Makes you go "Hmmm"
I came across this list today, called "How to Dissuade Yourself from Becoming a Blogger". It made me think. Here is an excerpt:
# 3 Write on a regular basis in a text editor instead. If that doesn't satisfy your urge, and you feel that you must post your blog online, then you might just be craving attention and validation--which you'll never truly find in a blog. If you give up on your Wordpad journal after about three days, you'll do the same with a blog that just takes up server space.
# 4 Ask yourself if you really have the time to commit to a blog. What about that treehouse you wanted to build? Or the book you wanted to write? Or the car you wanted to fix up? Or the restaurant you wanted to take your significant other to? Or the new career you wanted to pursue? Instead of writing about pretty much nothing, or whining about all the things you wish you were doing instead, start doing something that'd actually be worth writing about. And if it's really worth writing about, you'll be having too much fun doing it to tear yourself away from it.
Read the entire list here
I had to re-do my blog buddies list, because so many people have dropped out of sight
or gone inactive. Hmmm. I don't think I whine that much. Well, maybe I do.
I do know I have sought validation here, but at times, think I have found it. Or am I fooling myself? I do know this is a huge black hole into which great amounts of time disappear. But I feel as if I have true friends here. But then, one day the blog is gone *poof*, and really, bloggers don't owe each other anything. So is that friendship? I know I like blogging, and like reading blogs, but I am still trying to understand why.
So, what do you all think??
# 3 Write on a regular basis in a text editor instead. If that doesn't satisfy your urge, and you feel that you must post your blog online, then you might just be craving attention and validation--which you'll never truly find in a blog. If you give up on your Wordpad journal after about three days, you'll do the same with a blog that just takes up server space.
# 4 Ask yourself if you really have the time to commit to a blog. What about that treehouse you wanted to build? Or the book you wanted to write? Or the car you wanted to fix up? Or the restaurant you wanted to take your significant other to? Or the new career you wanted to pursue? Instead of writing about pretty much nothing, or whining about all the things you wish you were doing instead, start doing something that'd actually be worth writing about. And if it's really worth writing about, you'll be having too much fun doing it to tear yourself away from it.
Read the entire list here
I had to re-do my blog buddies list, because so many people have dropped out of sight
or gone inactive. Hmmm. I don't think I whine that much. Well, maybe I do.
I do know I have sought validation here, but at times, think I have found it. Or am I fooling myself? I do know this is a huge black hole into which great amounts of time disappear. But I feel as if I have true friends here. But then, one day the blog is gone *poof*, and really, bloggers don't owe each other anything. So is that friendship? I know I like blogging, and like reading blogs, but I am still trying to understand why.
So, what do you all think??
posted by Renee at Thursday, September 14, 2006
13 Comments:
I think you are the greatest Mary Poppins Not! I love your garden and your children and the Eastern Rite! Keep on blogging! And I don't think your blog is of the navel gazing variety! It opens up to the universal, especially the wonderful experience of motherhood.
Blessings,
Kitchen Madonna
Weeellll.....
I started my blog as a writing venue. It may be weak, but I knew that I would be more motivated to write somewhere where I got feedback (yes, the spectre of the ego boost raises its head) than in my journal. I have in the past journaled extensively, but something about being alone, pregnant, and in a new town without a car made writing for an audience sound more appealing.
Now, many more of my readers are family or people I know in real life and my blog looks more and more like a 'networking' site as I do more and more of my thoughtful writing in journals rather than online. I'm in a different (busier) time of my life and it is harder to get the time to sit online and write.
But I value the friends I've made online and the support I've received and have no intention to stop blogging anytime soon. It isn't pointless...and one of these days I am going to visit you on my way through Illinois (on one of these lengthy cross country trips), really!
I have thought about this. When I first heard of blogging, I must admit, I wondered what the appeal was. Now that I'm doing it almost every day I think it's about the enjoyment of writing and of self-expression, in general. I like to write letters to the editor of my local paper too. Blogging is similar only much more fun because of the comments you sometimes receive and because of everyone else's blogs that are so much fun to read. I don't consider it a waste of time although there are days when I have spent more time on it than I should have. Blogging is an intellectual exercise, a form of creative expression, and a high tech form of having numerous and changing penpals. OK, Let's face it. I'm hooked. LOL
Well thank you, Kitchen Madonna. I personally have grown in love for my family because of your blog, and made them some darn good meals.
