Writers are a queer lot. Some are “artistes” expressing themselves through words. They have the paradox they use words to describe what can not be said in words. These sorts have to write; they have no choice in the matter.
Then there are the writers who write for a job. If a better opportunity came up with better salary they would forgo writing for a better offer.
In between are some professional writers who want to make their living as writers. Their goal is to write books or poetry. This group wants more than income; they want some attention.
Blogger writers seem to be a mixture of the first and the third viz. they have an itch to write and express themselves, and they hope someone will enjoy it. But this is seldom predictable.
My blogger buddies will appreciate what I am talking about here. They will write something trivial or impromptu and lo! it receives an avalanche of praise and comment. Sometimes bloggers write something they feel is marvelous prose, only to hear crickets. I read blogs with eloquent writing who get no comment; I read blogs whose writers merely have to report a itch and they get dozens of comments. It’s a funny world, writing on-line.
I continue to strive to write primarily what I want to write. All the same, it intrigues me to see what gets a reaction out of the Spo-fans (or the Board of Directors). After five years of scribbling, I see no patterns; there is no Rhyme nor Reason.
In summary Spo-fans are a fascinating and mercurial bunch.
20 comments
February 7, 2012 at 12:20 AM
anne marie in philly
crickets? not you! smooches!
February 7, 2012 at 12:21 AM
jamesgfigueiredoJames
“In summary Spo-fans are a fascinating and mercurial bunch.”
You mean we’re fickle bitches.
HOW DARE..Ooooh, something shiny!
😉
February 7, 2012 at 11:36 AM
Will J
+1,000,000
February 7, 2012 at 12:35 AM
Raybeard
You crystallise here (and very eloquently, if I may be so permitted to say) the entrancing variation of different blogger types, which is quite uniquely apart from any other kind of medium – and which has expanded my own horizons in the six years since I’ve been blogging beyond what could have been imagined. Every one of my blog-friends has his or her own individual personality come shiningly through the writings – which is a matter for great rejoicing. However. like you, I also can’t identify any pattern in the reactions to various particular blogs.
And to paraphrase your opening of the above blog, in north of England dialect – “Eeh, bah gum! There’s nowt so queer as folk!”
February 7, 2012 at 12:57 AM
Tai
I like the summary 😆
February 7, 2012 at 2:27 AM
mrtaurus
Totally true. Thanks for always being the loudest cricket SPo!
February 7, 2012 at 2:56 AM
Mark
“Beats the hell out of me”!
m.
February 7, 2012 at 3:48 AM
Buddy Bear
Some posts are harder to comment on than others … when the blogger has “said it all” so eloquently. Some posts spark some idea that compels me to comment.
On my blog, the most viewed posts involve sex, of course, whether it is me describing some sexual escapade of my own or just pics of guys in spandex. But non-sexy posts in which I reveal my emotions, fears and doubts get many views and comments as well. I find my regular blog readers / commenters are very supportive of me at those times.
February 7, 2012 at 4:34 AM
Scott
Like Ricky Nelson said, you can’t please everybody so you’ve got to please yourself. When I first started blogging I was a comment ‘whore.’ Now I write for myself. If I happen to attract friends from it then that’s just the icing on the cake.
February 7, 2012 at 7:35 AM
Ron
Hear! Hear! Scott. 🙂
February 7, 2012 at 4:44 AM
Kris
Yes we are! And especially Spo since we’re your fans 😉
February 7, 2012 at 6:11 AM
Raven~
Personally, INFJ to INFJ, the more your post touches me, the less likely I am to write a comment … that’s why I email you or send a message in FB 😀
February 7, 2012 at 6:13 AM
tigerchanter
Yes, we are! Excuse me, I have an itch that I have to blog about… 😉
February 7, 2012 at 6:16 AM
Blobby
I’ve given up on the rhyme or reason people comment (or don’t) on my blog. I’ve noticed the same things as you, and for a while I fretted over it – as sometimes I feel that comments are my validation for blogging, when they truly are not.
I think I need a shrink.
February 7, 2012 at 6:48 AM
truthspew
I’m a pure, go for the jugular type myself.
February 7, 2012 at 7:14 AM
Jay
I write, therefore I am. Writing keeps us alive. Blogging lets the world know we are here….Hear, Hear!
February 7, 2012 at 7:33 AM
Ron
I agree with you 100% Jay!
February 7, 2012 at 7:33 AM
Ron
Dr. Spo,
You are exactly right when you describe most blog writers as a combination of writing to express themselves and writing for attention. That is me exactly. I love to write, have always written but I do not write to make a living as a writer. That’s why you’ll never see ads on my blog. I guess one could say that I am lonely and writing is my way to reach out and make more friends. When I was twelve years old I was intrigued by having pen pals so I plunged in (so to speak). I did that until I joined the Army at 18 years old. From those years on I’ve always written letters to friends, including Bill, my partner and love of the past 47 years. He has saved all my letters (he won’t let me have them).
When the Internet came along, I was late to get into blogging. I am glad I did although at times it hasn’t been always the best experience because I have lost friends who don’t approve of what I write. One friend even said “You write like you think” and he didn’t mean that as a compliment. He was the latest friend I lost and he cited “because of your last three blogs.”
Blogging has been interesting because I have had followers who no longer follow me and no longer comment but they to eventually disappear. I try not to take this as a personal rejection but sometimes I do but regardless, I will continue to blog.
To be perfectly frank (writing as I think again) I guess what I’m looking for is my soulmate. Bill and I are and will always be together but we are so different. I’ve always believed there is somebody “out there” who is my mirror image. I have yet to find him after seventy years but I haven’t given up the search. I’ve come close a few times only to have them disappear into the ether of the Internet. Perhaps something I said offended them of they just lost interest in me because of familiarity breeding contempt.
Life to me is a never ending puzzle and I will never end my quest to find meaning.
One thing I do know, that the kindness of others to me gives me so much more happiness, peace and contentment than any transitory physical sexual experience.
When I read your blog and several others of kind people who have no other agenda than to be friends and share their kindness, I feel good. I like to return that kindness in same and my reinforcement is when it is appreciated. Perhaps this would be considered selfish and self-centered by some but this is the way I get through life or else I would go crazy.
February 7, 2012 at 9:57 AM
Jeff
And sometimes when we touch The
honesty’s too much And I have to close my eyes and hide
February 7, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Frogdancer
“In summary Spo-fans are a fascinating and mercurial bunch.”
Why yes. Yes we are.