Why I'm not a fan of blogging...

1. 0

   Sophia Angeliqueposted 13 years ago

   So shoot me. I don't like reading blogs. I find them irrelevant to my life. Who cares whether Miss Daisy had six croissants for breakfast or whether Mr. Lee said good morning to his neighbor? I don't.
   
   Yes, there's some good stuff out there. However, they're not really written in blog stylbe. They're more columnists and are extensions of newspapers.
   
   Some years ago, I dropped out of a journalistic course. Why? Because the semester paper had to be written blog style, involving my personal perspectives and life. In fact, I found out a few days ago that the reason Associated Content didn't hold my writing in high regard was because it wasn't touchy touchy feely feely. I could never understand their selection of the brain dead, "My twins made breakfast for me this morning," variety.
   
   Then, that's me.
   
   Any other people here who feel the same way about blogs? Or am I the odd one out?

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      The Gram Reportposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      No you're not alone! I was never one for sucking on a pacifier: Though there does seem to be a successful formula at work here, involving that sort of networking. Still trying to find my own voice in order to be authentic. It's not an un-wellcome challenge but more difficult than I might have thought!

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      prettydarkhorseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe it is psychological, people who blog about what they do everyday want just a piece of them to share with everyone, to feel good. Others might feel the need to reach out and feel like inspiring others about what they are doing.

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         Sophia Angeliqueposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         @pdh. Most of ll of it is  pretty self involved and I always wonder at the kind of people who need that level of attention.

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   Mark Ewbieposted 13 years ago

   Hi Sophia.
   
   I feel exactly the same way.  Don't care.  But strangely I also write in that style.  Not touch, feely obviously but in a kind of chat.
   
   When I say chat, more of a lecture really, because obviously I am not listening.
   
   I can understand your irritation because you are a sophisticated researched type of writer.  I am just the annoying child who wants some attention - good or bad.
   
   But yeah, blogs.  Who reads 'em?

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   CMHypnoposted 13 years ago

   I don't do 'touchy-feely' writing either Sophia - I like writing about history, products and other stuff. I think that we all have our different styles and preferences when writing.
   
   I can't ever see myself revealing the day-to-day details of my personal life online, and I really don't understand why so many of my friends post that they have just put the kettle on etc on Facebook

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   SiddSinghposted 13 years ago

   http://www.dooce.com/
   
   This one started as a "personal" type of blog - apparently a lot of people like reading the stuff.
   
   Another great one -
   
   http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/

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   sunforgedposted 13 years ago

   he just hit ten years:
   
   http://journal.neilgaiman.com/
   
   and he is also a great author
   
   coincidentally, these are the type of things that people do subscribe to with rss when available - probably, appeals to some sort of  voyeuristic urge
   
   this blog is funny: http://mockable.org/you-are-an-old-man- … r-old-boy/  just found it moments ago and have been reading it ever since

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   camloposted 13 years ago

   I've never wanted to read personal blogs, either. They're mundane and send me to sleep. My own everyday life is far more interesting, it seems, than those who seem to find theirs interesting enough to write about online.
   And I can't imagine who'd want to read about my daily activities.
   I've never been one to keep a diary, because I can't see the real point to it, nor can I think of much noteworthy enough to record in it, and I think that kind of personal blogging is like keeping a diary, but online rather than in a private book.
   I suppose reading personal blogs is like reading somebody's diary, and I've never had the notion to do that, and certainly not a stranger's.

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   Aya Katzposted 13 years ago

   Keeping a blog is like keeping a diary. It can be deathly dull if you feel obliged to record every boring detail. But if you have a good handle on the over-arching plotline, then you will realize which details are relevant -- because they are plot points -- and which wouldn't interest anyone-- not even yourself two hours from now.

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   Insight1987posted 13 years ago

   Most blogs are garbage. People have very little in their lives, so they post stuff about their cats, etc.
   
   Now, there's topical blogs w/ merit, but that's rare. Look at BookSlut or other literary blogs -- they're supposed to be serious, but have zero depth, platitudes galore, etc. If an allegedly "serious" human being can't even write well on a topic they're passionate about, then how can you be optimistic about vanity blogs that have absolutely zero to talk about, anyway?

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   sunforgedposted 13 years ago

   I couldnt disagree more, the mark of a good or at least entertaining writer is the ability to make the mundane enjoyable.
   
   Im seeing a confusion between the need for deep thought/heavy subjects and skilled/entertaining writing.
   
   Nor is "blogging" specific to a diary format or "slice of life" stories.

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      Pcunixposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I'm with the bright shiny one on this subject.

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         Motown2Chitownposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Though it pains me to say this, Pcunix, I'm with you (and the bright shiny one) as well.

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      camloposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Unfortunately, I've mostly only ever come across the 'diary format or "slice of life" stories' as far as personal blogs are concerned, and I've never found them entertaining. I've yet to find one, of that category, as rivetting as the diaries of Bridget Jones or Adrian Mole.
      
      But I have read some informative ones (including 'deep thought/heavy') that are actually more like articles, and have found them interesting.
      
