Actually, I skimmed through Carrie's blog entry the other day, but didn't want to just peck out some random bullshit in response. Now that I've got a moment I feel more inclined to write.
Everyone writes for different reasons. I started in 2001 or so because I needed an outlet in a tough time of life. Sometimes it was just silly nonsense, but other times it was because I wanted to write the way I did in college in my newspaper column. I've always been reasonably careful about what I'd write about, because while I am relatively open, some things aren't meant for public consumption. When you end up having a great many people reading what you have to say, they mistakenly may believe that what they read is a complete picture. I hate having to explain that.
Blogging can be a narcissistic enterprise in some ways, but I think that's OK. One might think that of Tyler's blog even, but I think if you talk to the guy even once you realize he doesn't take himself nearly as seriously as you'd think. He has an enthusiasm for a lot of things, and his blog shares that.
Gonch blogs for reasons unknown.
Carrie asks some good questions at the end of her post about the effects of her blog, but I suspect she knows that the answers don't matter. I've never felt that she was writing for anyone but her. I do suspect though, if she's anything like me, that she does write to share with a specific group of people. This smaller group of people I know from this community (i.e., mostly people invited to my wedding) are the people from which I would listen to the responses. It's a means to share parts of my life with them, without having to talk every day.
Of course, there are still much deeper conversations that happen offline. Like I said, I don't spill everything here. Some things are just nobody's fucking business, which some folks don't understand because they think if you blog, all topics are fair game. Those are people I don't talk to.
Blog on, Carrie!