Wednesday, May 16

Where Have All The Bloggers Gone?

Two years ago it seemed that everyone and their dog had a blog up and running – sparking deep theological discussions, ruminating dreams, sharing the mundane of daily life. With a handful of exceptions, these days the only regular bloggers that fill my newsfeeder seem to be preachers or professional writers. Why is that? What’s happened to Joe Schmo exposing his thoughts to the general public? I can’t imagine that everyone is busier this year than in the past. Did we run out of things to talk about? Has blogging simply run its course – a fad that is no longer in vogue? I kind of miss the connection with my greater online community.

Why aren’t you blogging these days?

16 comments:

Kristi said...

Kristi, I love and miss my blog dearly. I have plenty of things to talk about but ran out of time. As the semester picks up I litterally work, go to class, do homework and study. Thats all. Even sleep and eats gets neglected. But now I am taking not as many credits and will have more time! :) Anyways just in case you cared - that is why I have not been blogging. You my friend have also not been blogging as much, but is going on in your life?

Jessica said...

Joe Schmoe here bloggin away! Granted, they come in spurts, but alas they come.

Distilled.Publishing@gmail.com said...

I just started a few months ago. Granted I do not blog every day (far less I am afraid), but I like to think I that 75% of my posts are worth reading, if only the other 25% are my drivel. I guess you decide. So people don't check out the blog each day, but once a week I hope they have something to comment back to me on.

Allan W. said...

My response got long so I wrote a post on my own blog here - read on...

Distilled: love the photos, I'll be reading.

Cheryl said...

Good question...
I'm wondering if Blog Mania over took us because it was so unique in its scope. You can get your thoughts "published" online with no expertise or editor input...so MANY dear souls started sharing their thoughts. It provided so much more info and connection not provided by other sources...way different than magazines or even websites. Like any new phenomenon, the numbers of participants diminish over time. But some dedicated players remain. Usually those that have received something from the blog world which deeply motivates their continued participation. Or preachers and professional writers. :-)
I know I'm still reading and writing when I can. Blogging has been a gift to me. I don't plan on stopping.

Jason Hill said...

For me, writing a decent post can take a few hours. I have plenty of stuff to write about. I'm just making different choices with my time.

I will, however, always consider myself a blogger.

sarah said...

all i have to say is 4 kids, two under two!

Unknown said...

Along with everything else that everyone else said let me add a few more reasons.

1. The "lay" blogger had to deal with spam comments, spam protection, etc, etc, etc and the novelty wore off.

2. Suddenly people (sometimes even strangers) were disagreeing or challenging thoughts expressed in the blog venue.

3. The constant pressure to be witty, insightful and relevant in a daily blog is tremendous.

I continue to blog Monday through Friday because I believe the daily discipline of writing (even though I'm rarely witty, insightful or relevant) makes me a better writer and communicator.

Unknown said...

Honestly. 2 Reasons, though I was thinking of actually blogging today. 1. Most the time the thought of making the effort to write coherent thoughts seems much too daunting.
2. A lot of the time, I wonder what's the point. I ask myself if people really care to read what I have to say. It's a hit to the ego when you go from having 10-12 comments on majority of your posts to two or less.

Kristi said...

I totally hear those of you who talk about the pressure of blogging "well". Tens time per day I think, I should blog about that, but later I talk myself out of it. No one would be interested in that. But for whom am I blogging? When I started, I said it was for the purpose of becoming a better writer. If that is the case, I should continue the pursuit as often as is reasonable. How many comments I get shouldn't matter. Right?? But there's no doubt that comment count makes an impact.

And, of course, like Sarah, finding quiet space enough from the kids to type complete thoughts that make some sense is an often insurmountable challenge!

Jason Hill said...

Randy's comment about being witty on a daily basis got me thinking about the differences between daily blogging and less frequent blogging.

I don't enjoy reading daily blogs as much as those that are less frequent. I, like you, subscribe to some blogs that come out every day, and although they are often filled with insight and wit, they don't excite me like a new post from My Life the Musical. In fact, if I miss a few days of checking my reader over the weekend or due to busyness, I'll often clear out some of those dailies without reading them all.

I think its the difference between Peter Jackson and Oprah. While Oprah is entertaining on a daily basis, you can take it or leave it. But, when a new Lord of the Rings comes out, you mark it on the calendar.

I think of myself as a Peter Jackson--I know that's a bit pretentious, but give me some leeway. I'm not churning out daily content. I want every post to overshadow the last. Doesn't always happen, but that is how I think.

Realistically that is hard to do. Just ask Pete, he's only had 4 movies in 9 years.

I wonder if I should reconsider that and see if I could get into more of an Oprah mode where I have quality, frequent content--with the occasional blockbuster mixed in?

Johnathan M. Thomas said...

lgwhwn
I thought I was the only one.

I'm not sure what kind of blogger I am. I'm trying more... not sure if it's working out.

peace.

Cash Girlz said...

Well I'v been so buisey!

Love y'all Sierra

KMiV said...

I got lazy.

Since everyone is a cyberfriend, and I had too many, I became an unfaithful cyber reponse friend.

Thanks for calling me to be a repentant cyberfriend.

Allan W. said...

Relevant: the The State of the Live Web, April 2007 report. With lots of pretty graphs and trends.

Steve Maxwell said...

Great question K-White. I know for me it is a lifeline. I have traveled my entire life it feels like and this blogging thing provided a way for me to still somewhat be in the lives of people I care about. I hear from people who say they read, but they don't comment and that inspirers me to keep going. I have quickly figured out there is a lot more good information than I have life to read so I will peak into the lives of those I love most and when I don't see a post from them it reminds me I should probably just call and check on them.