Back when I was new to this
I asked several people, “Why is it that you blog?”
I got several answers to this. One came with a lot of explanation and it very simply meant “I am so smart, and what I have to say is so important, that I feel a responsibility to get it out there that you plebes might benefit from my wisdom” The people in question were suffering from what is known as “Denial”. You can find them now, very easily- they allow no coments on their blog. Not all blogs with no comments are like this, but you’ll know the ones when you see them. Some did and still do allow comments but the comments are heavily moderated and only the sycophants allowed through.
Another pretty common answer distilled down to “I hope to change the world” People who thought by explaining things carefully they could convince other people of the error of their ways. That trick never works.
And then there were the people who blogged because they enjoyed it. And that is still the category I fall in to; I blog because blogging, for me, is like going to a banquet or dinner party where there are a lot of friends and people you know. Most of them are like minded and most of them are good conversationalists and you enjoy all the conversations and sometimes you participate and sometimes you just hover over the bean dip, and listen to what everyone else has to say.
I blog for my own enjoyment, but having the commenters I do, is like going to a get together every day with a bunch of damned nice people, and a few total assholes. Even the assholes, most of the time, are welcome. They make the party interesting.
Why do you blog?
36 comments Og | Uncategorized
Well, I can’t say I blog, I HAVE a blog that doesn’t get updated NEARLY often enough. The reason I have it is it’s a sounding-board for my ideas. Sometimes I have an idea that just has to be expressed, so sitting down and writing it out seems to bring the concepts into focus. For a long time I just typed stuff in a word processor and saved it, but then I started putting it out for public consumption in hopes that the give-and-take would help solidify the ideas even more. Unfortunately I don’t blog often enough to have too many readers, and some of what I consider my best stuff has gone un-commented-upon.
Blogging == catharsis.
I am not nearly the profane bastard in person that I come off as on my blog. But it feels good to have a place to rant.
I could care less if I have a million readers or one. That’s not what it’s about for me.
I like blowing off a bit of steam, and the exchange of ideas with other people.
It can also be used to communicate ideas with others.
Blogging is the ultimate expression of the first amendment.
It allows you to have your own personal soapbox from which you can talk to anyone in the world who wishes to listen, but no one is forced to listen to you.
I don’t have a blog, too much fuss. I come over here to drive you nuts.
Gerry N.
Gerry: I don’t have to drive. I don’t even have to walk, it’s pretty close to here already.
The occasional comment here and there is about all that is necessary for me. Sure, I can bend your ear about medieval German courtly romance, or drone on and on about the dozens of crappy jobs that I had back on the day, but who cares? Besides, trapping my kids in the car on long trips are the best place to torture them with such anecdotes. I love coming here, though.
ANd I love having you.
That don’t mean we’re gonna take long hot showers together, mind you.
A few reasons. Sharing ideas and projects. To give a little, if I can, out of gratitude to those on the internet who have given me much help. I also make practical notes of when I last changed the oil on the tractor or when I last saw a bear. But the most satisfying reason is making friends and interacting with them.
Are you daring me not to say something about the “loveliness” of the fat drippings from the dip? AHEM!
As you know, I blog for the same reason you do: to “talk” to people who have interesting shit to say, whether or not we agree (though I don’t love the ones who threaten to stab my dog).
I’d never think a blog could change the world, but I do think that the more of us out there saying certain things in certain ways, the better, if for no other reason than it tells others like us that they’re not the only ones, which might make them bolder or at least less likely to stay silent in their personal dealings with assholes and idiots. I know for a fact that certain other blogs have had that effect on me.
But ultimately, it’s like you said – having an ongoing party that you can pop in on, to hang out with people who make you laugh. And occasionally to tell people to go fuck off. Also, disco videos.
roflmao.
I gotta say, having Rachel Lucas comment on my blog makes me feel it’s all worthwhile.
” I don’t have to drive. I don’t even have to walk, it’s pretty close to here already.”
We must be ninja stealth neighbors.
If Brigid drops in I’ll really be jealous.
Rachel Lucas is my blog mom. Blame her.
:)
I blog so the voices in my head have an outlet. Otherwise, it gets awful cacophonous in there. And yeah, it makes me feel less like the lone voice in the wilderness (voices in my head notwithstanding).
I call it my electronic soapbox. It’s where I yell and scream and insult and spread the word.
And occasionally write about something I actually know something about.
You know how they have that radar telescope built into the ground in Puerto Rico to listen for pings from outer space, hoping to hear intelligent life? Blogging is the opposite. Maybe I’ll make a connection, or come up with a phrase, that someone can use, and it gets passed on. So if no one reads and I get no comments, I get discouraged. I won’t change the world, but if I help one person, hey. I’ve been told way too often that I convey ideas well to have a false modesty, but still humble enough to know that of Fran and Og etc. are blogging to a handful (compared to print readership), what do I expect to do? So I lose heart and don’t post that often.
If writing was a passion, I would publish. I’d at least make my own zines and try to get them out there, but the zine world is so damn left wing I doubt they could stand me. Or try to be a magazine contributor, then build from there. Heck even apply for the guest columnist opening they have in the local rags once a year, for the year. Then my droppings would be on thousands of porches every morning for people to read over their coffee and toast.
Not to knock blogs, or bloggers, but real, old school writing or columnist-being, becoming the next Royko or such, that’s the thing to conquer if you have the passion to write.
The Donovan talked me into it.
I used to blog just as an outlet for my own insanity. That and I thought I should subject people to some of the most inane drivel I could muster up. Hell, the title of my blog confused more people than anything else.
