Why Do You Blog?
Recently, I was sitting in on a LYS knit night when the woman across the table said that she didn't "get blogs." I started to speak when I realized that she wasn't finished. She proceeded to say that she thought they were stupid and what crazy person would spend their time blogging. I had the internal debate - respond / don't respond, let her have it/let it go, pick a fight / be the bigger person, etc. Ultimately, I said nothing. No one else did either. I suspect that most of us in that room knew a blogger or two, if we weren't one ourselves. I know that we knew there wasn't any reasoning with her. Her choice of words and tone of delivery made that crystal clear.
Driving home, I had the argument I had refrained from in the store. She isn't the first person I've met to question the purpose or importance of blogging - just the first to be close-minded about it. That attitude alone is enough to push my buttons.
So why do you blog? I'm defining the verb "blog" as writing or reading blogs. Any topic, any frequency, any number of blogs.
Itcan does take a chunk of time. Tracking thirty blogs a day could easily pass an hour of time. Writing a well thought out post takes just as long if not more. Pulitzer prize winners might take less, but then again maybe more. This is time not spent with family or friends. Time not spent doing whatever it is that ignites our passion - reading, knitting, sewing, etc. Time not spent doing more so called constructive activities such as dusting or balancing the checkbook. Time better spent according to some.
So why spend the time blogging? I've thought of a few answers I would have given that woman. A sense of community, inspiration & creativity found in the works of others, a place for self-expression, a way to remember what has been accomplished, a source of encouragement for what is yet to be, and so much more.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. What would you have done in my place? What would you have said - in the store or in the car on the way home?
Driving home, I had the argument I had refrained from in the store. She isn't the first person I've met to question the purpose or importance of blogging - just the first to be close-minded about it. That attitude alone is enough to push my buttons.
So why do you blog? I'm defining the verb "blog" as writing or reading blogs. Any topic, any frequency, any number of blogs.
It
So why spend the time blogging? I've thought of a few answers I would have given that woman. A sense of community, inspiration & creativity found in the works of others, a place for self-expression, a way to remember what has been accomplished, a source of encouragement for what is yet to be, and so much more.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. What would you have done in my place? What would you have said - in the store or in the car on the way home?
posted by Jae at
5:43 PM
17 Comments:
I like having the outlet...not to mention it gives me someone/thing to be accountable to for my goals.
Snap.
ditto
When I had to stop teaching I lost my network. Now I have another one, different, but wonderful!!! Instead of 32 faces lookin up at me every day, I look people up instead..plus what everyone else said!!!!!!! Oh, and I get to indulge myself with Labrador pictures!!
Hmm, I probably wouldn't have said anything either. But my snarky self would've been thinking, "I blog so I can communicate with more open-minded people than *you*..."
I blog because it's a space to organise my thoughts - and to communicate with a range of people I've met across the world - whom I would otherwise never have encountered.
I also contribute to an online forum (not about knitting) - on my blog I can be entirely self-centred without causing offence - there, not so much.
It's the human need to communicate and make a connection. I love my family, but they are a bunch of muggles. I need to communicate with other people who share my passion for knitting.
When I first found knit blogs on the internet, my knitting universe exploded open. There was so many new things to learn and see. Now I have a blog and it's well worth the effort to have input on my projects and to hopefully entertain a little.
I think I would have kept my mouth shut in the store too. There's no reasoning with somepeople.
to share, and learn, and discover more about myself, to offer my whole embarrassing self to people who care enough to read, to put my stuff out there and find out what people think, and to be honestly amazed when they like it.
I would probably have kept my thoughts to myself, I wouldn't have wanted her critiquing my blog, unless I was feeling ropey, then I would have made a couple of choice comments - and felt bad later. I like our community, sometimes I forget that not everyone blogs - and thats ok.
Hello sweetie :) I would have done the same as you, I wouldn't have answered her... She couldn't understand... it's deeply something we need or love and maybe we don't have to justify it ! I blog because I like to "meet" so much friends all over the world, because I love to share, and love to discover so much beutiful things on other blogs ! It feeds me. And it's not because some stupid people would told it's because I'm not happy LOL I'm married to the wonderful husband on earth and we have the most lovely and nice boy. I'm happy, we're happy... And all of us on these blogging world are happy to share happiness, and carftiness LOL Don't you think ?!!! Smooches from Belgium !
I have so many reasons I won't put them all here - suffice it to say that it answers my needs for creativity, for communication, for fellowship, for gadgetry, and for words, of which I can never have enough
Blogging, to me, is just another creative outlet. I enjoy writing my blog, reading others and the interaction. I'm geographically isolated from other knitters so the blogging community is very important in my world.
I have quite a problem keeping my mouth shut. I probably would have laughed and said I blog. I do it because I want to, and if someone doesn't want to read it, they don't have to. I have a place to go on and on about my life without my poor family having to hear about yarn and dyeing and knitting patterns all of the time. Plus, it helps me keep track of what I'm knitting, or what I want to knit.
Or maybe I'd think all of that. Who knows?
I'm a new knitting blogger, and I love to do it and read other blogs. If no one else reads my blog I at least have a pretty good record of not just FOs and pattern notes, but also information on how I liked knitting something or how I got stuck, etc. I have found reading other knitters' blogs a source of inspiration and comraderie. I'll become a better knitter through blogging and maybe even a better person.
I would have probably said something to the knitter but in a sneaky way such as "It's too bad you don't ever blog. I find so many interesting ideas and comments on patterns and yarn. I really have found it indespensible." That way I can give a positive blog opinion without being defensive or putting the non-blogger too much on the defensive.
that woman was beyond hope.
i love blogs, and have met (both online, and in person) many friends through their blogs.
it's a fun way to meet other like minded people from all over the world, like penpals were years ago.
where i live there aren't many knitters and spinners nearby.
plus it's a fun way to chronicle my crafts, i can go back and check what needle size, etc. i used for a project.
too bad that woman had no idea what she was missing!
Most of the people I knit with here don't blog or get it either, but ... oh well. If I didn't blog, and if you didn't blog, and Kim didn't, I wouldn't have had such a great roommate at Stitches Midwest this year, and we wouldn't have had nearly as much fun.
I guess it is hard for some to understand that this 'virtual life' can be just as real and fulfilling in friendships as up close and personal friends, and that there is a lot to be learned and gained from increasing your circle.
PS I commented yesterday here but it didn't show up. hmmm?
I agree with so many of the previous comments. Blogging has enriched my life in so many ways. I've been reading blogs for only a few months now, but in that few months I've learned more about knitting than in all of the years I have been a knitter (since the age of 6, which is more than a couple of decades ago :-))
Since reading blogs, I have tried many new techniques, used different needles, ordered yarns from various online sources and participated in exchanges (well, just one so far, but there will be more), etc.
I have only been writing a blog for just a couple of months, but I love it. I love having an opportunity to share my work and knowledge, and to hopefully inspire others as I have been inspired.
And even when nobody else in my life understand my obsession, I know that other bloggers do!
I probably would have defended blogging, but I have trouble keeping my mouth shut, even when I should :-).
Bloggers provide a virtual knitting ring. I work long hours and so I don't have the benefit of going to a knit group on a regular basis. That means that when I can snatch an hour or or there for reading, I can see the projects that people are working, find their fixes for a pattern and learn more to improve my knitting skills. I would have told that lady how grateful I am that there are bloggers out there who spend the time to educate other knitters and help us hone our craft with the benefit of their knowledge.
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