One of my favorite bloggers, John of Argghhh!, has taken indefinite leave. His decision makes me reflect on my daily writing and reminds me of portland's repetition of his wise question - "why the hell do you do that, Al?" I do it for the discipline of typing something over my coffee...which I will just go get now. There. Spelling should pick up now. I give myself about 45 minutes in the morning to write or note something. Maybe an update later or a photo set in the evening but if it gives me a tooth ache or a vain little moment, it stays up all the same. That's about it.
Recently, I read the author of a blog I stopped reading refer to visitors as "fans". Others, far fewer now, have called it "social software" or "building a community". I think all these things are too grand, smacking of wishfulness. This is just a digital scrapbook whether I get 50 or 10,000 visits every day. Most visits are insubtantive anyway, bots or google surfers who never come back. Don'y get me wrong. I do like the ethical debates that we can triggered through the medium of this space. And I also really like the hints for ice cream shacks and mini-putt courses you readers place here. That is the gold. But with podcasting and v-blogs, it is a couple of trends past it and likely something that will be made fun of one day soon by the kids.
As a result, if I have any advice it is to not worry so much. Keeping - or even packing in - a scrapbook habit or reevaluating your CB radio handle need not follow a visit to the therapist or require a life crisis. If the garden needs a good weeding or the house needs a paint job, go do that.
Is there anything else to blogging? And isn't it significant that there has not been a really bad movie - not a movie at all in fact - about blogging like email's 1998 You've Got Mail or that 1983 video game based classic WarGames?
Comments
Sue - August 8, 2005 12:19 PM
I feel the same way. I don't really worry about who reads it or how many. Well, to a certain degree, I do but not in any more than just a statistical, analytical way. I found blogging gives me a great outlet just to purge some of the thoughts floating around in my head. And for that, it's a great thing!
cm - August 8, 2005 2:11 PM
I know no one reads mine (well, no one other than my aunt in Burlington) because I've only given the url to a few people. It's strictly an excercise in discipline - can I condense this thought into 25 words or less?
alfons - August 8, 2005 5:04 PM
Who would play in such a movie?
Alan - August 8, 2005 5:35 PM
I would be played by a young Zero Mostel while portland would be brought to the screen by Anthony Quinn as he was in <i>Zorba the Greek</i>.
Arthur - August 8, 2005 6:38 PM
Who would play in such a movie?
Tom Hanks?
SayNay? - August 8, 2005 7:14 PM
What about the weblog project?
see:http://theweblogproject.com/
How about a really bad movie you can only watch online? Now is that ironic in surreal, Lynchian type way, or what?
Flea - August 8, 2005 7:30 PM
Things may take on a different light with increased traffic...
Alan - August 8, 2005 7:57 PM
But we are at 23755 uniques with 335634 visits for July, Fleaman. When is it going to change?<p>I think there is a difference because I am too numb to take on a position of real interest like your good self or John of Argghhh! Really, what have I added to Pajamastan? Jets on Stick. Now that was gold but it is not going to attract controversy in the comments.
'nee - August 8, 2005 8:52 PM
If it helps, I now call them 'jetsicles' and think that the term is All The Awesome Ever. I now have friends who use it. Today, me - tomorrow, the world! $10 says that, in five years, a CBC reporter uses it.
Jetsicle. Hehe.
I'm trying to think of a term other than 'fan.' I have one 'fan' who reads my 'blog, and that's 'me.' Friend doesn't apply, I think 'reader' is an exact and perfectly representative term.
Arthur - August 8, 2005 8:53 PM
How about a really bad movie you can only watch online?
Like, if we haven't seen so many of those already...
Arthur - August 8, 2005 8:54 PM
I'm trying to think of a term other than 'fan.'
[lightbulb]
Homeboy?
Alan - August 8, 2005 9:39 PM
You forgot to close the tag.<p>[/lightbulb]<p>That's better.
Arthur - August 8, 2005 10:09 PM
You forgot to close the tag.
Hey! I'm just a Gen X homeboy!
On preview, I stick to my Diet Pepsi...
Mike - August 9, 2005 8:26 AM
I want to see a jetsicle movie. "The Jetsicle Code". "The Jetsicles of Tantramaria". "Death Rides a Stick".
Kurt Russell is in it.