I like blogging. I like having a blog. I enjoy both the creative outlet and the geeky underbelly of blogs, but I gotta say that I think this “Web 2.0″ nonsense is going a little bonkers. I’m not really that comfortable with the sound of my own recorded voice, or so interested in seeing myself rant and rave on youtube. I like the written word. If I was charismatic or articulate enough of a speaker I would feel more comfortable dropping videos and audio clips every other day. I’m just not into it.
I feel like bloggers come in two flavors: people with something to say who rarely have the time to say it and people with plenty of time and nothing to say at all. I’m probably closer to the latter, and most of the blogs I read are in that category as well. Nevertheless, one of the things I was originally attracted to about the medium was the voyeuristic peek into the everyday lives of ordinary people who were capable-enough writers or web designers to make ordinary stuff seem extraordinary. My favorite examples going all the way back to the late 90’s with Evany and James Lileks
That being said, I don’t think of myself as one of those people. I have no problem casually telling people in my life about how I did my laundry last Thursday or went shopping for coffee beans yesterday. Sitting down and writing an article about it just seems tiresome and makes me yawn just thinking about it. I don’t imagine I could make it very interesting.. and it wouldn’t be.
Furthermore, with what little privacy we have today in this world, I am not about to willing give up the rest of it by joining social services that publicize my zip code, or install wordpress plugins that tell everyone what book I am reading, what CDs I am listening to, how my sex life is and when I last had a solid bowel movement. I’m not any more interested in telling you guys any of that stuff than any of you are in reading it. There is a fine line between making yourself accessible and broadcasting all of your personal life just for the sake of begging the world to be interested in you and creating filler when you have nothing to talk about.
I suppose you could say that this very post, and most of my recent posts have been filler and I am coming off as being pretty hypocritical right now. If you said that, you would be right. Let’s be fair, though.. most of this blog is bullshit– I am not one of those cool ubergeek professional blogger guys– and chances are good that you’re not even reading this.
Since I rarely have much to mention that is “interesting” or “funny” I tend to blog as a means of an outlet (as you say) seeking advice from friends and family on everyday subjects. It’s a passive aggressive way for me to communicate and share everyday experiences. If I get feedback — great, if not, that’s cool too. People who are often left in the dark are mostly the ones closest to you. It seems a little bit too easy though to put your feelings out there for the world to see sometimes than just telling someone flat out. I’m still new to all of this, and while I agree that some stuff posted can come off a bit boring to the common person or aquaintance even — it does have a way of keeping people up to speed where they othrewise would not be.
That is all.
There a few ways to write a blog; there are the “link” blogs that simply just link to things that interest them; there are the political blogs, there are personal blogs (that are just diaries), there are philosophical, reflective blogs; but overall most blogs are a one person perspective; someone sharing their personal thoughts, opinions and life — and a vast majority of all those blogs have only a handful of readers. There are a few blog ‘superstars’ (in the more personal, non-political genre) — Heather Armstrong (dooce), Jason Kottke, etc (I love Lileks as well). If you’re in it for fame or “numbers” then consistency seems to be key — do what you do and stick to it — if its just a means to practice writing, or share what you’ve learned, to just entertain people — then stick to that. Those are my worthless 2 cents.
poot
well, seeing as how my paycheck comes from web 2.0.….it is okay. people can bore the hell out of me all day with videos and recordings. i even make my own as i am sure you have noticed. i don’t suffer from a need for attention (being a mildly overweight, hair guy with a thin, pretty wife gets me plenty of that), a desire to have people validate me through comments, or anything else hinted at above. i think my blog interests me more than anyone else. i kind of use it as a way to validate the fact that i spend way too much time on the ‘net looking up stuff that will ultimately clutter my brain to the point of not being able to retain what i really need to remember. oh well.
i am liking the links on the side though. nice design.
drew.
Luke: I find sometimes that my propensity to my friends and family prevents me from writing things to or about them because I am afraid of the consequences. I have avoided discussing some events in my personal life concerning Kim’s family and my feelings towards the college I am attending, for instance, because I know memebers of Kim’s family and employees of my college (who are friends) also visit this site and I would not want to endanger anyone’s career or well-being. In retrospect I would not have publicized this site as much as I have to my friends. I would love to vent about these subjects, but politically it just doesn’t work. It sucks.
Paul: As I said in the post, alot of people can make their everyday lives sound so amazing, and I realize that reading about sometimes is more fun than being there. I wish I was one of those writers.
Drew: Sometimes I wonder how deep of a whole we digging ourselves. I don’t think anyone is really scared of Homeland Security reading our blogs, but wait until the IRS figures it out and see how easy it will be to cheat on your taxes. “That trip you made to Nevada for business last year? According to your xanga you spent three weeks playing craps and blackjack.”