool to be used for good or for bad. A hammer in the hands of a master carpenter can create great things. It can also be used to bash in someone’s skull. The hammer itself is just the tool, how it’s used is up to the person swinging it, and people are fallible.
Some people truly try to use blogging as a way to share information and ideas that are important to them, and their audience, some verbally bash each other over the head, for various reasons not the least of which is that gets a whole lot of attention. The easiest way to get a whole lot of people talking about your blog, is to use the tool to bash people, especially people like you who have a pretty large audience. That takes almost zero talent, anyone can do it.
If you want to add value to the world your kids are growing up in, then use the tool to share information and ideas that are important to you. Instead of spending all your time chasing down the next “cool” thing, (which I understand is already your day job) so that you can be first to the story, take the time to understand why something is useful, what it makes possible and how that makes life better.
Blogging, used as a proper tool, makes life better by allowing anyone to publish and share their ideas with the world. It allows me to learn something new, and immediately share it with an audience, whether it be about a new service, a solution to a problem, a good restaurant, etc. Search out the bloggers that consistently do that, and strive to be one yourself. Let the skull bashers be what they are, where they are. Quit giving them attention they don’t deserve.
That’s my .02 anyway, from someone with a long history of depression and a long list of tools to cope with it. :)
August 13th, 2007 at 6:24 am
Robert,
Everyone needs a vacation from work, so enjoy your time off.
I will be looking forward to what you have to say, as it appears many others will too.
I totally enjoy your videos, and am greatfull that some one is recording, as you call them, “the gray beards”.
keep up the great work when you return.
Craig
August 13th, 2007 at 6:42 am
Robert- much support to this premise. A blog is a tool. The conversation is what matters. I know you know this more than most, and that you understand that the Internet isn’t the only platform. Not that you’re leaving, but that you see it as one simple small box on the path to everything else you’re doing.
Have fun storming the castle!
August 13th, 2007 at 6:44 am
I am not a Silicon valley insider, I am just a guy who loves to read about tech stuff so I know what new gadgets (web-based or otherwise) I want to take advantage of. Ultimately, your blog has given a guy who has a broad interest in everything geeky, but no expertise or connections to the valley to learn about the latest “shiny things” out there. I feel closer to the greatest minds in the industry through your portal (including your link blog).
I am glad you are taking time for you and your family, but don’t let the haters bring you down. If anything it has only made people more fond of what you do. Just look at all of these great comment posts above and below.
I don’t keep a blog because I am not exactly sure I have anything new to say. That is the only criteria I see for what you and the rest of the “sphere” does. And you, sir, have lots of interesting and new things to say. Keep on talkin’ cause we are listening.
August 13th, 2007 at 6:53 am
[...] Robert Scoble, whose blogs I love and sometimes love to hate but always find educational, has blogged his last bit - at least for a [...]
August 13th, 2007 at 6:55 am
Something I learned many years ago -
“Never wrestle in the mud with a pig. You both get dirty, but the pig likes it.”
People are people, no matter what the medium of communication. Sometimes angels, sometimes jerks. So just do what I’m sure you’ll teach your kids to do. Bless the angels. Ignore the jerks.
August 13th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Robert,
You are right. Holding a 19-day-old baby is cathartic and puts the meaning of Twitter in real perspective. Instead of dinner, why don’t we just go walk on the beach together. It’s time we kicked back and walked and talked.
August 13th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Illegitimi non carborundum: don’t let the bastards wear you down!
August 13th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Robert -
Some feedback from someone who has been reading your blog for 18 months or so. Don’t take it personally, I do enjoy reading it!
1) Take a step back now and then and see the wider picture, rather through the Silicon Valley prism
2) You don’t have to latch onto the latest and greatest thing (twitter, iphone, facebook etc) all the time and bang on about them with the intensity that you do, sometimes it can be a bit annoying.
3) It’s obvious that you’re passionate about this stuff (which is good) but sometimes that gives the impression that it clouds your judgement somewhat. Stop and think now and again before you post!
4) Don’t take things too personally, and don’t try and reply to so many posts
Enjoy the break - but I bet you’re not away for long, if at all…
August 13th, 2007 at 7:30 am
Taking your deserved break - you’ve earned it. All the best when the new arrival comes.
August 13th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Love reading your blog. Good luck with the new baby.
August 13th, 2007 at 7:52 am
Robert-
Take some enjoyed time off!! I expect I will still see you taking over my Facebook front page though :D
Enjoy! your blogs gonna stay in my Reader.. waiting for you to return!
Jez
August 13th, 2007 at 8:22 am
I do hope you find some time away refreshing.
I will offer up a few cents worth of advice, after reading your blog almost daily for about 4 years.
Perhaps it may be benificial (and add value to your own life) to separate your work/public self a bit more from your personal private life–not so much in how you talk about it on your blog, but in how you live your life. Your son and wife are already totally intertwined into your professional life, that I don’t think you ever get a break. And then it becomes a viscous circle because you lose a bit of perspective and sometimes come off like this is the way everybody lives–wrapped up writing and reading blogs, living in Facebook and Twitter, and video taping everything, instead of living it. When shit happens like this week, you have no where to go, because you are already there (Same for WIner).
