Pic taken at the Museum of Science and Industryin Chicago on 12/24/06
Thanks for all the comments. As pointed out, my ‘age posting’ was the most commented posting in Modern Uberdox history. Well, the average age of my readers is 38.4 years old. I really am surprised that it’s so close to my own age (36). With that being said, the results were not what I expected.
Originally I had hoped that my blog survey would highlight blogs as a kind of a bridge between generations of Jews. In theory, this was a nice idea. It would have added another positive aspect of Jblogging to the mix. The best bridge between generations is our Torah.
Jblogs are a great vehicle for yidden to have an opportunity to read other views on different hashkafos (read legitimate forms of avodas hashem). In a way Jblogs do help some generations understand what frum people deal with and what is on our collective mind.
Originally I had hoped that my blog survey would highlight blogs as a kind of a bridge between generations of Jews. In theory, this was a nice idea. It would have added another positive aspect of Jblogging to the mix. The best bridge between generations is our Torah.
Jblogs are a great vehicle for yidden to have an opportunity to read other views on different hashkafos (read legitimate forms of avodas hashem). In a way Jblogs do help some generations understand what frum people deal with and what is on our collective mind.
I did find something that I thought was interesting, although I’m curious if it applies to other blogs besides mine. I realized that I have very few readers who fall into the Baby Boom generation (those born between 1943 to 1960).
I’ve got a majority of Gen Xers, a few Millennials and 6 or 7 readers who are at the edge of baby boomers and the Silent Generation who just turned 60.
I’ve got a majority of Gen Xers, a few Millennials and 6 or 7 readers who are at the edge of baby boomers and the Silent Generation who just turned 60.
What happened to the readers between the ages of 42-60?Are the Baby Boomers simply busier with families and careers? Are they inclined to use the web mostly for business related matters? (I know I have a lot of questions)
I look around and wonder who is successfully doing the fundraising for our institutions? Who is spearheading chessed campaigns and projects? Is it the Gen Xer? Eventually it will be. Those who are being honored at yeshiva and communal dinners are mostly the Baby Boomers. To me they seem to be at the head of communal involvement.
Blogging is fun. I enjoy writing and the allure of having an audience gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling, I admit. But I have found myself thinking even before I posted my Question for JBloggers, does my blogging comes at the expense of my own personal involvement within my Jewish community?
Is it the Baby Boomers who haven’t picked up on the medium of blogs or do they know something that I don’t? Time will tell. For now, I continue to write and hopefully will get more involved off-line, as well. Thanks for reading.
If anyone is interested in reading more about generations and their impact on history I suggest anything by William Strauss and Neil Howe or check out fourthturning.com.
Interesting. I am not surprised though, as the majority of people who “live” online, and especially those that blog are those that have spend their early adult life (or even teen years for some of the younger ones) on “the web”. The 42-60 crowd has spent a large part of their adult life without ever owning a computer, thus never got “addicted” as those younger than them.
True. I figured I wouldn’t have too many Boomers to begin with, but other blogs might attract them.
See Emes Veumnah for e.g he has a terrific(and very popular) blog and my guess is that his age is between 50-60.
Why do you recommend that book? …just curious.
Rabbi Maryles posted his age
Fourth Turning give a historical overview of different generations and patterns that can be found within history.
If anything, my blogging has gotten me more involved in my local community.
Intersting. Maybe there is a silver lining!
Hey, Neil,
I’m 57 and read your great blog, among others.
By the way, a lot of this boomer stuff is a media fantasy, “history as we would have liked it to have happened”.
Any idea why more boomers don’t blog?
TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG, THAT IS THE REAL QUESTION. PEOPLE ARE BUSY..WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? DOES IT REALLY MATTER?
“Neil Harris said…
Any idea why more boomers don’t blog?”
I have no real clue. Possible reasons for individuals not blogging could include:
1. Bored or offended by blogs read earlier.
2. Higher priorities.
3. Lack of free time.
4. Nothing to say.
5. Addicted to drugs or TV.