Doc said:
On line communication should never replace real life communication, and if it does then you really are obsessing too much over the internet
Before I say anything, I want to give that statement an applause.
*respectful pause*
Of course, online communication is a great thing when it can open up the world to you. And to make more friends and stuff. But there has to be a line drawn. I consider my time spent more valuably picking up the phone and talking to a friend, than sitting at the computer typing out an email or even talking on messenger. Or even - shock horror! - actually going round to a friend's house and helping them out with something! ^^
Anyway - topic. Blogs.
I always
hated the idea of keeping a journal (this is in the days before blogs, when journals were of the good old paper variety). I don't mean any offence to people who keep one, but they struck me as self-absorbed, unnecessary and, well, full of useless drivel that you would never read over and which no one else would ever read either. I had one or two attempts at keeping one out of curiosity as to why people do it, and gave up very quickly as they were so truly awful they made me cringe. And I kept forgetting to write in them.
Then, recently I read a study which said that people who journal have significantly lower levels of stress than people who don't (there were findings given but unfortunately I can't remember them ><). So I thought, Aha! maybe it's worth a try. Hence almost a week ago I started a MySpace. Which I already have trouble remembering to write in...
Well, only time will tell whether I keep up with it. But actually, there is something therapeutic in writing things down. Not because of being self-absorbed, but the actual process of putting things in words helps you to think through and rationalise. Have you not found this when you are making a post on an issue that matters to you? That while you type about it, your thoughts clarify because you have to make them understandable to your readers? I think journals work in a similar way. Sometimes, you can write something and you can see immediately that your attitude is stupid. Or that someone's behaviour is out of order. Or whatever. So if it helps the individual, that's fine. No one is asking me to read other people's blogs if I think they're full of drivel!
About the keeping in touch issue - yeah, I actually much prefer to send an email rather than rely on someone reading my blog (in fact I'm sure no one does - if they do, I feel sorry for them because they should have better things to do than read the crap that I write!). But, there is the thing that a blog isn't time-specific. You can dip in at any time, if you just think, Oh, I wonder what so-and-so has been up to lately? You can go and check out their journal. And they don't have to bother sending a round of emails to all their friends, but can just type in one place and keep everyone updated at the same time.
To be honest, the fact that I have internet access at work makes a
big difference to whether or not I keep a blog. I was joking about being "bored at work", but the fact I have all-day access does give me the time to do that kind of thing. If I didn't, I certainly wouldn't have the time at home to keep a blog.
I also used to be paranoid about personal information, but you can of course use common sense! I'm sure anyone who knew me personally would know who I am from my blog, but if you don't, you can't find out my real name, bank account details, address, or that kind of personal stuff.
I guess the upshot of my long post is that I'm indifferent one way or the other. If people enjoy to keep a blog, then good for them! And I don't care whether it's interesting to read as long as it makes them feel good. And as for myself, I don't care if I make one or not... I'm trying as an experiment... so many people do it, so there may be something of good in it, I want to see...