Thursday, January 01, 2009

Why Do You Blog?

While I have my fundamental hypothesis about why people blog, I am now interested in some empirical evidence. To that end, I invite visitors to comment and let me know why they blog.

50 comments:

C-dell said...

I Blog because I have ideas and Views about politics and the human condition. I have no one to talk to about this so I blog to get to get these views and ideas out. I also do it to grow as a person by learning from what people say in resonse to what I have to say.

Dan said...

Mrs. Joseph, I love the title of this blog (I agree that this is what it's all about -- not the blog, but life).

I blog because I want to make people laugh. I think the world would be a much better place if people stopped taking themselves so terribly seriously. And sadly, the blogosphere seems FILLED with people taking themselves too seriously!

I want to turn the tide with my own little corner. ;)

Robin said...

When I first started to read about this whole 'blog' thing several years ago in the literature for young adult librarians, I began my own blog in order to figure out how it all worked. Mostly, I wanted to know the ins and outs to know how to encourage students to stay safe while blogging.

Now I blog to entertain and inform my family and friends. But mostly, I've become addicted to reading other people's blogs. Some of them are fascinating.

DirkStar said...

I blog to make people smile in a world that too often makes us scream...

Steven said...

Boredom.

Oh, and to pretend like I really have friends. ;)

Steve~

Dave said...

Hi,
This is Dave. Just wanna tell you, the link to my blog is
http://daveshappyworld.blogspot.com
not http://daveshappyplace.blogspot.com

Just thought I'd let you know.

As always, it's been a pleasure.

Dave

Vivalacrap said...

I blog to keep myself from going on a killing spree.

Anonymous said...

First of all -- thank you everyone who has participated. On a more personal note:

C-Dell -- I hope your blog is providing you with the dialog you seek.

Oscar -- provocative thought. I notice that when I post on Mrs. Joseph's Kitchen I tend to rely on what I think represents either end of the spectrum -- my strengths (to garner admiration, I suppose) or my weaknesses (to garner sympathy, I suppose). That's the human condition.

Dan -- Thanks for the compliment. Good for you about making people laugh. While I certainly appreciate the humor of others, I find it very hard to be funny myself.

Robin -- how do you find the blogs you read? "next blog" button? blogrolls of others? searching blogger? Do you usually leave comments?

Dirk star -- good for you. By the way, my husband is interested in knowing if you are really Frank Zappa.

Steven Novak -- Perhaps you need to feel more loved.

Dave -- I'll fix the link. Thanks.

Starlet -- blogging is definitely a better choice than killing (although some may argue it is just a way of killing time)

Dave said...

I blog to let the world know about me. Plus, it's a time waster, and it's fun.
-Dave

Mrs. Joseph aka SackJo22 said...

Dave -- wanting to let the world know about you totally supports my hypothesis.

Dave said...

What is your hypothesis?
-Forgive me if you have stated it already, but I don't see it anywhere.(Or am I allowed to ask?)

Dave said...

Or is it that it's all about being loved?

Muhd Imran said...

I blog because:

* I want to sharpen my English language. I did badly when I was in school. I could have done better.
* I want to remember my experiences and thoughts as I notice that I have bad memory as I age.
* I am learning a great deal about other people's ordeals and how they get through them, to find my own strength.
* I want to get lost in my own thoughts from other people's and find myself again a better person.
* I love computers and surfing the Internet. Blogging is much healthier than porn.
* I get to meet friends around the world without being judged. What a wonderful tool this is.
* I get to be mature, playful, deep, flaky... anytime I want and be happy with myself; and make people happy along the way.
* Good blogging is a win-win situation to all those who blog.

Anonymous said...

Dave -- you got it. My hypothesis is that people blog because they want to be loved. I believe much of what we do is motivated by a need to be loved.

Imran MD -- thanks for your detailed list. As a fairly prudish (albeit liberal) middle aged woman, I certainly appreciate that you think blogging is healthier than porn. What do you consider to be good bloggin?

Maven said...

i like to write, so blogging fills that need. sometimes, it helps me spread yiddishkeit. other times, it helps me escape my demons. but mostly, it's an exercise in narcissism. you hit the nail on the head, lady: "it's all about being loved!"

