While I'm on the subject of not writing much, I'd like to comment on the purpose of blogging. I do this blog mainly because writing brings clarity to my thoughts. There's just something about putting words to the page that helps to crystallize things. I can't explain it, it just does. The second reason (close second) is for the community. I feel as though I've developed some real relationships with some of you in blog-land (I can't stand the word 'blogsphere'), mostly in the comments on other blogs. This community has expanded my mind, forced me to learn new words and phrases (emergent church for example) and generally helped me see the greater world outside my own.
The second reason, though, sometimes seems to conflict with the first. Because you, dear reader, are out there I feel this pressure to perform. I need to keep writing or you may go away. Not only that, but I've got to write something substantive, at least once and a while. It can't be all fluff about the new Hyundai Sonata, you deserve more! So at times like this, when I don't have much to say, I get a little servous that I'm not living up to my commitment to you.
Some would say, forget the readers, this is your blog for your thoughts and ideas. But you see if it were only about me I wouldn't have a blog, I'd have a diary. I want others to see it, I long for someone to read it and tell me what they think. A little confession here; sometimes when I post something I think is particularly good, I find my self checking in every hour or two to see if anyone's commented on it. Pretty pathetic, huh? I'm usually disappointed, which is frankly good for my humility.
I'm not sure where I'm going with this. I'm not trying to complain, just commenting on this odd idea of continually writing my thoughts for the entire world to see. It's nothing that other bloggers haven't felt or even written about, but it's on my mind, so I wrote it down. I'll be back in an hour to see if you have any thoughts. :-)
salgoud-
I understand what you mean about community, and about incessantly checking for comments. I do the same thing with my comments on others' blogs I don't even have one of my own, and even if I did, it probably wouldn't keep me from overposting at RC...
It's not pathetic, though. Behavioral psychology has something called the random reinforcement schedule, and it's one of the most effective types of reward systems. That's why fishing, slot machines, and blogging are so addictive. You never know when you're going to catch a fish, win a jackpot, or get a good online discussion going. Unfortunately for me, so is the adrenaline rush I get from a discussion that produces something a little more ugly in me: rage.
I like writing, and blogging has been helpful in a lot of ways, but the medium has its limits when things are emotionally charged. Or maybe I have my limits when things get hot…
I guess we're all just a bunch of "thought voyuers", parading ourselves about the blogscape.
Blogscape! That's so much better than 'blogshere' or my pathetic alternative - 'blog-land'.
'Thought voyuers' - that sums up the readers pretty well. Would that make us bloggers 'thought exhibitionists'? :-)
I once heard bloggers referred to as navel-gazers, since they seem to spend so much time with their own thoughts that they erroneously believe others must want to hear them too. Probably true more often than not on most blogs, mine included.
I also feel your tension between writing for me and writing for others. It's a complicated mix of both. But then isn't that true of all human language or speech? I mean, most of the time when we talk we talk to hear ourselves say stuff, and we never know if the "listener" is actually understanding us or cares about what we're saying. Yet on we babble!
I bet some (or several) grad students in anthropology or linguistics are working even as we type on their dissertations about blogging as a novel form of human discourse.
Hey salguod,
Thanks for the comment on my site, I appreciate it. I have changed the intro message a few times changing from I hope everyone reads it to I hope nobody reads it. Turns out, I've landed in the middle. I've had folks from all over comment, including one from Gordon Ferguson when I wrote about his column "Unintentional Deprogrammers".
I am also on the Leadership Group here in Omaha, Nebraska. I turned down my nomination to be a Deacon of teaching because I feel that I am still dealing with too many issues from my past to lead the teaching ministry. I was glad to pass in on to someone else for the time being. Besides, I enjoy teaching a class more than being an administrator. The other reason I declined was because I am getting married in two weeks. I figure that spending time focusing on our marriage will be more important.
Recently, I've been talking to former members of a group called the UBF. You'd be amazed how postively they have reacted to Henry's letter. They have found that 90% of it applies to them as well. Very interesting, indeed.
Always enjoy a good discussion, hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks for visiting, I hope you'll be back. I'm reading through your articles on your site and will probably have some comments here and there.
Interestingly, I too initially turned down my appointment becausse I was uncertain about where I would end up. After a bit of soul searching I was appointed a couple of months later, back in December of last year.
Our deacons were relatively inactive from their appointment last fall to late in the spring. We were jolted into action by the resignation of one of our own and his later leaving the church. I've written a bit about that, I'd love your thoughts if you have any.