Hello I'm Rich Brown and this is my personal website and blog. I'm just your simple, average, down to earth, professional, out gay man and aspiring circuit boy, living in Phoenix, Arizona with a few things to say while trying to find my place among all the scary, conservative, religious nuts in this sick and twisted world.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
When Does Blogging Become A Chore?
I've been thinking about this subject for the past few days now, but yesterday was when it really hit home for me. I finally had a chance to sit for a few minutes and get caught up on my blog reading, something that in itself has become quite an overwhelming task at late, and after reading through several of my bookmarked blogs I came to realize that many people are either on blogging hiatus or simply ending it all together. I can certainly understand when people take some time off or a break from blogging since I frequently do so myself and can appreciate that others too are busy living their lives, however what I don't understand is when people just quit blogging all together, cold-turkey, like it was an addiction. Perhaps it actually was an addiction and it's just my inability to fully comprehend that fact.
I do however feel that sometimes that blogging can become a chore. Everyone knows that you're never truly obligated to do anything in this life, especially writing when you don't feel like it, but at least for me it's sometimes this imaginary mental chain that's pulling on me letting me know that I really do have an obligation to both myself and the people that read my blog to get back to it frequently and maybe even post something sarcastic or witty. Like I've said a hundred times in the past, I don't write for anyone else but myself, but we all know that deep down that's a lie. It may have started that way for me and that still holds true for the content, but do I strongly believe that once you start blogging and you create a community of people who communicate with you, read what you have to say and take some small guilty pleasure in being a voyeur in your life, you do have somewhat of an obligation to them and yourself to continue what you started.
I guess a good analogy for me would be comparing having a blog to yard care. A neglected blog is not too much unlike a neglected lawn. Now while in some communities it may be perfectly acceptable to let your yard get out of control and never tend to it, for most this isn't the case. Even though some weeks you don't feel like doing the yard work and you have a little leeway on how far you can let it go, you still have somewhat of an obligation to your neighbors and yourself to eventually get back to it and maintain it. This holds true with being a blogger. It’s a social responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. I believe that everyone always has good intentions when they startup a blog, but they sometimes don't realize that like everything else, it requires time, commitment, persistent dedication, and the realization that you’re putting your life out there for everyone else to see and criticize. Some truly forget that fact, pour their emotions and dirty laundry out like water and then want to take two steps back. A small word of advice for my fellow bloggers, if you don't want it to be public knowledge, don't put it on your blog and please tell your friends not to put it on their blogs!
Anyway, I’m rambling on here. Like I said, I can understand that blogging is a chore sometimes but for those of you that think about quitting, instead of taking the easy way out take some time off and get back to it later, you’ll be glad you did in the end. I’ve been doing this for over 10 years now and even though it’s sometimes been difficult for me to find things to write about and I’ve taken some really long breaks, I’ve never stopped posting and I’m proud of that. I enjoy going back to look at my life, the good and the bad, because it’s my life and it’s always something to read, enjoy and learn from.
I'd love to hear from some of you 400 daily readers on what you think about blogging being a chore, especially those of you that also have blogs as well.
Great thoughts Rich. I certainly haven't been blogging as long as you have (only a year and a half for me) but I can't say that I find it a chore, at least not yet. I will admit that there are days I want to post something and don't really have much to blog about.... and I'll usually just leave it and go back to it the next day.
Yes there is a certain amount of feeling "responsible" to keep the blog rolling so to speak, and I think what helps me out somewhat is that like you, I post about whatever is going on in my life or just about funny stuff. I've seen some bloggers quit because they just wore out their blog's "theme" and had nothing new left to say on that theme.
But I digress.....about the responsibity ~~ it's definitely there, I feel it when I haven't posted anything new for a few days. But I still haven't found it a chore to sit down and come up with something to post, even if it's just a few pictures. And I think my readers pretty much are all the same way and understand that. I think yours do too, even if some of them give you hell from time to time and nag you about it. That could be just because your posts are enjoyable and they miss that, you know?
For me, it started out as something "fun" to do, and thankfully I'm still having a ball with it so far. And I'm not sucking up, but I'd like to say that over the year or so I've been reading yours, I'm enjoying it more and more. It's not so much the quantity afterall, it's all about the "connecting" with friends when I get here.
Oh and as an aside....I remember HOW I started reading your blog....and I didn't LIKE you!! LOL That's a funny story....I'll have to tell you some time.
Have a great week!
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Jude @ Sunday, February 05, 2006 7:52:00 PM
*GASP* Didn't like me. How could you say such a thing? LOL. I actually think I remember it was probably when we were both reading that 'fake' blog back in the day and I made some comment to you about letting people write what they wanted :-P Maybe that's not it, but when I remember seeing your posts and following them to start reading your blog.
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Rich Brown @ Sunday, February 05, 2006 11:10:00 PM
Hugs ;)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by yadoge @ Sunday, February 05, 2006 11:33:00 PM
I think you know what I think about this, especially lately. ; )
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by potusol @ Monday, February 06, 2006 12:32:00 AM
Yup, that was it exactly, Rich! LOL I thought, "who is this *person* that jumped down my throat without 'getting' it?? So I came over here to see what you were all about, and I got hooked. Oh and hey, after that non-person got "outed", that's when things changed and I admit...I even started LIKING you! *gasp* So, you've been stuck with me ever since. I owe that non-person a thank you.;-)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Jude @ Monday, February 06, 2006 7:31:00 AM
I must admit there have been times when I have thought about not reading blogs or not updating mine but I think as long as you moderate yourself you'll be fine.
You don't have to read blogs nor do you have to write them.
As with all things like this they shouldn't dictate your life!
I enjoy my favourite blogs at least once a week and the rest when I have the time.
Looking at the stats for my Blog I can say that other people do the same. My stats are pretty consistent so I am doing something right ;)
|______________________________________________________________________ posted by Trunk Guy @ Wednesday, February 08, 2006 6:50:00 AM
