I was looking for information about something else (blikis, or the blog/wiki combination) when I stumbled across a comment on an interesting site, Minding the Planet: Integrating Blogs and Wikis — A Higher Unifying Framework, which rang true for me: “I’m ambivalent about the no-thought-required aspect of blogging – free, uncensored writing is excellent practice; on the other hand the discipline of thinking about where something goes is often clarifying.”
Maybe it’s because I’ve made my living as a writer and an editor for almost a quarter of a century now, but this blogging thing has, for me, definitely seemed to be a double-edged sword. I’ve already deleted three blogs because they skated too close to places I didn’t really want them to go. Was that my fault as the writer/blogger – or was it somehow the seductive quality of the media, the blog, that leads one to write things a little less cautiously, a little more carelessly, than one might otherwise?
So does that somehow make us bloggers closet exhibitionists? Likewise, are those who read our bloggings a wee bit voyeuristic? Am I reading too much into the whole thing, or is this “free, uncensored blogging” creating a whole new dynamic by which people relate? Not just the writer/reader dynamic, but the “why am I writing and why are you reading” dynamic, which usually doesn’t go beyond a somewhat superficial reasoning like because it’s there.
Food for thought.
Helen
mark
david
Yeah, you’re reading too much into it. Isn’t it fun to put every crazy thing you’ve found or discovered or thought of on your blog? Blikis??!! Guess that’s better than my space.com fixation. I don’t know who’s reading my blog and I don’t give it too much thought most of the time. I’m writing because it makes me feel better (vent is a good description). AND my handwriting is so bad that I can’t even read it. SO it’s my journal and I can put some cute baby pictures of the kids up on it every so often too.
The discipline of thinking about where something goes? Ouch! Not there yet, that’s for sure.
Interesting you mention this. I have participated in several bulletin boards dealing with subjects related to my trade. These thoughts that you have expressed here are similar to the ones I noticed when I became active. I think there is a bit of truth to all of the “voyeuristic” and “exhibitionist” tendencies and nuances one experiences when we share of ourselves. When the format is open and real names are used the writing takes a more serious tone and much more thought is put into the message. When it is a closed or hidden format where few participants are known to others, a different feel and tone is present. Like you said, you deleted a few blogs because you were protective of were they might lead and what the results may be. This is a normal self-check that is far better than the anonymous writings that often time turn into criticisms and counter productive ramblings.
Although there is the tendency to over-write or to say more than one might normally say, I believe the benefits of the blogs far out weigh the downside of self satisfaction. I have learned more about myself by participating than by merely reading. I have seen the positive effect on national issues because of participation. I have been part of the change and I have enjoyed the experience. I think more people should try it! Heck, that’s how I learned to type and spell as well as I do today!
Dave
What an interesting topic. Although I’ve been blogging for all of (ahem) six months, RR&R had an awful identity crisis after my first trackback generated more traffic than I was used to. Suddenly I had to figure out if I was writing for myself or for that strangely gratifying feeling of *knowing* someone else–besides my mother–was reading.
I’m still green. I’ve made a ton of mistakes. For about a month, I recently went through a quantity-over-quality phase. I’ve deleted new posts after attacks of bloggers’ regret/guilt. I wish I were less sloppy and more disciplined and “intellectual,” but I think it’s a little late for that last one . I check my stats waaay too often (it’s insecurity, not vanity. That’s what I tell people.).
I think you nailed it, Helen. It is a performance. I tried to do the more personal family blog thing and couldn’t get into it. Outside of my immediate family, nobody else really cares enough for me to put that kind of time and effort into it (it’s work!). I’d rather blog issues. Plus, that’s where the readership is! lol
SO that’s it. I’m hooked. I love hording information and enjoy the instant, interactive transfer of knowledge. I have learned more in the last six months about my local and national HE community than I ever could have in my family’s pre-RR&R years of homeschooling.
And, save a few, the people are just great.
I was around and journaling online when blog came to be. I remember the arguments (that still happen) about the distinction between a blog and a journal, and how fuzzy the lines are now.
I think there’s a tunnel vision that happens when you write online in a blogging or journaling format. one tends to forget quite easily that so many more people than the ones that comment are actually reading.
Too many of my online friends had to find that out the hard way, and are now locked up behind members-only, passworded sites.
Which I think kind of defeats the purpose.
And to the categorizing – I know for me, one I started to have categories to plunk things into, it certainly helped tighten up whatever I was writing about and I was less inclined to “brain dump” all in one entry and to actually *think* about what (and why) I was writing that particular entry.
Of course, lately it means I update less….