jdarling Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 In another thread, there was some discussion about how some people should blog and some shouldn't. How some are better writers than others. How there is a huge difference between a harmless private diary, putting yourself out there on the net for all to see. The difference between what is suitable for "private reflection" v. "public projection" and the public's inability to distinguish between the two. I am a blogger. I see it differently. No offense, but I don't blog for you (the general "you"). I blog for me. If you enjoy reading my blogs, woo hoo! My stockdogging blog is now several months long, and it's helping me to see the progression (or lack thereof in some instances) of the training of my dogs. Could I do this privately in a diary? Sure. But there are people who follow my blog, and it becomes a topic of conversation and, at times, leads to good discussions of different methods of training dogs. I wouldn't post anything in a blog that I wouldn't want the public to read. And even if I did ... so what? It's not like the reader pays for a service and I need to deliver. The reader has the choice of reading my blog or skipping over it. On the other side of this, I also thoroughly enjoy reading other people's blogs on various subjects; dogs, stockdogging, camping, hiking, fishing, etc. And the ones with good photos and good writing are just a bonus! I also think it's a great way for people to express their views and creativity without having every reader picking apart every little thing they say, and it creates an uninterrupted flow. So for all those inclined, c'mon and show off your blogs! Here's my newest: I bought a small 1969 LeMac travel trailer (which I have not yet posted photos of on the blog yet, as I want the perfect photo of it and I don't have that yet), so I've started a blog for the many adventures I'm sure I'll have in it. This blog needs all kinds of sprucing up (among other things, the margin is cutting off some of the photos), but I just started it this morning. It is, however, loaded with photos. Kampin' K9s Blog (Disclaimer: None of the dogs are for sale.) Let's see yours! Jodi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Beer Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 I'll share! Of course, it's been in my signature line for quite a while. http://www.xanga.com/DeantheBorderCollie The focus of the blog is Dean - it begins right after his adoption. But I talk about my other dogs, too. And sometimes training and dogs in general. I also don't write to please anyone, but I enjoy sharing with those who enjoy reading it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1sheepdoggal Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Funny you should bring this up today Jodi, as I made this entry in my own blog just this morning, in one of 2 blogs that I maintain. http://1sheepdoggal.blogspot.com/ http://puppytales-chronicles.blogspot.com/ Sure has been a lot of criticism about folks blogs recently. Shame too. I don't understand where if a person decides to share a bit (or alot as the case may be for some) of themselves with the world, that all the sudden folks are allowed to become critics and spelling/grammar teachers. Or accuse other folks of "spying" or get in little "jabs" at others through their blogs, or claim that a person isn't funny? enough or interesting? enough to have a blog? This all just seems odd to me that instead of using good judgment, and if ya don't like some thing, just don't go there, that they continue to indulge in the things they find atrocious. Whats up with that??!! Which in turn, may make bloggers feel a need to defend themselves against their critics, or try to change their style of writing to better entertain the masses. Not fair! No one should have to defend themselves or change themselves simply to share a bit of knowledge, or spirit, or candor, or to relay a message that says, "Hey, you think you got it rough? Here's how my day went." Or, " I had a particularly wonderful day and things that matter to me went well and I just want to share it ." You see, that's what to me a blog is all about. Writing about things that are pertinent, or "matter" to the one that is writing this stuff down. Its not there to entertain, though some I must admit that I have seen, give more opportunity to laugh at than others, depending on what you find humorous. It gives a person a selfish moment, ( that in this day and age where we are all scurrying around so busy trying to please everyone else in the world to start with, that we should indulge in a bit of self indulgence, I think its a healthy thing for the soul) where we can talk about ourselves, our friends, family, what happened at work, that we dislike the price of a container of ketchup at the grocery store nowadays, or anything we decide is important to US, the writer, at any given moment. And if by chance we decide to share what we feel is important to us with the masses, then I feel that indulging in the art of sharing is a pretty unselfish reward, and should not be taken for granted, or picked apart, or criticised. For those that feel they need to be the grammar cops of the world, you can all go take a flying leap! I live in the South, and this is how we talk! For those that don't like what I say, or think I'm not interesting enough or funny enough, well then, get out of here and don't come back. But DON'T give me your Holier than thou speeches about spelling, grammar, funny/not funny, interesting/not interesting lectures.I'm not interested. I'm here for me. I'm