I Hate Blogs

I hate blogs. I really, honestly do. That doesn't mean I don't feel like publishing one from time to time.

I think that the appeal of writing a blog is the ability to just throw one's thoughts out into the void, never having to address a specific audience, never having to engage in a multi-directional conversation...there's absolutely no responsibility to it. It's only half of a conversation. There are no ties to a publisher or commitment to a level of quality. Just whatever is on your mind can be shared in its raw, unprocessed form. If somebody else wanders upon your ramblings and feels like commenting, they're welcome to. If somebody agrees with you, that's great. If somebody thinks you're batty, well, that's even better. If everybody thought the same way, we'd have little to show in the way of scientific advancement.

So, why do I hate blogs? It's not just the stigma. It is very similar to how MySpace users are viewed (from the outside) to be loners, losers, or otherwise strange. Facebook and others are viewed similarly. When you grow up not ever hearing anyone's real feelings or thoughts, it's hard to get used to knowing everyone's unadulterated realities. It's not just strange for readers. It's actually a little bit scary as an author. Do you really want people to know what you are thinking all the time? Probably not. One's mind is the only place they are truly free these days. The government can tax your possessions, they can tax or outlaw your hobbies, etc. You aren't free in the physical world, but your mind...at least for now...is yours and yours alone. Don't let anyone pry that away from you. Think for yourself. Listen to others but draw your own conclusions. Don't let yourself be an automaton like most of the people around you. Perhaps this is a topic for another time.