I'm not sure. All kinds of cool ideas about blogs fill my head every day, but when the rubber hits the road, or rather my fingers hit the keys, I'm just not convinced that what I have to say is worth the trouble. I see these bloggers that have 32 comments on each post and I think, who in the world are these people and don't they have anything better to do? And not only that, but who has that many people interested in their lives? I mean, most people have, oh I'd say at least 3-5 people who would actually be interested in the sometimes interesting but mostly mundane things of their lives. Some lucky individuals (like Carissa) have many, many more. But 32?!! Seriously. I can't even get my own mother to actually get on the internet long enough to read my blog. I don't even think I have 32 friends! And now I ask myself, who is more pathetic? Me, with my tried and true small circle of friends, or the socialites with 32 comments, zillions of posts, and nothing better to do? I'm not sure. And if you are one of the tried and true who do read my blog, I thank both of you for your time and occasional comment. Yes, you both mean a lot to me and I hope that I tell you that. Because really, the blog's for me. I could fool myself into being convinced that it is for others to let them know how I'm doing or what I am up to, but really it's just a way to fill time and space with whatever I need to let out of the many manomanias inside of me. (if you haven't looked up that word yet, you should. and then tell me if I use the word right) So for putting up with that, I thank you. Please know that if you are indeed reading this, you are appreciated.
Here's a thought that would do me good to ponder...
You can make more friends in two months by becoming more interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get people interested in you. --Charles M. Schwab
4 comments:
Hmm... that quote is one to ponder. I've heard it before, but when read in the context of the whole blog phenomenon, it just kinda makes you stop and reconsider. At least it did me.
Is it possible to show interest in other people through a blog?
I think so. But I think it's hard. Blogs tend to be very one-sided, and that one side is often focused on the writer of the blog. Not that this is essentially bad. Just that, it happens. And so it could be easy to come across as "Look at me! I'm so special! Everyone should come and read all the brilliant things that I said!", even when that's not at all the intent the writer has.
Thankfully, none of the blogs I read come across that way. And hopefully the blog I write doesn't either.
I like blogs that portray real life in ways that I haven't noticed or experienced before. They capture the essence of people and existence and get me pumped up about exploring, adventuring, being alive. It can be something as simple as a trip to the grocery store, and yet, hidden there in such common everyday experience can be a transcendant moment. And I think that is a form of showing more interest in other people than in oneself. And I like that.
I hope you don't mind me invading your tiny blogspace, Mrs. Kleven. I'm in a writey kinda mood, so I'm making the rounds of the blogs and leaving comments in my wake.
And, sorry to disappoint you, but more than two people read your blog.
For me, blogging is definitely partly about filling up time, but also, it's helping me stay in touch with my friends better. I'm pretty bad about keeping in touch, so being able to read about what's going on with my friends and tell a little about what's going on with me makes me feel like I'm at least doing something... So... did that have anything to do with anything? I'm not sure, but I think that quote is all too true, and all too often forgotten. (At least by me.)
I'm with Angela on this one. It's a keep-in-touch-with-your-scattered-around-the-country-no,-world type of thing for me.
I also think it's very funny that you said to look up the word monomania, because I've been meaning to for awhile now, but still haven't. So I'll get back to you. :)
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