Dale's Weblog

My life in a database (why blog?)

In the last few years blogs (shorten for web log, an online diary of such) have really taken off. It’s the new craze, the epitome of cool. You’re just not "hip" if you don’t have one. Okay it’s not quite to that level of cult hood, but it is getting here. What I am trying to understand is why are they so popular? I mean there is only so much *generalization alert* one antisocial computer geek can write! What is so interesting about the content anyway? I mean "I decided to do some coding on XYZ" isn’t exactly stimulating material. Although I think it goes deeper than that. Everyone wants to know what everyone else is thinking. "What do they thing about ABC?". I can see that being one of the main draw cards for blogs. They’re like a personal diary that can be read by anyone around the world. But then you have this commenting thing!? I mean really, I wouldn’t want someone going through my personal diary and writing comments about everything. "Haha you like that, you’re sooo lame". I mean geez. But that is what a blog is, an online personal diary that is there to be criticized and made judgment on. Yet people seem to like this. Is it for attention? I’m thinking that it is very likely. For example: "My god today was a bad day, I just failed my exam." And then you get 15 comments going "awww it is okay, I’m sure you’ll be fine". Is that what blogs are about? Selfish desires. I suppose it would be different depending on who you spoke with.

Some blogs can be really interesting and insightful. You feel as though you come away as a better person (okay, maybe that is going too far). Then you have some blogs that are really useful and keep you up to date with things. For example the Microsoft Internet Explorer Weblog http://blogs.msdn.com/ie. It is very interesting getting into the minds of those who are creating the software that 90% of internet users use each day. It helps you to understand why a certain thing was done. Although there is no way I would read a blog that I didn’t like. So no need to worry kiddies ;)

For me blogging is just something I do because everyone else is doing it, I’m a sheep. I would never post anything remotely personal here (sorry guys :p). Although I will talk about things that interest me, for example coding. I have been quite passionate in setting up this site to do exactly what I what. It is a simple site that effectively achieves its purpose (now this starting to sound like an English task. Language features, technologies and forms help to effectively invoke an emotional response from the reader. These features convey a central meaning that is important to both the story line and the emphasis of the characters true inner being). My god, sorry. Standard English is just such bull crap. It is the same thing over and over and over and over again. I’ve had enough of analyzing "language features" and junk like that. It doesn’t take any effort or thought. It is the SAME thing every time. BAH! English sucks0rs ;)

Anyway I’ll try and get this back on topic. Why DO people blog? What really is the purpose? I’d much prefer to ring someone (or have a one on one conversation), than read what is on their site. Although I love it. Every time my RSS reader goes "blah! New thing here" I really enjoy it. Reading blogs is very interesting and I have no idea why.

Why do you blog?