Since my study induced blogging hiatus has temporarily ended for a short while I thought I would talk about a topic that has been bothering me for a long time now. I’m particularly proud of my blog, it means a sentimentally large amount to me but when the time comes for me to talk about it in real life I tend to get quite shy and feel very geeky about the topic. People seem surprised that I blog (possibly because I’m awesome and it’s as though they can’t believe I blog) and seem to snigger about the concept. It makes me wonder though that considering these people spend hours on Facebook every day why am I the one to be derided at about blogging?
I think the problem is the major misconceptions that people have about bloggers. When I told a colleague that I blog his response to me was: “what, do you talk about how you woke up in the morning, went to the toilet then brushed your teeth?”. For some reason the common idea is that blogging is all about having an online “Dear Diary” session. Frankly that conception annoys me greatly!
I know that ultimately I cannot be compared to an investigative journalist who reports on facts but what’s the difference between myself and a normal opinion piece in a magazine? Before you tell me: “Saul, you’re being a narcissist here” think about it. I mean the only real difference is a proof reader/sub-editor which I unofficially have. Bloggers opinions are often very well informed and much more relevant in terms of time frame than a newspaper or magazine.
Does anyone have any ideas on why blogging is considered second rate (especially in South Africa) compared to other Web 2.0 concepts such as social networking? Surely the debate and opinion of thousands of individuals is vastly more useful than say Super Poke?
PS: Shout out to Tal as promised!
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Hey Saul,
I think there is alot of stuff that you’ve pushed in to this post.
First thing is that some bloggers hate the fact that they are considered as “journalists” while others pride themselves. It really is a matter of where you want to be placed.
Secondly, I have really experienced the opposite of what you have. I have had formal press passes as a blogger to various events (tech, launches, gaming, political and other) and have actually been offered many jobs via my blog. Thus I think I can say that bloggers are being taken more and more seriously at a very fast rate here in SA.
On top of that, I have to point out that you are writing a very “serious” post on your blog, but then at the end you give us a “Shout out”… this is unfortunatley not too “Serious” and loses some of the punch of a serious blog post that had potential.
But that’s just my rambling opinion as everyone knows I have a way of making myself look like a top class tit who takes himself too seriously (another major blogging flaw)!!
Hey dude, many nails hit on many heads in this piece!
I myself do, and yet, do not consider myself a blogger. I’m more of a free-scripter who blurts out whatever I want to, when I want to.
In 20 years, blogs will be as common place as cellphones are amoungst the youths now-a-days..
Blogging is social networking – for the semi-skilled and the creative. Facebook is nothinig more than a blog, connected to another blog, commected to, yip – another blog.
People are scared of what they don’t understand. Facebook’s easier to understand that wp-admin
As for blogging flaws, I don’t think that you can inflate an ego anymore than its original size.
Can you imagine how AWESOME it’s going to be, reading content you wrote 30 years in the past, with all your childish (not to be taken the wrong way – but you know that coz you have a good idea of how my head works
) stylistic comments/writing styles.. Ah I can’t wait. I’m going to be the coolest fucking 90 year old in the retirement home – telling (reading off my blog) stories to my fellow, dying elderly peers!