Since serious, long posts seem to be reader-repellent, a frank question would be related to the “why” behind my posting them. I was nibbling at this notion yesterday with a fellow blogger, and he failed to get through to me. My own experience with blogging has been largely exclusive and personal. To say this is an obvious No No, but I did not actually seek to enter a blogging community of any sort. I blog because A- It is (another) nasty habit I am hooked on to, B- It sharpens my writing skills, C- There are a number of topics about which I have something to say,and, D- Reason X. Attracting an audience is pleasant, don’t get me wrong, it boosts one’s self-esteem and all the other egocentric emotions one may entertain, but it is not the core of my attention.
Another old-new point my fellow blogger mentioned was related to my language. Other readers have approached me, presenting the same issue for debate, and asking me to utilize an easier type of language in my blog. Some have it that the genre of language with which I express my points and opinions is somewhat “distant” from that used in most blogs, some claim it is “difficult” to grasp a passage of mine because I find complex sentences appealing, and others support other opinions.
Something was also said about my “choice of topics”, which, possibly, some people find extremely uninteresting and others (I hope) find entertaining, educational, and/or of some other undeniable value. So there, the three blog-killers all in one place: Long entries, difficult language, and odd topics (using the word “odd” loosely).
While I respect all opinions regarding any given topic, I beg to make my own crystal clear. As I stated above, I blog for my own pleasure. Now this may strike people as being a selfish act of hunting some delightful sin, and it absolutely is. When I find, or think of, a topic that intrigues me, I blog about it. When I am playful enough to share my mood without being indecent (relatively speaking), I do exactly that. My language is a tool to reach out to people, it is not designed to appeal to everyone’s taste, as is the case with many a thing in life. Language should not be a cage, and it should enable one to get through to people. It ought to be fun, too. To prove this point, I do not always post in this dubbed-rigid manner, I often free myself from it and come clean and simple, particularly in T Play Box. Do not mix my saying such things with a smart, even arrogant, retaliation. I wish to make things clear for the confused, no more, no less.
Having established such pillars, it goes without saying that some of my posts receive more attention than others. That is almost like wearing something “fashionable” in everyone’s eyes, and getting praised and flirted with because of it, and wearing something less fashionable and receiving less “noise”. But here’s the catch: when you wear something trendy, you will probably find a bunch of other people wearing similar things because they are exactly that: trendy. That is what I pray does not happen to my blog, quite an analogy, don’t you say?
To dramatize matters, this is a living conflict between what the public wants, and what the blogger/writer is interested in. I opt for the latter freedom. To put it bluntly, I still post long entries, I still use retro language, I still write about what appeals to me. I will, in all probability (should I retain my patience and some extra time), continue to commit all three sins because I am passionate about what I do, and quite a sinner, too!
This terminates this longish, “I” filled entry.
Tololy, I quite enjoy your word-craft, it is a lovely art that makes your blog stand distinct.
Sometimes, I admit, especially your Analysis that is now in Bangladesh, I am too embarassed to comment as I am just not in that realm! I mean, English is my first language, and have I ever even read it?! So, you send me scurrying to the Encyclopedia to try and learn something new, but I get sidetracked by a child needing a sandwich. Sigh.
Keep up the good work! No comments means we were all struck speechless. Me, anyway.
Kinzi, thanks for the nice comment. That was very sweet of you, and I bet you make yummy sandwiches! Comments could be a meter for “popularity”, whatever that means, but they are certainly not everything. I would rather have one reader who truly enjoys reading me, than 10 who fake it, perhaps in this sense, I cater for certain tastes.
i would agree that your posts vary in degrees of interest to my personal taste. yet they all have one common characteristic: professional quality.
i like your style of language.
Complex language places elevates your blog to a pseudo meritocracy, and I’m a big believer in that. Why must we endure the banal comments most posts receive?
Now on to the ‘trendy’ issue. Being semi-involved in the ‘fashion’ industry, I tend to peddle certain trends for capital gains. Where a person wants to be is the bleeding edge. That in turn raises the question, do you want to be an anomaly in a sea of Gap/Zara, or do you want to gain freedom by being invisible?
I ramble… I do… oh, and I shop at the Gap religiously.
iMalhas
Your words and writing are just fine. A blog, first and foremost, needs to be a place where the blogger can talk about what they want to. You are not trying to sell a product, you are not making money off of it.
