Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Why do you blog?

Assuming you have a blog, why do you blog? What do you usually blog about? Do you use it to sell your wares and other things you've made? Do you use it to post and share your recipes, photography? Do you use it to brag or post about your family/kids? Or complain about your family/kids? Do you use it as a creative outlet, a way to express yourself (your inner thoughts)?

I ask, because there have been a few times where I posted something about people that they ended up reading and they got upset or mad. See, I do use my blog as a way to brag, complain, show off my kids and family. I also use my blog as a form of expression, a diary if you will. But in a house with 8 people, I don't have the space to keep and store journals. I realize that what I post will be seen by tons of people....it's a public blog. I use my blog to express my feelings and while I can't make everyone happy with what I post, I can get my feelings out of my head and off my chest. If I didn't have this as an outlet, I would probably explode or internalize everything....neither of which is good and all of which I've done. I don't have a therapist or see a shrink and Godlove my husband, but he gets tired of hearing every bitch, whine, moan and complaint that I have and I can't say as I blame him.

I have posted about being depressed, my thyroid problems, my weight, my health, shared fat pictures of myself, posted about how pissed I was that people kept saying things about how I look pregnant or how some rude people say mean things about the size of my family or how they make ignorant comments. I've posted my complaints about my family, some friends, my kids. I've posted my feelings and shared pics of my kids. It's funny that when I post these bad things about myself, no one ever calls or emails and says that they are worried or ask if I need someone to talk to or something to that degree. No - all those posts get buried by the ones that concern them. That's okay, I don't mind.

I do realize that people will read this....I realize that I may hurt other people's feelings....But really if people cared about me, wouldn't they feel better knowing that I'm getting this all out of my system instead of letting it eat me to death. I've posted my fears, I posted my thoughts, etc. Where would you rather see me express this? This bottling up of emotions can be a potentially scary thing...you see teenagers all the time expressing their negative feelings by using drugs, drinking, smoking, cutting themselves. Why not give them an outlet where they can express all these intense feelings, maybe to some degree all that negative behavior would stop...who really knows for sure, you know?

If you knew me, you would know that I am a very emotional person. I am insecure about myself. I am timid around people I don't know, I am afraid of people I think of as authority figures. It takes alot of being pushed around before I finally snap and say what's on my mind. I let people walk all over me and then I let them do it some more (my children are perfect examples of this). Would people rather see me express myself or keep bottling it up, just to make them happy? Usually when I get my feelings hurt, I run to my husband. He fights most of these battles for me. He does this because he loves me and doesn't want to see me get hurt. But even after all these years, I'm sure that even he is getting a little tired of it.

Sure, it feels great to post something I did that I'm really proud of...like making up a new recipe, or taking a great picture, or making a craft with Nathan that people thought was cute enough to copy. It feels great getting that feedback. There are also times at work and such where someone will mention something that they read on my blog and it creeps me out that they know so much about me. It sucks too when people don't comment or when they think my idea sucks and they say so. I don't delete comments, unless it was from some stupid company looking for money and they happened to stumble on my blog. I don't delete my posts either. Even if it was really stupid and no one commented. Or something lame I did. Or some gripe I had about my kids. My theory is if you don't like what you read, than don't read it. I kept this blog fairly private (to some degree) until recently, then I started letting everyone read it, because they were finding it and reading it anyway. All you pretty much have to do anymore is Google someone or something and BINGO there you go...their whole life at your fingertips.

So, what do you blog about? How do you use your blog? Do you care what people are reading or seeing? Do you guard your words and thoughts? Do you think that there may be a day when you're child may go to school and find a somewhat nudey baby pic of themselves posted on their locker for the whole school to see? Do you worry that your children will grow up to hate you or not like you for posting all their embarrasing childhood stories? Seriously, I want to know why you do what you do....

8 comments:

Christy said...

I love your honesty. I am not quite there with my blogs, may never be, but I think that is one of the beautiful things about blogs - each one is unique, just like the authors.

heather@actingbalanced.com said...

Just stopped over from SITS... how apropos that my first visit to your blog is today with this topic :) I have two blogs - one to share what I know about saving money and getting good grocery deals with my friends and people who will become my friends and a second, more personal one where I can vent and share the trials and tribulations of being me... I've just started blogging but I have already run up against a few people who are not as supportive as others... guess it goes with the territory.
Hope you keep blogging - I'll stop back to visit again :) Heather actingbalanced.blogspot.com and couponning101.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Hi from SITS! You raise good questions. I can't believe people would get mad at you for posting what your feelings are. But I also have to tell you, that bottling things up isn't good either. Wishing you well in the new year.

Anonymous said...

YOu know? THis is actually a really good question. WHy do I blog!?!?! I mean,you would think I would want to shy away from those who WILL see my weirdness for what it is a cast stones at me. I geuss I do it because i know that even though there will be many who turn up their noses at my stupiditiy, there will still be those few who understand and even agree. I would love to have a "OMG! I do the exact same thing!" But I know that's a shot in the dark. Lol

WhiteSockGirl aka The Fabulous Bitch said...

Ah, a personal blog is just that, a personal blog. I have read on some forums that 'many' peeps despise personal blogs. Nothing wrong with that. But then why, oh why, would they then choose to visit personal blogs? And then complain how 'personal' these blogs are? Just makes no sense to me.
We all have choices,.. and the choice to visit duh! And then if you would land on a personal blog by 'accident', why not just leave?
Your blog, and you must do whatever makes your happy,.. that is my motto!! Do not write for anyone else, just write for yourself!

Love this post!

Stopping by from SITs

Helene said...

I admire your honesty!! I blog for a lot of reasons, mainly to keep a written record of my kids' childhoods, as well as my thoughts and feelings on various topics. I also write it to hopefully use it as a step up to advance my writing career someday, if I'm lucky enough.

This is your blog to do whatever you want....moan and complain, brag about your kids, share a recipe, whatever you want. If someone gets their feelings hurt, well...they can just click the little x in the corner. Not that you don't care about others, I'm not saying that. But you're just expressing your freedom of speech and your honest feelings...if anything, maybe they should be thankful that you don't sugarcoat things or tell white lies to keep others happy.

Be true to yourself!

Marcia @ Pretty Things said...

I struggle with this question too. And I too have answered it by telling people to switch off. I blog to share, but I mostly blog to record a memory for me and my family. I see it as a failure on my part to not be honest, it's not the real me. So be true to yourself, hold your head high and not take to heart the comments people made. As much as your entitled to your opinion, so are they.

Keep blogging, love your work.

Marcia

Corrie Howe said...

I love the picture of Zeus in your side bar. I think you should blog about what you want to blog about. Try not to let comments from others define your value. I mostly blog about my son with special needs.