The Value of Blogging
October 27, 2008
Andrew Sullivan's newest piece in The Atlantic, Why I Blog, is an essay that I believe will become an instant classic; a common reference point for the the habitually asked question, "why would anyone want to blog?" Writing and journalism has undergone a revolution in the past decade. Amazing as it is to imagine, only in recent years have we achieved the ability to disseminate information instantly to the world, from anywhere in the world. Anyone with something to say can say it - the gatekeepers of journalism, the publishers, editors and ombudsmen, have watched their authority dwindle in one of the greatest non-violent power struggles of modern history. Blogging has given a new life to free speech in America, allowing anyone to publish their thoughts without having to go through the long and lengthy process of actually getting it published.
Sullivan's piece in The Atlantic describes what blogging has brought to the world of professional journalism. Some of my favorite bloggers, Matt Yglesias, Ezra Klein, and of course, Sullivan, are people who could be considered "professional bloggers". They spend nearly 14 hours per day, 7 days a week, with the assistance of staffers and interns, using blogs to speak to the world. They have made a career out of blogging; a career which, I imagine, is as exciting as it is addictive. Without a doubt, professional bloggers play a critical role in how the world interprets every-day events; they have the ability, maybe even the responsibility, to respond to the most important pieces of news as it hits the wires.
Not everyone, of course, can be a career blogger. So where does that leave the full-time students, the scientists, the artists, and the flight attendants, among others? Certainly there are people in the world with real passion and real knowledge about various topics; people with things to say that other people want to hear. Some share life experiences, like living with cancer, or backpacking across the globe. Others share skills and expertise, like how to manage personal wealth, or how to live a simple but fulfilling life. Artists share their work with each other, musicians posts new tracks, video-makers comment on their newest work.
Blogging, believe it or not, is hard work. Bloggers, therefore, have immense respect for each other, and they are often each other's harshest critics. They hold each other to the high standards of blogging that they create, but appreciate a well written and well put-together blog. In the past few months I have had friends who attempted to begin blogging. One asked "where do you find the motivation?"; another proclaimed "blogging is a lot of work!" before giving up on the hobby entirely. Those bloggers who have tried and failed only make the dedicated bloggers that much stronger.
Every blogger plays a unique role in the blogosphere, which turns out to be the ultimate free market. Popular and well-written blogs are rewarded with heavy traffic and voluminous reader feedback. Boring and poorly-written blogs fail to attract readers and traffic never materializes. A blogger who tries to cheat or game the system will see his or her credibility and respect disappear before their eyes. Blogging provides both a rush and a crash. Sometimes you feel on top of the world, and other times you just want to quit.
My blogging experience has been a constantly evolving over the years. The archive on Extraordinary Observations goes back to 2004, but my experience publishing to the web goes back to the 90s. In 1995 my family purchased its first computer, and a few months later, we were officially America Online subscribers. My first website was hosted by Geocities and the content was something any elementary school boy is passionate about: video games. Over the years I updated my web pages to share my passion about roller coasters, my favorite jokes, and eventually to show support to my favorite political candidates. I experimented with blogger.com in the pre-Google days - primarily writing reviews of my favorite movies and posting rants about whatever gets a high school teenager fired up. Eventually, my decision to blog about "extraordinary observations" was made - and my modern blogging career was born.
Blogging will certainly continue to evolve into the future and my experience is only the beginning. Will I be sharing my blog posts with my future kids and grand kids? Will I look back 50 years from now on my observations in the context of history to understand exactly what I was thinking at some point in time? I sure hope so, because to me, that is exactly the value of blogging.
Sullivan's piece in The Atlantic describes what blogging has brought to the world of professional journalism. Some of my favorite bloggers, Matt Yglesias, Ezra Klein, and of course, Sullivan, are people who could be considered "professional bloggers". They spend nearly 14 hours per day, 7 days a week, with the assistance of staffers and interns, using blogs to speak to the world. They have made a career out of blogging; a career which, I imagine, is as exciting as it is addictive. Without a doubt, professional bloggers play a critical role in how the world interprets every-day events; they have the ability, maybe even the responsibility, to respond to the most important pieces of news as it hits the wires.
Not everyone, of course, can be a career blogger. So where does that leave the full-time students, the scientists, the artists, and the flight attendants, among others? Certainly there are people in the world with real passion and real knowledge about various topics; people with things to say that other people want to hear. Some share life experiences, like living with cancer, or backpacking across the globe. Others share skills and expertise, like how to manage personal wealth, or how to live a simple but fulfilling life. Artists share their work with each other, musicians posts new tracks, video-makers comment on their newest work.
Blogging, believe it or not, is hard work. Bloggers, therefore, have immense respect for each other, and they are often each other's harshest critics. They hold each other to the high standards of blogging that they create, but appreciate a well written and well put-together blog. In the past few months I have had friends who attempted to begin blogging. One asked "where do you find the motivation?"; another proclaimed "blogging is a lot of work!" before giving up on the hobby entirely. Those bloggers who have tried and failed only make the dedicated bloggers that much stronger.
