A blog, or Weblog, is basically a Web site that has constantly changing content. The Oxford American Dictionary defines a blog as “a Web site on which an individual or group of users produce on ongoing narrative.” Instead of the more traditional, static Web sites we are used to (where the content remains the same), people constantly add new posts to their blogs and often update them daily — producing an ongoing story or narrative of their lives or thoughts. On most blogs, not only can you go and read the posts, but you can also leave comments and get involved in conversations on the blog.
Regarding reasons for blogging, he says:
There can be many reasons to start and maintain a blog. It can help you become more mindful of random things in your life; random events or certain conversations can turn into potential blog posts to help you continue those conversations or reflections with others. For people who process better by thinking and writing, a blog can be a great place to give yourself the space and time to do just that, and share it with others. Blogging can also help connect you with others...
I began this blog in October of 2005, but I believe I was originally encouraged to blog by Tom a couple of years prior. When he first told me I should try it I thought it was silly. I can remember telling him, "I already get enough criticism, why would I want to do something that would open me up to more?" But, he set up a group blog for me, him, and another guy as we worked through a devotional together (was it Augustine's Confessions? I can't remember). Anyway, it didn't work very well. Then Brian set up the Emerging CGGC blog, and that was my first real leap into the blogging world. Shortly thereafter I set this one up - with some help from Brian.
I probably began blogging as a way to process my thinking and as more of a personal journal. But it has become much more of a social aspect of my life than I ever expected. Now I can't imagine not having it. I appreciate the people who have commented over the years, and who make it seem like more of the proverbial 'coffee shop' as others have suggested blogs are. It's amazing when I think of the friends and acquaintances I've made - all because of blogging. I am definitely glad I finally went ahead with it.
So how about you... when did you begin blogging? Why did you start? Who was it that encouraged you to do it? I'd be interested to know.
ht to tsk for the blogging 101 post.
6 comments:
I started blogging just this year. I have been running to private email groups since 1995 (one is a "salon" on politics, current events, environment, whatever; the other is a bunch of burned out software engineers), and through that had been writing pretty much daily. But I wanted to get a bit more "intentional" in my writing and that meant getting it out of a small circle of friends and onto a larger stage where, even if no one reads it, I have to think someone MIGHT, and therefore take a bit more care with it.
But as with you, the thing that has surprised me most is the social aspect of it all. That was actually quite an eye opener, because I didn't read blogs much before I started my own (common experience, I wonder?) And yet I very quickly had a group of people I read regularly, and commented on their blogs, and vice versa, and suddenly here we are, with me in the middle of Missouri regularly laying claim to some of your attention for no reason other than I found your blog and liked it and comment on it. Go figure.
And speaking of the social aspect of blogs, make SURE you participate in Kat's challenge today - http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheSecretLifeOfKat/~3/187165795/
I already have, I think I was the first (and I claimed the easiest quote, too! :-)
I was a hold-out also. I couldn't imagine what I was going to write about myself on unending cyber-media. As you know, I came from the defunct BBS (Bulletin Board System) world, where you set up a computer with a modem to answer calls, one at a time mind you, then that person could get e-mail, post to pre-configured message boards with different titles to encourage a topic, although the conversations always strayed. Then they would hang up, and the next person would call in. I was both a user and an administrator of a BBS. I had about 250 accounts on mine, with about 50 regular users--a lot of the friends I have today I met that way. I've also met some rather EVIL people that way. In short, BBSing was a microcosm of what was about to come on a global scale. There's less interaction with blogging, but I still enjoy it. I can especially see it's affectiveness if I had a message to get out. But right now I think the only message I'm getting out is that I'm schizophrenic. :D My blog started in January of 2006. At first I thought I needed to soapbox or say something very interesting to justify posting a message, now it's turned into this Seinfeld-ish journal about the smallest minutia in my life. It's very apparent in my blog that I can type faster than I can think. Blogs are better than the old BBS converation is one way, though. Because it's basically an online journal, you can get a feel for how a person thinks. Well, not everyone, there are some COMPLETE posers out there who use their blog just to TELL people what they should think about them, "I'M COOL AND INTERESTING! REALLY!" But when you catch a good blog like this one, where people really are typing stream-of-thought with all their moods mixed into it, you see a common human condition emerge that is... reassuring.
Hey Dan,
For the first six months or so of my "blogging life", it was totally anonymous; I wouldn't even give the link to my husband or friends. The funny/silly thing is, I wrote it from the beginning as if it were being read.
I began in the first place because a young friend of mine asked me to read hers; it looked like a fun outlet, so I began my own in response.
Sometime later, totally naive about "what" was out there, I joined Blogging Chicks; I didn't even know/understand what a blogroll was. From that, a few people started posting comments...and I was addicted to the conversation.
I can't remember how I found your blog way back then, but I know during my first year or so, I would read a fair amount of a person's blog before commenting...then I'd go comment crazy (lol, yeah, you know about this). I laughed at MR's comment above re: the Seinfeldian reference...that's how I view mine, too. It's part journal so I can REMEMBER stuff (and on more than one occasion I've checked my blog for recall); but the friends I read also 1) give me a different perspective (EVERYONE in my life is at least a professing Christian; on the blog, there are people who read me who are decidedly not....); 2) to introduce me to thoughts, ideas, conversations I wouldn't have otherwise.
There is a community you become a part of and it's just as real to me as my friends IRL. I do care about my peeps and there have been several opportunities to share Christ with them...even though my blog is purposefully not a "GodBlog".
Ok....enough of my ramblings :). Easy post to chime in on, though.
I started nearly 3 years before you did and you've posted over 3 times more than I have. I guess we now know who the real manure spreader is. :P
Jim,
Thanks for the history. Glad you switched to blogging. :)
MR,
I like the "reassuring" aspect you pointed out too. Kinda like... "we're all in this together." And I can totally relate about typing faster than I can think. **it happens.
Robin,
You are definitely the most *noted* person in blogland here. I still remember freaking out over someone starting to comment on all my posts ...starting at the beginning! But you helped me take my blogging to new levels, so... thanks!
Tom,
Well... what can I say. As I wrote earlier - **it happens. :) See, you're too worried about making sense. I just write the drivel!
Thanks for chiming in on this - those of you who did. I was actually hoping for a few more people, but.... I know, I know. Actually, Jane told me she tried to leave a comment but it wouldn't let her. Not sure what's up with that.
I'm holding out for Jane's comment, I want to see it.
Post a Comment