doctoral candidate in rhetoric and scientific and technical communication
to blog or not to blog
I was talking to a friend about blogging and asked him if he had a blog. He said that he saw it as a pretentious way of people saying nonsense just to seem self-important. He then said to me, “Oops…were you going to send me a link of your blog? I’m guessing you have one and that’s where this is going.”
Well, I was asking because I wanted to know if he had one and because I would have liked to have read his views on the world around him.
It’s gotten me thinking, though. Do I blog to be noticed? Do I blog to be self-important or pretentious or to just talk?
I rarely blog if I don’t have anything to say (which is why there are often large spaces of time between entries…I don’t have much new thought to impart on the world). Heh.
I think of this as a release, though. It’s a place where I can spout off about the injustices or changes of the world as I see them and be ok doing that. I don’t need positive feedback for that but I enjoy ANY feedback on that. I want to hear what other people are thinking outside of my little circle.
–
Back to school this week. I like going back to school…it’s the back to work part that I’m not overly excited about.
Blah.
–
I’m leaving for Philadelphia on Saturday. I’ll be there for 5 days and I’m pretty excited. It’s a business trip so there will be some time for sight-seeing (well, I’ll make time). I’ve been there, when I was about 6 weeks old, but don’t, of course, remember any of it. I can’t wait to go to a museum, to see historic sites that I’ve only read about in books, and to just experience a different environment than my own. I’m really looking forward to this.
So, if any of you are from there and have any sites that you think I *should* see, let me know. If you’d like to have lunch together, I’m always up for that, as well. 
–
Have a wonderful Monday y’all.
-
-
i think blogging is a personal thing.
i would imagine (and i don’t know, since i’m not one of them) that people who imagine blogging is feeding our egos don’t get the whole picture.
when i do have something to say, and i do write it down, i feel better.
to me… that justifies a lot, that ..feeling better.
-
Not sure if you are a vegetarian or not…but if you aren’t: you MUST get a Philly Cheese Steak. MMmmm…yummy yummy.
If you are a vegetarian, a thousand pardons for the suggestion! In that case: Philly thin crust pizza is super yummy. And they make it in plain cheese. Make sure that you fold it in half before you eat it, other wise the grease will drip down your chin!
There is a great Rodin Museum if you like art and such. It is at the Philadephia Art Museum ( a fine place in its own right).
Definitely do the touristy stuff if you can. Philly is a great town. However, more than 24 hours there and you WILL sound like you’re on the Sopranos. -
I blog for different reasons. Sometimes to vent, sometimes because the joy I feel is overwhelming and it needs to be let out, too. I blog because I wish to share what I think and I like to know what others are thinking. Sometimes I blog like I was talking to a support group and the comments I get back are good therapy. ;-)
I find it sad when people label things negatively. It shows a lack of openess to life’s variety.
Have a safe trip.
-
-
personally, I think blogging takes much more than pretentiousness, or self-importance… bloggers are willing to put themself out there for the world to see.. not really knowing who will or won’t see it.. I think that is brave. Also, by sharing your insights and experiences.. your concerns with the world, you might inspire others to think, or act, or even just think about acting.. but either way you inspire something.. which is no small thing.
you inspired me to actually get a blog.. which I admit, rarely sees much action, as I am not quite brave enough….. yet!
someday.
:-)
-
- Comment Feed for this Post
When I mentioned to my brother that I have a blog for the first time, he asked me, “It’s not one of those blogs that’s a blatant cry for attention from total strangers, is it?” I think a lot of people have a sort-of negative view of blogging.
I started blogging because there were just things I felt I needed to say, and I wanted to get in the habit of writing more, even if it was just my own thoughts and ramblings. Now, a lot of my subscribers are friends, to one degree or another, so I think of it just as a one-sided conversation with some buddies. And when something’s bothering me, it helps to have other folks’ imput on the issue.
Have fun in Philly!