I am a blogging dinosaur. No, really. The archives here go to 2000 (that’s a decade). And actually I started writing an online journal in about 1995, so there’s five years of entries somewhere that I can’t access.
I’ve seen fads come and go. I’ve seen platforms come and go. I’ve seen lots and lots of people come and go.
I’m still here. I’m not here because I’m some great writer. I’m not even here because I have something to say, although I do. I’m mainly here to leave a mark that I can come back to to see various points in our lives from my perspective at the time.
As journaling online turned into journals and weblogs, then journals versus weblogs, then weblogs, then blogs; the “cool” kids came out to play. Did you ever think that high school would get renacted in your life in various ways over and over and over again? I didn’t. But I get it now. Time grows shorter lately, and I decided to cull my blog feeds to make catching up easier. There they were. The cool kids. The ones heralded for their longevity.
Ahem. ::wave::
Or the ones who started blogging about their kids causing this phenomenen called “mommyblogging.”
Ahem. ::wave:: And by the way I HATE that term.
And here I sit. I realized that I was reading them because I was “supposed” to be reading them. Because they are the creme of the blogging crop, you see. And the truth is? I can’t stand most of them. So I culled. Big time. I will no longer follow people because they are (or were) the cool kids. Take facebook for example. I don’t follow those who were ass-tastic to me in high school. Why? Because I don’t give a rat’s patootie about what happened to them. Why in the world would I follow a blog?
I met a couple of the “big” bloggers in 2008 at BlogHer. Want to know who was the nicest to me? Dooce. Out of everyone, the one who gets the most shit for her place in the blogging world was graciousness itself to me. Kind, thoughtful, who listened and responded sincerely to what I was saying. Even if she though I was an idiot, she absolutely didn’t act like it. Others, were cold, aloof, and one of them literally looked down her nose at me. I wanted to say “I filled up my free aol server space before you even knew Blogger existed.”
But I didn’t.
Every once in a while I get bent out of shape. I’m not terribly witty. I don’t have any vast knowledge to impart, although I’m great at giving advice. So, no. I’m not going to get recognition. I’m merely here to chronicle my life using a platform that makes sense for my interests. But every once in a while I want to get kudos for surviving.
Of course, you’ve been at this longer than I have but I totally get what you’re saying. I no longer have time to read someone just because I’m ‘supposed to’. I love the people that I have built a relationship with. Most of the others? Meh. I just don’t care anymore.
I so agree…I have definitely go through and cull my Reader every now and then, when I realize that I have some blogs on there just because I feel like I “should” have them there, but I always save their posts till last because I’m just over it.
I also kind of hate the attitude that b/c I don’t blog “professionally,” that it doesn’t count. Don’t get me wrong, I know a LOT of similar “life bloggers” and I love them…but sometimes I’m a little put off by the big flashy websites and the “how to make a business out of this!!” conference topics. I’m in it to write, however sporadically I want to, and to be a part of the fabulous community that’s out there making up the majority of the blogging world.
Just for the record, you’re one of the ones I read first when there’s a new post in the Reader!
I have been blogging for real estate since 2006. I had no idea what a blog was when I started it. I know it has gotten catty in the real estate world when it comes to blogging, but none the less, it brings me both buyers and sellers :o)
It never occurred to me to blog about my life (yes, and kids) until last year. It’s nice to have readers, but I’m more in it for the memories. I can step back in time and remember all of the milestones because I’m sure I blogged about them.
I also have no interest in blogging for money. If I was blogging for money, it wouldn’t be honest, or heartfelt… or true.
I love your blog! I am totally impressed with your longevity in the blogging world. Me, I’m just a noob…only 3 years at this. I don’t think I could ever go big with blogging. I just don’t have any desire for notoriety. And besides, I think most of my stuff is just boring stuff my kids do that I think is hilarious, or me whining.
I like how you are so honest in your blogs.
I have a few blogs that I follow…but not many. Yours is one.