mardi, octobre 21, 2008

Why do YOU keep a Blog?


Why do I keep a blog?

It's a trend and I'm oh so trendy.

I've been keeping my blog for more than 2 years now. It's a lazy way to keep friends and family informed of what I've been up to.

I enjoy putting thoughts, recipes or events out for comment.

Blogging helps me remember. Age doesn't.

I need to write. It helps me relax. Often I just start a post not really knowing what I want to say and then it takes a life of its own.

I've been to school and they taught me writing. I don't use spellcheck. When in doubt, I use a dictionary.

I've always wanted to do an intellectual/political blog - but too often the stomach takes precedence.

A few friends started their blogs after mine. I've made friends through my blog. We often worry that bloggers in real are not like their blogs at all, but it's not easy maintaining a public persona that's very different from your private one over a sustained period of time, so we should be what we write. Or eat, for that matter.

Eat I mention, for most of the blogs I frequent are food-related blogs. And many are owned by fellow Singaporeans or Malaysians. We blog about food, our lives and sometimes also our thoughts.

Needless to say, I do fear exposing myself too much in public. Many were shocked that I publish pictures of my children, my house...There are after all lots of loony people out there.

But the need to share is probably greater than the fear, which in any case shouldn't be allowed to dictate our lives. And as long as one takes responsibility for one's musings and doesn't care about the judgement of those who do not matter...

I love learning from the other blogs. Watching the new ones take flight...

I remember the first day I met Pris in Stuttgart. As we were exchanging phone numbers and email, I asked her, "Do you have a blog?" So she did and even though we're no longer living in the same city today, we still catch up with one another through our respective blogs. She's having fun and her cooking has taken flight.

Su found me through my blog and she has her own too. So I could follow her whether she's in Stuttgart, Singapore or Bangalore.

Over here in Italy, fellow Singaporeans like E in Turin and A in Padova have their own blogs. I'm very bad with phoning people, do not have the time, preferring to communicate through writing. When friends have blogs that's how I keep up with what they're up to between calls or visits. I do not know if it's the same for you, but very often when I see a friend with a blog whom I've not seen for a long time, I do not usually feel the distance. Guess I've been following his or her life from my own home.

A few of Hub's friends have taken to following my blog so as to keep track of what we're up to as a family. Mothers in Stuttgart followed my blog and were happy to find themselves occasionally mentioned or featured. Lotus doesn't blog about everything and anybody, being mentioned is often a sign of being in her thoughts. Often in a good way, of course.

Over here in Modena, I have it that I am a subject of discussion among those who know of my blogging activity. Some fear having me around in case I should blog about some person or event (*grin*). Like I'm Pandora's Box.

This honestly doesn't bother me, on the contrary, it rather amused me.

Yet people couldn't possibly treasure privacy more than myself - after all I do have a Hub in an important position in these parts. A friend here suggested that the fear could be cultural. Or because these people are unfamiliar with blogging. Or they may simply be insecure. Or they are control freaks. Or simply because they just love to bitch. Or some imagine that should I ever mention them, it'd be in a negative light - therefore they whinge about it beforehand.

Some are angry that I mention other people in my blog. Though how not to mention others since live alone I do not, I'm still trying to figure out.

Having said that, people are entitled to their own opinions and a prioris.

OK, I digress. So I blog because bloggers form a community of some sort. There is inspiration, support, information, ideas, beauty e.g. lovely photography. There is voyeurism, voyages, videos, memes, lucky draws and even cookies exchange.

And why do you blog? (This is like a meme in free form - in case you should wonder.)

6 commentaires:

Nate @ House of Annie a dit…

We blog to connect with other foodies around the world. No one else understands our passions. It's group therapy.

Beau Lotus 涟 a dit…

Hi Nate and Annie, thanks for visiting!

Group therapy - I adhere. Great way of putting it.

Glad to discover your blog, BTW, really nice recipes.

SIG a dit…

I love that meme, babe. :) And that's how I met you... thru this blog. And I do treasure our friendship and likewise, little one too has made some friends and she mentions baby girl all the time. :)

Pris a dit…

Hey S.! I love blogging too! Actually it was a hobby that I discovered only after I realized that I would be moving overseas. And boy, I do find it a chore to arrange appointments with friends, just to chat on the phone. Blogging is like 24/7 available and it really helps me to clear my thoughts...maybe I would do this meme! Oh so nice that you mentioned me! My cooking hasn´t exactly taken flight, but flown a couple of times it has.... if I´m a budget airline, you´re like SIA when it comes to cooking...hhaha, okok, I´m digressing here too.... Take care! Miss ya and yup! My hubby and I are gonna start planning trips for next yr...would like to visit Italy, incl. u and yr babies too....will keep you informed ok? :)hugs...

Beau Lotus 涟 a dit…

SIG, am I glad you chose to contact me thru my blog :-). The Babies both talk about Princess too. We'll be back next Summer, hopefully we'll be able to meet up more often then.

Pris, glad you're making plans to visit us, let me know when you see light.

SIG a dit…

Sure thing! :O) you're the busy one haha. But next year in proper school liao. Likewise, thanks for discovering my blog. :)