Giving background and context

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A few weeks ago I left the following comment on MormonMentality.org in response to a post about the “do’s and don’ts of LDS blogging”:

I think there’s a natural tendency among Mormon blogs (and the blogosphere in general) toward marginal topics, i.e. topics that are new or exciting or controversial. This means new readers don’t get any context or background, which could deprive them of some of the core beliefs we all share and take for granted. I’d like to see every Mormon blog and blog post contain a small link entitled “get more info” or “about this religion”. It could direct the reader to a page by the author that explains his or her beliefs and gives links to other good resources about the Church. Seth Godin has talked about this (a phenomenon unique to blogs) and even suggested that sites uses cookies to distinguish between new readers and returning readers. New readers could receive a message that says “in case you don’t know anything about the Mormon church, here is some basic info that will set the stage….” (Comment #19)

Farther below, BRoz gives a possible explanation and caution:

I wonder if bloggers are a bit biased against “basic beliefs.” We like the Athenians spend our “time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” Do we build up blogs “to become popular in the eyes of the world?”

Just yesterday, Danithew (who, incidentally, wrote the original post) used a footnote in a blog entry to give context and explanation to his writing. After the phrase “General Conference” — a term that non-Mormons may not be familiar with — you’ll find a footnoted link to the bottom of the page where Danithew explains what General Conference is. What an awesome way to give context to the blog post! I believe we LDS bloggers should all take up this practice.

Source: Hermana Soto