In The Bloginning 3 - Why Do I Blog?
22 02 2007First and foremost because I enjoy it.
Because I’ve something to say on a variety of topics – and I enjoy sharing my perspective, and my thoughts about issues. I blog because I enjoy writing – it’s very different to the stuff I write at work (reports, news messages, business cases, briefs etc). Because I like thinking through and putting together an argument… and seeing the end results. And I love the posts that almost write themselves… And for the discussion, the reader interaction, comments and insights from my readers.
When I started Like It Is, I wasn’t sure what I wanted it to be about. The general advice from the “how to blog” and the “how not to blog” groups seemed to be find a niche and stay within it (i.e. only write about X), but I felt that was a little to restrictive than I wanted. So I decided to ignore general advice and write about whatever most appealed to me. I decided to let it evolve and then take a decision on where I wanted to go with it later. And that was – life from my unique perspective.
I also have to echo some comments already made on my previous post – which is that I love the fact that I can say whatever I want to on Like It Is, really let rip – without feeling the need to censor myself. (Caveat – like Christine I made a personal decision not to blog about work stuff and most personal “journal-like” stuff – although I sometimes make reference to both if it’s central to the post). Like Sulz, I like the fact that people are spending the time to read what I write and add their own views to the discussion.
Because I blog about a variety of topics Like It Is is more about life from my perspective than a childfree blog, being childfree is only one aspect. If I were to sum it up it would be that whatever I blog about catches my interest. Everything is fair game for my opinion. Considering there’s very little That I don’t have an opinion on that makes for a lot of potential material, so I have to be somewhat selective.
I saw writing about the childfree experience as an opportunity to do a bit of “balance correcting”. There are many childfree people out there, but little positive information on the web about being childfree and what this means, few contemporary books and plenty of stereotypes – mostly negative. Childfree forums seem to be magnets for attack as some here will attest to) so as a childfree woman my blog is a great opportunity be able to offer my own perspective. As I say in my Disclaimer I don’t expect everyone to agree with what I say, which means that I don’t delete dissenting comments – as long as they are within the rules, keep it polite and keep it positive. But I won’t pull any punches either. So, Like It Is really isn’t the place for rabidly anti-childfree beings – and I’m happy to say I don’t think we’ve really had any – so far.
Another reason I blog (and this is a reason that became clearer after I’d been blogging a few months) is that I get to find out about so many cool blogs.
Blogging has also changed the way I look at things… when I see a news story for example I no longer simply accept the media view, or that my view doesn’t count… I can blog about it if I wish and make it count, offer an alternative view. Doesn’t particularly matter if the whole world doesn’t read it…or even agree with me, the point is I’ve expressed my point of view and once it’s published, it’s out there for someone to read.
At the end of the day, I blog for me. It is important to me that, even if I didn’t get comments (a happily increasingly rare occurrence these days) I would still find it both fun to blog and challenging to blog. If I ever stop enjoying it, if I’m not passionate about what I write about, if it becomes a chore rather than fun, then I’ll know it’s time to stop. So far, there are no signs of that happening. And blogging is rather obsessive, which, depending on how you look at it may be either good or bad. .
Besides, there’s the feedback from my readers.. what better encouragement can a blogger ask for? 
Now, over to you. I know that you may already touched on some of the reasons you blog already, but it’s still worth hearing…why do you blog? For example:
- Did your blog start out one way, change direction, if so why? Or has it continued in the main as you started out?
- What do you blog about? Why?
- Has blogging changed how you look at things? Do you feel challenged by what you write or are you wondering what’s the point anyway? Are you thinking of changing direction in what you write? If so why?
- What would you blog about if you weren’t blogging about what you do now? Do you write what people want to hear or what you want to say? Do you ever censor what you write?
- Other thoughts?
Next: What’s my biggest blogging challenge? (Yes, I’ve skipped to this one – I will do blogging tools afterwards).
my blog started out as an external brain, but i started to put news stories, then i decided to put pepys diary on the day it was.. i blog about anything everything, id cards, i am against, i put my poems on my blog, my theories on love, life the universe and everything inbetween.
http://mercurior.blogspot.com/2003/12/poem-by-me-number-5.html
with me i always disbeleive what tv ,press, governments, so called experts tell me, unless i have empirical proof. so my blog is pretty much my cynical way of thinking,, with some humor.
i used to censor, but then i got sick and tired of justiying my own reasons, the view that i as a person which encompasses the cf male choices, the male rights, the fat rights, and how the perception of being any one of these, seems to preclude you from making valid points.
like i say i wished there wasnt the need for abortions, people accuse me of being male, being anti abortion.. which is the furthest from the truth. i want people to be protected, use abortions as a last resort if other forms of b/c fail.. but because i as a man who says this, i must automatically mean this..
that boys need a male figure somewhere in their lives, like a girl needs a female, this must by definition mean i am saying people must only be taught by one sex.. no.. nothing could be further from the truth.. i just see a need in boys as i am one that i have to state my view, or the conversation just gets one sided and frequently demonises the other group.
and so on.. i have started to stop apologising for my own views. it may be unfashionable to give voice to certain topics..