All that being said, do let us know when Milan arrives and enjoy that to the fullest. It may be OK to video tape that and write about it later, but don’t let it get in the way of actually being there. Hopefully your break will be the regeneration you are looking for. Good luck with it and congratulaitons in advance to you and Maryam.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Congrats .. hope you guys have lots of fun with adorable new baby … try and cherishing every moment.
maliha
August 13th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Its good to take a break every once in a while.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:43 am
Physical exercise, fresh air, healthy food, sleep, offline. In a regular manner.
I’d think that in your situation a hiking trip to Yosemite with your son and a camera would work wonders. Or is it too hot for that there in California? Then off to the beach…
August 13th, 2007 at 8:58 am
[...] surgery gone wrong will step in to impersonate Dave and revive the friendship, make sure to read Scoble’s depression-inspired post. He’s taking a sabbatical (Esalen, anyone?) to get over being bummed about how [...]
August 13th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Robert,
I spoke to you momentarily in the hallway at Gnomedex while you were telling Marc Canter that you are into “walled gardens, baby!”.
Anyways, remember what I told you about being perceived at a “thermometer” of *what’s next* or the *bleeding edge*. A lot of people turn to your blog for just that reason, so there is a whole lot of worth in that.
Take some time, step away and recharge. Come back with a new perspective and just keep on keeping on and being the same ol ‘Scobleizer we’ve all come to get the latest in tech news from.
Cheers, Robert. It will and does get better.
Keep the faith.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Nice meeting you at Gnomedex, and enjoy your time of reflection. Perhaps, you can consider the value of starfish. More than a metaphor, they are really cool to look at. The challenge is to never lose one’s childlike sense of wonderment. The arrival of a new baby is a great way to keep it.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:28 am
But where shall we go? What shall we do? Who’ll lead us? You can’t create all this Naked Conversation crap and then just leave us here. I thought the life preservers were supposed to be for the women and children.
- Amanda
August 13th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Robert,
Given your intensity, it is normal and healthy to unplug from time to time. I am an avid reader of your blog. It is not always easy to put works about what once like but here it goes.
I like your passion, transparency and truthfulness. A few of your post about Facebook being a marketing platform and the reason you “friend” people is to able to reach them later on which started to raise questions about your truthfulness.
I like your content. Try to focus on producing less but higher quality. No need to multiplex on 50 channels: blog, podtech, twitter, facebook, kyte, etc.
I come here because I want to get 10-20 minute of insanely good developer content. You have proven that you know who to do this. It is just a matter of focus (and I understand focus is not always easy for someone you is always experimenting and looking for the next big thing).
-Edwin
August 13th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Disappointing News Robert, but I totally understand. Take the time you need or just scale back the blogging to give you more time with the family.
In the meantime, you will be missed! I always look forward to your blog posts and I’ll be waiting for your return.
Brent
August 13th, 2007 at 11:02 am
Your videos lately have been some of the best I have ever seen. Period. You are contributing much. Thank you for exposing Tom Rolander to the world. Please keep up the blog at least to update us on your videos. I can’t possibly watch all of them but I do look at your rss feed in Google Reader (j,j,j,k,j,j,k,v) before deciding which ones to watch. Keep up the good work. Focusing and realizing things about your work is not something to stay depressed about: your product is better for it!
August 13th, 2007 at 11:05 am
You deserve a break, Robert. I’ve always found it mind-boggling how much you get done each day. There’s no denying your passion is in tune with your work. It’s hard and you do it with a smile on your face. You define an ideal blogger, not just a tech blogger.
Sorry about the depressing news around the blogosphere about you. I say f*** them! Enjoy your break. :)
August 13th, 2007 at 11:06 am
Robert,
You deserve a break, but if you’re looking for a project to sink your teeth into, and to (just possibly) fire up your juices, try reading some of the great edubloggers to see the problems that schools everywhere are having in adopting and embedding the new tech that you have championed for so long. People like Christan Long, Ewan McIntosh (ask Shel Israel about him), Will Richardson, David Warlick, Stephen Downes and Chris Sessums could probably give you a fresh perspective and way of looking at so much of what you take for granted as a ‘tech-head’.
Goodness knows that education could use someone with your skills and knowledge base to help gt things moving a little quicker!
Whatever you decide, all the best with the new kid on the block and if you don’t mind, I’m going to keep you in my RSS feed just in case you feel like saying something! ;)
August 13th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Robert … what sets you apart is your willingness to to address issues head on, so you will get some people come back at you. However you at least address issues. The people and one in particular ‘/’ who choose to use personal attacks which add zero value to the discussion, merely remind me why I long ago unsubscribed. Take care, enjoy, reflect and come back soon.
August 13th, 2007 at 11:39 am
“how am I making her world better?”
