Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Day 2: Faults Begin to Emerge

Today I began to realize some faults that my blogrimage has. First of all, I've realized that its easier to talk to strangers that are serving you, because they are being paid to be nice to you. Asking a Starbucks barista my blogrimage question is easier than asking a reading Starbucks customer, but the barista will give you a short answer and there isn't much opportunity for follow up. I think I need to make a rule to not ask anyone who is currently working. Also, I'm beginning to see that this question will get old really quick unless I can give the time necessary to really listen to people. The situation I'm faced with is that I want to get better answers, but I don't want to invest the time, when the only way I will get better answers is to invest the time to listen. So thats where were at.

Today I asked the Event Coordinator of Colorado Springs Christian School (CSCS) what she would do if she knew she couldn't fail. She said that she would do something she currently knows she would fail at. When I asked her my carefully crafted follow up question, "Like what?" she responded, "Like flying a spaceship, or climbing Mount Everest or something like that." Wow, well um...thats uh...interesting. If I'm getting bored of writing about this on the 2nd day, I certainly don't blame you for being bored reading it.

This blogrimage needs a dose of cayenne and quickly! Here are some things I'm considering:

-Have a list of certain types of people that I need to ask within the 30 days. For instance within the 30 days I have to ask a homeless person, a police officer, a single mother, an atheist, a high level public official, someone drunk, and an orthodox priest. I will finalize the list tomorrow.

-Along those lines, I will be asking the hardest to reach person that I can possibly contact within 30 days. They could be a CEO, Senator, President, Dutch Sheets...who knows!

Please comment any suggestions you have for how I can spice up my blogrimage! Stay tuned...

6 comments:

  1. I find myself wanting to know why they want to fly a spaceship or why they want to be a senator or climb Mount Everest. So It would be cool to elaborate a little on the whys and why dont they do it? Thats what was going through my mind as I read your blogs. I like your thinking though and trying to get deeper with it instead of just giving up on it so good stuff bro. I'm pumped to read their answers!!

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  2. :) Well, I've been enjoying it, but good for you for wanting something more!

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  3. I like the list of people you gotta find--especially hard to reach people.

    It'd be interesting if you filmed it.

    What if you had a jar of really hard and personal questions, and they randomly drew one out and had to answer whatever is chosen.

    Or give them a time minimum. Tell them to talk for a minimum of two minutes in order to answer your question properly (use a stop watch).

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  4. I like Pradeepan's jar idea - it just might intrigue people and get them loosened up for some talking. Maybe they get to ask you one question in return?

    On another note: I need help. I am stuck on dial-up internet and restricted to facebook lite which doesn't let me access groups (like 30-day blogrimage) or post links to my profile. My hands are a bit tied for interacting with this fun little community. If you have time to check my blog and post a daily link to the group page for me, I would be deeply obliged. If you have any other suggestions, I am certainly open. Thanks Joe! It's fun to hear from you again.

    Keep blogrimating!

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  5. Joe - i find your blog VERY entertaining and interesting. I like the idea of a specific group of people. Also, I wrote for a newspaper once and had to interview people. A seasoned old reporter gave me some advice: Use the phrase, "How so?" (if it makes sense in the convo). That makes people stop and think, and it opens them up to more than a yes or no response. THEY HAVE TO EXPLAIN. lol. Have fun bro!

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  6. Joe! Keep up the work, I really feel that you are on to something here :) Like the list of people idea and the jar of random personal questions sounds like it would be fun for something like; a once a week excursion to downtown, Colorado City, Manitou Springs or even Denver for that matter! Filmed and primed by ready made follow-up questions that get to the heart of matters

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