      As for writing myself - I use it as a way of 'switching off' from my everyday life. But if I were to write about it, I think I ought to make it my job to make it entertaining for others to read.
      
      So, I can say I agree with you. I just haven't found the kind of blogs, especially of the personal category, I can enjoy.

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10. 81

    Sufidreamerposted 13 years ago

    I partially agree with you, Sophia - many blogs are pretty aimless and poorly written. However, there are a few interesting ones about, especially if you have a specialist hobby or profession. SF already mentioned Neil Gaiman, and I follow a few sports and politics blogs.
    
    Incidentally, Aya's blog is well worth keeping up with - a well-written blog with a purpose
    
    http://notesfromthepens.blogspot.com/
    
    EDIT: Fully agree SF - making the mundane enjoyable is part of what we do on HP. The best writers can create a Hub about rolling pins or industrial fasteners and still make them interesting!

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    Aya Katzposted 13 years ago

    Thanks, Sufi, for the plug!
    
    I agree that no subject is too mundane to write about, provided that you have something to say about it and say it well.

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    Home Girlposted 13 years ago

    Blog is interesting if your life is NOT usual, boring, mundane. Otherwise your blog IS boring, unless you have some special knowledge you can share(techwiz,moneymaker,poet,celebrity etc.)
    Mine is boring and I am about to drop it.

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    Hollandaposted 13 years ago

    Reading someone else's blog is a little bit like looking at holiday photographs.  All fine and nice if you KNOW the person and they have some impact in your life.  If it's a stranger, it can be a little uncomfortable to read so much detail about who they are, what they are doing etc.
    
    I may come across as something of a hypocrite here, but I am one of those people who loves writing blogs.  However, my blogs are not of the "I had eggs for breakfast" variety, more of things that have happened to me and how I deal with them.  I inject humour into my writing and try to make things interesting for other people to read by asking my readers questions and inviting comments.  I've never been told that my style is boring, although I know some people may find it so.
    
    I try not to downgrade other people's personal writing styles as boring...I know from experience that a writing style can take years to perfect and we all have to start somewhere.  I try and offer positive feedback - "I found that funny, why not include more like that?" rather than damning them with faint praise or worse, just slating them.
    
    Writing is a very personal thing and you cannot please everyone all the time. Pleasing SOME of the people, SOME of the time is good enough for me

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    Bill Manningposted 13 years ago

    Ive never thought of blogs as personal "twitter" type of sites. I have many blogs and hardly ever talk about myself.
    
    The purpose of a blog should be to talk and give more information about whatever subject your dealing with, not yourself. That's an online diary.
    
    Many of my blog post are actually full articles about items, reviews, guides and so on. I consider them webpages, not blog post.
    
    In fact I have made my navigation menu to point to blog post that are actually full article pages. Personal blogs belong in your facebook profile.

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       cjbartposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I agree Bill,
       I enjoy reading quality blogs focused on my interests daily.
       Have found a wealth of knowledge.
       Also my Blogs share information in Areas of Interest to me and the growing lists of readers.
       I believe the "Blogosphere" has allowed millions to gain knowledge, on almost any subject, they have an interest in

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    LennyPposted 13 years ago

    There is a wide range of blogs that I follow with a variety of different topics but none of them are personal blogs. Although personal blogs make up the majority of blogs they account for very little of blog readership. I think they are so common just because they take so little effort.

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    Rafiniposted 13 years ago

    Blogging isn't something I understand, even though I jumped right in sometime in the past year.  I've written maybe 5 or 6 blogs, but just can't get into it on a regular basis.  My journal entries are too personal to put online and what I write for hubpages can't be duplicated.  So...why write a blog?
    
    At first I intended to use the blog for backlinking purposes, but then I realized I'm not here for sales oriented hubs and backlinking...so the blogging just kinda stopped.   lol

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    A la carteposted 13 years ago

    Seems you have a point but some people like to express themselves and they do not ask you read their stuff...so how about giving them a break.

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    Apeppersonposted 13 years ago

    I feel your pain also! Of course, I don't get Facebook and Twitter either. I really don't care what's going on in other people's lives, I have enough going on in mine to keep me busy for a while!

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    Virtual Careersposted 13 years ago

    I can honestly say I am on the fence on this issue.  Some blogs about peroples lives are poorly written and should not even be posted.  However, sometimes you come across that really good blog about someones life, read it and think wow...thanks!  Then there are the obvious people who write just to direct traffic, unfortuneate!

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    DIY Backlinksposted 13 years ago

    Well there is a lot of really good information posted on blogs and some of these bloggers relate that information while skipping writing about what they had for breakfast.

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    waynetposted 13 years ago

    I like writing blogs as you can write however you want to and not have someone come in and say this is wrong!

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    rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

    There are some great blogs out there. Sometimes I learn more from a blog over an article. It's nice to read different perspectives.
    
    I subscribe to a few, two from Paris and they're a pleasure to read.
    It keeps me up to date on subjects I'm interested in reading. Great photographs and the writing is refreshing.

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