By getting people to listen to each other. All good things come from open minds. You’re work here is always about listening and giving people access to a community of open minds.
Can you do better? Sure. You consistently seem to get better.
(and I think you’ve been a better father than credit yourself… ask Patrick and see what he thinks… unless, of course, he’s a teenager… then wait 10 years for a fair answer… otherwise he’ll use the opportunity to get a new Mac.)
PS> Do you think you might be able to get Jason and Dave to listen to each other and agree that:
1. Jason is motivated by more than JUST the money.
2. Dave can’t view every service’s value by his ability to script it…
And all conferences are NOT unconferences. Some are opportunities to promote: ideas, movements and (yes) your struggling start-up. Go figure.
They embarassed each other… Who will be the bigger man in all this? Scoble. Good luck with that.
August 13th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Better you take a break and return after than burn out completely and have to quit blogging against your will. Thumbs up for being honest with us (the readers) and yourself about feeling like it’s time for a break.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
As you know, Robert, I love and respect you and consider you a good friend. I think you are going through a big period in your life with a baby coming, and you are also taking responsibility for Podtech. It’s too much. I saw you rev up during Gnomedex and I’m very proud of you for realizing it yourself :-) Do I sound like your mother? I didn’t mean to…
August 13th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
[...] Well, it looks like even the best bloggers deal with blogging fatigue, and Robert Scoble has said he’s taking some time off from the blog. [...]
August 13th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
[...] does it matter? Look at this: one of the “premium A-list bloggers” clearly stated [...]
August 13th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Hi Robert,
On a technical note, you say, “You can see her in this Kyte video that I shot with my Nokia N95 (which is why the video is a bit small and blurry).”
That is not the reason that the video is “small and blurry.”
When I shoot video, I use the primary camera on the N95 and choose 640×480 at 30 fps. The videos come out big and clear.
Here’s a video I shot this weekend:
http://stevegarfield.blogs.com/videoblog/2007/08/the-farm.html
On that post you can view the original 640×480 30 fps footage.
What settings were you using and which camera lens, the primary or secondary?
Thanks,
–Steve
August 13th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Hi Robert,
The only thing which counts is that you’re making this choice at this moment in life cause you FEEL it’s the right thing to do for YOU…this despite the fact that ‘the rest of the world’ thinks your content is still oh-so great…when you don’t feel this way yourself, you’re loosing energy instead of gaining energy from blogging/twittering/etc.
No one will/can ever blame you for choosing for yourself.
I am sure it sets an example for others…sit down, take a deep breath and look at things that really matter in life, it is one of the most important and most overlooked treasures in life…I’m 100% with you man!
It’s actually a phase I went through earlier this year and has has had much to do with taking back control over your own life…try it, do it, I can recommend it to everyone! Let life be.
Will see you back blogging when the time is right for you, trust me…we’re all very patient people here.
Take care and (always!) enjoy life!
August 13th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Taking control
Much in my current life-flow has to do with initiative and taking control/responsibility of me, myself and I.
I see and feel it as a natural part of the development of my being, which in a way has been slowing down a bit over the last years. Not…
August 13th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Have a good break Robert - look forward to a refreshed return if that is what you decide to do, which I hope you will.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Mangled grammar above - best wishes is what I meant!
August 13th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
[...] in the Gnomedex aftermath and maybe for the first time it appears he’s taken a serious look at what has become of the Web 2.0 landscape and reality has set in. For every good blog [...]
August 13th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Walk away for a while and have a life. The web is full of idiots and shallow-mongers - enjoy your family time. Unfortunately people with good hearts always lose to nasty and petty minded people and commenters because the cynics sit in dark holes waiting for folks to fall in and plunge down to their level. Take a break and start something fresh so you don’t fall down there.
August 13th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
As one of the people who gave you cruel advice recently on the yahoo videoblogging group, Id like to comment.
I am sorry to hear that recent times have been so draining. I hope your rest is good and you have many amazing revelations and find a new way to harness your passion in ways that you find fulfilling and useful for the world.
One of the things I love about the net, blogs, forums etc, is the ability to converse, to let go and be totally honest. Im not sure the authoratitive matters so much to me, or at least I like the potential for there to be balance on the net, the non-authoritative have their place in stopping the authoritative ones from getting too far away from reality?
Unfortunately its impossible to escape the human side of this, most people cant help but take things personally. If you absorb all the negative stuff on the net as well as the positive, its a bit like the horros that would happen if you woke up in some twilight zone world where you could read the minds of what everyone around you is thinking.
Or a completely differnt way of looking at it is that humans are still essentially tribal in nature, and this has all sorts of implications for humans on the net & social networking and stuff, not least in terms of scale. As an outsider Ive never understood how people who do a lot of networking, can maintain real connections with so many people. And Im not sure the technology always helps, maybe it just encourages one to push the size of their tribe to undrealistic heights?
