When I started writing online, it was 1995.  The world wide web was still getting it’s feet wet in terms of making connections.  There were some new people putting their Online Diaries up.  I don’t even remember who the first one I stumbled upon was.  Possibly Kymm in her Sweet as a Biscuit years.  She’s the one I remember from those days anyway.  I’ve always written a journal.  From as young as I can remember with those little diaries with a tiny space per day.  And a lock.

And so, I started to write.  I was KeeArgo on AOL.  A frequenter on the chatrooms – on my 14.4 modem – the height of technology at the time.  With your membership, you got some server space.  So I learned basic html (the only code language at the time).  I painstakingly coded every single page, and uploaded them one at a time.  Don’t forget to update the archives, back, and next links too!  It was a time consuming, tedious, detail oriented process.  Blogs didn’t exist – and there wasn’t any software to help until HotDog as I recall.

There wasn’t a “community” per se.  There weren’t comments.  Perhaps you could email the person your reactions if they put their email address up.  In fact, my one and only troll was during those days – I did put my email on my page, and I was informed by one reader that I should be sterilized so I couldn’t pass my immoral tattooed genes on to any offspring.  That was…  fun.  I wonder if he knows I passed my genes on in subsequent years.

Eventually, of course, the online diaries took off…  There were discussions about what constituted a “diary” versus a “journal.”  And then technology started advancing – and there were “blogs” or “weblogs” which came under the “journaling” not “diary” heading.  In fact there was a lot of discussion that “blogs” weren’t really valid to begin with.  Where’s the prose?  Where’s the actual writing?  Of course,  we know how that whole debate reconciled itself.

As time went on, we all found each other, of course.  It’s what us humans do – we connect.

So, what are the benefits of connection for me?  In the simplest terms – I’m not alone.  I’m not the only one out there putting myself up for everyone to see.  I’m not the only woman who feels the way I do, or struggles as I do.  I’m not the only mother struggling with this issue or that.  I’m not the only wife who wonders if my husband really did spawn on another planet.  I’m not the only one who questions her spirituality, sanity, or validity.  I am not alone.  That, in and of itself, eases burdens.  And then – the ability to share with others, to commiserate with others, to help others bear their responsibilities.  To debate, and argue, and laugh, and cry.

In society today, I feel very isolated.  Even if I’m out and about in my day – every one is so busy, so harried, it’s hard to connect with them.  At least not until 10pm at night and you take a moment to breathe and stop and look around.  But with the community around me online – I can be with people and make that connection I so need.  This is the most important benefit I’ve received.

Other benefits, of course, include going to events such as BlogHer and Blissdom and making that in-person connection.  Getting paid to blog in various parts of the innernets.  Getting to share wisdom and research that might help others.  Starting my online business, Vineyard Virtual Services for goodness sakes.  I don’t think that it would have been feasible had blogging not been something we could market and reach people with.  It’s what’s going to allow me to stay home with my family.

The benefit, in summary, is being involved in something tangible that’s bigger than us individually.