Clar.me

Why I Blog

Liz‘s post the other day made me realize that I don’t know. Why do I blog? It’s something I’ve never really thought about.

I know I love blogging. I just don’t know why I love it so much.

You could say that this hobby of mine originated from several of my earlier ones. My love of graphic design led to the beautiful discovery of web design. A blog then was simply my way of cultivating my love for code. Over time, though, it slowly became a completely different passion altogether.

We aren’t talking about origins though.

Why do I blog so much? Why do I love it so much? What is to be gained from staring at a screen, typing for hours straight just to post a few paragraphs on the Internet every few days?

I actually think that blogging is extremely good for me.

It’s given me the urge to write down all of my thoughts. Writing these down makes me think. This has helped me understand life, love and myself a little bit better. Blogging has made me a better thinker.

Though I do love to talk, I am usually afraid to share my opinions. Blogging has been my way of pushing myself to be more open about my thoughts. I have extremely strong opinions on a lot of things, yet you barely ever hear any of that from me offline. My blog has given me a chance to show that side of me.

Also, it’s been great for my self-esteem. When I talk, I will expect a response. Unfortunately, I’m not always going to get that. I’m always going to have competition when it comes to getting attention. On my blog though, it’s all about me. I can write what I feel and almost always get some sort of response. You’d think I’d be used to it by now, but I still feel amazing every time I see a new comment.

The blogosphere, as some like to call it, is like another world, and I love being a part of it. I find myself communicating with people I would never have met otherwise. I’m not much of a traveler, but even I appreciate the novelty of visiting so many different places through other bloggers’ websites, without needing to even take one step away from my beloved computer.

Now that I’m actually thinking about it, I’m pretty sure I could go on and on with this.

It always feels good to be passionate about something, and I feel that thrill everyday through my blog – through the writing, through the designing, through the socializing… through everything.

In summary, though, if you like thinking, talking, getting attention or meeting new people, you should consider blogging because it is awesome.

This is actually a reply to my friend Liz’s post, “Why do you blog?”, so I suggest you check out her blog and read it!

Also, feel free to share this post through the buttons down there, subscribe to this blog’s feed and follow me on Twitter and Tumblr!

When I read Liz’s blog, my answer was “I don’t know” as well. But I think this blog of yours pretty much sums up why I blog, too. The paragraph about how it originated from other passions and grew into something completely different put into words exactly how I feel about blogging. I’ve gotten to the point where blogging is my main schtick and designing is kinda on the side. It’s crazy, because it’s been the other way around for five years now.

The other part that really resonates with me is the part about the blogosphere being another world. I love that I could write about all the garbage I write about and actually have people respond. Even though I’m fairly talkative in person, there’s really no reason for me to start a conversation about half the stuff I blog about. Before, I would have to explore certain topics on my own. But now it’s like there’s an outside dialogue with my thoughts. It’s crazy, and I love it.

Comment by Gabi • August 12, 2011 • 12:45 pm

This was fun to read! :P Blogging has made me a better thinker and writer, too. I hadn’t thought of what it had done for me. P:

Comment by Liz • August 12, 2011 • 1:55 pm

I’ve never really thought about why I blog, not in depth anyway. I obviously like blogging and the aspects of it since I do blog, but I’ve never really thought about the reasons before.

I’m pretty scared to share my opinions as well, but blogging has definitely helped me with that, especially since people on the internet seem much more understanding than the people I know in real life. I love hearing other people’s opinions too.

I must admit, I have become much more confident about expressing my feelings since I’ve been blogging; I don’t know how or why, but I definitely speak up more in conversations.

I love the people I’ve met through blogging the most though. People are so generous and easy to talk, and you meet people of all ages and people in general just seem to be more mature and understanding.

I also love the fact I can talk about things that I wouldn’t usually talk about in real life, without being afraid of what people think. I think that’s the main reason why I love blogging. /nods

Comment by Vicky • August 14, 2011 • 4:16 am

Xanga was where I first started blogging. I was on it for a long time and then someone stole my words and layout and it broke my heart so I left. 6 years later I started blogging again (12 months ago). I use to design my own looks and I won competitions on Xanga for them. I also ended up with a huge following … but none of that mattered once my words were stolen. It was like someone stealing my diary and reading it …

I love blogging because it’s like therapy to me. I am a deep thinker so blogging helps me get a lot of things out of my mind. Sometimes I get stuck so I come back to it, but on a whole it’s been my lifeline.