I blog because I’m inherently interested in relationships that we have with people… including significant others, friends, family, and even insignificant others. I think it’s very interesting that people actually come and visit my blog… although, it has very little focus so it frees things up for me. One of my other blogs, http://collegestylings.com, was created so I could help my friends find deals and things on the Internet.
I blog about everything and almost anything. I worked for the school newspaper in high school, so I always have a view on something. When I graduated high school I noticed I no longer had a place for my voice to be heard; and then I discovered blogging and good ol’ wordpress.com. Now I have 5 places for my voice to be heard!
I sometimes get writers block, which explains the few post on 4 of my blogs, but I’m currently sharing my experiences in researching different religions (Janland!), which has surprisingly been interesting, for me at least. I’ve also attracted more readers, so that’s good!
I, like you, enjoy the feed back from readers. I live for a detailed discussion, and thrive for debates.
I always write about what I want to say, if not I wouldn’t really care about blogging and there’d be no point in it. If people don’t like what I write about then they don’t have to visit my blog again, or at least know not to look at posts about a certain subject.
I like that your blog is a positive venue for child free people, as I am most likely going to be one. Even now when friends ask me if I plan to have kids and I say now I get the strange looks that translate into “What’s wrong with her?”. Nothings wrong with me, I just haven’t been programed or brain washed into thinking I must procreate. And I know I’m not the parent kind of person, so I’m not going to let a child in the world just so I can screw it over in life.
Sorry for the ranting. And the long comment.
some news about blogs
An Egyptian whose outspoken views on Islam and politics in his internet diary enraged the government was jailed today amid an international outcry.
Police officers escort Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman to court
The 22-year-old former law student, whose own father has disowned him and called for his execution under Islamic law, was sentenced to four years by a court in Alexandria.
The convictions resulting from the views published on his weblog, sandmonkey, included counts for “spreading information disruptive of public order and damaging to the country’s reputation”; “incitement to hate Islam” and “defaming the President of the Republic”.
**** this is the cautionary side to blogs..
Years ago, an acquaintance had an online journal and wrote all about the horrors of her job and about all the nasty people in her workplace — you get the idea. Of course, she had the right to say whatever she wanted. But the thing is this person thought she was being anonymous as she didn’t reveal the name of the company or other identifying details. Well, at least that was the plan I imagine…
I’m not sure how the word got out but people did find out about the site — and from there, it was not very hard for people to figure out who owned the domain (this was before blogging sites) …. and just who this person was, as this is public info for the most part.
It’s not that I think writing about your (horrid) job is wrong. (But I would wonder (after some time) why the writer didn’t to try to get a new job.) And this type of blog would not hold my interest anyway.
My point — if I ever get there — is that if one wants to be totally anonymous that means more than just leaving your real name and other stuff off your site (though this is a good idea for some people to be sure). Steps must be taken if you want to totally protect your identity.
I don’t worry about this because I love my job and I don’t plan on slagging my employer or saying things I might regret. So I don’t. It’s not in my nature anyway. But I know that anything I say (no matter how I meant it at the time or if I was kidding or having a bad day) can be easily connected to me — by anyone including future potential employers, colleagues, clients, cousins or my vet — you name it. This is just the way it is. And I don’t want something stupid I said once haunt me for years to come. I say enough stuff out loud already ;-).
My site is not just my blog but also my domain where I have in the past posted my portfolio and may well again. It’s been connected to me for years and is my presence online.
And as for personal stuff — that’s a shorter story. I don’t lead an especially scintillating (just slightly so) life but I’m the one who elected to put myself online for the whole word to know my business, my loved ones and friends didn’t. So I mention them only in passing (and when relevant) but I don’t ever want to embarrassed anyone) and I use an initial only. My blog is mostly for me and it’s mostly about me.
But even with all that — I still think its pretty fun.
i have put stuff on my blog, that if you read it all, and remember you can work out everything about me, but i feel that you have a right to be as private or as public as you wish, say what you wish.
we complain about bad parents, its our right to say what we want tempered with a little common sense. but todays workplace/homeplace there is no difference, work is work and home is home in my mind, i seperate the two.
I started my blog last year around September. In fact, I remember first hearing the word and saying “What does *that* mean?”, knowing it was a new word constructed about something on the internet.
I come from a very, very conservative area in Texas. I started my blog as an outlet for my liberal opinions. I didn’t care at all (and still don’t) if I have any readers. I just wanted a place to put my ideas and opinions out “there”, knowing that no one I grew up with would approve. In fact, I only told one person I know about my blog, but I knew this person was another lone rebel in the sea of red in which we live. My blog is my secret journal, yet I’ve opted to let complete strangers read it.
This is directly related to the disapproval I’d get (not to mention ackward Thanksgivings) from family members if they knew it existed. (My other blog is boring, benign, and available to family members. *That* is where I discuss my daily life….with pictures!)
