INDCJournal: Why Blog?

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August 12, 2004

Why Blog?

Posted by Bill

Ever wonder why people blog?

I do, especially since last week, when some guy from the NY Sun interviewed me regarding my impending coverage of the RNC. One of his questions, posed with sincere befuddlement, was, "Why do you blog? Why did you start? Is this, like a full-time job, or do you have a day job?"

And after chuckling and instinctively setting the record straight that yes, I do have a day job, I was kind of ... stumped. I think that I stammered something vague about having "something to say," but that didn't feel quite like an honest or particularly accurate assessment. And as I was trying to think of a more memorable answer, he inserted a follow-up that asked me what "bloggers hope to accomplish with their efforts." For example, do we "want to make a career out of this?"

Again, I scratched my head. I told him that ... yes, deep down in the recesses of probably every blogger's heart is a fantasy of actually making a living as a writer, but most realize that this isn't necessarily a realistic ambition. I told him that I think that some people do it for the relatively altruistic motivation of adding something different to the public debate, many people do it because they have an involuntary compulsion to void themselves (and their family and friends) of overflowing punditry, most have a universe-sucking ego that seeks validation of their brilliance, and a few select goofballs just do it for fun. Likely, it's some combination of all four.

And when you think about it, it's pretty amazing that this alternate citizen-media culture has coalesced into a coherent medium and enriches the day-to-day lives of so many readers with pages and pages, and hours and hours of original punditry, news flitering, photography, artwork, political analysis, cathartic rants and catblogging ... for free. Free. There is very little profit motive here, and I'll be honest: some days, that kind of weirds me out. Look around; did you ever imagine that there were this many smart people, with this much talent, that have families and/or work full-time jobs, yet are willing to put on a daily dog and pony show for millions of readers? For free? It's like we're all part of some Marxist collective that actually works.

And no wonder the mainstream media players are confused, scornful or simply scared out of their wits. That cub reporter could've graduated from Columbia Journalism School and knifed three people to score a $35,000 a year gig in NY, and now you're telling him that there are at least a few thousand people out there that are willing to compete with him for free? And oftentimes, they do a better job? Madness, I tell ya, madness.

So, long after I got off of the phone with this guy, I gave the question some serious thought, and I figured out that my blogging is not part of a quest for ideological supremacy; it's not a bid to help humanity; it's not because, Tourette's-like, I feel the need to spraypaint the universe with my opinion; and in the end, it's not because I want your approval . I mean, what are the odds that I even like you? So if it's none of those things, why do I blog?

Truth be told, I don't really know.

But next time a reporter asks, I think that I'll tell him that I blog ... in the name of science.

UPDATE: Cranky Neocon weighs in:

One of the reasons I grabbed the microphone, so to speak, was that after watching the Seattle WTO riots/peace demonstrations I felt like shouting too.

I wanted to say "Hey! No one is out there chanting 'One Two Three Four, America provides prosperity and safety to millions.', but there should be!"

UPDATE: And the WWR's take:

If one wanted to write for the simple joy of writing, one would not feel the need nor inclination to take those words and plaster them on the internet.

UPDATE: Qur'an Project:

Yes, it does weird me out that so many people have so much talent and display it with such grace and style for free. The blogsphere is a wonderful place and my world is better for it. Because I have such respect and love for the medium, I want to add to it and hopefully enhance its value to others.

UPDATE: Brain Fertilizer:

#1: I started blogging as a way to stay sane while on a long, lonely, boring, and professionally-frustrating deployment in the Indian Ocean.

#2: I continue to blog because I cannot stop. I know, I've tried. But as long as the outlet exists, I will want to use it to express myself.

#3: I have gotten several things out of blogging ...

Posted by Bill at August 12, 2004 08:55 AM | TrackBack (7)

Comments

I think that most conservative bloggers do it because, on some level, they feel that the information won't reach a mass audience without them. How many times do we see sentences like "of course, the liberal media won't touch this story."

Posted by: abysmal at August 12, 2004 08:46 AM

I'm just echoing Sgt Stryker on this one, but the truth is that we blog because it's miles better than simply yelling at the tv and newspaper.

Posted by: ccwbass at August 12, 2004 10:52 AM

Always looking for another opportunity to plug my site, so here are my thoughts, from 2002.

