molly.com
Friday 27 February 2004
is blogging important and if so why
I was challenged recently by more than one person I know to explain and defend blogging. I had some good arguments but not enough.
What does blogging do for you?
Filed under: blogging
Posted by: site admin | 7:09 am |
February 27th, 2004 at 10:27 am
Blogging allows people to do what they most desperately need to do more than anything else on this earth…… validating their opinion unilaterally.
February 28th, 2004 at 2:30 am
I concurr with Helen C’s remarks. Some people just have nothing better to do than start, so they can win (at least to their own satisfaction) arguments about how other people should spend their time, what they should believe, etc.
It’s a much more frivolous, and less constructive, attempt at self-validation than blogging };-)>
They get into religion a lot, I’ve noticed.
February 28th, 2004 at 6:44 am
Funny you ask this question this week. I am working on a presentation that shows how blogs could be used as learning tools.
Are blogs important? To some, on a personal level yes, to others they may seem frivolous, pointless, or self indulgent.
Blogs are a way that users can store a wide variety of information. Information can also be organized, categorized, archived, and searched. All of these qualities and more. Blogs offer a way for those that are not [x]html or ftp savvy to post content to the web in a feature rich way, and with ease.
Blogs may make an ideal interface for classroom project journalizing. A teacher could set up user or user groups with login and passwords. She may turn off the ability to post directly to the web, and have entries stored as drafts before post. Some blogs have that user interface modification option and admin features control. Ideal for classroom use?
Blogs may add that extra incentive to motivate some students to write more and possibly grow a deeper curiousity for the digital medium. How does that work? How is that stored? How is that connected? And maybe, one day, that inquisitive student finds or arrives at a few of those answers, may not be completely satisfied, and finds better ways or answers. Some students have an incredible knack for dissecting what, how, why and exploring other possibilities. Usually these younger logical scientists are not afraid to experiment with a variety of ideas. I was once informed by a 14 year old, trimming items out of an OS program — *The reason we can do this, is because we are not afraid like adults are.* or something like that. And they aren’t — debugging skills, modifying, opening up the software programs and creating new ways to access the computer or connect others were part of this 14 year old’s exploration.
Blogs offer up the possibility of collaboration, too.
Blogs are only a tool. For some, blogs are silly or non-important. For others, blogs are a way of getting information out. And for still others, blogs are being explored as applications to work in a variety of interesting ways.
For myself, one of the neatest things about a blog, is the ability to store items I found with notes that I could look up at a later time[and often do].
Are blogs important. Sure, for some. Just like Flash is also important for others[especially some disability groups]. I believe we see a saturation for how something is used and discredit the item, without really thinking about the possibilities and other ways that these tools of content delivery are very important in many ways. Maybe we get bored with what we see. And maybe we need to explore and experiment more, keep that bit of child alive and well inside. Creativity and science, all connected.
February 28th, 2004 at 7:09 am
Why ever would one feel required to “defend” blogging. What one does with one’s time is no one elses’ business. Clearly, the challanger considers the effort frivolous. They will tell you how you should be spending your time given half a chance. This individual should be ignored and/or dropped.
No, I am not currently doing a blog. My interest in blogs is casual; my comment, universal.
February 28th, 2004 at 9:30 am
The point of blogging to to express oneself. One way or another, it comes down to that. Expression through design, expression through words, expression through images, etc. - it’s all reaching out to others in one form or another.
For me, blogging is a way of talking to folks about things I enjoy discussing - of sharing ideas with people I might never meet, and expanding my sphere of contact. It’s learning to write and critique my own words. It’s listening to other viewpoints whether I agree with them or not.
As far as “defending” blogging, what I do with my own time is my business. However, I’ve never had anyone ask me to “defend” blogging. I’ve been asked, “What good is blogging?”
That’s not exactly being attacked. That’s being asked a legitimate question by someone who’s unfamiliar with the subject matter. I’m always glad to have a conversation like that.
February 28th, 2004 at 10:54 am
For me basically is another means of self-expression and an outlet. A good excuse to write. My motives are selfish and personal, but everyone has their own.
February 28th, 2004 at 11:14 am
I personally blog as a method of recording my daily happenings, whatever happens in the day that I feel the need to publish. I don’t really care or mind if people I know read it, if people I don’t know read it, or if noone but myself does. It’s a vent.
February 29th, 2004 at 2:53 am
“On a Web site, a blog, a short form for weblog, is a personal journal that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. Blogs generally represent the personality of the author or the Web site and its purpose. Topics sometimes include brief philosophical musings, commentary on Internet and other social issues, and links to other sites the author favors. The essential characteristics of the blog are its journal form, typically a new entry each day, and its informal style.
The author of a blog is often referred to as a blogger. People who post new journal entries to their blog may often say they blogged today, they blogged it to their site, or that they still have to blog.”
http://searchwebservices.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid26_gci214616,00.html
February 29th, 2004 at 11:57 am
I depends on the blog.
To be honest, my personal blog allows me to vent at length (if need be) about political and social issues, without wearing out my welcome with acquaintances.
In a nutshell, it makes me a nicer person to be around. I’ve been much happier since I started blogging, though no less “angry.” My social life has improved tremendously as well.
March 1st, 2004 at 3:50 am
My blog allows me to do many things really:
1. Write about stuff I am interested in an so express my thought tangibly
2. Get to know other people. I have contacted/been contacted by a lot of others who share similar interest. So I could say my blog is similar to a social networking system
3. Get my bit of fame
4. Learn. People often leave comments on similar blog entries etc. So I get to learn quite a lot reading all those other blogs that are around.
