So, I hate blogging. Does anyone remember back when blogging was for the 30-something year old nerds held up in their parents’ basements and for emo kids to talk about the new reason why they hate their lives? I do, I was in the latter category, then I went to university, got a life and stopped blogging.
While I was busy getting a science degree, hanging out with my friends, and thoroughly enjoying living in my own bubble – blogging has became this ever-present, all penetrating fact of life.
No matter what your interests or job might be, there’s a blogging community for you. And if you’re a web professional, and an entrepreneur to boot there’s no way around it. You have a website / portfolio, you have a public image / persona on various social networking sites, and you run a blog.
For the longest time I thought that I’m just not a very wordy person and therefore suck at blogging. The funny thing is that I would consider myself an outspoken person, even a social butterfly given the opportunity and a proper amount of sleep.
But if you’ll look through my past articles – it’s pictures and some text. The latter might as well not be there, because it’s not particularly interesting and is mostly kind of forced. And it’s not that I don’t have anything to say, it just feels like a chore, a homework assignment, and that takes all the fun and joy out of it.
Photo credit: Rona Keller
Why has it been such a damn chore for me to run a blog? For some odd reason, just writing in a conversational and open manner seems like such a…almost faux pas. I can’t count the number of times I’ve read the “how to be a successful freelancer” article (a new one seems to come out every month if not more often), and much too often the message I would take away was “have a watered down public persona”. The best way to win more clients and gain the respect of your colleagues is by making sure that everything you say and do online is just bland enough not to offend anyone. At least that’s what I keep reading and hearing.
But just because no one dislikes you, doesn’t mean that anyone actually likes you, or gives a damn about what you have to say. Not to mention how utterly mind numbing it is to keep up appearances of this watered down “you” across multiple social networking profiles. No wonder I hate blogging, I’m writing about things I love while feeling that I can’t be my colourful self, for the fear that someone might not like me. And even worse, I’m writing because that’s what’s expected from me.
And that’s when I realized that it’s not that I hate blogging itself, I hate the kind of blogger I have been and the kind of advice I’ve been taking. So, from now on, you’ll be getting an earful when I have something to say, and an eyeful when I want to share some great visual stimulants.
I give you me, pure and simple. No more blog posts that take so long to write, re-write, and re-write again that by the time I post them they’ve lost all of their original gusto and meaning. Boring the living bejeezus out of you all, and myself to boot, is a complete waste of time.
Photo credit: Dzung Viet Le
Let’s have some fun!
Thoughts, questions, comments?
I like them all, so shoot.
