What to Do, What to Do

     I've noticed a common thread running through social media posts of some of the history-based social media content producers that I follow (Many of whom I have featured in a 7 Questions Blog).  They've posted about feeling the need to change their content or their platform or their style because they don't feel they're reaching their fullest potential, or they feel that they are stuck in a rut. It's a feeling I most definitely relate to. 

    In 2013, four friends, teachers at  four different schools in Henry County Georgia, were wrapping up our last experience of four Teaching American History programs that took us all over the country, exploring the entire breadth of American history. The TAH Grant programs were phenomenal. They were without a doubt the most valuable professional development experiences of our careers, and they had a huge influence in shaping us as classroom teachers and making us better. We also developed a friendship that might not have happened without the grants and an even wider network of colleagues, mentors, and friends that we continue to call on today. Disappointed that our experiences were ending, we decided to create a social media group called the Histocrats to share our love of history across several social platforms. We started blogging and building a presence on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Within a couple of years, we had gained tens of thousands of followers across all the platforms, and we got to meet some people and do some great things.  ( https://linktr.ee/Histocrats)

    Then, life happened, and Histocrats went dormant for a couple of years. The other Histocrats have moved on. In 2020, I became the first Histocrat to retire, and my wife and I moved from metro Atlanta to metro Tampa Florida. I decided that a fun retirement project would be to revive Histocrats.

    And it has been fun. I spend maybe 10 hours or so online a week, posting and blogging. We've done some incredible things and met some incredible people. It keeps me occupied and out of trouble; in three years, I've not been bored enough to think about actually working again. However, online growth is incredibly slow, stagnant even. I admit I was never as attached to Instagram and Twitter as the other Histocrats were. In fact, I only went to Twitter because of Histocrats. I've always detested the platform and still think that it does more harm to the world than good. I do enjoy Instagram a bit more because it's more visual and more appealing - nicer, safer place.

    I like blogging, even if I have to prod myself to get into the mood on occasion, and I get no real sense that anybody ever reads them. One of the most popular blog features has been the "7 Questions With" Blogs in which I do mini-interviews with authors, historians, content creators, makers, hobbyists - anybody I come across who makes history a big part of his or her life. I love these as well, but they are getting to be sparse. I'm currently in the midst of a huge dry spell, you may have noticed. Each month, I probably send out 10-15 requests to potential subjects. Of those 10-15, I typically publish one blog, after getting replies of interest from two to three others who never follow up. Frustrating.

    I'm not sure what, if anything, is coming next. I know some creators have gone to Substack. I'm not sure about how that would work. I know I'm not looking for a full-time or even part-time job. I just want to continue exploring, enjoying, and sharing my love of history with others, and I will in some context. It would just be nice if more people were along for the ride.

    I would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to the original Histocrats and Histocrats followers and supporters over the years. I am open to your suggestions.

Crossing Your Ts, Dotting Your Is, and Minding Your Ps and Qs in a Q & A

 

    We recently attended a marvelous presentation on a very important historical event. It was informative and entertaining and exceptionally well done.

    And then, the floor was opened up for a Q & A session. That's when it all fell apart. It was an excruciating half hour or so as we heard ten or more life stories and maybe one or two worthwhile questions. It occurred to me that there are many people who don't know what a question is and who don't know how to properly ask a question. The art of the question is essential in history and science, in every aspect of life in fact. In order to advance knowledge, in order to learn, in order to be human, everything starts with a question. The ability to question makes us human and sets us apart from other organisms. Putting aside philosophical versions of questioning, questioning is how we interact with each other as humans.  The huge secret that Dale Carnegie revealed in his How to Win Friends and Influence People books, lectures, and programs that still impact countless people today is that one initiates and builds relationships by asking questions of the other person in order to get to know them better and make them feel at ease.

    So questioning is important. We've all been in meetings and situations where questions are asked that make us shake our heads or tune out. Educators, parents, and others should spend time and energy helping their young people learn how to develop and ask meaningful and specific questions so that they can learn and, maybe more importantly, learn how to learn. 

    Here are a few tips for the next time you find yourself in a Q & A session. 

    1. Nobody cares about your life story. There is a reason you're in the audience and not on stage.

    2. If you have a question, step up to the microphone and take your place in line. Don't make people wait for you to cross the room.

    3. There should be no more than one or two periods and one or two question marks in your entire speech. Follow ups should be made a part of your original speech.

    4. Ask and move back to your seat. Never ever stand there with three or four questions.

    5. Avoid phrases like "I think." See rule #1.

    6. Don't promote yourself during your time. 

    7. Ask yourself: Will the answer enlighten anyone else in the audience?

    8. DO NOT, under any circumstance, raise your hand after a question is asked and say to the presenter, "May I answer that?" Especially when you are an old geezer who actually does nothing to answer the question because you probably misunderstood it in the first place.

    Every day I find myself developing a greater appreciation for listening and questioning, two crucial life skills that seem to be harder and harder to find, as our world, unfortunately,  seems to be growing more and more contentious, fractured, and dysfunctional.  We should be doing our best to develop and model these skills as much as we can.