A Note on Blog Vanity
Why do you blog?
That is the question I am posing for the bloggers who visit here at WilkeWorld. I guess there could be a number of responses that seem reasonable. Some bloggers blog to promote their business or a product. Some blog to stay in touch with family members and friends. Some probably blog to prevent sheer loneliness. Even a couple of you out there make some cash at this little hobby and my question probably makes little to no sense.
As I talked to my little sister today and mentioned my blog to her, she responded with incredulity. It seemed like a gigantic waste of time to her. "What could you possibly hope to gain by doing that?" she hinted with her silence. I thought about it all day and couldn't come up with an answer that satisfied me.
I probably blog because I'm vain. I mean I like people to come to my site and read my thoughts and respond to them. I know people often write for the artistic enjoyment of writing, but, come on, most of us write to have someone tell us how smart we are or how clever we are. Am I wrong? I spend many minutes a day on Blogclicker or BlogExplosion surfing various blogs. Do I do it simply because I want to know the inane and sometimes intimate details of other people's lives. No. I do it because I want them to come and check out the details of my life. Am I the only one like this?
I know that I've painted myself into a corner here with this post, but why do you all blog? I've got to have a better answer than my own vanity.
That is the question I am posing for the bloggers who visit here at WilkeWorld. I guess there could be a number of responses that seem reasonable. Some bloggers blog to promote their business or a product. Some blog to stay in touch with family members and friends. Some probably blog to prevent sheer loneliness. Even a couple of you out there make some cash at this little hobby and my question probably makes little to no sense.
As I talked to my little sister today and mentioned my blog to her, she responded with incredulity. It seemed like a gigantic waste of time to her. "What could you possibly hope to gain by doing that?" she hinted with her silence. I thought about it all day and couldn't come up with an answer that satisfied me.
I probably blog because I'm vain. I mean I like people to come to my site and read my thoughts and respond to them. I know people often write for the artistic enjoyment of writing, but, come on, most of us write to have someone tell us how smart we are or how clever we are. Am I wrong? I spend many minutes a day on Blogclicker or BlogExplosion surfing various blogs. Do I do it simply because I want to know the inane and sometimes intimate details of other people's lives. No. I do it because I want them to come and check out the details of my life. Am I the only one like this?
I know that I've painted myself into a corner here with this post, but why do you all blog? I've got to have a better answer than my own vanity.
posted by Cool Dad at Thursday, May 05, 2005
12 Comments:
You are the only one who blog for vanity's sake. The rest of us are doing it for completely altruistic reasons. ;)
I'm glad you write WilkeWorld and I've bookmarked your site. Keep it up.
Why do I blog?
Well, the old diaries and journals of ordinary people feed my interest in history; I value their insights into the realities of life and I wish to continue their tradition....That would be my answer as an amateur historian...
But my real reason is:
When I was a kid back in the 1950s, I read Bram Stoker's Dracula, which was written in the form of daily diary & journal entries.
I was so impressed that for close to 30 years now, I have kept a daily journal and bloging is a natural extension of that practice...
Never met a vampire or had a great adventure, but I know where I was and what I was doing, whenever.
Besides, reading my own old entries reminds me of joy's I've had and people I love... because sometimes, I forget.
Cheap Therapy!!
good question. this is my third attempt at blogging, and so far it's lasted much longer than the other two. I think the technology for blogging has gotten so much better, that it's made it easier for me to stay interested in it.
also, I am interested in parenting blogs, as the parent of two young children.
Travis--I knew you were all about altruism.
John--give us your blog url I'd like to read it.
Red--I think you've got something there. I'm not vain, I'm just crazy.
Landismom--welcome to WilkeWorld and try not to read too much into my parental advice as I'm probably crazy.
I blog because my husband wants my thoughts and I refuse to keep a journal.
I read yours because my son put a link to you on his blog which he doesn't keep up near as well as you do and also... you make me smile. I loved your trip down south...
K - You win big points in my mind for honesty. I definitely blog because I want the interaction with other people. Want them to laugh. Want them to validate my opinions. Or not. Want people to like me. I view my blog as a very personal extension of myself.
Um, so in other words, I blog for vanity too.
Oh, also I want to be a writer, and it's darn good practice.
Ha, I blog because I like the interaction and practicing writing too. I run a "humor" blog and I blog for the same reason someone does stand-up I guess. They feel good entertaining people. A note about vanity though- I wasn't getting many comments so I put a note on the top of my blog that said that I would give a comment on anyone's blog who left one on mine. So I started to get like 8-10 comments a post, and it was really taxing because I post like 5 times a week. I took my pledge down and sure enough, I get diddly now. People would leave the crappiest comment just to get me to go to theirs.
I don't have to have a blog, I get to read yours, and all others that come to your site. What else is there to do a 3:00 am.? I know things about you K. Jones, and I only hope that you will take these ideas of yours and turn them into something constructive. You have a tremendous mind, and a way with words, people would like to have a refreshing alternative to the garbage that is present in so much of life. I hope all of the bloggers will turn their efforts into writing about the "good" things of life. There seems to be a feeling, if you swear, talk about sex or violence you will be a success. I'm tired of all of that, I want to read about moral triumph, overcoming handicaps, thinking there is more to life than drinking, partying, what a waste of human effort. Keep up the good work.
I blog for several reasons. First off, to tell my family news that is happening. Second to organize my thoughts better and hopefully then to have better conversations with my wife and the general public. Thirdly, is probably for vanity. I do want to know what other people think, at least a little. I worte a post on it a while back as well.
Also, the anonymous person is my mom, so now her cover is partially blown. Happy Mother's day Mom! oh and Happy Mother's day to my wife and your wife as well. Hope all is going well in WilkeWorld today.
I think I can rest my case. Most of you are just as vain as I am, although Silver Boh's mom probably can be excused from that comment as her husband wants her thoughts.
Clupbert, I am not surprised that this blog entry got the response it did and I think you are right on. That being said, I did go to all of your blogs to check things out, so mission accomplished.
I blog because it's an extension of my years and years of journaling. I like to get my opinion out there, and not necessarily get an opinion back. Sometimes all I need to do it write it down, work it out, and let it go. Like Red said, it's cheap therapy.
I've always enjoyed writing. It's a way to my 'twist' on things, making people laugh, or think about things from my point of view.
I enjoy your blog K. Jones!
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