Moby Dick and Metadata

Since returning from my mission, I've struggled finding the balance of continuing to share the gospel, without being too preachy or over-zealous. Our conversations in class and the recent conversation within the Church has really sparked my interest into how digital tools can allow us to share the gospel in a manner that is very warm and approachable.  Lots of efforts are already being made to educate others in how to share the gospel online, as well as efforts to go ahead and start sharing!  Throughout this semester, I've come to realize the necessity of connecting with others. Sharing doesn't amount to much if you're not sharing it with the right group and making connections with those that share your passions. In regards to the LDS community, I believe that metadata will be a key component of efforts really taking off and significant progress being made. If those already invested in this work cannot connect with each other and cannot be found by those searching, it will not amount to much.

Moby Dick is one of the larger books I've read lately, and if I'm being honest, it was sometimes extremely difficult to remember everything I read and where it was found.  Yet the book is methodically organized, with short chapters and the heading describing what is contained-tedious as that topic may be. Melville writes, "What then remains? Nothing but to take hold of the whales bodily, in their entire liberal volume, and boldly sort them that way. And this is the Bibliographical system here adopted; and it is the only one that can possibly succeed, for it alone is practicable" (ch. 32). Just as Melville sorted through his narrative the same way a whale is sorted through, so must we sort through the information we share about our religious beliefs.  Through the use of labels, titles, hashtags, etc. the content shared by members of the Church can be more easily recognized for what it is. As the parts are more easily recognized, so will the whole, or the larger whale. Without the smaller parts being extremely clear as to their function and purpose, it will not point people towards the larger goal.

The beauty of metadata is that it is a way of curating and gathering information that can continue on. There is no limit, the information can continue to evolve and expand. Melville shares similar thoughts, "Finally: It was stated at the outset, that this system would not be here, and at once, perfected. You cannot but plainly see that I have kept my word. But I now leave my cetological System standing thus unfinished, even as the great Cathedral of Cologne was left, with the crane still standing upon the top of the uncompleted tower. For small erections may be finished by their first architects; grand ones, true ones, ever leave the copestone to posterity. God keep me from ever completing anything. This whole book is but a drought-nay but the draught of a draught. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!"

This is a momentous moment for missionary work for the LDS Church. Leaders of the Church recognize that this is a process that will continue to change, and will not be perfected or completed soon. We must make sure that our initial structures, as the first architects, are stable structures upon which others can build. Instead of millions forming new structures, we need to group together and build upon that which already stands.  I believe that the use of metadata and of using various curation tools to link these various sites and people together will help hasten the work in a very powerful and necessary way.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on how metadata can strengthen and spark collaborations, especially in regards to missionary work!

Midterm #1

My posts for the course so far:

 Hi. I'm Lizy
My introductory blog post.
What's In a Tail?
 Immersion in print versus online.
Me and my Memes
 Memes
I'd Like an Excuse to Post More Memes
 The significance of Memes--Dr. Burton suggested I look into that further. I think I might find a way to tie in memes to my final project. Memes can be very specific to people who are immersed in certain fandoms/cultural groups and have read certain texts.
 Worth Whaling About?
 Real whales, whaling, and our attitude towards the environment. Also posing the question, Is it true that all the information you can find in a book can be more easily found online? Is the reverse true?
The Two-Edged Sword
 The benefits and drawbacks of the use of social media, as evidenced in a Case Study
Another Success Story 
 How fans of Stephanie Nielson's blog reached out to her in a time of need.
Seeing the Good
 Changing my views on the purpose of video games.
 Lizy's Affidavit
Or, proof that Dr. Burton's theory about social proof actually works.
Post-Moby Stress Disorder
Questions about the cultural significance of Moby-Dick and the significance of the white whale. Also, questions about how deeply immersed I am in the story.

I'm seeing a theme of immersion emerging here. I'm not very engaged with digital culture in general, but I am interested in how individuals and societies become immersed in print culture, digital culture, and other media.  Thanks to the information available on the internet, people can become immersed in any topic they chose and discover how to research and recreate their interests.  Not only that, they can use the internet to reach out to other people with similar interests and collaborate in creating larger projects and in gathering to discuss their issues in person.  Significantly, we see this trend occuring in fandoms at events such as comic-cons.

So how deeply can one become immersed in an interest? How does this immersion manifest itself for individuals, in public and across the internet? And how does this affect perception of reality? Is the internet a part of reality, or is it a different reality altogether? Are video games a reality? Books? Physically, yes, these things take up space, but like the TARDIS in Dr. Who they are much, much bigger on the inside than they are on the outside (disclaimer: for the record, I'm not officialy a Dr Who fan, but I have enough Whovian friends to know what I'm talking about when I make this allusion). As technology gets smaller, conversely the world gets bigger. How is this possible? Is this a reflection of how the human mind works?

And considering the similarity to my questions and those being asked by Greg about the depths of reality and virtual reality, I do think I ought to consider collaborating with him.