Anyway, I won’t try to second guess what revelations and new found passions you may encounter whilst resting from what is turning out to be a fairly negative depressing and irritable 2007 for this particular side of the blogosphere. I will take a pop at companies and people on specific issues when I think they are out of line, but the whole podtech thing is turning into an ugly vendetta that some are enjoying, and whilst I cant help watching, I dont like it. As an outsider not even on the same continent, I dont really know whether any of the negative energy on this is caused by some fundamental ugliness somewhere within podtech itself, Id guess there is something sick somewhere. But regardless of what any internal realities might be, it doesnt seem to justify the level of negative blogpress you are getting lately, some are clearly looking forward to podtech’s demise with some relish.
Oh well, life is a funny thing. I had my own personal revelation/spiritual reboot last night when looking at that lovely meteor storm in the sky.
Still I cant help but say that if you want the internet to help people get smarter not stupider, you can play a part in that, but there are many paths that look like the way to cleverville that actually lead to same old depressive human behaviour alley. Im trapped in the alley because I am too negative and never do anyything. But I thought I saw you or perhaps just your shadow there, because of the way positive commercial PR is not something Id likely think is likely to lead humanity towards a more knowledgable future, quite the opposite.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I think you are being a bit hard on yourself. I’ve always found your blog to be very positive.
August 13th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Thanks for the honest update.
I hope you read this.
A. Don’t give up. Lots of people read you and think about what you’ve written.
B. If necessary, go stealth and do an invite only club. That way you can focus on driving your conversation with people who actually tune in.
C. Remember the New York Daily News quote, “Love me, hate me, but always read me.” The others just have sour grapes. They wish they were Scoble.
Take some time to rest. See you soon.
August 13th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Take some time off. Life’s too short and priceless. Especially to worry about trolls and people who only know how to bring people down to make their tiny selves feel worthy, however inhumane they become.
It’s not just you feeling blase. I’ve felt the same way for a while now, some 7.5 years ago. I rarely read blogs these days, nor watch prime-time TV, etc., anymore, it’s the same ol’ crud, recycled. Americans these days rarely think and do, rather way too gossipy and self-absorbed, living off fruits of past generations as did the British, French, Spanish, and empires before. It’s just being human and how things are since time immemorial. Complacency and contempt, there is a large gap between what we aspire to be and what we’re capable of at a given point in time of our evolution.
Right now though, I think what you’re tired of, at root, is that there is no leadership, in both political and technology spheres, and hence a lack of direction, a debasement and disrespect of ideas and reasoning. Today, American society and its various forms of dialog, what little authentic conversations that remain, has been mostly replaced by shouting and blaring sound-bites, blogging included, basically a race to the bottom. As such there’s not much interesting to report as it’s the same ol’ cookie cut content and politics and themes rebroadcast endless times, and in the end, with no real care in the world except perhaps to maximize eyeballs reached and ad rates for the few who happily exploit the masses with little consideration what the future will bring because of it.
It’s high-minded and respectable to assume that blogging and positive change can come from the masses per se. Yet given that we’re pretty predictable bell-curved mortals, it always seems that true progress most of the time starts at the top. And hence, here we are and go.
August 13th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
I met Steve on my last visit to Redmond. Wonderful guy. We talked a lot more about music, Robert Fripp, love and sharing than we talked about Web 2.0.
The interesting story is not about the hammer and nails. The interesting story is about the houses they build. Menlo Park forgets that sometime.
[Steve, if you're reading this, Congrats on your newborn]
Hugs and Smiles to all….
August 13th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
By actually taking time away, and thinking about value, and sharing that you’re doing so, you just added value. I may not always agree with your point of view, but I learn a lot from your posts. You will be missed.
August 13th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
A bit of time off is always a good idea when stressed. Enjoy your time at home, read a book, take a walk and enjoy life.
Take care of yourself.
And when you come back, keep some quality time for you away of the stress. It works for me.
August 13th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Robert,
I’m not sure why you’re down on yourself. So you expressed some anger. The bottom line is that anger is an emotion that is suppressed too much in our politically-correct society. I enjoy your videos, but I’m not counting on you to save the world. :)
As long as you make your family happy, that’s your only true responsiblity. I’ll leave you with a great quote by Bill Cosby.
” I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”
August 13th, 2007 at 6:06 pm
[...] of my favourite bloggers Robert Scoble is having a break from blogging. It is hard to believe but he is even saying that with social [...]
August 13th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Hi Robert,
I’ve been watching your posting on the web and on Facebook, not to mention Twitter for the past month. It seemed you were building up to something. Trying to get in as much work before the birth.
Your damn good at what you do and add value to things you are doing.
The question I think you need to ask is, Is there balance in what your doing? Is all aspects of your life being attended to or are you favoring one right now like paying too much attention to one child before a extremely long trip, because you think you will neglect it in the near future?
From your post above and the streaming of information on the internet from you in the past months it seems this might be the issue. But thats just my observation from this side of the net.
