06 December 2007

Why do I blog?

My friend and fellow blogger, Bethany of The Good. The Bad. The Ugly. recently asked this question of herself and then answered it. She challenged her readers to figure out the answers for their own blogs. Ever since I've seen the post, I've been wanting to respond with my answer. This is my third attempt to do so. The last two were deleted before they could even be called posts.

I think I can now finally sit for two minutes and put my thoughts together. So without further ado...Why do I blog?

Hmmmm. I don't know. Just kidding. I love to write. I love variety. Together they make the perfect combination for this thing called blogging. Originally I started in order to practice the skill of writing. I've wanted to write a book for years and have started probably half a dozen, but that's it. I've only started them. I can't seem to find "the book" that I want to write. I'm not sure what it is that God is preparing me for, but I really believe that writing is part of it. I figured in the meantime I would just write...so here I am.

Along the way, new reasons that I didn't foresee have popped into my "why." I have discovered that a number of my friends blog. I've been able to keep in touch and even further our friendships through this medium. Also, there is a huge sense of community among bloggers. Reading and commenting on others' posts brings new people to my own posts and vice versa. It is amazing, yet hard to believe, that people from all over the world have read my blog and that I can read the daily thoughts of someone ten thousand miles away.

In order to be completely honest I must address another reason. Keeping an online journal does touch upon the narcissistic. You have to think highly enough of yourself and feel confident enough to put your thoughts down and not only be okay with others reading them, but actually expect them to. Fortunately, that is exactly what happens all over the blogosphere. (For the record: I hate the word blogosphere.) In the end, people do care. Of course,the first people to read (and return!) tend to be family and close friends, but most blogs find their niche and slowly but surely, the people who are looking for just those words that only you can say will find you.

My final motivation is the simple act of entertainment. I really enjoy amusing others. In the end, I'm not the type to contemplate the deeper things in life and then post about them. I know others who can, and they excel at recording their thought processes and conclusions. To borrow the words of Mr. Powers, "It's not my bag, baby." Don't get me wrong, I can and do enjoy a philosphical discussion of serious issues, it just isn't my default. I automatically resort to humor and plain ol' fun. If I can make someone smile while they are reading my words, I'm feeling good about life and myself.

The quick and easy answer to "Why does Tricia blog?" is this: I do it because I really enjoy it. The long answer is everything I wrote above the last sentence. Weren't you paying attention?

p.s. What's wrong with the above photo? The answer is in comments.

7 comments:

Tricia said...

There is no possible way that I could be talking on the phone and working on two computers at the same time. I am waaaay to scatter-brained for that. One or the other, baby. One or the other. I think I am the only Mom in the world that cannot multi-task.

bethany said...

this was a great post trisha!! wow, I can't believe you gave me plugs, but mostly I am so happy that my blog made you think, that is my ultimate purpose in blogging... thank you for thinking (and blogging!).

Ellyn Canfield said...

HAha, I love this picture. I pretend I can multi-talks...and 3 hours later realize I have accomplished nothing!

crimson warrior said...

Question. Would we blog if nobody ever read them? Question. I wonder if monks blog? If so, why? Question. Would animals blog if it wasn't in their nature, given they could type(excluding cows)?

For me, it's obvious why I blog, I like people to see what I write. It's nice to know that perhaps a soul out there might be interested in hearing your thoughts. It also gives one an opportunity to organize thoughts before presenting them to the world, instead of just sounding like an idiot all the time in public.

Tricia said...

#1 - i think most would not. the ones who use the blogging interface merely as an organizational too, would. #2 - are monks really so different than everyone else? if no, refer to #1, if yes, got me. #3 - i think desire determines whether one does something or not, despite nature. so if those animals wanted to, then yes, i believe they would. i find your exclusion of cows interesting. is it because they are above blogging or below?

the only way i could have possibly enjoyed your comment more is if you had used the word "query" instead of "question."

crimson warrior said...

two things. One, the reference to the exclusion of cows was a play on the ever-loved book titled "click clack moo, cows that type." Two, using the word question actually comes from a reference to Dwight Schrute from the office. I actually use that a lot in the classroom. The kids totally don't get it. I spend a good portion of my direct instruction time making references to funny skits and the kids never get it. It must be part of keeping my sanity. I laugh inside a lot.

Tricia said...

ah, yes click clack moo. i forgot about that book. my bad. i did get the dwight reference, i've just always thought query was a funnier word. dug and i are big fans of jokes that other people don't get or we don't let them know it was a joke. the best part is that the joke keeps going forever. everytime you retell it, you're still laughing because they still don't know.