Thanks for mentioning my name. I’m humbled. You know, I never cease to amaze at how fine people like Joel wanted to help others so much. In essence life is not the money and fame, it is the web of relations that nurture our inner soul. It is our desire to contribute to the goodwill of others. Mare is right that blog has provided that platform to all of us and I’m glad that I’ve stumbled upon such a great tool.

@Sara: I know what you mean - though admittedly I still open comments with trepidation. Not so much here where everybody is warm and fuzzy, but the larger sites where I write can have some harsh comments.

I’m definitely for more unobtrusive methods, as you mention. Comments and emails don’t require me to guess someone’s mood on the fly with few sensory clues. And Vered and Marelisa rule.

@Vered: No worries - I only speak the truth here It’s unfortunate where we all have to use a word because it’s the standard, even though it’s cold and stiff and just a label applied by someone who wants to make it sound like something more fancy than what it truly is. Building relationships.

I too dislike the term “networking”, although I do use it. You are right: it is stiff and COLD.

Online social interaction is at least as important to me as writing.

Oh, and if you hadn’t helped me with my footer my copyright notice would still be floating around on the right side bar of my blog :-)

Twitter really is the “watercooler of the internet,” isn’t it? It’s almost begun to sound cliched, but most cliches are true.