I hope you relax. Play with your son, cuddle with your wife, talk to your new child, take time for yourself. Sometimes you just need to declare internet bankruptcy once in a while.
When your ready to come back, I and many others will be ready to read, view, listen to what you create.
Chris
August 13th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I frequently wrestle with the same thoughts. I talk to friends who are teachers, police, and firemen. My wife stays home with the kids….and I am at work early morning to early evening. Then, back at it as they fall asleep. I feel like I am missing so much.
Hang in there. I think the thoughts from most to just enjoy life is right on target.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
I met with TeresaV today and she shared this entry with me and I am a blog post virgin but this/you moved me so here goes.
I keft my old company to be with my baby and taking a break was the best thing I ever did. Two weeks later my baby girl was decorating the Christmas tree with me at 11 am on a Tuesday morning when I would have been at work worried about some interview that I was hosting for a tech exec. As she walked forward towards the tree holding the ornament in her tiny chubby hands trying desperately not to break it - my life changed.
So go in peace, remember what/who you work for - it is not for all of these kind and a few unkind people listed above me, it is not for the people at Gnomedex or any other dex it is for those who live under your roof. Best with the baby and perhaps someday when I actually have a Facebook page we might be friends.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Taking time off to reflect on what is important and re-prioritize your life is crucial.
Th world is changing at an ever increasing rate and unless we filter it with what we find important we can quickly become overwhelmed.
Relax, think, enjoy come again fresh. We will all still be here.
Best,
-Marty
August 13th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
I’m sorry to say I haven’t read your blog much. I stumbled upon it while reading articles online at BBC News today. Good luck to you, and enjoy your family and your new baby :) It’s refreshing to me to see those that are introspective as I hope I am myself…and that try to do good for others.
August 13th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Predictions, re: Scoble @ August 13, 2007:
1. Baby Suri (and other celebrity babies without a blog) will hold a candle a patronizing but pathetic candle to this Milan, who, by the way, should cut the crap and just get out of his hiding place already. My patience for him is waning and he needs to get his act together.
2. Robert will make a friend in the next twenty minutes.
2a. Aforementioned friend will have potential to be a Friend but the over/under is 4:1.
3. Robert will make a nemesis, borderline-enemy within the next 20 hrs (terms defined by Klosterman in a moment of brevity, relatively speaking, of course).
3a. This nemesis will tell his Friends that Robert is his friend.
4. Robert’s blog has a 60% chance of being 4% worse by 5 p.m. tomorrow.
4b. 60% of a-list bloggers will think this. 4% of them will say this. 100% of the 4 percenters will be universally praised by 100% dickheads.
5. My friends and I will use Robert’s promise to not post tomorrow as fodder for idle, calorie burning conversation some time tomorrow evening (location TBA).
ב’עהצלכה חבר
August 13th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Taking your mind off the gossip by doing videos is a good idea. A good way to keep moving forward would be to delete those angry blog entries and fill them with more thoughts on Ball’s baby. You can close the door on those negative emotions and open a new one… with NEW emotions. Do what you think is best.
August 13th, 2007 at 11:35 pm
[...] I Must Have Pissed Somebody Off - Martin Neumann Identity Fraud on domain names - John Evans Things on my mind - Robert [...]
August 13th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
but if not for your 3 mac jizm posts per day… where will i hear about mac news?
seriously, this is what happens when you live in the apple echo chamber for a month or two… as you have since going iphone insane.
best of luck on your recovery. i hope you start by tossing all apple-logod products into the nearest trash heap.
August 14th, 2007 at 12:22 am
hey Scoble, hope you come back soon and start adding value to the internet world…
August 14th, 2007 at 4:07 am
[...] so Robert Scoble, arguably one of the most well-known and widely read bloggers has hit the wall, burnt out and has [...]
August 14th, 2007 at 4:53 am
[...] August 14th, 2007 · No Comments I’ll be back blogging when I can add value again. [...]
August 14th, 2007 at 6:01 am
Good luck with the break, Robert. I’ve enjoyed every word. :-) When you come back, do it because it’s fun. If you’re having fun then you’ll be enriching yourself and everyone around you. All the best.
Lurker #234,842
August 14th, 2007 at 6:37 am
Robert
You are who (what?) you are. It can seem like “all or nothing”, but there HAS to be middle ground amongst it all, surely. Balance is the key. Be sure to share the secret when you find it :) Be happy
August 14th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Dude, you will be missed, but you know best when you need to take a break. We’ll leave a light on for you, not to quote a hotel ad or anything intentionally.
August 14th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Cheers and all the best, Robert, on your well-deserved break. We’ll be glad to welcome you back when you’re ready. - Maria
August 14th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Just do what u love. The rest dont matter. Take some time off. Do what u want, then come back and do what you want with ‘YOUR’ site. If anything at all.
Just dont let the ‘bastards’ grind u down to the point where it gets to u cause at the end of day what valley wag say or A’listers (who are they) will be just google web history the next day. What you held in your arms is improtant for the next day and the day after. That is the stuff that makes world changes.
oh and enjoy the peace and quiet before your new little one appears on the scene cause u wont have this time again probably not for another 18 years :-).
