What is the deal with "blogs"?

[lucyblondecat]

I followed a link in someone's signature to their "blog" recently. Not really knowing what that was, I might add. And I have to admit what I read astounded me. I have to admit I don't get "blogs". I have no desire to write down the minutae (sp?) of my day for all the world to read, nor do I have any desire to read such writings. It seems to me to appeal to the exhibitionist and narcissistic tendencies in the writers, and the voyeuristic tendencies in the readers.

The internet is sneaky, though. It makes you think you know people way better than you actually do. It causes you to become fond of people you've never seen and to trust what are essentially strangers with information that you wouldn't tell your closest neighbor and sometimes not even people you know fairly well.

I’m interested to hear from someone who has a “blog”…are you not uncomfortable with the fact that there are all sorts of scraps of your life that have a permanent home on the Internet? Would you get the same satisfaction from keeping a diary, or is it the fact that the blog can be read by others that is so appealing?

I’m also interested to hear what parents think….does your child have a blog? If not, would you allow them to have one if they wanted one?

 

[grinningghost]

I don't get them either. Mostly I don't get why anyone wants to read them. Who cares?

 

[grimley1968]

I have a blog I created for my flying. It's basically a journal to keep track of lessons I've learned, tips for future pilots, etc.

I don't see it as exhibitionist or narcissistic of me to do this. I have nothing to hide as far as my flight lessons, and subsequent entries in my blog. Anyone who knows me well at all, even on the internet, knows I like to fly. But then, I don't really care if anyone else reads it. I created it for my own use, and for anyone who might use it to learn from some of my own flying mistakes I try to list.

Also, some people feel writing as sort of a therapy when they want to express some deep feelings. I admit I feel that way myself, and post some on more private websites that no one else can get to. If I feel like publishing my thoughts later, I know where I can grab them.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

When I used to blog, I didn't blog for other people to read. I just did it for me. If people wanted to read it they were welcome to. I just found it easier to blog than write in a journal. Plus I never talked about anything personal. Just thoughts about some books and movies I'd recently seen.

I don't read other's blogs either.

 

[Evil Queen]

I have one, but don't write in it often. I never put really personal stuff in there. Not even my name. I use "code" like we use here (DS, DD, etc), but I just put G-Man for my son, if I write anything that includes him.

Many of my family members have one. It's great for seeing what everyone is up too. But I don't have any friends that are outside my family, except for 1. I know her from another MB for over 7 years.

But never, never would I air dirty laundry. Sometimes it's fun to write in them, but you should be careful what you write.

 

[FionaLovesShrek]

Glad you posted this. I don't get it either, I just figured I was out of the loop

 

[Melissa M]

My family and friends basically use them as a means of communication amongst themselves.

 

[disykat]

My brother has a blog and I love it. He blogs mainly about diving and I doubt many people who aren't scuba divers run across it. His family reads it and potential customers for his diving business read it. It is part diary, but mostly diving stuff - stories,underwater pictures and videos - what's not to love?

I enjoy reading blogs the same way I like trip reports. If I wasn't interested, I wouldn't read it. However, I enjoy listening to storytellers and that's kind of what blogs are to me. My brother tells me I should have a blog. I just laugh and tell him no one wants to read about how many loads of laundry I did or what I had for dinner. However, for those with something interesting to say or a particular knack for making the mundane clever - blog away!

 

[AuntieM03]

I don't blog and I don't read personal blogs. I do enjoy some entertainment blogs like the writers of Grey's Anatomy. Billy Bush has a blog on Access Hollywood.com that I enjoy reading.

 

[noodles]

I really did not get the blog thing either until a few of our family members started one.

DSIL is an actress and moved to NY to work very hard to make it on Broadway. DH is one of 10 kids and they are all very close. DSIL started a blog for the family describing what was going on in her life. It was a way for us uninformed family members back home to keep track of what she is doing and how the whole process of auditioning works. Calling every family member after an audition to repeat the story of how it went 10+ times would get old. This way she can keep us all in the loop as to how life is treating her in NY.

