Thoughts on Blogging
A stream of consciousness (or as Honna likes to say, a scream of consciousness) led me from a comment on my most recent post down a twisty and turny pathway.The commenter, Louise (who I don't know and who apparently wishes to be unknown judging from the sparseness of her Blogger profile), posited that I wanted only Democrats to read my blog. Hmmm.
I started blogging a few years ago for no clearly discernible reason, with no specific agenda, and with no particular audience in mind. I'd always enjoyed writing and this idea of a web log of my thoughts, a sort of a journal, was appealing. The idea that it might be read and commented on by others was kind of the icing. And so "with just a bit of trepidation" (as my blog header initially stated), I plunged in.
It's been grand. Still with no particular audience in mind, and with an agenda that has evolved to include mostly family, quilting, and thinking, I'm well over 700 posts into my experiment. And show no signs of letting up. The reason for blogging now is the community aspect of it. The "meeting" of other people through reading their blogs and through the comments they leave on mind has enriched my life in a serendipitous way. I enjoy it all so much!
I think there are no universal rubrics for blogging. My own personal ones include:
...I don't leave negative or unpleasant comments on another person's blog.
...If I don't agree with another blogger's viewpoint, I don't need to tell her/him so.
...If I don't like someone's blog, I generally go away quietly; I don't see the need to petulantly announce to the blogger that I'm not going to read it any longer.
...The quantity of readership I have doesn't matter to me.
...But, conversely, I check my stat meter every once in a while and am always amazed!
...When I have a give-away, I don't give extra entries for publicizing my blog.
...I read every comment.
...I don't respond to every comment. I try to respond to a new commenter.
...I delete comments that offend me; these include racist remarks, speculations about my sex life, and marketing ploys.
...I exercised remarkable restraint when I didn't blog about Michael Jackson.
...I link to other blogs when I have something positive to say but not when I feel critical.
...I think the old conversation rule about not discussing religion or politics doesn't apply to blogs. This is my space. I'm a liberal Democrat and a fervent Lutheran with some interspersed Quakerly leanings (huh?) and these are important pieces of who I am, just as being a wife, mother, friend, and quilter are. Those subjects are going to come up on my blog; that's just how it is.
...I don't think I need to apologize for sharing my views on controversial topics.
...And I welcome a diversity of readers, Louise. I really do.
Comments
What I like about your post here is that it helps sweep away the inner-critic for me. Writing is a commitment, something we do fully.
To limit ourselves and set up boundaries for ourselves, which I personally do way too much, defeats ourselves, quiets God within and doesn't allow us to bring forth the "best" we have.
That said, my own personal rubrics for blogging is simply wayyy too Rigid (shocker) and I think I may copy you in word and deed.
I really enjoy reading your blog and come to visit it often.
I think your guidelines for blogging are excellent. I agree with them all- especially the ones about being able to accept other's opinions and not feeling the need to put someone down just because they have a different opinion than myself. I also agree that if I am no longer interested in that person's blog that I don't have to read it any more nor make a big deal about my decision not to read it.
Thanks for being willing to express your ideas and opinions. It is one of the things that keeps me coming back to your blog.
I have posted a list of blogs that I like very much - you are on it.
If you would like to see the post you can find it at http://quiltmomsjourney.blogspot.com/
Warmest Regards,
Anna
As for this member of you're audience - I'm a politically independent, fairly spiritual person (brought up Catholic) who works a dead end job. Clearly, you're readership is broad if it has room for me.
So, thank you for over 700 posts. Please keep at it. And don't let the so-and-sos get you down
I have something like this happen to me too. Don't let the blogging psychos get you down. Every now and then there is someone out there who has nothing better to do than to criticize others. A blog is supposed to be like a journal, a place for you to express yourself, and if you can't express yourself in your own journal then where can you? A part of being in the blogging world is enjoying all the diverse things this strange little universe has to offer, so don't be put off by "Louise", just do what you do and love it.
You are spot on.
Oh, and like you, I also showed remarkable restraint in not blogging about the late Michael Jackson. ;-)
... list
but then again our "lists" are similar & based upon the Previous (I am reading top down, so you write it after this one)Post that makes a lot of sense...