Monday, July 21, 2008

Why Do Any Of You Bother?


This is a two part question.


The first part of the question is for my fellow bloggers.

Why do you blog? What is your motivation? What, if anything, do you hope to gain? Yes, I'm calling this all one question.


The second part of the question is, why the fuck do you bother to keep coming here?

Seriously!

I'm not fishing for compliments, in fact I'll probably be sorry I asked the question. But the two parts are intimately related.

I see a lot of posts and comments (even on my own blog) claiming to know "what blogging is all about".

As far as I can tell, I fail on all counts. My stats back that up. I'm a nanoscopic blip in the blogosphere.

Odd thing is, I'm totally cool with that.

Personally, I do it because I'm addicted to hearing my fingers hitting a keyboard.

It's a soothing, reassuring sound. Makes me feel like I'm actually doing something (I'm not).

I also do it because I enjoy the craft of wordsmithing. I don't claim to be good at it, I just enjoy it. I can't even estimate the number of times I've read and re-read my drafts (doing it right now), making subtle changes (so subtle you didn't even notice...I got SKILLZ!), reaching for perfection and inevitably falling light-years short. "Not bad" is a kudo to me.

I like linking to subjects that might expand the horizons of my readers.

I enjoy searching for the perfect graphic or picture to compliment whatever I'm writing about.

I'm in it for the love of being in it.

I don't expect to change any one's mind on any subject.

I'm not trying to get more visitors than any other blogger.

I'm not trying to get the most comments.

I don't care if I ever "matter".

I don't want to be "important".

I certainly don't expect to ever make money from advertisements.

I'm not interested in winning any awards.

All I want to do is express my own opinion on subjects I care about as eloquently as I can.

If anybody finds them interesting enough to read, that's just gravy.

If anybody feels compelled to leave comments on what they read, that's like, I dunno, freshly ground black pepper and a little shredded cheese on the gravy and maybe a buttery biscuit for sopping up the left over gravy off the plate.

So, that being said, back to the topic on hand...

1. Why do YOU blog?

2. Why do you bother wasting your time here?

What's it all about for you?

17 comments:

Mark Smith said...

1. Why? It's a self serving outlet. And like all the other hacks, I think Im better at it than I really am.

2. Ive wasted too much time here already. Ha !
You rant well. I read you for your rants. Being a bit of a ranter myself.

SmedRock said...

I do it because when in school it helped me to organize my thoughts, and also gave me a way to vent at the ignorance and fear I see in this world. Plus at times, I can dream, that people actually enjoy my mass of errors I posted.

Why come here, because I CAN.

Anonymous said...

Why do I come here?

Well, I started reading your comments on Gone Mild and decided to check out your blog in pursuit of some good laughs. You haven't disappointed me. I have laughed my ass off here on numerous occasions, but more than that, your blog has a personal element to it that I like and keeps me coming back.

"The D" said...

The answer to both your questions is the same: Because I want to be just like you. I want to shave my head and grow a go-tee, and become a grumpy and old man.

LOL!

Satyavati devi dasi said...

1. I blog because if I don't my skull will crack and all my brain will leak out of my ear. I have too much stuff in my head that has to go somewhere and I can't ask my husband to just sit and listen to ALL of it: I'd like for him to not leave.

I don't necessarily write so that people will read it, although it's nice when they do. I write because I need to: it's one thing I do completely for me. And I like to do it. I go back too and make sure it looks right and everything's spelled right and I have it the way I want it. And yeah, I like to find just the right picture too, although mine are mostly cartoons and yours aren't. And also because I think I write a damn good unbiased and honest equipment review. :)

2. Why do I come here? Because you're intelligent and put up a great argument. There are any number of things we will NEVER agree on, but I like to see your side of the argument and I get a huge kick out of trying to come up with something that will totally defeat you and send you crying back to mama. I've yet to hear a whimper but I know I leave a mark sometimes :)

And I'd love to know why you come around my house, actually, now that you've mentioned it.

Shane said...

I blog to brain dump...it's therapeutic and it keeps me writing.

I come here because my mom told me I should be nice to old people.

kcmeesha said...

1.I started blogging to meet women. So far the score is negative, not only didn't I meet any women, I actually lost one or two as a direct result of my blog. I keep doing for the comments.
2.I come here to reassure myself that when I get bald my life will not end.

MoxieMamaKC said...

I blog to keep the voices in my head arguing about things. Plus, as someone in marketing, I "do" creative all day. But it's not really a very creative outlet for my opinions, thoughts. I just like commenting on the world around me and I miss writing for the sake of writing. Even if it's hardly ever about anything important.

I read your blog because you're quite amusing even though we have very little in common.

Faith said...

For the cupcakes! DUH!

Oh...you don't get any cupcakes for your blogging? Oops...

Suzanne Karmin said...

1) I blog cuz I don't think my husband always listens to me, and my kids are too young for intelligent conversation beyond Spongebob and Disney.

2) I come here cuz it's interesting and sometimes funny.

Groucho K. Marx said...

1. I blog because of this implant in my skull.

2. Same reason.

3. Did I answer 1 & 2?

HeHe-

-Groucho

Anonymous said...

I'm gonna have to go with the D on that one.

Poodles said...

I blog because the voices in my head tell me to.

I read your blog because they tell me not to. I'm kind of a rebel like that.

Anonymous said...

1. Pure id. I get to be the asshole my conscience wont let me be in real life.

2. I came for steak and blow job day. I stayed for the stories and rants. The toilet one from a few weeks ago? Pure Gold. Re commenting? Often commenting isn't a matter of not having anything to say for me. If I don't comment it's usually because I had to read you with a kid in my lap and typing wasn't an option....

Spyder said...

YOU ASSHOLE! If I have nightmares tonight it will be because of that photo! You better turn your phone off because if I do I'm calling you.

1. Garbage in, garbage out, improve my english.

2.Because I think you're hot! shhhh don't tell my husband. But you know I think he has a man crush on you.

Jay said...

Why? Thats a good question considering I have not blogged forever!

No. 2 Your the king of blogs, right next to The D of course!

GB, RN said...

1. I blog because I also get cupcakes.

2. I come here because it's good to know there is one other person who is as bitter as I am.