Plus, I have never considered myself a good writer. Blogging forces you to put thoughts together coherently or else people publicly call you a dumbass!
So, my blog is meant for me and my controversial, uncensored thoughts. I don’t have fanciful ideas of converting people who read it. I just use it to clear my head!
Christine - We are on the same page :). I too love my job, but as you say, even if I did not, I would use my time to get a new one rather than blog about how much I disliked it. And if That aside, while blogging is a very enjoyable and fun hobby I took a deliberate decision not to blog about work (except with the odd reference), or blog at work for that matter - because my employers do and should have some expectation of confidentiality. And I take it seriously.
And that’s why I worded my disclaimer the way I did, just to make it clear where I stood. Of course, the recent stories of where bloggers have been dismissed for blogging at work were an extra cautionary tale… I think this is where the term “Dooced” arose, after the blog of the same name.
On the personal side - exactly. I don’t feel it’s fair for my loved ones and friends to suddenly find themselves and their business on the web, just because I like to blog… so, except in very rare cases (where I’ve asked if they mind me blogging about something that may involve them) I don’t blog about friends and loved ones. And I always hide their identities, unless they are already public of course! My husband is an exception, but even then if I want to blog about something that involves him, I still ask him and don’t use his name… he never minds anyway. Everything else is fair game though!
That Loud… that made me chuckle… a controversial blog for you and a boring, benign and tame one for the family… I like it. I like it a lot. I actually think there are some things that family really doesn’t need to know… imagine the energy trying to explain what they will never understand in the first place!
But your comment reminds me again what an outlet a blog can be. Thanks for this.
Mercurior - Yep a blogger has the right to be as public or as private as they wish, say anything on their blog…but what I would also say is that bloggers still must be aware that what they say may have consequences they don’t want. I know if I wanted to I could say anything I wanted to about work, but I don’t want to. End result - I blog about exactly the things I want to
In a way, blogs are a little like email. But better and maybe a little more dangerous…. think about it
Yes, more dangerous than email although it never ceases to amaze me what people write in their emails either. If people only knew how unsecure email is. I don’t write anything in email either that I would not want broadcast to the world. I don’t think I’m an extremist — I have worked in the tech industry and I know what can and does happen. I too take my work responsibilities very seriously and I won’t risk my professional reputation (oh my that sounds so very stuffy!) by compromising my ethics. I’m bound by a code of ethics and I would like to keep working in my field at least until I win the millions.
Why Do I Blog… Hmmmmm… I believe this question melds more with my comments in the last message. I will try to elaborate further.
Mainly, it started off as an online diary of sorts. I wanted something I could look back on besides memories and pictures. My own words, with the intelligence level I had at the time behind them, showing a future me how much I’ve progressed. Also, it wasn’t to be too personal, as I wanted my family and friends to see it on occasion. Modern life had taken it’s toll on other forms of communication a while ago.
Plus, a blog helps me vent frustration, share joy, show off interesting things and express my feelings in a way that I normally can’t in person. Even though I don’t post as often as you, Britgirl (though I’ll have to try some of the time techniques you use!!), I love to write and I’ve been told on numerous occasions that I have a gift for it. Might as well use it!
i have nothing to hide, if i dislike someone i will say it. if i am stressed at work i will say it, i have a disclaimer, and employers should really realise that causing people not to complain about certain things would only increase the stresses on the workers.
private life is private life, what i do at home is no one elses business, what i type about is no one elses business but me. they can say whatever they want about me, thats their right, i may dislike what someone says but i defend to the death his right to say it.
perhaps i am different to most people.
Chris - You do have a gift for writing, so I hope you believe it!
My blog certainly helps me vent and share… that’s one of the best things about blogging I think!
Christine - good rule to follow about email… (I think that some people forget that email is just like a postcard) and same with blogging really. I’m with you on the code of ethics side too.
Mercurior - yes private life is private life. I’m not so much talking to what I do at home as much as where it relates to work. I could blog about work easily - I simply choose not to. And whatever I type about is my business - but if I decided to type about confidential work stuff for example, then it could become their business and I’ve no intention of allowing that to happen. In some places when you go to work for an employer you both sign a confidentiality agreement. I feel if a person can’t abide by that agreement then they should change jobs.
But if I have a complaint about work I will take it up at work with those who should hear at work. I think most people know where their comfort level is, and it’s different for everyone.
to me there is a seperation of work and private, but if i rant about work, it doesnt mean i hate it 100% just that at that one moment i am pissed off at it.
but does it really matter to a company how the worker feels, so long as the work gets done, thats what a lot of people forget work isnt everything, you can hate your job but still do it.
confidentiality is different, i have singed the official secrets act in my time of course i cant tell you why i did. but employers should allow that they have no right to interfere in what a person writes, or reads in the time away from work, thats the privacy i like, so long as the work gets done, it shouldnt matter