here blogging because I want to, not to impress anyone or get my point across. For those of you on the other hand, that are here just checking out what Im up to and have no grand expectations of being entertained, "Hello, and Welcome" "Glad ya dropped by," "Nice to see you!" But, now that my little rant is over with, I will say, that I did use to have a blog that I use to share with only a select few. I shared it with a few old folks that I felt needed to laugh now and then, and did, try to be entertaining and tell a story for their sake. And to be honest, it had some pretty good reviews! But then, what do a bunch of old fogies know eh? Here is a sample of just a few posts from my old blog. Funny? Entertaining? I don't know, but I do know I had a good time writing them, sharing them, and it gave me a good feeling knowing that maybe, I, little ole insignificant me, might have given some one a reason to smile in an otherwise shitty day. So those who take their blogging so seriously, get after it, entertain the masses and have a great time supporting your ego's and thinking your going to get a Pulitzer. But leave the rest of us to our own forms of communication and creativity. If your interested in 1Sheepdoggal trying to be humorus, your welcome to visit the blog and see what is there, but I think MY message on blogs and blogging is pretty clear. If ya dont like it, dont go there, Good Bye, and if you do. well Howdy, Welcome, or Welcome back. Im so down on folks being so critcal of such a innocent thing as a person blogging. Arent there bigger things in this world to gripe about and critisize?? Really. Folks need to Stop being so petty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippin's person Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Pippin keeps a blog and has her packmates share periodically as well--very serious stuff. the "flyball dog" part remains as part of the irony. http://pippinflyballdog.blogspot.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurae Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Jodi, I could have written your post myself. I also have a blog, and I started it and continue to update it to chart my progress training Taz and working with Craig. It's a training journal, and I do it for myself to help me stay organized and focused in my training. It is written for my own use. However, I have a small number of regular readers, and many of them have helped me focus my ideas, given me very valuable training advice, and provided lots of encouragement after reading some of my posts. Over the weekend, the woman who bred Craig found my blog and left me a couple of comments recounting puppy Craig's antics—how cool is that? She would never have known where Craig wound up without the blog (as is common with many competitive stockdogs, he has had a few owners before he landed with me), and I wouldn't be (hopefully soon) getting pictures of my dog when he was a pup. Knowing that there might be someone, even one person, reading what I'm writing helps motivate me to keep my training journal updated. Who is it hurting? I also read a number of blogs regularly—the ones I read resonate with me for one reason or another. They might not resonate with someone else; what someone else loves to read might not resonate with me. But isn't that true with all forms of expression? Anyway, it's in my signature, but anyone who is interested can find my blog at http://tazimodo.blogspot.com. I'll be updating it later today, as I had a good work session yesterday and want to be sure to write up what I've learned before I go out again and it all begins to blur together Until then, I'm off to read some of the blogs posted about here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSnappy Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Wow, way to take an offhand comment and turn it into a battle guys. I believe Mary expressed an opinion that boiled down to - there are a lot of shite blogs out there. I happily and completely agree with her. A lot of blogs floating around out there blow goats. So do a lot of websites. And discussion forums. And porn sites (though it may be literal in that case). Etc. Even a good blog can suck to me, if it's about something I'm not interested in. A blog about car engines, imo, would suck donkey balls, even if it were really entertaining. She *is* free not to read them, and probably doesn't bother once she figures out that they suck. So what? Who's making the big deal out of this - the person who posted two sentences about her general sentiment on most blogs as a concept, or the person who started an indignant thread about it, or the people who responded with full on rants about their right to be dull as dishwater, or write poor grammar, or to spell things badly, along with some up-yourses and screw-yous? Seriously. It's comical. It's almost like someone protests too much. I can't see any other reason why anyone would so vigorously defend their Right To Blog otherwise. I'm a blogger. OBVIOUSLY. 99% of the time, I do NOT blog for me, I blog for my readers. I think most people who claim to blog for themselves are full of poop - you blog because you want people to read it, otherwise you wouldn't put the links in your signature lines everywhere you post on the Internetz! If you really don't care if no one reads your blog or not, you also probably shouldn't care if Mary (or I) think most blogs suck. This thread is hilarious! To quote from it "Arent there bigger things in this world to gripe about and critisize?? Really." Ha ha ha! I may die from the irony! RDM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack & Co. Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Ha ha ha! I may die from the irony! RDM Don't die, RDM. I need my next installment of Mr. Woo...The Tale of a Dog's Tail! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet_ceana Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 A lot of blogs floating around out there blow goats. So do a lot of websites. And discussion forums. And porn sites (though it may be literal in that case). Thanks for the visual! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurae Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 I do understand where Mary's post came from, but I still think it was snarky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1sheepdoggal Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 but I still think it was snarky I agree, I thought it was simply uncalled for. RDM. I think the bloggers, much like this forum can and do become a community, hence why we put our blogs under our sigs, so that other bloggers can view and share. At least that is the reason I choose to make mine public. I use to have one that wasnt public, only folks that wanted to see it and appreciated it did I allowed to view it. Ive only recently come into the public with my ramblings, and am not so sure it will remain public, as there is so much griping about blogs in general, that I dont like the feeling of being graded or judged as to whether it is "Good enough" to be out there. I still remain firm however on how I feel about the folks that think they can or should be judge and jury. Theres really just no reason for folks to be uptight about it. Its just a blog. As far as folks "defending" their right to blog, I think thats just human nature, if your punched, you punch back. I enjoy reading blogs, but if theres one or two I dont care for, I dont make a public statement saying how most bloggers shouldnt ever be able to blog, I just think "Well, wont be visiting there again," and go on with life. I dont think in terms of some ones blog as a thing for me to rate, or berate. Just either enjoy it, or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbc1963 Posted June 2, 2008 Report Share Posted June 2, 2008 Ewffhh... I'm a big girl and I own everything I put in writing. If I speak in public, I open my words to public criticism. One thing I've learned on the 'net is that you don't get to revise, go back, edit, or reinterpret what you've said. It's all there for everyone to see and the way you phrase your words is your own responsibility and fault - though you can't control what other people find lurking between the actual words. Now, owning what I said, I don't particularly feel that I need to apologize for having shared a not-altogether-positive opinion about blogs in general. Hell, here's an entire thread dedicated to letting folks share not-altogether-positive opinions about... er... me. I guess. Or people like me. The truth: I take writing - the joyful use of language - very seriously. If there's an article in a newspaper that's written poorly, it makes me cringe. When my boss sends home a letter that reads as though an eighth grader wrote it, I am embarrassed for my workplace. My company is about to adopt a new "mission statement" that's going to be absolute garbage, from a language standpoint. It's going to be chock-full of buzzwords and double-speak, and it's not going to MEAN anything. I'm going to hate looking at it every day. Grrrr. So... yeah, it bugs me when people who work with the written word aren't careful with it. I'm a true believer in self-editing. I think saying a tiny bit very well is far superior to saying a whole lot, poorly. Beyond that, the most powerful writing is brief and heady - a distillation of thought rather than a deluge. Again, as I said in my opening, I think that when you speak (write) in public you open yourself to public criticism. If you're choosing to air your words publicly, so others can read them, then you need to allow for others to have an authentic reaction to your work. I opened myself to critique with my comments, but I posit that bloggers open themselves to critique when they do their chosen work. Mary, who's been called a lot worse than "snarky" in her day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdarling Posted June 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Oh good gravy ... are you kidding me? I started a thread on a discussion board. Sue me. It was, in my opinion, better than continuing the nine-page "gas" thread and risking having jamesqf explain to me that if I power my computer by pedaling my bike while blogging, I could save 3 cents a year in gas. I didn't even mention the thread. I didn't mention anyone's name. I thought Mary's take on blogging was interesting, and was simply looking at it from a different point of view. That's all. Mary, I'm sorry this thread headed the direction it did. That wasn't my intention. Jodi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbc1963 Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Jdarling - no worries. The 'net is notorious for exaggerating things and creating battles where they don't need to be. I do think this is an interesting topic for a thread, and I also am interested in others' ideas about what belongs in the public sphere vs. the private sphere. Things have changed a lot, and I (45 years old) definitely see essentials of privacy differently from my students, who consistently get themselves and their friends in trouble by posting inappropriate personal pictures and information online, where parents, police, teachers, and creepy old men can see them. