Blogged out…Again!
Weblogs - boring!
I actually love writing about blogging more than the ‘art’ of blogging itself. (And I use the term ‘art’ loosely when referring to blogs.) When I write, my latest - no - my biggest concern is that I don’t sound dumb. I’m getting completely OCD about grammar, spelling, etc. I read and re-read my posts and they still demonstrate how illiterate I am. In addition, I’m trying not to be gossipy, whiny, or vulgar - yet that is what makes some blogs so damn interesting.
Since I left my job, all the magic has gone out of blogging - well, sort of. I loved posting things that would upset people at work, or at least spark their curiosity about me. It was so fun. Drama is fun, and I expect the people at my old job miss the controversy. But I must admit, I got most of the fodder for my posts from the characters I worked with. (If only I could write about them more!)
Now, as I read various blogs, or see their hi-lights posted on a main page of a blog group, much of what people write seems so…ordinary. It’s hard not to be ordinary without resorting to whining, complaining, gossip, and vulgar humor - or, God forbid, something original. All of these things are fun, on occasion, but one tires of that stuff rather quickly - unless it is original of course. And that incessant commentary on Don Imus and the whole controversy surrounding his bastard comments - it’s like beating a dead dog. It seems to me everyone writes about the same stuff, and if I see another link to Open Book I am going to throw up. (Link to the sources she does, because that’s pretty much all she does anyway.)
Blogs can be pretty boring.
To be sure, I like reading a lay person’s take on prayer or spirituality or something - how they pray - especially when they do pray. But I have to say I’m not very interested in nun’s blogs however. (Nothing wrong with nuns mind you!) I just don’t identify with nuns though - I’m interested in what lay people have to say.
I don’t mind some priest’s homilies, but my interest in homilies outside of Mass is…well, not so much. A priest is best when he blogs his thoughts or writes about what he knows. Everyone who knows me knows my interest is definitely in a contemplative monk’s thoughts, or a good parish priest’s thoughts - but not so much in the standard fare of a prepared homily for a diverse Sunday congregation - unless the priest happens to ’nail’ something topical - sort of like Fr. Altier used to do. (Although people outside of the Twin Cities wouldn’t know about that.) I’m afraid homilies tend to be pretty boring too - they are too formulated for me - no passion.
I like author’s blogs a lot. They are usually very informative and insightful. In addition, it is pretty cool to read an author’s thoughts on subjects they know well, and just because they are writers, to read what they think about.
Nevertheless, I’m pretty bored with most blogs. I mean, what are they talking about? Oftentimes the experience is akin to reading someone’s email to a family member or friend. Or it’s like listening to someone’s conversation at donuts and coffee in a church basement. (I never go to those things, so I am only imagining.) Then again it can be like listening to an enthusiastic youth at World Youth Day. I don’t know about you, but it’s kinda boring.
Having said this, I imagine I’ll have to eat my words one day.
April 12th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Heh, heh, heh! We characters at Leaflet are all still characters . . . but you’re not missing anything for lack of direct observation. Now that you’ve shaken the dust of this place from your feet, there’s less good-natured teasing and more ill-humored gossip and griping going on around here. We’re still reading your blog, though. YOU might be bored, but your blog is still one of the best. It’s upbeat and encouraging and honest. And eclectic. Definately eclectic.
April 13th, 2007 at 5:55 am
If you want to see the meaning of boredom, make a round of non-Catholic blogs. The difference is like night and day.
You might try posting your opinions a bit more. Maybe even some ramdom remarks. I have a feeling that could prove interesting.
April 13th, 2007 at 6:16 am
Agreed, people should keep chatter down to a minimum, and post pretty pictures. Too much jaw-jaw, I thought Catholics were supposed to be visual people. So much art, and images that are part of our culture are never seen anymore. Modern Catholism has strangely became “visually enemic”. Very weird twist of history indeed.
April 13th, 2007 at 6:28 am
Isaac Asimov, one of the greatest science fiction (and fact) writers who ever lived (he published nearly 500 book over the course of his lifetime, mostly on non-fiction and literature - he was a world class “explainer”) once addressed a science fiction convention by beginning: “90% of science fiction is B.S.”
After pausing, he added “90% of everything is B.S.” [I can't find the source for that quote.]
Who gave you the expectation that bloggers would always be posting wonderful items on interesting subjects in stunningly original ways?