The other blog was started by my DD11. DH is a boat racer and DD and DH are building a boat together over the winter. Her blog is basically a recap of each time they work on it and what progress they have made. There is not anything personal on there. Her blog has been written up in a few boating magazines because she is a girl building a boat and racing it and because of the connection my DH has in the racing community. She is very proud of her work with her father and this is a way to show it off. On the other hand I would not allow her to have a blog that lists personal information or her "diary". Anything that is posted on her blog you could find out through other means in our racing circles.

 

[lucyblondecat]

I'm not really talking about blogs that are specific to an interest, like the posts above about flying or scuba diving. I'm taling more specifically about those ones where people reveal their innermost feelings.

I guess people think its a great way to share about themselves and create a little community online.

Until it goes wrong. And when it goes wrong, it can wrong in a big way.

From the blogger who gets fired when their employer finds out they are blogging at work to the people who've been "outed" in their RL communities for something they revealed about themselves online under a pseudonyn, it just seems unwise to me.

There are nasty people, plus outright wackos, online. All it takes is for one of your posts or blogs to attract the attention of one of these people -- and they can make your life hell.

The online abuse is the least of it: the insulting or obscene posts or emails, harrassing your friends, stealing and misuse of your email address, etc.

And with the ever-increasing power of search engines -- this stuff NEVER goes away. Even if *you* delete it -- thanks to cache-ing and the Internet Wayback Machine, nothing ever, ever really goes away.

Just seems crazy to me. I know I will never allow my children to have a "blog", and will watch them like hawks to make sure they never reveal details too intimate for all the world to see.

 

[Quinn222]

There are a lot of different kinds of blogs. Some are just personal journals. Meant to be read by family and friends. Others are to promote a certain cause or point of view. Some are to display artistic endeavours.
I agree about kids though. I would never allow a kid of mine to have one unsupervised and My Space is the worst. Predator central.

 

[lucyblondecat]

Yes that myspace thing is weird. The one I was reading was on myspace. This person revealed just about everything about herself, where she lived, where she works, where she goes for fun. The person was an adult, but still, it just seemed so intrusive.......

 

[buddy&wooz]

I blog, but I don't put anything on there I wouldn't say to someone's face. I don't say anything that would embarrass my kids (much.) Of course, the blogs that do are some of the more interesting ones to me!

From the blogger who gets fired when their employer finds out they are blogging at work

Funny, the blogger most famous for being fired for her blog (dooce.com) is now making a living by blogging. Guess it works for some people.

 

[bicker]

A blog is a perfect place for people who want to post their opinions without having to worry about anyone disagreeing with them.

 

[Evil Queen]

Yes that myspace thing is weird. The one I was reading was on myspace. This person revealed just about everything about herself, where she lived, where she works, where she goes for fun. The person was an adult, but still, it just seemed so intrusive.......

I wouldn't use myspace either. I use LJ.

 

[LK03]

Well, I blog for me and my friends. I started my junior year of college and was fortunate enough to update while in Europe travelling (it brings back memories), I blogged through my senior year while I was planning a wedding, waiting for my fiance to return from Iraq and dealing with looking for a job and just venting about everyday annoyances.

I don't ever feel I do it to boost my ego or because I'm full of myself. My old college friends and old high school friends read my blog and I read theirs and it helps us keep in touch without those weird written emails where you try to update them in a matter of a few paragraphs but miss so many highlights.

I'm going on my second year of my blog and I update a lot more than when I started and don't see it slowing down.

If you're so curious: http://lkf03.livejournal.com/

 

[bunnywabbit!]

I've been creating websites for over 7 years now. Dunno what to make of it yet

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Anyone else just hate the word "blog"?

I've kept a journal, but it's kept on MS Word on my computer, not posted on the internet for the world to see. I do however have a plastic surgery progression "blog", if you want to call it that, but it's password protected so it's not accessible by the public unless I give them permission.

 

[katerkat]

Whenever I think to update it, my blog is just updates and pics of Russ for the grandparents, relatives and friends to see. That way they can visit it to see how he's doing. Of course, it only has about 5 posts and I started it in November...