Reminding Myself Why I Blog

Published on August 12, 2004 By Gideon MacLeish In Blogging

Warning: this is just another rant. If it's not to your liking, you may want to move on...lol.

I recently put up an article that was a bit more of a piece of "me" than some of my regular pieces. It sunk like a stone.

It seems to me fascinating that there are numerous blogs that are posted on the way JoeUser is going downhill, and yet, the articles that get the points aren't the insightful, well written articles. They're the "shock blog" articles with the inflammatory titles (Two such "articles" that I know of have topped 230 responses, last I checked!).

I have seen other bloggers make this same statement in different ways; when I arrived here, one very talented blogger was frustrated to the point of nearly leaving. This is one of the reasons I started and continue the "A Blogger You All Want to Know" series; because if you want to get rid of the crap on the site, the answer is simple: READ GOOD BLOGS! I stand by all of the users I have profiled, and if you want a starting point for good blogs, check them out! (I would also like to state that higher ranked users are also usually very good reads; though this is not necessarily the case; the reason I don't profile them is they already HAVE the exposure).

To the topic line: This causes me to reflect on why I truly blog. It's not for points, but some comments, some feedback are nice. It may be a small ego boost, but it tells me what you really want to read (sadly, my top article remains the Mary Kate Olsen post).

signing off,

Gideon MacLeish

Comments (Page 3)

Gideon MacLeish

on Aug 14, 2004

Its easy to say "shrug it off" but i do take any critique of my writing seriously enough to take a look and see if theres any truth to the complaint. I see youve done the same, and i agree that you have written about a variety of topics. My apologies....i guess ive been a little mad at you so i havent really been reading as much of your stuff as i should have before making such a judgement.

no worries. I see the same thing. This is an excellent forum for self analysis, and I did enjoy the chance to look back.

The comment I was trying to make here, though, is that, the two articles you mentioned, while they pissed you off, are also two of my top articles. The articles that are most meaningful to me sunk faster than the Titanic. Basically, I know how to write an article that gets points, but taking the "honest" route means I have to post a shitload of blogs just to maintain where I stand in the points, which is sad. Personally, I'm mixed at "spinoff" articles. Usually I try to post to the original when I spinoff, and at least give points back to the original, but when I arrived here, there were so many posts about "thread hijacking", that's exactly how I did NOT want to make my name as a newby (personally, I don't mind thread hijacking on a good thread; it keeps it alive).

Even with my (often) opposing views, as far as i know ive only been blacklisted from 2 blogs since starting on JU...WiseFawns and peteys. No great loss there, and i think most bloggers can handle opposition, and in fact welcome it, if not, why bother to post to the forums?

A few bloggers, though, use the forums as a means to flame. They take part of your reply out of context, then ten posts down the thread, nobody's reading the original, they're reading the quote box. I've seen this happen to you more than others.

Again, thanks for the comments. I look for every chance to improve my blog, and an outside, honest assessment is the only way I can do it.

web_poet

on Aug 14, 2004

Keep blogging amigo !

dharmagrl

on Aug 14, 2004

i doubt that your are on any of the other top 10 users blacklists, (maybe dharma's, i dont know)

Nope, she's not on mine. She says that she is, but she's not.

You know nothing of me and the "sisterhood" accept that you were fully embraced and welcomed. I suggest you let it go.

Why is it that we are all the ones who need to 'let it go' when we're not the ones who bring it up? No-one has mentioned the JU sisterhood in ages...until you just did, WF. Contrary to opinion, the sisterhood isn't an exclusive clique...it's just a term I use to describe the female bloggers here. You don't have to be invited to join, you're already a member because of your gender.

You know, I'm going to say what I've been wanting to say for ages (sorry Gideon, for hijacking your thread). Wise Fawn, you and I don't get along. I'd like to change that. We don't have to be best buddies, but I'd like for us to at least talk. I'm willing to try if you are. My email address is on my blog page if you'd like to talk away from the JU spotlight....but remember that I'm moving house next week and will be computer-less as of Tuesday, so if you do write and don't get a timley reply please don't think I'm ignoring you.

I hope that we can give friendship a shot...

KellyW0498

on Aug 14, 2004

I hope that we can give friendship a shot...

Dharma..that was cool....I don't know why, but that touched me..
Sorry gid..for the hijack, but I thought that was nice.

Gideon MacLeish

on Aug 14, 2004

Gideon, i'll give you my #1 hint for keeping your "worthy" articles alive...time your responses. Lets say you get 3 comments right away....wait a bit, wait till that article is the last one on the "recent posts" list, then answer 1 comment, and one comment only.

Oh, I've learned that trick. That assumes I GET responses. Following this article, one of my articles died with a mere 7 points! I do try not to "respond" with no comments just to keep it alive, though.

Gideon MacLeish

on Aug 14, 2004

Sorry gid..for the hijack, but I thought that was nice.

I don't mind thread hijackings. Since we are limited as to "open" forums, sometimes threads where we post in common are the only ones where we can make peace.

Muggaz

on Aug 14, 2004

Interesting... I didn't read this thread thill it had 40 replies... I thought something interesting must be going on here...

I have a few things to say - this is a little hijack, but I will get to the point that JU is a better place with Gid withing the community later... Dharma, what you said to Wisefawn also moved me... I can see where you two would come to loggerheads, but I know essentially you are both great people... I was awesome of you to reach out... I hope Wisefawn accepts... you may not get to like each other, but you can understand each other... I am really, really impressed.

Secondly... Gid, you are such an integral part of the community... I value your comments on my blog like gold... I read pretty much all of your articles, but like others have said, there are too many of them!!! I dont want to spread myself to thin by just reading your blogs!!! you surely know the value of reading new blogs and educating your fineself on the talented writers we have at JU!!!!

I appreciate you opinions and your outlook on life... we are lucky to have such an articulate character amongst us!!!

BAM!!!

Gideon MacLeish

on Aug 14, 2004

I'm kinda hoping the paid version of JU will include an option to time your blog's release...so that I don't have to crowd my articles together when I'm online. That will probably pick up more of the "dead" threads.

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