I regularly read maybe 15 blogs twice daily (not every post in them), 25 at least once a week. Sometimes there are interesting items. Often there are not.
I supplement that reading with searching and scanning news articles and the comments sections of blogs looking for new bloggers who might have something interesting to say.
If you want only interesting items to read, you’ll probably have to hire an editor who knows your tastes well to gather that information for you.
Learning is hard work!
April 13th, 2007 at 8:42 am
I agree with you, Terry. Totally. I am going to start trimming down my blog roll to the blogs that are either linked to mine or that are so good I can’t live without reading them everyday. Otherwise, it just makes for clutter.
April 13th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Hey, Terry!
YOu make very good points concerning Catholic blogdom, especially. I think what makes for very interesting posts is when the author has a variety of interests that he/she brings to his/her blog. You always do that with your posts on art and family and friends and work, and what-not, which is what makes this a fun blog to read. I also get tired of the same comments on the same news items (and my pet peeves are the same old incessant neo-con political comments regurgitated over and over throughout St blogs–uggh!).
IMHO–and according to what I like to read, at least–the most interesting Catholic blogs are those that just show the bloggers’ lives as they live them, and the topics that interest them. By doing this, and because they hold the faith as something essential which pervades all aspects of their lives, the Faith just naturally comes through in what they say; it is a sort of “marketplace evangelization”–at least ideally. Anybody (non-Catholic) stumbling upon such blogs can see that, Yes, Catholic are interesting people from all walks and interests of life! They are not interested in *only* religious interests, although “the topic of religion” is of great concern to Catholics, they can see that it is one of many–and that Catholics can have these “other” interests while still retaining their faith and living it with devotion and intensity.
Another important thing that we should keep in mind when we comment or blog, or interact anywhere online for that matter– is that we are witnesses to the Faith even in this anonymous medium. Many times we forget this, but we should really persevere not to. We should ALWAYS keep it foremost in our minds that we represent Christ to others– and this is why we should ALWAYS treat others–even throughout blogdom– with charity. Sadly, in com boxes most especially, this does not always hold true.
God bless!
Georgette
April 13th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Thanks everyone - you all come from blogs that I do not consider boring - in fact, I have taken Elena’s advice and trimmed my blogroll to the blogs I favor and rspect and read daily. Your blogs inspire and stimulate me.
Ray - you do the sort of work that requires you to research and go to many blogs, I have tremendous respect for your work.
All of the blogs on my blogroll are - in my opinion - some of the very best!
And anonymous employee - I miss the employees so very much - I was one of the characters to be sure, but it sure was fun! I especially miss paging over the system in funny voices with weird announcements - or disco in the showroom on Saturdays.
Love you all!
And Georgette - yours is the best comment of all - we represent Christ to others, as others do to us as well.
God bless!
April 13th, 2007 at 10:08 am
My theory is that we read blogs of people that we think we could stand to be around a dinner table with. Some of them may irritate the heck out of us, but they may make for stimulating dinner conversation.
The blogs I read once/day (not necessarily all of them in my blogroll) are of folks that I think I would like. By, like, I don’t always mean in a nice touchy feely way but that I respect their opinions-even if I don’t always agree with them.
I tend to read the opinionated, funny, snarky, intelligent blogs. Mostly, those that combine all of the above.
Thus, it should go without saying (but I will anyway) that I read Abbey at least once/day.
Regarding Anon. Employee’s comment: See what a ray of sunshine you were, Care Ter, you big huggy bear?
April 13th, 2007 at 11:43 am
Thanks Cath - I believe we are all on the same page. What would we all do without Adoro’s “The Breadcrust Mystery” series, or Ray’s gun toting nuns? Or Michell and Judith, or you, or…I’m breaking down now!
April 13th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Hmmm. bloggers over for dinner. Who would I invite? Well Terry for sure.
April 13th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
awww…Terry…you mentioned me by “name”! That must mean you find me not boring. A true compliment indeed!
Oh, and by the way, you’re not boring, either which is why I just keep coming in to populate your comboxes with commentary….
Seriously, though, I think Cathy’s on to something…I woudl say that the blogs I read most often belong to people I would likely get along with in real life, because we have something significant in common. That’s not to say it’s 100% agreement on things by any means.
April 13th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Very interesting discussion. I like your spontaneous posts, Terry. They are certainly NOT boring, and I hope you never have to eat you words!