P.S Make Sure you got a ton of hard drives, SD memory cards, DVD’s and a lot of bandwidth and $$$ for hosting cause once mini scoble arrives, you will be posting like crazy on flickr etc etc.
That is blogging
August 14th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I just read this post for the first time.
“Anyway, have a great week and while I’m not blogging I’d love it if you left some ideas on things you’d like me to learn for when I get back.”
I think you should quit blogging actually.
20 straight posts on facebook should have been the breaking point but you went on.
If you come back, don’t blog as much, and make the posts quality posts rather than quantity. You said you were going to the gym, you obviously didn’t and chose to keep compulsively blogging instead. I on the other hand did go to the gym and lost 20 pounds so far.
1 blog post per week with good content is better than 20 unedited raw videos that look like the subject took themselves with a handi-cam.
Well, there’s my opinion. I bet you’re sorry you asked for them now.
August 14th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Take good care, Robert.
I wish you the best.
We should all focus on making the world better (especially me!)
http://flickr.com/photos/blogumentary/336471728/
August 14th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
[...] Scoble is walking away from blogging? [...]
August 14th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
[...] If you’re a fan of tech blogs, you’ve probably already heard that Robert Scoble is taking a break from blogging and Twittering, until he can ‘add value’ again. [...]
August 14th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
[...] a personal journal, you have chosen to enter the public life. After hearing about Robert Scoble taking a blogging break over this weekend’s dust up, I thought I’d take a look at this [...]
August 14th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Robert, I have found much value in your various methods of posting be it tiwtter, blogging, vblogging, facebook, etc. You make sense and have opened my eyes to many things and technology that I might never have found. I always enjoy your posts but have also found it hard to keep up at times. I often wonder, how in the world does Scoble have so much time and energy to do everything that you seem to do in a day and then wish I had half that much! Anyway, everyone gets burned out and needs a break and by your post, it sounds like you’re doing the right thing. Take care and I look forward following(not stalking) you once you return.
August 14th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
We need a better way to filter blogs than RSS readers and Blog Search Engines. I hope for Digg that their upcomming Story Suggest feature will feature some good mathematics to filter the quality and give a good reason for people to spend time digging stories. I guess what I’m looking for is an algorithm like http://thoof.com that automatically filters my RSS feed readers list, I really think it can be done automatically, cause browsing through the complete combined waterfall mode of Google Reader is confusing.
August 14th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Hi, Robert.
I have been enjoying your blog, and learning a lot. I got a such a kick out of your enthusiasm over the iPhone - it was as good as owning one myself. You are fun to read because of your passion.
Take care. Best wishes, whatever you are doing.
August 14th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
April 9th 2006, Scoble says “I’m taking a break from blogging” http://scobleizer.com/2006/04/09/blog-break-time/
Next post occurs April 15th. Break time= 5 days.
May 26th 2006, after the passing of his mother, Scoble says he’s taking a “week off” to “ponder”. Says he will see us on or about June 4th.
http://scobleizer.com/2006/05/26/the-questioning-of-career-life-family-love-follows-grief-taking-a-week-off-of-blogging/
Next post is on May 29th. Total “pondering” time? 2 days.
Aug 3 2006, “off the grid” on some boondoggle to Montana. Stays “off” a total of 2 days. Then on his way back, in a rare show of fortitude, he keeps his word and is off a week. Aug 9-13, 2006.
Dec 22, 2006, 11:12 am says in a post he is “off until Tuesday
http://scobleizer.com/2006/12/22/one-more-post/
then posts at 5:18 the same day, followed by keeping his word and not posting until following Tuesday. Half credit for fortitude.
March 26, 2007, in a show of support for Sierra committs to “taking a week off” http://scobleizer.com/2006/12/22/one-more-post/
Scoble’s definition of week turns out to be 4 days.
I’m doubling down on this “break” lasting 4 days.
August 14th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Although I do not like the self loathing perspective of this post, I must add that your story about you and your son walking around with his new iPhone taking walking photo tours inspired me to do the same with my 7 year old daughter and we had a wonderful day. We plan to do it again at other locations. Her with her camera and me with mine.
So you do add value.
Chuck
August 14th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I’ve read here and there what people are saying about Robert and about this post, and I’d just like to add one thing to the conversation…
When blogging started, people were enthralled with its raw honesty, its “nakedness” as Robert’s book well described it. It seemed so liberating. No stuffy “professionalism.”
What people forgot, or never knew, is that professionalism wasn’t created as an arbitrary set of rules imposed from above to squelch people’s enjoyment of work. “Being professional” was created ad hoc, so that people could work together effectively. Professional standards of personal conduct were imposed to to stop tension, upset, anger, drama, even violence.
Now all that protection is gone, at least online.
