To Blog or Not to Blog

By digigraf
So, I'm sure that those of you who post regularly are not very familiar with my name since it rarely appears here. You see, I am one of those people who does not visit my computer unless I absolutely have to. In theory, I love the idea of a blog like this one. I think it is an amazing tool for people to get together and discuss common issues across a discipline. But as I said, I do not like the computer. I am adamantly a face to face kind of girl.
So you may be asking yourselves, "if this girl hates the computer so much, why is she rambling on in a blog about how much she hates the computer?" Well, the answer is quite simple. You see, our director has asked us to post here. That, and we are hosting the RMPTC this year and I have been asked to join a round table discussion about blogging (I am the anti in case you hadn't figured it out by now. Anti just sounds so harsh. I'm really not anti; more like I'd rather not. But that sounds offensive too. Wow, do I feel like a self inflicted jerk) Okay, so before I completely derail from the point of this post, I'll get to it (go ahead, breathe a sigh of relief; this is almost over).
I want to express my reasons for not loving the idea of blogging and I would love to hear what you all have to say. Not only will it help me in my role for the discussion, but perhaps one of you can convince me to become a regular poster. So here it is in a nutshell.

Reasons for Sam not loving the idea of blogging:
  • It takes a really long time to sort through all of the posts and feel like I am in on the discussion
  • It is harder for me to have an honest conversation when I am able to edit my thoughts
  • I am an instant gratification type of person, so I don't like having to go back and check into an ongoing conversation over the course of hours or days
  • I feel like the conversation is oftentimes fragmented
  • It takes a really long time to sort through posts, and I hate being chained to a computer (yes, this one is a repeat, but it is the big one)
  • I feel like off-the-cuff conversation can yield more, and sometimes better results than conversation that is carefully scripted
So, basically these are the major reasons for the way I feel. I would love to hear what other people have to say, and I promise to eagerly read each and every post with an open mind. Thanks for reading.
Sam from Boise

Comments

  1. Anonymous12:37 PM

    Personally, I love blogging, but I certainly understand your reasons for feeling differently. As someone far far away from all of you, I really enjoy reading this blog and realizing, "Hey, people across the country go through the same things!" I'm also able to get a feel for how consultants who are grad students or teachers react to things; all of our consultants are undergrads.

    This blog has provided me with lots to read on the slow days, a lot of laughs, and a lot of comfort. And for someone who can get a bit shy at times, I like writing down my feelings rather than saying to someone how I'm feeling. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12:37 PM

    Personally, I love blogging, but I certainly understand your reasons for feeling differently. As someone far far away from all of you, I really enjoy reading this blog and realizing, "Hey, people across the country go through the same things!" I'm also able to get a feel for how consultants who are grad students or teachers react to things; all of our consultants are undergrads.

    This blog has provided me with lots to read on the slow days, a lot of laughs, and a lot of comfort. And for someone who can get a bit shy at times, I like writing down my feelings rather than saying to someone how I'm feeling. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alisha Kamph5:00 PM

    I think that I enjoy blogging, because I like to write--yes, it's that simple, at least for me. I am really terrible at "off-the-cuff conversation," and sometimes I leave a formal conversation either feeling like a complete idiot or completely disappointed with my own lack of communication...ugh.

    Like our far-away friend here, I also am very shy. Although speaking-up about theory and personal opinion has become easier for me over the last semester, or two, I think that I am still best able to express my opinions and thoughts in writing.

    This blog has really helped to sort through many of the experiences and writers that I've encountered at the Center. I do really feel at ease when speaking to the student writers during sessions. In a small, kinda large, way this blog has acted as a middle ground between my involvement with the Center, the writers that visit it, and my involvement with my fellow consults.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous5:58 PM

    I've had personal blogs in the past (and the present), but I never feel comfortable with them after a while. I never quite feel like I can find my voice in a blog. That seems silly, since blogs don't really have rules and I am free to post whatever I like, but I get caught up in making things readable and paying attention to audience that I don't feel free anymore with it.

    And I completely understand about not liking computers. Getting rid of my internet access at home has been the best decision I've made in a long time.

    ReplyDelete
  5. digigraf11:40 PM

    To all that responded:
    Thank you so much for your comments. It is really nice to see how other people feel. To anonymous, I am very glad that you are participating on this site. I agree that for people at great distances, this is quite an extraordinary tool. I had never thought of the shyness issue, but it makes a lot of sense, so again, I am truly happy that this is a place where you can express your thoughts. To Alisha, I admire your dedication to writing. I am envious as well, because even though I love to write, I often find it hard to set aside the time to do it. I know that you are an incredibly busy person, so the fact that you find the time to devote to your passion is very inspiring. To Andrew, I can't agree with you more. I feel like the view of myself I see in written conversation is drastically different from the one I see in face to face conversation. I guess I just feel too distanced from others when I am conversing in a form like this one. Anywho, I just wanted to take an opportunity to acknowledge you all and thank you again for your insight

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous12:53 AM

    This blog has provided me with lots to read on the slow days, a lot of laughs, and a lot of comfort.

    Very thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous12:23 PM

    Personally for me I don't care one way or another about the blogs themselves, some have good points and ideas and some are useless. The problem I have is with the sense of entitlement these pseudo journalists have. So you write a blog and people read it, does that make you an expert at what you're writing about? Not necessarily, but some of these people (eg prez hilton) believe that they are god's gift and need to be waterboarded.

    ReplyDelete

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