Kate~ anytime, we have room for you here. anytime. I mean it.
Rosemary~ I look at you as a mentor. You are just slightly ahead of me in the mothering career, and I have learned so much in just this short time about how to "do it all".
Jamie ~ oooh, I miss your blog, too. Hope you are well.
And Lisa. I have followed you through many an incarnation, and enjoyed each one of them. Here's to long distance friends, eh?
I love blogging when I can..period...I love reading good blogs when I can period...I guess I just haven't gotten to that point where I think it is all wrong. Why should we? I don't know, but what I do miss and don't understand was all of this "Beta" change thing. I had problems until I switched...it seems not everyone had them and many didn't. I've missed hearing from some...some have figured out how to comment to me without switching and some have switched. Wish everyone was on the same page...it has been sorta sad as I thought by now it would be "ironed out." I have to sign Anon on this comment box as an example and then sign my name her so you will know who I am..it seems...Suzanne from SincerelyMyThoughts
i love your blog renee - you have given me beautiful insight into your Church and it makes me feel connected to another sister. please don't stop writing -- build the treehouse during the day and write at night :)
we can all find a moment. it makes the world seem a little less oppressive when i meet kind folks like you. sincerely.
I have sometimes thought these same thoughts. I guess I think of it this way... I have met many lovely people through blogging. I've learned a lot and have been inspired by a lot of wonderful people all through blogging. I do find it fun and an experience I am glad I have experienced. But, I have considered stopping myself.
But even if I do stop, I would continue to read blogs like yours. I don't want you to stop. You're insightful and inspirational and you affect more people than you know.
So Renee, my advice to you is...yes, keep on a bloggin and don't look back! LOL
Sincerely,
Lori
A bloggin' friend
I started blogging to prove to myself that I really was a writer. The time spent blogging has been a good investment in me. I am now actively writing a book. Blogging helped me see that I really could do it. And then there is this blogging community that stands by a person through it all and I have come to appreciate that so much. I live quite remote and having 'met' people through writing has been an added bonus.
Btw...remembering you in prayer as you homeschool. It is an incredible commitment even when/if not much actual formal school gets done. Just spending time with one's children for all that time is more of a big deal than homeschooling mothers give themselves credit for. Hang in there.
I visit your blog regularly, and it always does me good. If there's nothing new, I read Psalm 50.
It appears the verdict is you should keep on blogging, MPN, and I hope you do. I enjoy your blog.
And I'm humbled that you would think of me as a mentor.
MPN,
You're asking the blogging community whether or not it thinks blogging is good or bad? Next you'll be asking us if Christianity is the answer or weren't the Jews right all along...
Seriously, I think blogging can be narcissistic, but most human interactions can be that way too (think of how many teens (and some adults) want to have long "Buddies" lists). It's all how you use the technology! Offering and finding support to like minded people struggling to be decent in an immoral world is a worthy goal that blogging can achieve.
Onward!
Madeline L'Engle said no writer writes to remain unread. We right to communicate. For sure blogs feed people's problems with validation and acceptance and some bloggers have been crushed by the weight of that and or by the opinions of those who disagree with them even though they bear the sole responsability for opening themselves up to the opinion of others in the first place. Sometimes the knee jerk reaction of those folks can be very painful for others as well as them self. I know I have caught a knee or two.
However, I blog on myself and enjoy reading others. And I believe Madeline is 100% correct. At its best the blog media offers us something no other form of communication has.
I understand what the problems of blogging can be. But I have enjoyed bloggins and reading blogs. I found that at first I was a little driven to have a "great blog that lots of people read." Well, that didn't happen!
Now I just write when I can, and what I want. If people want to read, GREAT! It's nice to have cyberfriends. But I no longer worry about coming up with something to write, or whether what I write is as good as someone else's. Now, when I have something to write I do. When I don't, I don't.
Blogging is a licit pleasure. Like television watching, or reading, or any other activity, it can be misused. But it needn't be presumed that it will be.
I hope you've decided to keep it up. I like what you say.
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