Blog Proliferation
Dear Avid Reader,
There are rules to making a blog. One of them is to write. But ho much do you have to write to "be a blog".
I guess just one entry will do. Sign up on blogger, make a post, BOOM, you're a blogger. But I think there is an unspoken understanding that you have to post a lot before you are a "good" blogger. You know what, I may be catching everyone off-guard here, let me tell you the impetus behind this entry.
I Really Do Read Those Blogs On The Right
My friend Trey recently wrote in his blog that he felt as though his tenure as a blogger was coming to an end. Here's the quote:
Then he goes on to describe something that I feel. Most blogs are lame. If you hit the next blog button on the top right hand corner of this page, you will be whisked away to a random blog on Blogger. This blog will probably be Bush-hating political flame, a long boring diary with endless meaningless details about the blogger's daily routine, pornography, or something in a language that you don't know.
The sites will alternate between these things until you unearth something out-of-the-ordinary. You will read it, but will most likely be disappointed because the person hasn't posted in over three months, or there will be something that doesn't strike a chord with you (In that it will be different and interesting and cool, but not quite suited to your particular tastes. Like appreciating art that you wouldn't buy and put in your house.)
The Good, The Bad, and The Really Bad Diary Blogs That I HATE...Ugly
But there is hope. Because you see Trey has a good blog and Trey is a good blogger. And after considering his post I think Trey is experiencing something that I am experiencing. I feel that my blogging is good, so I take it seriously. So seriously, that if I don't blog often, then I am failing. I treat the blog as if I have a column with deadlines. This taking it seriously, is what makes the blog good.
The reason that the "diary" blogs, which compose about 130% of all blogs, are so lame, is that the authors aren't taking the blog seriously. They just show up, post their current to do list, tell us how much they really need to buckle down and blog more, and then hit submit. These posts happen about every month or so until the person completely forgets that they even had a blog to begin with. Needless to say, I hate these type of blogs.
So now we come back to Trey. He has been posting at least once, more often three times a week for over eight months (This stat comes from the top of my head, so you don't try and correct me in the post section. Consider this artistic interp.). I have been reading them regularly for some time and I really enjoy them. Usually they are earnest and funny and always encourage the reader to build a community in their life.
But Trey is probably tired from all of the writing. And he is frustrated by the lack of discipline and skill in the bloggers that he reads. In the face of these problems, he has considered giving up the whole thing and use his time to do something else. Presumably, something more constructive.
But I would say no to this course of action. I say, keep writing. Why give up something that you are good at?
Again I Ask, Why?
If I could get all of the disciplined, good bloggers in a room together, I would tell them all one thing. Unless you are making money for new content, it's O.K. to miss a week here or there. One week, or even two weeks missed dose not a poor blogger make. Blogging is not what you do for a living. You have work to go to, people to interact with, and other interests to attend to.
Look at the humble model airplane builder. If a model airplane hobbyist takes a two month break from making a model airplane, no one would suspect him of slacking in his duty as a hobbyist. So why not apply the same latitude to ourselves?
I say take a week off. I say go do other stuff. Blogging can wait. You can always pick it back up after a refreshing hiatus.
And remember, being prolific doesn't mean that everything you write will be a good post.
But to the majority, undisciplined rabble, remember that it does help.
There are rules to making a blog. One of them is to write. But ho much do you have to write to "be a blog".
I guess just one entry will do. Sign up on blogger, make a post, BOOM, you're a blogger. But I think there is an unspoken understanding that you have to post a lot before you are a "good" blogger. You know what, I may be catching everyone off-guard here, let me tell you the impetus behind this entry.
I Really Do Read Those Blogs On The Right
My friend Trey recently wrote in his blog that he felt as though his tenure as a blogger was coming to an end. Here's the quote:
"I'm thinking that this blog thing is about over. My counter has slowed down. And people don't leave as many comments as they used to. Other blogers (sic) post less often than they used to. Some people's posts I hardly read because they are so dull I feel my brain locking up. I just scan for my name then move on. Is this the end of our blog ring?"I think his quote captures what every blogger feels. They want to write something, and they want people to read it. Then they want people to post that they like it. Well, Trey doesn't say anything about wanting to be liked, but I am.
Laminack, T. (2006). Freedom... yeeeeeaaaah! Trey's Bloglicious Blog.
Then he goes on to describe something that I feel. Most blogs are lame. If you hit the next blog button on the top right hand corner of this page, you will be whisked away to a random blog on Blogger. This blog will probably be Bush-hating political flame, a long boring diary with endless meaningless details about the blogger's daily routine, pornography, or something in a language that you don't know.
The sites will alternate between these things until you unearth something out-of-the-ordinary. You will read it, but will most likely be disappointed because the person hasn't posted in over three months, or there will be something that doesn't strike a chord with you (In that it will be different and interesting and cool, but not quite suited to your particular tastes. Like appreciating art that you wouldn't buy and put in your house.)
The Good, The Bad, and The Really Bad Diary Blogs That I HATE...Ugly
But there is hope. Because you see Trey has a good blog and Trey is a good blogger. And after considering his post I think Trey is experiencing something that I am experiencing. I feel that my blogging is good, so I take it seriously. So seriously, that if I don't blog often, then I am failing. I treat the blog as if I have a column with deadlines. This taking it seriously, is what makes the blog good.
The reason that the "diary" blogs, which compose about 130% of all blogs, are so lame, is that the authors aren't taking the blog seriously. They just show up, post their current to do list, tell us how much they really need to buckle down and blog more, and then hit submit. These posts happen about every month or so until the person completely forgets that they even had a blog to begin with. Needless to say, I hate these type of blogs.
