Why I Blog

Joe asks:

. . . do me a favor and tell me a little about (or point me to) the very last thing to inspire you (anything – not necessarily a website)

Well, Joe -- you have. Your request inspired me to do this post, which I've been thinking about for some time -- inspired by a variety of things, including the IT Kitchen, and this:

How often have you had a conversation with a non-blogger that goes something like this?

“You mentioned that you have a blog? Did you say ‘blog’ or ‘blob’?”

“It’s a ‘blog,’ not a ‘blob.’ It’s short for weblog?”

“Oh, and what is a weblog?”

“Weblogs are internet sites on which people write dated entries.”

“Oh, so lots of people write things on your blog?”

“No, I’m the only one who writes things there.”

“Are you the only person who has a blog?”  & etc. . .

I've had several conversations like this. Few of the people I know IRL (In Real Life, for those of you just dropping by . . . ) read my blog, and most of those who do live far from me. It's odd to be doing something that so few of my friends and family have any interest in. And of course many bloggers and readers of blogs also don't understand what I am doing, nor have any interest in it; the general understanding of blogs -- links blogs, or political blogs, or tech blogs -- is not what I do. Even I don't know what it is I do.

So why do I blog?

• It's a creative outlet -- a challenge to make something beautiful and interesting.
• It gives me a way to share my poems, since I seem to be publication-phobic.
• It gratifies the "collector" part of my personality -- I can collect images, and links, and stories, instead of far more expensive books, antiques, and art.
• As a pre-illness work-a-holic, it helps me to still feel productive.
• Virtual friendships are easier for someone with minimal energy to handle, and blogging gives me a way to share my life. It helps me feel involved/ in touch with the human world.
• Reading and writing blog posts helps me to clarify my thoughts and feelings.
• It gives structure to my days.
• I'm too ill to do anything else. 

If I woke up well tomorrow, would I stop blogging? I honestly don't know. I suppose if my life filled up again with other things, I might; or I would at least do less of it. Of course, if I were well, the bit that I do would take only a small part of my time and energy, instead of virtually all of it.

But as things are, this is my job. And it is one I enjoy, appreciate, and am grateful for. I would probably do it even if I had far fewer readers -- I so welcome those I have.  I'm delighted to see my visitors and inbound links continually growing, since it helps me to feel that this is of value to someone else.

So why do you blog?

Or why don't you?

[13 November 02004 -- crossposted to IT Kitchen]

[14 November 020004 -- Sam points out that Pandora asked these questions before I did, and I think I may have found that Parkway Rest Stop link at her place. Usually I am much better at remembering things like this. My apologies to Pandora, and thanks to Sam.]