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdogranch Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Interesting thread, actually. I am NOT a blogger--I don't have the time, and I guess I figure who would give a rip anyway? I mean, it baffles me--who would go online to read what I have to say about anything? I'm sure no one cares what I say on this thread, either. I DO keep training journals for every dog that I start or work with, but they are hand written; each dog has his/her own journal, in a special color, with a color-coordinated pen to do the writing. (Guess I'm just old school, as they say.) They're just for my own whatever. I have only read a very few blogs, as I pretty much don't have time for that, either; of those that I have read--some are interesting, and some I walk away asking, "who cares?" I am with Mary on the grammar and spelling thing, though. I can't help it--it's what I do. I teach academic writing and linguistics, specifically grammar (to mostly future K-12 teachers) at a university. So I am paid to notice correct and incorrect language usage. The grammar police do in fact live in my head, and I have yet to find a way to let them out. So I'm stuck with them. Doesn't mean there's not a place for dialect or just good ol' cussing, as I think all that helps give a writer his/her "voice." Anyway, if'n ya'll wanna blog, go fer it. An' if'n ya don't--that be cool, too. If ya wantsta read someone else's blog, 'K, same as if'n ya don't. Don't make no nevermind to me. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sluj Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 I think this is the one area where it makes sense to limit one's creative outlet: in protecting other people's privacy. I'd agree that there are lots of boring or downright irritating blogs out there, and they have a right to be, insofar as they don't infringe on others (e.g., dishing the dirt on family and friends). One other thing to be aware of - occasionally prospective employers read them. Jdarling - no worries. The 'net is notorious for exaggerating things and creating battles where they don't need to be. I do think this is an interesting topic for a thread, and I also am interested in others' ideas about what belongs in the public sphere vs. the private sphere. Things have changed a lot, and I (45 years old) definitely see essentials of privacy differently from my students, who consistently get themselves and their friends in trouble by posting inappropriate personal pictures and information online, where parents, police, teachers, and creepy old men can see them. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurae Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 I think this is the one area where it makes sense to limit one's creative outlet: in protecting other people's privacy. I'd agree that there are lots of boring or downright irritating blogs out there, and they have a right to be, insofar as they don't infringe on others (e.g., dishing the dirt on family and friends). One other thing to be aware of - occasionally prospective employers read them. Agreed. And actually Anna made my main point above, which is basically live and let live (blog and let blog, or don't blog, but maybe don't deride people for trying to express themselves). Anyway, recently, former CNN journalist Chez Pazienza was fired from his position as a producer of CNN's "American Morning" show because of the controversial nature of the posts he wrote on his personal blog, Deus Ex Malcontent. I've been reading Chez's blog for a couple of years now, and it's often a bit over the top, but sometimes pretty interesting, especially when he writes about the media. His firing from CNN highlights many questions about the policies employers, particularly media employers, are creating with regard to their employees' personal writing. Kevin Rector wrote an interesting article about this "new media" issue in the American Journalism Review, and if you're interested, you can read it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Anna, I sincerely understand the whole "grammar police in my head" thing, since I write and edit for a living. I've been known to get on some folks for their grammar, even on this forum, though I try to keep it to a minimum and only when some error is repeated so often that my head threatens to explode. If I read something where the grammar or spelling isn't right, I certainly notice, but I try to look past that to the substance of what the person is saying. If that person is a friend, then I'm willing to overlook stuff like that. If it's someone anonymous, then I'm likely to just quit reading. Yes, I am the grammar police in one sense (and my work in that regard seems never ending at my place of employment), but I also try to be sensitive to the fact that grammar and spelling aren't everyone else's strengths. Heck, math is not my strongpoint, and when someone starts talking numbers and figures, my eyes glaze over. If I had to communicate in mathematical formulas, I'd be hard pressed to be coherent, and I'd hope that the math whizzes among us would be forgiving of my mistakes. I do think it's mostly the young who do foolish things on public venues, although it amuses me how adults will use their blogs to snipe at one another too. I am an avid reader (of books), and if I find a well-written blog, I generally will take the time to read it. But generally the blogs I read are those of my friends and family. Surely most folks are the same? Or do people actually spend a lot of time reading random blogs that end up pissing them off for one reason or another? ETA: I actually sent the link to my blog to my boss so she could see lamb pictures and whatever else goes on here. Then again, I don't put much in the way of private information on my blog, so there's nothing there I'd be worried about my employer seeing. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Beer Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 It was, in my opinion, better than continuing the nine-page "gas" thread and risking having jamesqf explain to me that if I power my computer by pedaling my bike while blogging, I could save 3 cents a year in gas. :D I am not contributing anything substantial to this thread in this post. I just thought that was funny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Root Beer Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 I do think this is an interesting topic for a thread, and I also am interested in others' ideas about what belongs in the public sphere vs. the private sphere. Things have changed a lot, and I (45 years old) definitely see essentials of privacy differently from my students, who consistently get themselves and their friends in trouble by posting inappropriate personal pictures and information online, where parents, police, teachers, and creepy old men can see them. I think it's interesting, too. I think there are definitely things that should be kept private - both online and even face to face. But when it comes to things that one simply thinks are inconsequential, I don't see that as a reason not to write in a blog - or on a message forum - if one wants to. If Jane Smith writes a whole blog about the life of Muffy the purse dog, I most likely would not choose to read it, but I wouldn't go so far as to say that Jane shouldn't have a public blog. People with dogs like Muffy might find it quite compelling. (I'm not saying that you said or implied anything of the sort, I'm just following my own train of thought!) That's a big reason why I like keeping a dog blog. If it's dog related, it's not going to be very personal. At least not for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 I just started a blog. Again. I still haven't really figured out what I"m doing. For one thing, I can't seem to find the time to write anything. I fear blog #2 may go the way of the first one. Death by boredom. Oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaBluez Tess Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 I have a blog...wether people chose to read it or not, it is up to them. If they don't like it, then they don't have to read it. I put what happens here and there on it, dog stuff, stories and whatever strikes my fancy. People actually do read it as they tell me about it. http://deltabluez.blogspot.com/ It's kinda fun and right now it is a good way to keep people updated on my concussion recovery. Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdogranch Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Julie: I know what you mean, and I certainly understand that grammar isn't everyone's bag. And, for the most part, I overlook lots of stuff, as I generally try to read for content. But, I do notice things; I can't not notice, unfortunately. Mostly it makes me feel really old and out of touch. I think blogging (as well as online fora) is really interesting as a form of communication--just the interpersonal/anonymous nature of them absolutely fascinates me. Time to feed dogs; I'm rambling incoherently... A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanillalove Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 I have a blog as well, and I have for a few years. I do blog for myself, as well as a select friends and the boyfriend. I find that if I'm mad or upset or confused, etc, I can write about it and suddenly feel as if it doesn't matter anymore; that it's off my chest. If I'm really not happy about what someone did, for example, I find that if I just write about it, it feels as if I had spoken to that person and everything is resolved. It's my own way of letting my thoughts be said, without always being heard, because sometimes it's just better that way. I take time to write them well even though there is no audience. So I'm not going to post my blog because it's fairly random and usually filled with prose about love and friendship or how much I'm learning about life and myself - lame, eh? So it's going to remain secret to you! I do however LOVE reading many of yours! I almost wish my life was even somewhat exciting that I could keep people slightly entertained. One day, we'll see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Anna, I know what you mean--I certainly notice, too. I try not to let someone's less-than-perfect grammar stop me from reading what they write, if what they're writing is interesting. Like you, I often wonder what has happened to our (the collective our) ability to write. It seems as if it's becoming a lost art.... ETA: I imagine historians of the future will look to blogs like they used to look to people's private correspondence (letters) to gain an understanding of a particular person, group, or era. I'd love to know what someone 100 years from now would think when reading some of the blogs of today. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fosher Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Saw a new T-shirt the other day: "I don't care about your blog." I want me one of them. http://edgefieldsheep.blogspot.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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