I’m thinking of starting again… pretty much for the same damn reason.
Initially I started blogging because I wanted to write about stuff that no one would pay me to write.
I also liked writing about ‘farming’ because I came to the realization that damn few folks knew the first thing about the process, the industry or even the culture; well other than “…farmers get farm payments from the government for doing nothing…” sort of shit.
(That ignorance is never going to go away because few realize the process is over 70 years old and the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl days are what started it to guarantee ‘food security’. I’m afraid that we as a nation due to the current record drought are about to experience why it was so important all these years.)
BUT, I quit farming and I’ve realized lately that once I did that, much of the motivation to write for ‘free’ went with it.
Additionally, if you’re doing something for ‘free’ it should be fun and easy. When Blogger changed their software it was no longer was ‘fun’, nor ‘easy’…
All The Best,
Frank W. James
What you said, Og. I write because I HAVE to write. But I just look at it as joining the conversation. Occasionally someone comments, occasionally someone even follows. But having this nice long visit with you has been quite a hayride! Blog on, dude.
I have my soapbox, and it serves me well. As others have said above, it also helps in disorientating the various voices flitting around my cranium (small brain, plenty of extra space).
The finding, reading, and being able to comment with fellow travelers is also a big plus. This electronic camp-fire can really be enjoyable.
And sometimes, sometimes, you can make a bit of a difference. The “memogate” kirfluffle, where a number of folks on the net were able to not only compare notes, but offer up evidence, that the crap Dan Rather was flinging truly was, just that…crap. Was proud to have been a (very) small part in that. (In the military at that time, and knew of what kinds of administrative tools would have been available during Bush’s time in service…but you all know the rest of that story.)
It is all the above, and more.
I suppose if the plug is ever pulled on the net, I would have to find some other way to communicate. Shortwave (Hams rock) or something along those lines, might be the answer. Or perhaps an old mimeograph machine…
I **meant** to blog about writing. Then, ::squirrel::!
M
I blog because when I grow up I want to be like Og.
I have a blog, but the only people who read it are those foreign bastards looking to sell viagra.
Frank, set up a web site with GoDaddy. they have a templates and stuff. Edit in what you like and add it to your site. Worked pretty good for me, till those viagra sales punks found me.
I’m not sure anyone ever actually read any of my stuff and I seem to reguritate things I find that excite me. Not usually in a good way.
So, I come here and see what you have for the day and riff off of that.
I think Nathan and BobG got it right…for the most part, it’s to avoid the emotional constipation that comes from carryingt too much around ‘inside’.
Now, I do admit that I would LOVE to get as popular as Jay so I could get free samples to try and review…but I’ve kind of given up on that.
Because I can.
Occasionally.
Started it as a Journal so my grand kids and perhaps great grand kids could see what I did and thought in my life. Also a handy way to go back and see when I did what, to cattle and horses. And Like you, I enjoy my commenter’s and am always amazed by them and where they live and why they would want to read anything I had to post. Of course I do post pretty cool pictures of horses and stuff once in a while…once in awhile I share outstanding things I have read on the interweb, so that others who may not get to where I go can see and think on them also.
So many reasons – creative outlet, discussions with others (not always like minded), friendships formed, just to share fun stuff on these here innertubes, to vent, soapbox, maybe a little education about farming and trucking if I feel like it, and OH LOOKY OVER THERE, shineeeeeey!
You nailed it Og, I blog for ME! I also blog to inform, because there are SOOOOO many uninformed folks (but they don’t read blogs, or they wouldn’t have that missing part of their lives).
I blog to keep my mind sharp and the bugbear of a dulling mind away from my 68-year old body. Writing a blog-post is probably as good for that as doing the NYT Crossword.
I blog, because if I didn’t, I’d be shouting a lot at idiots, and I’d eventually get locked up for that…
I don’t blog, I’m too opinionated–I just enjoy reading yours, Lawdog, Tractor Tracks, Baboon Pirates,Velociworld, Frizzensparks, and Old Picture of the Day. Yours I always read first.And of course Day by Day cartoon. Keep it coming and thanks for the enjoyment.
Because shit pisses me off.
Because shit amuses me.
Because really gross stupidity needs to be refuted so others don’t make the same mistakes.
Because if I didn’t I’d be even crazier than I already am.
I blog because working alone in a home office and on the road I got tired of ranting to myself. Plus other drivers were starting to give me that “look” when they saw me screaming at the radio and carrying on conversations with myself at the stoplight.
Now I carry on my insane rambling one-sided conversations with the blogosphere. It keeps me from being a troll and commenting at other’s sites…..Like this.
I blog to vent and sometimes to entertain and amuse (if I’m really lucky!) Sometimes I blog to inform (mainly about massage etiquette).
I love to read blogs because ‘most everyone I read can express what I want to say much better than I ever could. And I like to laugh. :)
You know, I have no idea. I just do it. Oh, wait — because it’s more fun than arguing on message boards.
Klingson antivirus.
Although a Rachael Lucas comment would be so awesome that the blog might fall into a Black Hole of awesome.
I got tired of listening to my wife tell me to shut up and stop throwing my shoe at the TV.
Seriously, I planned on being this great gun blogger. I was going to educate everyone and be a hero.
Never happened. I just started typing whatever the hell I feel like, and now I can’t stop.
I just had to vent my spleen on certain things.
Either that or I figured I’d eventually vent someone elses.
I just can’t seem to feel as strongly about things lately.