In a perfect world, bloggers could be as open and free as they want to be and as most of their audience enjoys them being, but we all know that this isn’t a perfect world. There will always be the hateful few who go out of their way to cause upset, which leads to anger and more upset, and around and around we go.
The Wild, Wild West had to be tamed by force because too many people were getting hurt. I contend that if we don’t want rules imposed on us, then we should each impose standards of conduct on ourself. If you don’t like the words “being professional” then let’s think of some other way to describe this time-tested standard of personal conduct and teach people what the heck it really means.
Here’s a down and dirty list of what being professional means:
1) Do not manipulate others with dishonesty
2) Keep your word and follow through on commitments
3) Be respectful but don’t act too friendly, unless you truly mean to make the person a real friend
4) Avoid getting too personal
5) Don’t take advantage of people, but make every transaction or encounter as win-win as possible.
Heaven knows I’ve been far from professional online at times. Many times. I for one am rethinking that. Despite the stuffy, old-fashioned name, professionalism is a good standard to keep.
I’m going to work to figure out the line for #4.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:34 pm
it’s all empty and meaningless… it’s the stories we add to things that create the discussion, the angst, the depression … but: letting go? that is enlightenment. and, if you ask me, the core of 2.0 … no more facetious “control” … no worry that the truth will not come out eventually … no need to try to force-fit a single thing. we create our futures, not react to them. anyone thinking differently, you gotta strain your neck to see these days … anyone worth seeing that is…..
August 14th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
[...] quality content on the other, is just too great for most mortal humans. Witness the recent flaming-out of the proto-blogger (and new media mogul) himself, Robert Scoble. (Not to speak badly of [...]
August 15th, 2007 at 12:07 am
Hi Robert,
I have read or scanned many of the 102 notes above. They are largely really supportive, caring and heartfelt. Your writing about Steve Ball’s daughter and your coming baby resonated with people and touched them.
I am reminded of an article I read last night in People magazine(ok, I confess, it’s an escape! but hey, it’s easy to read at the gym) about Elizabeth Edwards: “We spend our lives weaving a tapestry of sorts. The largest ribbons are our family and closest friends. The other people we weave in are what gives our life its texture and its strength. And when life takes a wrong turn — as it will for all of us — that tapestry becomes a blanket we wrap around us.”
I think your broader community here is offering a very warm and protective blanket. Take that support and whatever time you need to find out what really matters to you now, and enjoy your baby.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:20 am
Robert,
I am impressed by the level of understanding and support these 102 comments above mine show. I think what you wrote about Steve Ball’s daughter and your unborn son resonated with people, brought us all back to what really matters.
From a new chaper to her book, by Elizabeth Edwards: “We spend our lives weaving a tapestry of sorts. The largest ribbons are our family and closest friends. The other people we weave in are what gives our life its texture and its strength. And when life takes a wrong turn– as if will for all of us — that tapestry becomes a blanket we can wrap around us. As I have so many times.”
So take this beautiful blanket of understanding that people are creating, take as long as you want to find out what you really want to do, and enjoy and love your new baby.
August 15th, 2007 at 1:20 am
[...] Scoble is taking a break. And while I have never met the guy or had a conversation with him, I feel as if I know a little [...]
August 15th, 2007 at 1:49 am
1) Don’t risk connecting with another human being
2) Avoid passion; be moderate
3) Make rules and follow them
4) Don’t be spontaneous
5) Be serious at all times
August 15th, 2007 at 2:47 am
@Dawn D:
4) a void pretending to get too personal.
August 15th, 2007 at 7:03 am
well.. ok
August 15th, 2007 at 7:19 am
I appreciate the sentiment. I take back all the bad things i’ve said.
I write a somewhat nasty blog but I think the point of it all, like most cynicism, is that life is pretty good theres just a lot of bad stuff that gets in the way sometimes.
I think it’s best to remember that being cynical is healthy, but don’t lose the plot. Be selective about what you’re cynical about.
Be cynical about a site like valleywag for instance, where underneath its rebel tone, it’s very much apart of the austere “personality” of the silicon valley itself.
But its necessary. With all the egos and sycophants in the silicon valley and in tech itself, it’s nice to see someone who is in it and not of it.
I think maybe thats what valleywag was going for in it inception and sort of lost the plot too.
Even if people are pompous a-holes, they are still people and their feelings get hurt, and sometimes they change.
I dunno.
I’d like to see you ask more web and tech people how their products improve people’s lives, if at all.
August 15th, 2007 at 7:22 am
I just read Dawn D.’s blog. Now I get it. Robert is quitting because Valleywag pulled an enquirer on him.
Well, Valleywag obviously won this war.
Though I think him stopping blogging is ultimately for the best. Who would like to see Robert do real journalism?
Can he?
I’m not even sure, but I think he should give it a try.
August 15th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Value,
In order for me to except something as having value, it must give me something, knowledge, power, information, status, or money. This I assume, is the same for everybody. You have a strong following of thousands of people, and one thing I learned about the world of blogging , is that it has a very short memory. If you do not keep the interest alive, you will wither and die.
