Digital bohemians at BlogWalkEleven

It was nice to be back in Holland, to enjoy the nice weather in Amsterdam, jog in the Vondelpark with my host Martien and talk with people at BlogWalkEleven. Thanks a lot Ton, Sebastian and Lilia for organising this event! It was great to talk to people I know and haven't seen for ages (but it doesn't matter, we keep up to date through the blogging) and meeting new people. Look at the pictures of Elmine to get an idea of the day. Apparently I was not the only one who needed inspiration, reading Ana's (almost poetic) posting:

the blogwalk last friday was my latest best escape from the over and over declared boredom of going to a place where my brain dies every day a little more, in this office at the end of the world, in a very crowded and non touristy area of bucharest

The theme of the Eleventh BlogWalk was "Digital Bohemians". I don't exactly know what they are, have a vague picture. Before the meeting I was afraid that people would have a rather romantic, idealistic view of  digital bohemians and remain in high spheres in discussing it. I was glad that in the morning (more brainstorming) session I didn't need to be afraid. I walked around, chatted here and there, not always directly about theme but interesting anyway, and once in a while I wrote down something on a Post-it Note (Ton took the effort to put them in the wiki). This is the inspiring part of the Open Space Method, as is central in BlogWalks.

More chatting at lunch in the CS Post building, followed by a guided tour through Amsterdam by Bicycle Mark. Maybe we were tired in the afternoon, but in the discussion part I had the feeling the enthusiasm slowed down. Most people, same as I, had no clear picture of a digital bohemian. Sebastian told it came from a (German) book, situated in Berlin, working independent and meeting the world through Internet. Or is it more a mindset, as Gabriela suggests:

I guess this bohemianship is more a state of mind than anything else: flocking together at such unconferences on our own expense seems to be one of the features; having a digital lifestyle, trying to keep in touch with what's going on, being open to try new things are some of the others.

So are we digital bohemians? I think most of us are not, maybe more in our minds than in our daily life, as in the description of the Goethe-Institut. But I certainly believe there is a generation coming that is grown up with the new media (as we are not, we learned to use them, which is not the same) and will work and live in a different way. The way we work is according old, traditional patterns.

As for the BlogWalk, I agree with Ton in his reflections that a BlogWalk doesn't need more structure. Maybe in the discussion we could have used more the Post-it notes to guide the conversation. I didn't have much time to read them that day - besides that, they were the results of an inspiring morning.

Well, keep on walking - I'm off for a run!

Comments

[Leonardo Mora]

As I always say, definitions are key. 1. a native or inhabitant of Bohemia.
2. (usually lowercase) a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices.
3. the Czech language, esp. as spoken in Bohemia.
4. a Gypsy.
–adjective
5. of or pertaining to Bohemia, its people, or their language.
6. (usually lowercase) pertaining to or characteristic of the unconventional life of a bohemian.
7. living a wandering or vagabond life, as a Gypsy.

Non I would say apply to a blogger at this point.

Leonardo

[Ana]

Nice definition Leonardo!
But I think we shouldn't be so strict with the words, otherwise we could get lost among all definitions and lose any sense of reality.

[Elmine Wijnia]

Lovely thoughts Carla. Glad you had an inspiring day. And it was lovely seeing you again :-)

[Ana]

Thanks for the explanation!
Amsterdam and the blogwalking were a really great combination.
Paris would also be a good place to enjoy the next drink and the nice discussions.
Or how about the Chaos Communication Camp in August?

[Carla]

Thanks for your definition, Leonardo! I think I had the second one in mind. As for the camp, Ana, I never heard about it, so looked it up in Google. The first word I saw was "hacking", no thank you, sorry. Maybe we'll meet each other at another place, but it will not be the CCC!