So… three years into this blogging gig and I still get this feeling occasionally: why bother? The feeling only comes to the fore on days when I’m either unmotivated or have nothing to say. Sometimes I chalk it up to a lack of “interesting” items in the news and elsewhere but most of the time it’s simply a failure of imagination… specifically MY imagination. Some people have built huge and successful blogging careers on the joys of shopping at Target (as if that’s all he writes about; note the irony), others have attics chock full of tales of derring-do in high performance jets, and still others have enjoyed success simply by being bat-shit crazy (with liberal dollops of profanity thrown in, just for the fun of it). One would think I could learn by example, even given the fact I've not shopped at Target lately, haven't flown anything... ever, and am in full possession of my sensibilities and can express myself (occasionally) without being profane. But noooo...
It’s not like I haven’t been around the block a few times or that I don’t have a storehouse of bloggable stuff (I do). Well, check my last… while there IS lotsa bloggable stuff in said storehouse, a lot of it (most?) isn’t quite suitable for the tone I’ve established here at EIP, that tone being PG-13. For the most part.
Maybe I need a new blog, written under a pseudonym, where I can discuss the finer points of whoring around and dabbling in proscribed substances in the world’s backwaters. And in some frontwaters, too. Maybe. But then again, those times were long ago, far away, and have largely been either forgotten or diminished by years of domestic tranquility and middle-class normalcy. Such as that was… emphasis on the past tense. But even domestic tranquility seems exciting compared to life as an exile (in Portales!). I suppose we’ll manage to muddle through without the sordid tales, even though I imagine some of you would be pleased… secretly or otherwise… to hear about how I scraped the bottom of the moral barrel in my youth.
Ah, but for the moment? It’s imagination, failure of. This, too, shall pass.
"maybe I need a new blog, written under a pseudonym"
ReplyDeleteNot a bad idea Buck....been there done that, just to blow off the hard core political steam....
where I can discuss the finer points of whoring around and dabbling in proscribed substances in the world’s backwaters
ReplyDeleteThat was a definite palate cleanser to be sure! This post should have come with a warning!!!
I hear ya though; I've only been at it for just shy of 2 years and I too have those moments where I wonder - why would anyone care about what I have to say on this or that. Or even better - why doesn't anyone care...
I figure it's a great and relatively anonymous way to put your feelings and thoughts out there without recriminations.
Cuz you can always ban people you don't like. Which - wouldn't that be nice in real life.
All that said - Buck I love your blog. It's got a great tone, terrific material and a very interesting writer. Please, continue.
If you get that blog...you have got to send me the link...I know...it defeats the purpose, but what satisfaction are you going to get if someone that knows you can't give you feedback!
ReplyDeleteI did that once as a team blog on erotic writings...everyone's stories were fictional but mine!
It is amazing that you can not have a thought in your head and yet write out a very intersting post. You have great style and interesting thoughts - I'm a fan!
ReplyDeleteI often have the thought that I would like a new blog that no one knows about - maybe two new blogs. I was recently lectured by my brother on what to blog and what not to blog - pissed me off. So I come over to your blog and say what I really think :)
Our mutual friend Gerard Van der Leun uttered what I still think, to this day, are the wisest words ever put to soundwave or pen about blogging. Something about how it's a marathon and not a sprint. If you watch his site as closely as I do, you don't need me to remind you he follows his own advice -- the sun rises and the sun sets, nothin' happens, oh well that's just the way it goes. Of all the wise things others have done that I've chosen to emulate, I rank this very close to the top of the stack.
ReplyDeleteI've become convinced you see yourself as being far more boring than you really are, blog-bud. I can go a day or two without reading EIP. But not three. And if I'm off cruising or camping or whatever for a week, you're the first place I hit when I get some net access back in front of me; it's practically a guarantee you've got something interesting to say.
And you do it without trying. Quite amazing, when you think about it.
Look, some blogs have it, some blogs don't. You just have to accept that yours HAS it, no matter what you decide to write about.
