---------- SEE BELOW THIS POST FOR UPDATE ----------

- This blog will take a turn I think, from now.

I have begun my research into the effects of blogging on society in general, which is to be used for many university assignments in the future. I do not know where it will lead me, but I know it will probably take much of the time and space devoted to this blog from my life.

This does not mean the blog will be any less active, or deal any less with the issues that concern me, rather it means I will delve deeper into the blogosphere, particularly the Iraqi blogosphere to find out who the bloggers really are, and why we really write.

I intend to start with a few simple questions, from which my research will begin.

The first questions will be:


[olivebranch]'s Blog Research Questions:
please e-mail answers to: lukey@iinet.net.au

Blog name:
Blog Address:
Blog Alias:
E-mail Address:

Q1)
What drives you to post on your blog, and what do you feel afterwards?


Q2)
Have you become more knowledgeable as a result of participating in the blogosphere?
- in what ways?


Q3)
What has changed in your life as a result of participating in the blogosphere?


Q4)
What emotions do you associate with reading blogs?


Q5)
What emotions do you associate with writing blogs?


Q6)
What emotions do you associate with other bloggers?


Q7)
Has participating in the blogosphere improved your quality of life?


Q8)
Have you found true friends in the blogosphere?


Q9)
How did these people become your friends, and why is their friendship important to you?


Q10)
What other questions should have been included in this survey, or would you like to add any other relevant or unrelevant comments?



[UPDATEd BELOW THIS LINE- 1:20pm Thursday October 20]

People had some questions to ask when I posted these questions, so here are my answers to emigre, hopefully they will answer some of your questions too

I am studying a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Information. Major in Print Journalism(I want to be a freelance some day when I am old =-)), Minor in creative writing.

and I have an assignment for a "research methods" class,
and I wanted to do research into the Iraqi Blogosphere, so I sat down and asked myself a few questions.


I said-

How can I relate this question to the Iraqi blogosphere? - the question says - pick a technological development in field of media,comm,information, discuss its impact on society.

my brain instantly chose blogs as my choice, and I have since found lots of ways to do the assignment. But that assignment is due tommorow, and I do not have to do any new research for it- because I already know why and how and who it has impacted, and why and how and who it hasn't.

but writing that assignment inspired me. Speaking with Khalid and Sunshine and Najma on a regular basis did too.
I find the Iraqi women and people to be of great wisdom and often great intellect- and it captivates me.

I will do a run down of roughly how I remember each question being formed, or why they were important questions to me anyway...

Q1)What drives you to post on your blog, and what do you feel afterwards?
- I think blogging is done for many different reasons, but I think some common factors will arise, the desire to make a difference, the desire to be heard, the drive for the truth and the search for friendship
[These are almost my answers to the questions aswell- they were what I knew before I formed the questions]

Q2)Have you become more knowledgeable as a result of participating in the blogosphere?
- in what ways?

My opinions on the Iraq invasion changed greatly by reading blogs like Iraq The Model, Sunshine's & Mama's blogs. Originally I did not think it possible that Iraqi's would want USA to invade, but many did. I was against the whole thing- but mostly because I know how crooked the US, AUS and BRITISH gov'ts are, being an Aussie. I now think that the invasion could have had positive outcomes, and still can- but the likelihood of it happening changed day by day. - sometimes I don't know what I believe anymore.

Q3)What has changed in your life as a result of participating in the blogosphere?

This one is aimed at people like Sunshine, The Jarrar Family and others who have had charitable acts or things they physically required - like the Asthma inhalers I sent to Sunshine, or the 2 lots of Medical Aid the Jarrar's organized through their blogs.

This is a practical application of blogs, that in the past was never even possible. A stranger could not pop-up and say "I can get those inhalers, they are perscription, but I am an asthmatic and used to be on them!" - then send them across the globe from Perth to Mosul, in the past.

These are the things I am searching for...

Q4) What emotions do you associate with reading blogs?

Just want to see if others are similar to me------ Anger, Frustration, Sadness, Depression, Optimism, Happiness and Hope.

Q5) What emotions do you associate with writing blogs?


kinds of like the above, only more often I write when I am : Angry, Frustrated, Happy, Hopeful, Optimistic, Inspired, Relieved and Thankfull.

<>Q6)What emotions do you associate with other bloggers?

- I associate love, fear, regret and despair with other bloggers- and I think this question is important to see just how deep the connections between bloggers are. I truely do feel fear for many of my friends, and indeed love for a few. Despair is not uncommon as you would know in the Iraqi Blogosphere- and the regret is something I feel when I am unable to help...
<>Q7)Has participating in the blogosphere improved your quality of life?

Well, it has myn, and it certainly has for Sunshine & Mama. Both now have friends to turn to in an otherwise extremely isolated situation... My life- I no longer feel like I can't make a difference. I make a difference everyday on a small scale, and I have potentially saved Sunshine's life.


Q8)Have you found true friends in the blogosphere?

Important questions. Can we find true friends in the blogosphere? Can it be used as a way to unite people around the world? How strong can these friendships truely be? Can we all overcome social boundries and ethnic/cultural difference?

I hope we can. It could change the world.

Q9)How did these people become your friends, and why is their friendship important to you?

Sunshine is my friend, and thats kind of obvious. Najma I just enjoyed reading, Khalid I spoke to on msn for a long time.

They are all important to me, because they provide me inspiration, wisdom and joy. They allow me to think I can make a difference, and give me a lot of self-satisfaction. In effect they are important to me, because they let me be important to them.

Q10) What other questions should have been included in this survey, or would you like to add any other relevant or unrelevant comments?

- I don't know where I am headed with this research, and I am hoping you will all show me with your answers and questions....

The research is almost purely for advancing my own knowledge and my own ability to make decisions about what I believe in, what I can say in arguments and know I am correct... I do not like to speculate anymore, especially when trying to change the world for the better.

I get people argue with me about things often, and sometimes I can not make up my own mind.

This is my search for answers which will allow me to form my own opinions, and question others better.

--- hope this helps you understand me :)
[olivebranch]

Luke(y)