Mrs. Joseph aka SackJo22 said...

Maven -- thanks for participating! It's soothing to my narcissitic yearnings that you agree with me.

Perez said...

I have wonder the same things..I blog because I need a place to write my thougths and unload my mind...

Anonymous said...

perez1987 -- thanks for stopping by and adding your piece. I hope your mind feels a lot lighter after you post.

zombette said...

I blog because it's a fantastic way to make $1.23 a month.

Mrs. Joseph aka SackJo22 said...

renata dumitrascu -- do you declare that money on your taxes?

PR said...

I blog for two reasons. First my personal blog, http://www.patism66.blogspot.com is there to get out all of my rants and raves.

I have recently started working on several other blogs. http://www.VoodooWhoDo.com for example, I am working on for a domain name investor, inserting google adsense links, which earns about 25 cents per click thru.

Blogs are good for search engine optimization for any website as well, because they are frequently changing content, therefore more likely to get spidered more often.

Mrs. Joseph aka SackJo22 said...

a_poor_misguided_soul -- from you and renata I'm learning about the entreprenureal blogger.

thethinker said...

I blog to publish my thoughts and to get feedback. And to combat boredom.

Desiree said...

I blog because I have some very important ideas that I want to share.

Desiree said...

PS Just an afterthought after reading the comments. Sometimes its not about being loved but about giving love.

Anonymous said...

I enjoy bloging cause it gets the jumble that is in my head out of my head. I think that is something that we all need. A little release.

Also its a place where I can just share my views with whoever wants to see.

http://ataleofonedonkey.blogspot.com/

Mrs. Joseph aka SackJo22 said...

I apologize for late responses -- my internet connection was wacked out for a while making it impossible to access the comment feature.

thethinker -- I think the desire for feedback sits squarely in my hypotehsis that people blog to be loved.

desiree -- I definitely think giving love is as vital to the love process of being loved. If you can't give loved, you probably can't be loved -- what is loveable about someone who doesn't give love or have the capacity to give love?

donkey -- self-expression seems to be a powerful drive for most people. But why do you do it on a public forum versus a private forum?

Holly said...

I blog for what some might consider to be boring reasons, but I think they are quite important... to remember the everyday things that happen in my life - for myself and for my family and friends. Memories disappear all too quickly and it only takes one sentence to trigger a lifetime of memories.

Mrs. Joseph aka SackJo22 said...

holly -- you are so right -- memories do quickly dissipate. That's as good a reason as any to blog.

Susan said...

I blog because a friend at work introduced me to it, and since I'm a bit anal about spelling, grammar, etc. I thought I'd give it a try and see if I actually had something interesting to say in addition to correctly spelling and punctuating it. I don't think I've introduced anyone to any great revelations because of what I've written, but I have enjoyed it!

Mrs. Joseph aka SackJo22 said...

susan p -- good grammar while blogging is most appreciated!

bourbouli said...

I hope my answer at elaughs got you covered :)

Donna. W said...

I blog so somebody will know I exist.

Cinnamon Girl said...

LOL! Two words for ya...
Cheap Therapy!

Dave said...

I would be delighted to link to you and shall do so now.
-Dave

wilfredo pascual said...

Dear Mrs Joseph,

thank you for your kind words. No, the wandering dog has not come yet, thank God. That will be the end of me and my writing.

There's so much to say on why I blog. The thought overwhelms me. It would take an essay. maybe I AM the wounded dog, my entries trailing with my blood, attracting all that is dark in this world. i blog so i can live with my displacement. i blog because i will not live forever. in the mean time, we nurse ourselves.

Wilfredo

soubriquet said...

Some deep answers up there. I don't know why I blog. I perhaps blog in order to find out why I blog.
I'm seriously thinking of ceasing blogging, because I can't explain why I do it.
Re: the answer 'To be loved'.
Hah. Here's an answer. If you're lovable, someone loves you. If not, a blog won't save you.
I love reading blogs, because they're a window into other worlds. Unlike other media, they're direct, unedited views, real people. Global conversation.
Therapy? No.

