I think it’s time to explain my own tagging practice.
Why I tag?
1. Because I’m looking for something to hang my passion on. I read, gist, and tag because I’m always on the look out for something to really care about; something that’s so compelling that it could stop me tagging!
2. I like spotting connections. Looking at things in different ways is fun. It feels vaguely creative to analyse information and fit it into themes, both contemporary and old. Building your own linked library seems to me a valuable skill. I think having that skill will become increasingly important to knowledge workers. I want to stay ahead.
3. I want you to know exactly what interests me. I can only read and tag so much. My own personal filter for the world’s information is, I believe, an honest reflection of what information I value and I’d like to share my developing understanding of the world in a quiet, passive manner.
4. I not completely engaged in my day job. Nor do I expect to be. I tag stuff to remind myself of what I’ve done, what I (vaguely) hoped for, and as a way of nagging myself to stay focused on finding a passion. I tag articles featuring good advice, for example. I think every tagger and blogger would rather be working on their own projects. I think most people are wasted sitting at desks in both large and small companies. Tagging gives me some me time – and besides, in my line of work, I need to know ‘what’s going on’ – right?
5. I’m a procrastinator who needs to feel in control of ’something’ – anything! I find it difficult to motivate myself to do certain types of work. Tagging helps me to DO something, even if it’s not the task at hand. There’s so much information pumped out daily and I feel panic at the thought of missing out on new interesting stuff. Tagging: typing tags and writing gists/short summaries, gives me a feeling control over both external and internal chaos.
6. I’m competitive and I enjoy lists and counts. I enjoy looking at my bookmark count and tag clouds. (Very vain.) I also enjoy looking at other taggers I admire and trying to find new bookmarks that they don’t yet have, or tagging existing one’s more comprehensively. Of course, I like sharing, but there’s an element of showing off in that, too. I also like having an up-to-the-minute insiders view. Again, very vain and a little bit delusional. I’m only human after all.
7. I want to surround myself with people who are smarter than me and who share similar interests. Nuff said, really.
Probably a few more; that’s enough for now.