Comment by Sage • August 14, 2011 • 8:49 pm

I love blogging because.. it gives me a voice. A voice in front of bunch of strangers.. it’s sort of like writing your own book or a song: something that might have an affect on someone who’s reading it. I mean my life & feeling & writings MIGHT help someone. At least my blog readers help me a great deal. Real life friends are good, but sometimes it’s good to get an outsiders opinion aswell. It’s theraphy :)

Comment by Shiri • August 14, 2011 • 9:40 pm

I’ve read Liz’s blog already, and I knew it would inspire others to write something similar. ;)

I pretty much have the same reasons for blogging as you. I type out all of my thoughts and show them to complete strangers because it’s like taking a load off my chest. I feel more comfortable letting strangers know about my musings and rants rather than my friends in real life, and blogging also helps generate a friendly network.

Comment by Nugget • August 15, 2011 • 4:18 am

I really like what both you and Liz said about the blogging world letting you go and visit other places without really leaving your seat. It’s quite amazing how much we can learn from other people we meet online, especially through blogging, because you don’t see these other bloggers as creepers that you would normally come across on other places online. XD

I like that my blog is all about me. Once someone left a hate comment on my website saying that I always blog about myself. I nearly pissed my pants. Well, that’s what a blog (at least a personal one) is for… :P

I love talking as well and I think my talkative character really kind of shows in my blog posts. And it’s good that I don’t just keep talking in real life because I wouldn’t shut up. I recorded a few video blogs recently and realised that I didn’t stop talking… at all. o_O

I actually got into the code first before all the graphics. The moments weren’t too far apart though. My graphics were terrible and I think that at times they still are. I’m more of a code girl. ;D

Comment by Georgina • August 15, 2011 • 6:41 am

You know I never really thought about either. I have been blogging for years, like 10+ and I still do it, I haven’t given up on the idea of it. It started so long ago. I think I might of started because I was another hopeless teenager needing to put my thoughts down and it turned into Web Design. The funny thing is, now it has turned in to my major at college as well. Crazy how something so simple can take over your life. lol

Great blog entry. I like the ones that make you think.

Comment by Jenn • August 15, 2011 • 4:45 pm

I know I definitely blog to be heard otherwise I would never get to speak.
I think a lot of people can relate to the answers you’ve given. I know I can.

For me I’m more shy to share my strong opinions in the blogging world. I know that people won’t agree with me on the surface but as I get into it there may be some mutual agreement. But how do you keep people reading and not skipping important lines of the speech? I find it much easier (when I get the opportunity) to talk face-to-face to people because then I can call them on not paying attention.
But I guess if people don’t want to listen they don’t want to listen and I shouldn’t try to manipulate the situation to my advantage by only talking about my opinions where I think have more of a likelihood of actually be heard.
What stops me from my blogging like that is just my fear of abandonment kicking up.

Comment by Cami • August 16, 2011 • 3:17 am

Every time I visit you have a new layout, I love this one btw. :3

I love blogging its my way of getting rid of a lot of things off my chest becuase I don’t feel there are people I can talk to about thing I blog about. Either I don’t trust them or just don’t feel comfortable to tell them.

The blogging world is one of the best communities, I find that we are all really similar. :D IT helps to have people who have gone through the same thing or have the same opinion to talk with.

Its great to see that you can come up with so many important reasons why you love blogging, i don’t even know where to begin.

Comment by Domenica • August 16, 2011 • 8:28 am

I always loved Blogging. But lately, and unfortunately I’ve got so busy and I stopped blogging as much as I did before. But now, I’m blogging again..
Blogging oh blogging! I absolutely love blogging, it’s like you mentioned a hobby also it pushes you through understanding others in a indirect way through the feedback you get on your blog. And it also increases your thinking, writing skills, imagination, and self-esteem. I’ve never thought blogging could be that healthy! :P Haha.

But unfortunately, social networks like Tumblr, & Twitter (micro-blog) sites are ripping off our blogosphere. And I realized that since Twitter started reigning, unfortunately people decided Tweeting instead of blogging, and now most of them have shut their websites down! :(
I’d love to run a twitter account & a blog at the same time. Without letting any affect the other! :D

Comment by Jad • August 17, 2011 • 1:13 am

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