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.]

Comments

[Maggie]

"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. "

Man, does that ever sound familiar! Near as I can tell, only two people I know in meatspace read my blog on a semi-regular basis. My family avoids it like the plague- wouldn't want to remind them that I'm a flaming liberal transexual ne'er-do-well musician!

It's funny- I have friends all over the world; Australia, Japan, the U.K., France, Canada, California, New York, Austin, Augusta, Minneapolis, etc... and they all know me better than anyone in the town where I live. I really do belong to a global village and it feels like my blog is my front porch.

[Patia]

I blog because I write much better than I speak.

I blog because I have a compulsion to share my inner landscape with someone.

I blog because it's easier to deal with people in the abstract.

I blog so I don't have to write the same thing in 10 different emails to 10 different friends. Most of them don't read my blog, but at least I can say I tried.

[Rachel]

I blog because blogging motivates me to write down my thoughts about Judaism and share them. Sometimes my blog feels like a kind of salon or workshop, in which I toss out ideas and see how people react. It's good for me to write regularly, and it's easier for me to write regularly when I know somebody's going to see what I'm writing, so blogging is perfect.

Also, I've met some really neat people through my blog. That wasn't why I started it in the first place, but it's definitely part of why I continue it now. :-)

[Anne]

It seems you and i received inspiration today from the same wonderful source. :)

Why do i blog?
1) For someone with a chronic/serious illness or who's simply crunched for time, it's an easy way to connect with people and share ideas.
2) Partly for the adoration - i have a deep-seated need to be liked.
3) Partly to raise a fist to mortality and tell the world i'm still here.
4) I meet some of the kindest and most amusing folks via blogging.
5) Sometimes i make a total fool of myself or stick my foot in my mouth, which is actually a good thing. It helps me strive to be a better person.

[Cathy]

I have a love/hate relationship with my blogs. Part of me would like to get out of it and another part of me just keep going.

The main reason I started to blog, with to test out my poetry on other people. Mostly I feel I get mix responded. So in end I decide to stick with not trying to published it.

Well I continue to blog when the Typepad needs to be renew. Right now I'm leaning towards of bowing out of the blog stuff. But that could change.

[Dave]

I blog first of all because I love self-publishing, second for the discipline, and third for the unique interactivity. A surprisingly large percentage of my regular readers are family and friends, though they rarely leave comments. I'm just beginning to realize how fortunate I am in that regard.

[Pearl]

I blog so I can trace back and find again the things I saw before, or untangle a knotty thought or two ;-) It's a time and place to think where hopefully people read now and then.

[Robert Baumann]

You have a very talented and skilled writting. I had a great time reading your comments. All the artist knew one another: http://anthony.ianniciello.net/blog/archives/000079.html , All the artist knew one another