You know who you are.
I must admit I didn't know what would happen when I started blogging. I entered the blogosphere with a bit of trepidation. (See my original blog in November '05).
Is it just a place for angst-ridden, navel-gazing? Maybe a place to promote ideology, to advertise a new product or gimmick, a quasi chat room for friends and family? You'll find all these, and more in the Land of Blog.
You'll also find well-written, thoughtful articles on all manner of subjects . . . and you'll find poorly-written, spelling-challenged juvenile drivel (but these you'd find anywhere online). It's the good stuff that has me intrigued. And there's a lot more of the good than I had expected.
There seem to be a lot of writers in blogland. Yes, I know everyone 'writes' in a blog. I don't mean people who just put up their daily schedule or hockey team stats. By 'writer' I mean those whose purpose is to present ideas, inner questions and images for our consideration and/or entertainment. Some are amateurs, some are would-be writers, others are retired journalists. They are of all ages. They come from different backgrounds and countries. I'm curious by nature - I'm interested in what they have to say. I like being able to comment and receive comments back on my posts. I love the interaction that's possible in blogging. How often do you get a chance to comment directly on a favourite author's book or article and have that author respond?
Personally, I wanted a space to rant and rave or be silly whenever I felt like it. I do that, but it's become more. It's become a way for me to sort out my internal ramblings out loud. -- It beats thinking in a vacuum. -- There's a tendency to get an inflated opinion of yourself - develop a god complex, as it were. When you're left to mull things over by yourself; an "If I think it -- it must be so" attitude. But when you set your ideas down in writing for the scrutiny of others, you get a totally different perspective on things. There have been times I've written things in a post, and just by virtue of seeing it in writing, realize that it's a steaming pile of horse manure. It's a reality check. What I actually post may still be a pile of dung to some people, regardless, but that's another matter.
Will I feel the same way a year from now? I don't know. At the moment, I'm having too much fun and learning from my fellow-bloggers.
So sneer if you want, I'll keep blogging.
from “Letters From an American”
3 hours ago
16 comments:
I found that at TBF. I would start writing my infamously long posts in the general chat section, and I would find out what ideas were crap and what ideas were good.
Psychologists have shown that writing down your problems help you overcome them, and it's for the same reason: we think in half-thoughts. Once you get something out of your head onto the paper, it's a whole new ball game. It usually leads to some self critiques.
I also liked TBF for bouncing ideas off people. The same goes for the blog.
...at my blog that is.
In the spirit of bouncing ideas of one another, I replied to your comment. ;)
The purpose of a blog is to have people comment on what you have to say. If it wasn't then you could just as well write offline.
I never got over the feeling that mine was poorly-written, spelling-challenged juvenile drivel, so it stopped being fun when I found I had nothing to say.
What I found to be most fun about bloggin was the fact that you get people commenting from all over the world and find out that we are not all that different.
Why do I blog.. Initially it was a way to learn how to formulate my thoughts into words and increase my ability to outwardly express my thoughts both through writing and verbal communication. That reason is still prevalent. But now it is more than that. I have found a sense of community with in the blogging sphere that I enjoy so very much. Difficult to explain to those non bloggers. :-)
lenny, bouncing ideas off others is what prevents us from being locked into our own narrow point of view. I'll check out your post.
hay, I live for comments! ;) . . . and it's true, people are more alike than they realize.
Coll, my feelings precisely. There's a community feeling that I never thought I'd find among people who've never met.
You live for comments? Well at least you have found a purpose in life.. I'll just leave it at that. :-)
hay, was it such a sad attempt at humour? . . .
I also live to eat, read, laugh, cry, meet people (like you), make a difference in someone's life, . . .
It was supposed to be humor? I thought it was just an overstatement for the "dramatic" effect.
Making a difference in someones life is pretty hard, especially over the internet.
hay, guess you've caught me with my idealism blinders on again. It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it. ;)
WOULD YOU LIKE AN APPLE PIE WITH THAT?
Sure. Can I have it with ice cream?
satire doesn't work the second time around.
This is just wonderful. I found myself nodding along in agreement from beginning to end. I love this blog world, it's been such a lovely place to explore. Thanks so much for sharing this!
see i was under the impression that satire only worked when it was satirical. :P
my reasons for blogging have changed over time and now, on my second blog, the feeling is much different, at least too me. initially i was blogging for an audience, but now i just do it for me.
i do love the comments though.
silly canadian...
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