There are bloggers out there who live their lives for the blog. One wonders how they do anything else. I am sure their families and personal lives suffer. I know how much time it takes just doing my little blog.
So what it we cannot brag about having 1.5 million hits last year? I can brag about having a wife who doesnt want to kill me over the internet useage, I have kids who spend time with me. I dont use every personal minute looking for things to up my readership.
I got about 900-1000 hits a week, and that is just talking about the things I want to say. I dont worry about stepping on people’s feet, I talk about things I find important. If people choose to come or not, doesnt matter either way. For me it is a sort of journal, a diary almost.
So dont worry about what some think or say, do things the way you want to. I love your blog. I might not post all of the time, but if you check the ISP’s of your site you’ll see I check it out all of the time.
Keep up the great work!
I think that you are doing just fine in terms of the length and choice of topics in your blogs, however, I think that you have watered down the erstwhile commanding level of your language since you joined Jordan Planet.
Your former language level was much more richer than the one you are presenting now although on rare occasion you do have a tendency to seek refuge in your original style.
I personally like both; your old style as well as your new watered down style.
Your writing is a reflection of you; beautiful, complex (in a good way), multi-faceted, and what I love the most: liberated. Your mind and words are liberated from the mainstream, and you achieve a unique mysteriousness that way. The best part is, I am confident that you are not waiting for our endorsement in order for you to keep doing what you’re doing, the way you do it.
Tololy,you got me hooked on your posts,I have to read them all..even those freaky italian ones you write where I read till the end and can sometimes figure out 4 words,don’t know why you do that but I still read on.
This is YOUR blog. You should write in a way that suits your feelings, about topics that catch your fancy. Obviously, you cannot cater to all of your readers with every entry, and you shouldn’t even feel the need to try. Your style and your choice of topics are what make you special. If people don’t like what you are writing or the way you write it, well, nobody is forcing them to read your blog.
For me personally, it’s your writing style that keeps me coming back for more. You are a wonderful storyteller, and I hope that you won’t feel the need to change.
Remember, you are the host of the party called “Tololy’s Box”, and you have graciously allowed us all to come to your party. You set the tone, and people who are having fun will stay. Those who find it less than enjoyable, for whatever reason, should find themselves another party.
well said. blog is ur place where u write to satisfy ur intellectual instincts or even just vent ur feelings. i don’t think that this is possible anywhere else other than perhaps writing letters to ur ownself but that prospect sounds utterly ridiculous. u do a good job though i am too young in this arena of blogging. only a few days old. keep it up!!!!!!
The beauty of blogging is that they are done by choice. You blog because you choose to and people read because they choose to. Your blog is a reflection of you …
Having said that; I don’t believe that there are certain standards that can be generalized and that rule your style or your readers’ for that matter. As most of the comments stated; people come to your blog because they like what they find there, and I am one of them. I enjoy reading your entries most of the time and I drop you comments every now and then. So there is no text book steps that one follow to choose what to write about or what to read on others’ blogs … that is the beauty of choice :)
Your blog is definitely among the ones I enjoy reading so keep it up … you are doing great
This is what blogging is all about, you write what you like, and who cares if no one likes it.
Bloggers write what they like, when they like, however they like, and like you said: “without being indecent (relatively speaking)”
I would like to thank everyone who “dared” comment on this entry. I appreciate the support and the heartfelt words, as well as the significant points put forward.
The issue discussed in this entry was not entirely personal. It covers the relationship between the reader and the writer, in general, and online readers and blog authors, in specific. The matter is interesting to me, precisely because I reflect on it often, and because I receive a decent number of emails in this regard.
The ironic bit about blogging, I believe, is the claims that it is an attractive self-publishing revolution where the blog author takes full control over blog content and what not. Yet, bit by bit, this so-called freedom could be trimmed into a less-daring or a confined shape , be that due to the influence of readers,blog authors, or other elements.
Come what may, all opinions are respected, and to each his/her own.
Hmm…well said. I don’t think blogging is about the readership as much as it is about opinions of the author. Feedback is just a fortuitous fringe benefit. I occasionally get long posts going, but my language needs some working on.
Keep with it T, we like it.