So now we come back to Trey. He has been posting at least once, more often three times a week for over eight months (This stat comes from the top of my head, so you don't try and correct me in the post section. Consider this artistic interp.). I have been reading them regularly for some time and I really enjoy them. Usually they are earnest and funny and always encourage the reader to build a community in their life.
But Trey is probably tired from all of the writing. And he is frustrated by the lack of discipline and skill in the bloggers that he reads. In the face of these problems, he has considered giving up the whole thing and use his time to do something else. Presumably, something more constructive.
But I would say no to this course of action. I say, keep writing. Why give up something that you are good at?
Again I Ask, Why?
If I could get all of the disciplined, good bloggers in a room together, I would tell them all one thing. Unless you are making money for new content, it's O.K. to miss a week here or there. One week, or even two weeks missed dose not a poor blogger make. Blogging is not what you do for a living. You have work to go to, people to interact with, and other interests to attend to.
Look at the humble model airplane builder. If a model airplane hobbyist takes a two month break from making a model airplane, no one would suspect him of slacking in his duty as a hobbyist. So why not apply the same latitude to ourselves?
I say take a week off. I say go do other stuff. Blogging can wait. You can always pick it back up after a refreshing hiatus.
And remember, being prolific doesn't mean that everything you write will be a good post.
But to the majority, undisciplined rabble, remember that it does help.
The Next Post Promises To Be Better,
James
James
posted by James at 7:53 PM
9 Comments:
I think blogging is like exercise. You should just decide to do it and then do it. Some days will be good, some not so much, but all will beneficial in the long run. And we must be intrinsically motivated else we get discouraged. But this applies to anything in life and thus is probably one of those, "Well yeah, that goes without saying" posts. I think I am the first person to ever flame out in the middle of a written post and still post it instead of erasing it and pretend it didn't happen. War Jim Rome, Chuck Klosterman, and Bill Simmons. -Out
Mr. Bocks, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
-J. Madrox
(I'mmm baaaacckkkkkk)
I think that the diary blog isn't all bad. Alot of my friends I don't get to talk to often. If they didn't write and I didn't read I would have no clue what's going on in their lives. I see your point but as always I slightly disagree.
Jay - I dig what you are saying
Brian - What's up fool? I see that you've found my little corner of the internet.
Clarice - This is the same way that Robyn feels about "diary blogs". I'm not sure what this means, but I am desperatley trying to not insult you agian like I did in your blog's comments section.
Mr. Bocks,
please stop using my name. i do not find it to be very funny. i am contemplating a restraining order against you for the unlawful use of my name. if i get the restraining order, then you will be court ordered to stay 500 feet away from my name at all times.
concerning your recent blog entry. it has not persuaded me into starting a blog, like you said it would. it has reenforced my decision to not have a blog.
sincerely,
the real Kevin McMasters
Mr. McMasters
I don't know what you are talking about.
My psuedonym is Kevin McMasterson.
I accept your apology in advance.
James Bocks
a.k.a. Kevin McMasterson
Well, what a strange honor. I agree most blogs are worthless. When I started I wanted to blog 5 times a week. Now three is a good number but sometime 4 if the mood hits. (of course I'm not always here)
But I might not have read this if I hadn't scanned down and read my name.
I think an important aspect of a blog is brevity. On this count, James is a major offender. The blog community in my mind is people with a spare moment at work who want to be entertained.
I just like the short break that allows me to do some creative writing in my day. I hate diary blogs, they just aren't interest or very true.
Hey hey hey.
I try and keep it to necassary info only.
You see how I break it up into bit size sections so its easier to read.
Great, now I'm self-consious.
For someone who does not necessarily believe in the evolution of species, I tend to rely heavily on Darwin's writings, expecially when it comes to natural selection. I believe that this theory can also apply to blogs. Just as there was a boom of internet sites at first, there is now a boom of blogs. After time, we began to cull internet sites (although plenty of useless sites remain, to be sure). The useful and well run internet sites are becoming more and more profitable while useless ones are forced to modify their structure or fold. This same thing will happen with blogs. If blogging is something you enjoy for the sake of blogging, then output should not be important. If readership is what you desire you may have to change your layout, content, advertising, ect. Eventually the blogs that remain will be around because #1- The person writing it loves to write it and needs the creative outlet,and/or #2 The person writing it desires to be read and thus puts forth a maximum effort to create a wonderful blog.
This is one reason why Diary Blogs are completely valid and will exist indefinately: The author likes writing it and in most cases doesn't care if anyone reads it or not. We probably wouldn't walk into someone's house and see a diary on an endtable and tell them their writings are worthless. In fact, most people would be curious as to what that specific person was writing about, even if they had just met them. Diary blogs are important to the people who write them and select people they are written for. Just as you would probably have no interest in acessing my school announcements for the week, nevertheless the are invalueable to me. The fact that they are posted on the web makes it easy for me to access from anywhere.
One last comment on brevity. It would seem to me that if you have something interesting to say you should say it no matter how long it takes. While the "rambling, incoherent" posts of most people are a waste of time, I look forward to intelligent, well reasoned posts.
I hope this doesn't come across as an attack on anyone: James, Trey, or anyone else. I know that what i have read of James' and Trey's work is really good and sometimes great and should be published and discussed and I look forward to seeing it in the future. Thanks for allowing me to be part of the discussion.
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