I mumbled & grumbled when my instructor informed us that for our Multimedia Writing class, we were expected to launch and subsequently maintain a blog.
I've never been impressed with personal blogs. In fact, the ones I've encountered have been narcissistic, whiney, arrogant….basically, reeking of pubescent angst.
But I kept an open mind and checked out a few of my friends’ blogs. After all, I was eager to see what they had to say, how they chose to say it--any English major shares this same curiosity about their non-English major friends.
I've never been impressed with personal blogs. In fact, the ones I've encountered have been narcissistic, whiney, arrogant….basically, reeking of pubescent angst.
But I kept an open mind and checked out a few of my friends’ blogs. After all, I was eager to see what they had to say, how they chose to say it--any English major shares this same curiosity about their non-English major friends.
Sadly, I discovered that ordinarily rational, reasonable, considerate individuals used their corner in the world wide web for nothing more than moody musings—basically, publishing their diary.
Now I’m not here to say that this is a totally terrible thing, don’t get me wrong. I’d even go as far as to agree that this public expression can be somewhat healthy, as people have found a creative way to come to terms with things that might be difficult to talk about in person. In a blog, the writer is given a designated space to fill to her heart’s content, and the respect she deserves when she opens up about things and shares them with others—that is truly a great thing, indeed.
But people just get carried away, as though the newfound confidence in blogging begins to warp the author’s perspective on, well, everything. Every miniscule event from the day, every emotion, every whimsical opinion that crosses the author’s mind becomes the most important thing ever—and that’s when the Internet melodrama turns into real-life people-drama.
See?! See how I have enabled myself to ramble on about how other people’s blogs SUCK? THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN BLOGS!
It’s our space, it’s our territory, so we say whatever we want. Is that a good thing?
We’ll find out.
Now I’m not here to say that this is a totally terrible thing, don’t get me wrong. I’d even go as far as to agree that this public expression can be somewhat healthy, as people have found a creative way to come to terms with things that might be difficult to talk about in person. In a blog, the writer is given a designated space to fill to her heart’s content, and the respect she deserves when she opens up about things and shares them with others—that is truly a great thing, indeed.
But people just get carried away, as though the newfound confidence in blogging begins to warp the author’s perspective on, well, everything. Every miniscule event from the day, every emotion, every whimsical opinion that crosses the author’s mind becomes the most important thing ever—and that’s when the Internet melodrama turns into real-life people-drama.
See?! See how I have enabled myself to ramble on about how other people’s blogs SUCK? THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN BLOGS!
It’s our space, it’s our territory, so we say whatever we want. Is that a good thing?
We’ll find out.
