This weekend I spent a lot of time with people who have no idea what blogging is. Most of them think that photos taken on phones stay on phones, and often confuse instant messaging with text messaging. They are, in a word, pretty normal people.
I used to be one of them (more or less).
To entertain my Comet friends over the course of the weekend I moblogged some of the things I saw. I took time to explain to my non-blogging friends what I was doing and why, although I couldn't talk about or show Comet specifically of course.
None of this felt strange to me. I had my filter set to "things I find interesting that I think my Comet friends will like" and I posted accordingly. It seemed very natural. Everything was fine.
Then something happened: my husband announced to a group of friends over dinner that I was a "blogger." And instantly I rebelled against the characterization. I insisted that I was not a blogger. Sure I have, um, three blogs that I actively maintain, but I AM NOT A BLOGGER. (oh my god, I have 3 blogs. shit, shit shit. does that make me a?...a..no. I can't say it)
Stepping outside of myself, I have to say that I find this reaction pretty interesting. My response is so visceral. So strong, it is akin to being called a Republican.
Now, I know that some of you (all of you?) may be offended at my reaction and for this I am truly sorry. Please don't take it personally. I suspect that what is happening is a demographic thing. I am forty-freaking-two, and I think that part of my problem may be that I am simply too old to be a "blogger." (Oh and by the way, I'm not a diarist or a journalist either.)
So while it is perfectly fine for me to post and send photos to My 3 Blogs (wasn't that a tv show?), I do not want to be referred to as a blogger. How strange is that? This makes me wonder, is this unique to me, or are there others that feel that way?
Would you consider making "Are you a blogger?" a question of the day?
Be a blogger. It doesn't mean you're like all other bloggers. Which is why I don't mind telling people I'm a Republican. It doesn't mean I like George Bush and the war in Iraq... :-)
Posted by: Schomer | 05/22/2006 at 04:43 PM
You definitely aren't alone in not self-identifying as a "blogger" despite the fact that your behaviors could easily be described as "blogging." But I'm curious, why aren't you a diarist or journalist either? Is there a single word or short phrase that more accurately describes what you're doing on comet? Does "connecting with friends and family" really capture it?
Posted by: Alaina | 05/22/2006 at 04:44 PM
I think "Are you a blogger?" would make a great QotD. Lot better than "how's the weather" or "what color shirt are you wearing?"
Posted by: djchall | 05/22/2006 at 04:48 PM
Makes sense to me. You use web publishing/social networking/blogging software sometimes. That doesn't define you as anything really. There was probably a time when people were "emailers" or "online music enthusiasts." Now, those are just two things you can do on your computer. Granted that they have become nearly indispensable, but they don't define you as part of a group in our society anymore than watching t.v. does.
I imagine that blogging will really be of age, when it is like that for everyone...a widely used tool that people don't think about too much.
I'm not a blogger myself. I just play around with notcomet. Hell, I've already deleted 2/3 of what I originally posted here because I am not entirely comfortable with social networking technology.
I too am usually surrounded by people who don't know what blogging is.
Question of the Moment:
If you sent out a regular newsletter to your friends with your photos and such via email, would that define you as anything?
I think not.
Posted by: GdN | 05/22/2006 at 05:49 PM
Todd, I hear Obi-Wan in your voice "be a blogger" but I can't. Because Christian is right: blogging is a tool and I don't define myself by my tools.
Alaina, I'm not a diarist because diaries are too personal for such a public forum. And while I am willing to share quite a bit of myself in here, there is definitely a line I won't cross. I'm not a journalist because what I write isn't newsworthy and at best is only interesting to a handful of people. "Connecting with friends and family" is accurate but lacks soul.
Sometimes I feel like an essayist, sometimes I feel like I'm writing letters to a friend. Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself, writing online notes on scraps of virtual paper.
I wish I had a good sound bite to offer that describes what I think I'm doing. I'm sharing bits of my life with people. Some of these people are friends, some are those I would like to become friends. Some are strangers who discover my words from time to time. I'm sharing pieces of myself with all them.
Posted by: karen | 05/22/2006 at 10:54 PM
You made me LOL about the Obi-Wan tone... there's a lot of Star Wars stuff happening at home with my 5 year old...
Posted by: Schomer | 05/23/2006 at 12:07 PM
I don't consider myself a blogger either.
I understand your self-description. Sometimes I feel like I am talking to myself. Or having a conversation with a friend. Or just making mental notes of something I want to remember.
But when people ask, I do tell them I blog. I blog therefore I am a blogger?
Posted by: Sooz | 05/26/2006 at 08:13 PM
I think the devil lies in the definitions, especially how we define ourselves.
As a marketing person, I think there is something about the word "blogger" that is both alluring and repulsive, depending on your definition of the word. Many, many people aspire to be bloggers, preferably famous ones with large audiences. Others find the word a synonym to feelings of self-importance, and aren't attracted to it all.
I don't know where I fall on that curve since I seem to sway comfortably (and unpredictably) from one side to another. I certainly don't expect a large audience, and yet it does make me happy when someone I don't know connects to me. That may be why I prefer to think about the whole thing in terms of tools and not personality traits. If admit to being a blogger, what does that say about my ego?
Christ. Maybe I am a blogger. I certainly talk enough.
Posted by: karen | 05/26/2006 at 10:03 PM
Oh that's funny. I felt exactly the same waywhen non-blogging friends started referring to me as a 'blogger.'
Now, I'm OK with it.
Posted by: Laurel | 01/20/2007 at 08:26 PM