Every blogger plays a unique role in the blogosphere, which turns out to be the ultimate free market. Popular and well-written blogs are rewarded with heavy traffic and voluminous reader feedback. Boring and poorly-written blogs fail to attract readers and traffic never materializes. A blogger who tries to cheat or game the system will see his or her credibility and respect disappear before their eyes. Blogging provides both a rush and a crash. Sometimes you feel on top of the world, and other times you just want to quit.
My blogging experience has been a constantly evolving over the years. The archive on Extraordinary Observations goes back to 2004, but my experience publishing to the web goes back to the 90s. In 1995 my family purchased its first computer, and a few months later, we were officially America Online subscribers. My first website was hosted by Geocities and the content was something any elementary school boy is passionate about: video games. Over the years I updated my web pages to share my passion about roller coasters, my favorite jokes, and eventually to show support to my favorite political candidates. I experimented with blogger.com in the pre-Google days - primarily writing reviews of my favorite movies and posting rants about whatever gets a high school teenager fired up. Eventually, my decision to blog about "extraordinary observations" was made - and my modern blogging career was born.
Blogging will certainly continue to evolve into the future and my experience is only the beginning. Will I be sharing my blog posts with my future kids and grand kids? Will I look back 50 years from now on my observations in the context of history to understand exactly what I was thinking at some point in time? I sure hope so, because to me, that is exactly the value of blogging.
Hi Rob. I came to your site via the link that Andrew Sullivan put up. He's right, you get it. You're also right, that there is plenty of room in the blogosphere for everyone to take the chance and express their thoughts for others to share. I, for one, am grateful for the opportunity to read your opinions and thank you for being honest, brave and tenacious enough to keep on letting people in.
Hi Rob:
I also linked to your site through Sullivan's blog. Keep up the good work. As someone who has just started blogging and journaling, I am inspired by your work and your dedication to blogging. I wish I had tapped into this world as early as you had. Keep up the good work.
April
Nice plug for your excellent blog on The Daily Dish this morning. Keep up the good work!
Like the others, I came from The Dish. I think you make very insightful comments here and look forward to checking out where you've been and where you're going. Keep writing...you never know what great things will come of it!
Hey Rob,
A very thoughtful post. What I enjoy about blogging is the ability to write about whatever I want, including some things that are far removed from my "real" job. And as a bonus, I can revise endlessly! You're doing a great job. I hope you continue sharing your thoughts for a long time to come!
I think you summed it up nicely Rob. Congratulations on the Sullivan link, and keep up the good work.
Hi Rob, Dish here too. Followed your link to Ruby's post on the connection between creativity and obsession (the DNA discovery post). Just what I needed today. I "pretended" to be an architect/builder for 30 years. During that time I mostly obsessed about writing--except the time in the early 80's when I mostly obsessed about booze--and after another failed business, foreclosure, near-bankruptcy etc... I can see my future. I am finally embracing what I wanted to be when I grew up. Keep up the passion. (BTW, we also share the political perspective)
And I make Sullivan-Referred Visitor #8 who's grateful to have found you, Rob, and who plans to return.
You're inspiring, articulate and plugged in!
Congrats on well-earned recognition.
That's the way, my blogging brother, TELL YOUR STORY! Never stop. That's what human connection is all about. I'm putting a link to yours on mine.
Best
Rich
And hope you don't mind... my own shameless plug... this one's about
A Republican With Honor and Courage
You really did get to the heart of it. I am going to direct anyone who asks me why I blog to this post. It expresses why most of us do it and why we have developed such a tight community with our fellow bloggers.
I too came via Daily Dish. That's a nice post, too articulating what a lot of us older folk were wondering.
Also came via DD.
Your thoughts on blogging ring true with me. As one who took most of the last 6 months off and is suddenly reaquainting myself with the addiction I had to smile at your anecdotes about those who find it too hard before quitting. Kudos for staying with it for so long. It is hard.
Thank you to everyone who clicked through from The Daily Dish - every bit of feedback is greatly appreciated. I never imagined that my work would inspire anyone, but I am more than happy with the response I have been getting.
themadmama, it is never too late to start blogging. A few years might seem like a big head start for someone to have - but as time goes on it won't matter if you started blogging in 2000 or 2008 or any other time, really.
thematically fickle, excellent point, one of the true values of blogging is the pleasant surprises you experience along the way (today being a perfect example).
Esther, I have always struggled with whether I should become a "niche" blog, and focus on one of my passions (politics, economics, urbanism, transit, etc.) or whether I should continue writing about the most important things that come to mind. Ultimately I've concluded that writing on a narrow topic would keep me from expressing my thoughts on some other issues I truly care about.
jmadlc55, I am glad you were able to find something interesting today. I'm also glad to hear you made it through your darkest days - good luck in the future!
Rich, thanks for adding me to your blogroll - I will certainly check out your blog.
Jossie, thanks for thinking about using my piece as a reference point. I hope to write a follow up as soon as I have a free moment that hopefully you will also enjoy.
James, I am glad to hear you are getting "back in the game" so to say. Good luck!