ReplyDeleteSee? Easy.
I always feel just a little bit sheepish after posting one of these whines and reading all y'all's comments. My intent wasn't to solicit compliments; rather, it was just to illustrate the way I was thinking yesterday. In other words: a "that's the way it is today" kinda thing.
ReplyDeletePat: While it may sound like a good idea, I'm not so sure it is! Politics are different than first-person tales of debauchery.
Kris sez: I figure it's a great and relatively anonymous way to put your feelings and thoughts out there without recriminations.
Cuz you can always ban people you don't like. Which - wouldn't that be nice in real life.
All that said - Buck I love your blog. It's got a great tone, terrific material and a very interesting writer. Please, continue.
Roger that, on your first two points! And your first point is why I do this thing, to begin with. As for continuing... I certainly plan on doing that. It's just as you noted, tho... we all have these thoughts occasionally. Thanks for your kind words, Kris. They are most appreciated.
Mushy sez: If you get that blog...you have got to send me the link...I know...it defeats the purpose, but what satisfaction are you going to get if someone that knows you can't give you feedback!
You're right: it would most definitely defeat the purpose if I sent ya the link. I seriously doubt I'll do that other blog thing. "The internet is forever," as they say. And even though there's no prospective employer, lover, or anyone else who might "sign my performance review" in my immediate future, there's still the kids, grandkids, yadda, yadda, to think about, as well as some characters who just might recognize themselves in the tale(s). That would never do.
And you didn't give us YOUR link, btw! ;-)
Lou sez: It is amazing that you can not have a thought in your head and yet write out a very intersting post. You have great style and interesting thoughts - I'm a fan!
... I was recently lectured by my brother on what to blog and what not to blog - pissed me off. So I come over to your blog and say what I really think :)
What a great compliment, Lou. Thank you! I would get quite pissed, as well, should anyone have the nerve to tell me what I should or shouldn't blog about. That's real chutzpah! And it goes without saying (but I will): feel free to say any danged thing you want here.
Morgan sez: I've become convinced you see yourself as being far more boring than you really are, blog-bud.
...
And you do it without trying. Quite amazing, when you think about it.
Ah, but you don't live here, Morgan! The views from the outside/inside differ considerably. ;-)
Those are VERY kind words, though, and I thank you for them. I'm a great admirer of your work, as well, and I'm a daily reader... except for those rare 'net-free days that hit me occasionally.
Christina sez: Look, some blogs have it, some blogs don't. You just have to accept that yours HAS it, no matter what you decide to write about.
See? Easy.
OK... I give! :-)
You made me smile (and VERY broadly) with that, Christina. Thank you!
Sorry Buck, but it appears the Jerk role is mine on this one (jokingly, of course):
ReplyDeleteGerard gave me some blogging advice, too. He said "No meta blogging blog posts count." Infinitely more valuable than that "marathon" business!
In all seriousness, it goes around, as I'm sure you have seen by the emptiness of my site lately. You know we (the readers) love ya, and we're not going anywhere.
Here's to liberal dollops of profanity. :P
ReplyDeleteAndy sez: Gerard gave me some blogging advice, too. He said "No meta blogging blog posts count." Infinitely more valuable than that "marathon" business!
ReplyDeleteI have to guess that means no blogging about blogging? ;-)
As I noted elsewhere... the post was meant to reflect the way I felt this past Monday morning. And since EIP serves as a sort of journal for me, it DOES count! (shorter: "I'll take my ball and go home if we don't play by my rules")
Phlegmmy: I'd agree, usually. But not where the website I linked is concerned.
Yeah, Buck, that's what it means. A while back I wrote some drivel about writing some drivel, and he gave me that as a comment.
ReplyDeleteBTW: You actually squeaked in today as my 1,000th visitor. Took 8 months and help from good folks like you to get me there. Here's to keeping a (hopefully good) thing going.
Congrats on the milestone, Andy. I have a feeling you'll go far with this blogging thingie!
ReplyDelete