Given these little perls, maybe it is not you that is failing in giving value, but the blogging world in not giving you value, you did hold this up to some high expectations.
You have shown the world who you are and what you belive, and the world (blogging that is) told you what they thought of it.
I have to say, that when I can, I enjoy your point of view and ubnique slant on things, I do not agree with some of your antics (politics are bad), but it is who you are.
At the end of the day, it does not matter that when you put 3 people in a discussion, they will not agree.
You are still one of my favorite bloggers and the comments you receive are interesting to read in themselves.
I agree with Shel, go take a walk and smell the provibable flowers.
Guy
August 15th, 2007 at 8:55 am
The more I read, the more I think this is disingenuous. Robert has a knack for playing the crowd. Is this really the Rolling Stones, err. Ozzy, err Robert’s last tour???
116 responses, he got his value out of this. I give it a month tops. I wonder why it took me so long to figure it out.
At any rate, we have a new video up on the BCS home page, so click “Chris” the link below my post if you want to see what I do every day.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:31 am
[...] I Expect Robert Scoble’s Sabbatical To End By The End of The Week August 15th, 2007 at 12:31 pm It must be hard for a professional blogger like Robert Scoble. Working fairly flexible hours, getting to write about, shoot video about, and otherwise co-mingle and hob-nob in, a field you love, all the while getting paid for it. Now, I’m trying not to sound as cranky, cantankerous, jaded and jaundiced, as I probably do, but I’m failing. Robert Scoble is taking another break from blogging because he’s gotten disillusioned from the seeming triviality of it all. [...]
August 15th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Robert seems to be channeling Dave Winer. Quick, call an exorcist.
August 15th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Funny… I stopped reading your feed (and quite a few others) the day before you stopped posting (this time).
With so much stuff out there, it’s very hard to find a balance between those who post too much, post too little, or do/don’t add enough value. Simply linking to something that I wouldn’t have otherwise seen (and am interested in) adds value in and of itself. But I’ve found that the vast majority of the feed I have used don’t do that, nor do they add commentary that is particularly valuable.
Your videos on the other hand are quite good, some of them (like the IBM lawyer, excellent), so I guess I need to figure out how to monitor them (I’ll still pass on the photo-walkings, and you standing in line for Apple products etc.)
Keep up the GOOD work.
August 15th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
I like your emotional honesty in this post. A lot of tech blogs all have the same tone…a sort of “know it all” or “trying to be different but not up myself” tone. They give a competitive and unemotional tinge to the world of modern day technology. By revealing the truest of your emotions, you remind us that we are HUMAN…we have soft places, very soft places within ourselves where we experience the joy of life and learning, and the beauty of just paring back and considering what’s really important! The life within, babies, families…then the other stuff comes second.
August 15th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
[...] what’s this all about? Well, a few days ago, after having trash coming at him from all angles, he announced he was taking time off of blogging an… and that he didn’t want to come back until he felt he had something to add value to the [...]
August 16th, 2007 at 12:27 am
Well said LayZ. Milan/Patrick/Maryam or something else does not matter to Robert Scoble as he cannot gets his hands off his blog.
August 16th, 2007 at 12:28 am
This has probably already been said - I’m an example of the problem. Blogs should be about conversation - when we don’t really listen we don’t have a conversation. We start shouting.
Argument rather than discourse.
For what it’s worth Robert, I’ve enjoyed your work - was concerned that you were getting into too many rows lately and can tell you from experience becoming a father will change you.
Perhaps this post about identity will offer something?:
http://fasterfuture.blogspot.com/2007/08/i-am-part-of-community-therefore-i-am.html
August 16th, 2007 at 1:02 am
[...] Scoble recently announced that he is taking a sabbatical from blogging. Within this article he talks about holding a friend’s 19-day-old baby in his arms and asking [...]
August 16th, 2007 at 6:11 am
“Well said LayZ. Milan/Patrick/Maryam or something else does not matter to Robert Scoble as he cannot gets his hands off his blog.”
What about him going to the gym to lose weight?
He never did that either apparently because of his blogging.
Every single person in our office goes to the gym every day now after work. No one in our office wastes time blogging. Blogging is a TERRIBLE policy for employees. It wastes time and it accomplishes nothing.
http://www.beercosoftware.com
August 16th, 2007 at 6:16 am
[...] ‘work’?) Daniel took the liberty of Simpsonizing some A-list bloggers — and a now former A-list blogger. The SEOmoz team also Simpsonized themselves on Monday. It’s been really interesting to see [...]
August 16th, 2007 at 6:23 am
Hey Robert! We’ll miss you this week.
You know what I think you need? A trip to Yosemite. Or anywhere outdoors. Just unplug for a few days. I always find that nature brings me back down to earth.
August 16th, 2007 at 10:29 am
[...] family and videos. It doesn’t say he’s never going to blog again. Read it in his words: Scolbe Goes Dark… If you like this post, please digg it:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where [...]