I had a conversation this morning about blogging, and why people do it. I was staggered to find that my blog is read 10,000 times a month, so that made me start to think about why I do it.
I guess it's almost easier to start by saying why I don't. I don't do it for attention (I already get more of that than I want). I don't do it for an audience, at least not on this blog. I don't do it to be liked, or for someone to agree with me. The truth is, I don't do it for anyone but me.
Understand that I have other blogs as well. One is totally private that no one ever gets to read but me. That's where I put stuff that I just need to work out by way of getting it "down on paper." I also have a professional blog on the Microsoft ASP.NET site, which is the aforementioned exception to the writing for an audience thing. That one I've woefully neglected since finishing my book.
I write this blog, in conjunction with my secret one, more because it's therapeutic than anything. I like to write. I went to school partly to write. I feel that I can more effectively form my own opinions (and occasionally vent) when I peck something out at the keyboard. It helps to process what you think and feel so you can move on to the next thing. It's also nice to have a record of yourself as you move through life.
The only negative is that of course people like to judge what you put out there, but I don't let that bother me for a couple of reasons. The first is that most people who do so are spineless little people without the balls to say who they really are. I lead a somewhat public life, and I'll tell you in person the same thing I'll tell you online. Sadly, most people hide behind the wires. I don't do that at all. What you see is what you get, triumphs, tragedies, flaws... everything, and it's quite liberating to be yourself without having to apologize to anyone for it. The only way to accept who you are is to embrace it all, and most of the time I'm able to do that.
The flip question is to ask why you read blogs. Most of the blogs I read are professional, with only a few being personal. I've seen blogs here and there that are clearly written for other people, or even specific people. That's fine, but they're not very interesting to read. Then you have readers that just border on being stalkers who are in dire need of their own lives. Those people are creepy.
Now if I could just be this guy, who makes six figures a year writing blogs. Wouldn't that be a sweet gig!
I've kept a journal since I was in high school. From 1970 until 1994, they were kept on paper. I have some saved to floppy, and then I have electronic journals, both on my website site, a private space, and my more "public" spaces here and on LJ.
My blogs are for me, and although they might be boring to others, I do them specifically to put thoughts down. Somtimes it's just to rant and let off steam. Sometimes it's to work things out in my own head, and a lot of times it's just to put down things I may wish to look back on later, as memories.
I read them mostly to gain insight on those I call friends.