March 1st, 2004 at 5:00 am
I’m not a big reader of Blogs, your’s is really the only one I look at regularly. The appeal though, is the opportunity for discourse, the ability to be heard. If you state your opinions in a public, permanant forum, it gives you a feeling of permanancy and belonging, a sense of community and your place in it. Your opinion counts, and even if others disagree with it, it is a validation of your place in the community.
March 1st, 2004 at 7:02 am
Hey, I am a lousy correspondent - the days of letters and notes are over for me. Blogging gives my (former) friends something to look at to track my life. What better way to see what kind of person that old high school boyfriend turned out to be? She is out there sighing with relief that we split up those many years past!
March 1st, 2004 at 10:35 am
One reason for blogging, or any type of journaling, that I think many people take for granted is that thoughts are less understood until they are communicated. Talking about an idea, whether by voice or by writing, gels the idea and gives us a better understanding of our own thoughts.
I blog because I have ideas that need to be made firm. Like many of you, I’m sure, I go back six months and read the blog and think, “I wrote *that*?? Wow, I’m a pretty good writer.” Or, “I wrote *that*?? Wow, I need to grow up!”
Of course, growing up is another issue altogether.
March 1st, 2004 at 11:11 am
You might be interested in a Web site I’m helping to develop. It’s called The World Star Gazette (http://www.worldstargazette.com/) and it’s an online newspaper that treats blog entries as news stories. Maybe it will help answer why blogging is important.
March 2nd, 2004 at 11:06 am
Sharing information… ’nuff said.
Personally, I’ve also found it to have its therapeutic value from time to time, which by itself would be a reason.
March 2nd, 2004 at 12:43 pm
It’s important (at least to me) on many levels. I find it a catharsis. A good friend of mine told me once that he released his emotions by writing a letter when he needed to vent his anger in someway, and from time to time I would do this, spend a few minutes furiously typing away letting my feelings subside and then hit the delete button. I gradually moved onto blogs although I am careful not to upset anyone intentionally unless it’s something that I feel I cannot let go without passing comment. I find them a fascinating way of getting to know people from around the world, it’s inspirational and creative.
The downside for me is that I can’t get a design that I want although it does encourage me to learn new things.
Quite simply, I love blogs.
March 3rd, 2004 at 2:49 am
Yes Sian, I had the same type of conversation with a few work colleagues of mine who “use” online dating as a means of meeting people etc.
But then my intention of my weblog was never to get to meet people “offline” as it were. (Thank God most of my readers are overseas:) ). I started my weblog to be an outlet for my madness (!) - ah - and in the beginning it was, but now, like many a thing it has “matured”, (like a good wine or a good whine - I don’t know?), but it’s become part of my natural “routine” now. I say ‘hello’ to the people who read my blog regularly, as they do to me, and I put up there what I want to say.
I enjoy it
March 3rd, 2004 at 3:42 am
Blogging is, indeed, addictive. I often find myself wishing I had another blog to house funny little things I think of. Then, of course, I would have no time to take on actual paying work. Hmm… the way I said that, it sounds like a bad thing.
I guess if someone asked me to “defend” blogging, I would say that it’s the modern equivalent of keeping a diary or, in my case, publishing your own editorial.
March 3rd, 2004 at 12:42 pm
(All of the above) +:
How many people actually meet other bloggers off the net, and then does the ‘novelty’ of learning about people, (i.e. the ’strangers’ who read your weblog), become diminished, and you become less motivated to write because now, perhaps, you actually know the regular people who are reading your blog?
Nobody has said it yet - but it is addictive…otherwise there wouldn’t be at least 17 replies to this comment
. Sadly, “blogging” tends to get misunderstood by the majority of people as one of those internet activities for “spotty youths” or webcam freaks.
I always find it difficult to “defend” blogging when the person I’m talking to has no idea - even after I’ve explained “it all”
Blogging is fun for the harmless individual - but then so is most things until someone finds another “bad” use for it.
March 3rd, 2004 at 12:58 pm
Paul - I’ve met a few, I would have met more but it takes me a while to get over my nervousness and shyness. I have to admit that my friends from work have been very supportive of my blogging efforts, especially when I’m participating in fund raising activities such as Blogathon. I actually get more grief from my best friends over it, they feel it’s more dangerous for me to meet someone whom I’ve been chatting to for a long while than them joining an online dating agency and meeting someone they don’t know. Bonkers if you ask me.
March 7th, 2004 at 10:39 am
To blog, or not to blog… that is the question? When I stopped my blog some months ago, I received many e-mails asking me to begin again… so I did.
A blog is not only good for the blogger, to let it all out, but, as I found out… readers need it too. I get about 300 or more a day.
My blog, News Blab (newsblab.com), has been going strong since Aug 2002. I hope it will continued until my death… or I’m so old I forget I have a blog.
March 8th, 2004 at 8:52 am
Blogging allows me to express myself and ‘output’ all the shit running around in my head. I sit at a computer all day and I used to spam everyone I know with all the crap I found while surfing the internet and shit going on in my life. Now I just blog it and everyone is happier.
Jason
CafeSurfer.com
April 14th, 2004 at 11:31 am
Blogging is a very positive thing for those who are disabled or home bound.
When you don’t interact with people outside, you miss the day to day conversations with others. You wouldn’t understand what it’s like to be cut off from the world until you live that way for a few years.
Blogging or journaling is a great thing for those of us who don’t see or talk to people every day. Now, it’s possible to talk about things that are important, you can toss out your ideas on things and get feedback from others, and it’s been a wonderful thing to be able to talk with people that otherwise, you’d never get a chance to meet.
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