October 30, 2007...9:21 am
It’s The Blog Post About Blogging On A Blog…..
I was reading some of my favorite blogs in an effort to avoid the writing I need to do and came across Michelle’s Post about blogging. And it got me thinking.
I have an author friend who HATES blogging. The whole visiting one blog and another. Yet, I love it. As I’ve said, I follow blogs as closely as some follow Survivor. But it’s a catch 22 for authors.
Dayna and I were discussing this this morning. There are some things you just “shouldn’t” do on a public blog. Don’t trash your editor or publishing company. Don’t get TOO personal. (Some readers are WAY turned off by the TMI factor). And don’t be boring. How the hell are we supposed to accomplish that? Who knows.
But then again, I’m such a small fish in a small pond who is really going to care if I reveal my political leanings or my family’s insanity? Well, then you run into the “IT’S ON THE INTERNET FOREVER!”. Imagine being the next Nora Roberts (stop laughing!) and having a reader “repost” a lovely blog page when I was revealing my age. GASP! NOoooooooooooo!
Okay, yes, I’m being a bit silly. But I wonder. Would you continue to read a blog if you found out their political leanings were different? How about their religious persuasion? Or sexual practice?
For me, I can’t “trash talk” (except for Sony). I do try and keep the “Flame War” aspect of my personality to a minimum. (And it’s there, believe me.)
What do you think? Where is the line between “boring” and “foolish”? Can one be interesting without being snarky?
6 Comments
October 30, 2007 at 10:34 am
I don’t mind reading blogs written by people with different political and religious beliefs than mine. However, if it isn’t a political or religious blog, then I think you should keep those types of opinions to a minimum. I have quit reading one blog because the author is very political, and I don’t agree with her politics, and every other post lately is about politics.
As far as how much you reveal, I think that depends on your individual situation and comfort level. I have no problem with the internet as a whole knowing my age, seeing my crazy, etc., but I post things on my blog that I wouldn’t want coworkers, for instance, to find. Hence the alias. I’m not trying super-hard, just hard enough that acquaintances and potential employers (another consideration) can’t find me by searching my name or various details. If they are just roaming the blogosphere, I guess they could find and recognize me, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. Most of the people I work with aren’t very bloggy-type people anyway….
I think that you have to be authentic and honest, otherwise, what’s the point? On the other hand, if I become well-known or famous someday, I would like to be merely embarrassed or uneasy about the republishing of blog posts, not horrified, humiliated or arrested………
October 30, 2007 at 10:40 am
It’s interesting that you would bring that up just now. I was a little surprised at your response to my last comment until I thought about the non-verbal factor. I remarked abouth the CLEVERNESS of the names you give you loved ones - not their need for anonymity. But you could not ” hear the tone in my voice” as I formulated that thought. So I was not successful in conveying my message.
This long-winded ( sorry ) narrative was to illustrate how DIFFICULT it is to simply interact - without all the implications of revealing too much - in such a public forum. I believe you CAN be very interesting without being snaky, vulgar or too revealing. After all, this entire space is about you. And I find you very interesting!! Nope - nothing boring here!
October 30, 2007 at 10:43 am
Well, I probably get a bit personal with my blog posts, but since I don’t have the mega-drive that you do on writing, I have to post SOMETHING
I try to stay away from posting stuff that might be too ‘deep’, and instead go for important highlights of my life. I try to keep it light, funny and screen-lickable for you too 
Much like my writing, I can’t take life too seriously either…at least when it comes to blogging.
October 30, 2007 at 1:53 pm
My broadband has stopped working, so not much blogging or surfing for me until it gets sorted! Sob!
Sorry, that didn’t really answer your questions - I just needed to moan! (hehe)
October 30, 2007 at 2:15 pm
My thoughts parallel those of verybadcat . . . I try to be authentic and honest without spilling too much. I maintain a bit of a privacy, but I suspect it would be pretty easy for someone to find out exactly who I am if they wanted to - I really don’t have anything to hide and I find the world more interesting when I open myself up to the outside. With that said, I am exposed (at times barraged) by very proprietary information about the crab and pollock industry in Dutch Harbor, and I have signed a non-disclosure agreement with my employer . . . . there are times I just mutter “man, Opilia would love to know this” and keep my mouth shut. I respect commercial fishermen and women and was a deckhand myself for a number of years to put myself through college, but the folks I admire out here are the ones that stay here year round and contribute to the community . . .
Ultimately, my blog is for my family, a daily love letter to my brother, my Dad, my sisters, nephews and nieces, and my two sons whom I miss daily. People who read my blog regularly are a bit of an extended family for me for that reason, and my blog will always be a bit personal for that reason as well. On my other blog I used to wander into the deep philosophical end of the pool sometimes but Sense of Place is just light and fun and thanks for reading . . . .
October 30, 2007 at 3:03 pm
That’s kind of where my mind was going VBC. I don’t mind reading an occasional political rant or whatever, but perhaps variety is the key. For example, if EVERY post I had was on my writing struggle and nothing else, perhaps it wouldn’t be as interesting.
Cris, I can completely agree with you. Sometimes I blog something and I wonder if the “tone” is missed.
And yes, Sue. Your posts are often lickable.
Of course, I was completely FREAKED OUT when the Minister’s Wife said she’d read my blog.
Another case of different strokes…..
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