Mrs. Joseph aka SackJo22 said...

I want to note that I posted responsive comments to many of you -- but somehow they are no longer here. So, despite my frustration with Blogger (which I am increasingly unhappy with) I re-respond as follows:

Bourbouli -- you are covered!

Donna -- The foundation of my hypothesis is that we absolutely have an intrinsic need to have our existence acknowledged -- if you don't exist, how can you be loved?

Starrlight -- I am curious about how blogging is therapeutic for you. Is it the writing/expression? Is it the comments? Dialogue?

Wilfredo -- posterity. . .interesting. Because some people blog for the opposite -- not so much that they will be remembered, but specifically to have an anonymous forum to express themselves.

Sobriquiet -- good point. If you are loveable you will be loved. But that doesn't mean you know you are loved. Take my friend who killed himself for example -- he was very much loved, but had not internalized that he was loved, thereby living (until he killed himself) in a state of isolated, existential despair.

Becca said...

I replied to your comment asking this on my blog. I also want to add that I have another blog which is basically my online diary, for my daily record of events and random crazy stuff. So I have a different answer for that blog. I blog there because I want to be able to remember the little things, want to remember what I have done over time. Also because I want to reach out and connect with my friends. And because I want someone to care I exist.

Odoriko

Sherry said...

I blog because I feel that I can say things anonymously that I can not say to people face to face. I can explore my feelings and tell the truth as I see it without being condemned, ridiculed, or dismissed. Anyone can comment and and read, but no one really matters. It's kinda like having a shrink, but it's free.:)

Anonymous said...

I blog because i need practising in writting cos i wanna become a translater and ive been writting lets say good-enough compositions and stuff all my life.
Also, im a teen so it really helps, as someone said, cheap therapy!

Leigh said...

I blog because for myself. I have a particular goal in mind and my blog helps me journal it and my progress. I find that if I say I'm going to do something on my blog, then I feel accountable to get it done. So it helps me be productive. Plus, it's a record of my creative work.

Anonymous said...

i blog because i write poetry......it's a great place to create pages.......sort of like a book without all the hassle of finding an agent, editor etc. etc. and the readership is great.....and along the way I've found editors and friends.......but if I didn't feel this compelling need to write, I wouldn't blog..........

MARLENE said...

well,i blog here and there;at first,just several gals' crazy sharing things,ideas,pic,etc.when i blogged seriously because i met some problem on sweetheart friends then i need a place to speak it out.and a blogger this time,the initial reason is to publish my after-reading words,however,seems it grows on me ..:) who knows?

MARLENE said...

ps. it's the name of your blog that drew me here !good shot

Anonymous said...

first time here so hello there mrs joseph:-)
why i blog?
i think i wrote a post on this
it's my therapy actually
i blog so as to prevent myself from getting mad ,from turning crazy with all those wild thoughts inside of me or even simple things i cant share with people in reality or cant talk about certain things
maybe i want to expand my horizons and get to know different mentalities i dont get a chance to meet them in real life
why do u blog dear?

Mrs. Joseph aka SackJo22 said...

Dear poster in foreign alphabet I cannot read so I do not know your name:

I blog because since I was a little girl I had an innate desire to express myself in creative ways. I become exhilirated by the act of creating something -- writing, songwriting, painting -- just the creative act itself makes me feel more connected somehow to the sublime. I learned that when people appreciate what I create, I feel really good -- it makes me feel loved which I believe is the basis for many of our actions, trying to feel loved that is.

cincin21 said...

I Blog because it is cheaper than a therapist and actually much more satisfying.

I Blog because putting my thoughts and feeling into writing helps keep them from circling over and over in my head.

I blog because I am better at expressing my emotions in writing than I am at vocalizing them.

I blog in the hopes that I will be read and commented on and that I will find like minds out there.

C-dell said...

Hadn't been here in a while thought I'd stop by.

David Edward said...

so many words are rolling around inside of me, I have to put some of them to rest, and when I blog - or visit and comment - it slows me down.
it is like ( but not as good as) Therapy