Posted by: andy at August 12, 2004 11:53 AM

From a tech-head, I blog because I get to tinker with the underlying code, host the site at my own house, and give myself something to do rather than watch Trading Spaces reruns.

I like the ocassional passerby to leave comments (although I've yet to hit the motherlode comment generator) but it's more like a diary I don't care if people read or not. Averaging about 400 readers a day is fine by me.

Posted by: Sharp as a Marble at August 12, 2004 12:43 PM

I'm just echoing Sgt Stryker on this one, but the truth is that we blog because it's miles better than simply yelling at the tv and newspaper.

Posted by: ccwbass at August 12, 2004 10:52 AM

I have to agree. I've also found that most people don't know exactly what the hell is going on. Sure I can watch tv all day and all night and there's a huge difference between day news and night news - at night, they pick and choose the pieces they want and they build on that over and over again. And you know it's not right. I get to see it raw and the rest of the time I am yelling or mouthing off at the television. Forget the newspapers, they never get it right either. but we have a rare look. We are willing to look into the belly of the beast and realize that this information has to get out for people to make informed decisions. Why the masses are still ignorant is beyond me; maybe these people just don't have computers and just don't care enough to go looking for the information. What got me started? The kidnappings and beheadings. You can hear about it but to see it, to listen to the video to look at the pictures, it's gut-wrenching and most people just don't know who and what this evil is we are facing.

Keep yelling at the tv, cbwbass, I am. :-)

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at August 12, 2004 01:29 PM

Pickin' up hookers
Instead of my pen
I let the words of my youth
Fade away

I'd kinda like to look back at some point for evidence that I was actually here.

Posted by: Christopher Cross at August 12, 2004 01:43 PM

Good points, all. My reasons are all over the place...

1) I like writing, but I like the idea that somebody might maybe read said writing. 2) I often think of friends and family who only know what they hear on CNN or the nightly news, and like the idea of countering that in some small way. 3) I can hereby spare my girlfriend and others some (not all) of my bitching by simply venting frustrations via a blog. 4) By reading and writing online it helps me sharpen my knowledge of what it is that's going on around me...

Posted by: Tyler at August 12, 2004 02:08 PM

For the chicks. And all the free beer.

Posted by: Jeff G at August 12, 2004 02:46 PM

Thanks for the gumball, Mikey!

INDC-Lanche me baby!

Posted by: madmark at August 12, 2004 03:14 PM

Unfortunately, an INDC-lanche is pathetic on a third update on the first post of the day ...

Posted by: Bill from INDC Journal at August 12, 2004 03:16 PM

The thing to remember is that it is a symbiotic relationship. Most bloggers have neither the resources, nor the time, nor the stature to actually interview Colin Powell, or track down the particulars of the oil-for food story. These things must be done by the mainstream media first, then ferreted-out and connected by the bloggers to draw attention to it. Mainstream media cannot be replaced, or the bloggers would have no stories at all that weren't local or personal. The bloggers are filling in the cracks, by making better use of their resource material, said resource material being the mainstream media. This is an invaluable service, and may well someday require the mainstream media to correct itself.
Besides, it's fun.

Posted by: themarkman at August 12, 2004 03:23 PM

"better than simply yelling at the tv"

Yes! That, and my kids don't have to hear me cuss this way. lol Honestly, I like the social interaction - I'm a chat junkie.

Posted by: Deb at August 12, 2004 07:50 PM

Yeah, TV yelling here too. Also, my opinions tend to be sufficiently fringe that anytime I'd find myself in a debate with friends, family, or coworkers, I found that I'd have to moderate my opinions to avoid the risk of offending anyone. Not that my views are necessarily going to be offensive, I just try to be considerate. With a blog, I can say whatever the hell I want, and the only feelings I'm likely to hurt are strangers', and they don't have to read it if they disagree.

Posted by: Beck at August 13, 2004 11:48 AM

For me it's the expression of a planet sized ego.
That's how it started.
What keeps me going is that the ego doesn't seem to be getting any smaller even if then audience isn't growing much.
And, amazingly, I've been offered (and taken of course) two regular paid freelancing gigs as a result of people reading the blog.
It's almost developing into a notebook, first takes on items, see something, do a little research, make a conclusion or two, post it up. If it seems to work, to hang together, then rewrite it more formally.

Posted by: Tim Worstall at August 15, 2004 11:43 AM