Deprived of Hits and Comments
Sometimes I ask myself whether I blog because I really want to or am I just obsessed about getting hits and comments? I don’t want to blog just for the hits and comments. Undeniably, it is nice to know that people are visiting and enjoy (or disgust) reading your blog. To a blogger, comments and hits are like foods; you just cannot live without those. They refresh you, replenish you and, give you the energy to keep on going. As a blogger, I want comments and hits but I don’t want to be overfed with such. Well, let”s clear up the confusion on this; a blog is not a forum. And sometimes, comments on my post would read like a forum. There’s nothing wrong with that; but sometimes it is not so desirable either.
So why do I blog anyway?
I blog because I love to write. It’s like you’re letting words be the masterpiece of your thoughts. Writing is a deeply personal art. And through blogging, I am given the chance to enjoy that art. Blogging is an ideal medium to communicate your strongly held beliefs and knowledge to an audience thirsty for knowledge. You say something and in return you’re also hearing what others have to say. Isn’t that fun?
I blog because I want to see what other writers are doing. Their stories could also be my story. Their sentiments could also reflect the ones that I have. And mine is theirs. It’s like creating a link on what I have to say between what they have to say. The closest analogy that I can think of is that like of a discussion we would have in the classroom way back in college— when somebody would raise a hand to add up to what the professor is saying. And another hand raises to react to what that student said.
I blog because it’s the freest public form of writing. I want to be public with my writing. I want an audience. But I don’t want someone telling me what to write. Blogging gives me that. It gives you freedom and versatility. It gives you a voice and persona which is something I greatly enjoy.
This is actually just a recycled post of an entry which failed to get any hits and comments. I hope this time, hits and comments will come.
I think this is such a successful blog because you are trying to see the readers reaction, and you always engage with them in discussion. Readers I think always enjoy writing that they can feel they helped to shape in some way, its an important function of web 2.0. And its great that you’re also writing for you, blogging can be a very healthy thing for the mind, getting your opinions to take shape and displaying them to the world to be accepted or torn apart.
I was just thinking about this the other day … about why I blog. And it’s true … I think we all do it for the interaction. We want to be read; we want to hear what others have to say … we want to feel some sort of connection with the world at large.
If we didn’t … we’d all just be scribbling our thoughts down on paper somewhere and then stuffing it in a drawer.
To Luli: I am still a struggling blogger since I am still in the process of creating the identity of my blog. But I am very grateful for those who always share their reactions with me for somehow they make it easy for me to establish a certain form.
To Fitch: I agree. Much of what we have on our blogs depend largely on the interaction we get from it. We feel good about our posts if they trigger reactions from other bloggers.
Hey Hi,
I found your blog in my search and thought that you can help participate in the Life survey of what’s ultimate aim of Life.
Here is the Link
http://sureshtcs005.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/ultimate-aim-of-life/
Please do visit my blog and participate, Thanks a lot
Sure! My pleasure.
I like my blog to be more of a forum, until it gets out of hand.
Just keep writing whatever the hell it is that makes you happy and eventually things will pan out and you’ll generate a readership. I’ve been going for about a year and I still don’t know what mines about. So I just write whatever I want to.
Right now, I am not obsessed about readership and traffic. I just write whatever I want to and if by chance somebody stumbles on my post and reacts to it positively that will just be an added bonus then.
Nice reasons. Actually these should be the reasons to blog. There is so much to know, to understand and to share.
I’m sure there are multitude of reasons, but the most important thing is that it allows us to express ourselves.
Hey Den!
I am new to blogging but I totally relate to your thoughts about writing. I am not a writer…I’m a painter and started me blog in hopes of ultimately reaching a larger audience for my work. In my youth I kept a journal for many years. it is kind of like keeping a journal but putting it out there for the world.
Hi Mark!
Painting and writing are like twin sisters. They are both efficient ways to express ourselves. Just pursue whichever form you are comfortable with.
Thanks for dropping by!
Hmm…. good reasons for blogging! Hey, you write very well!
Thanks Aris!
I totally agree with the hits and comments thing, it’s good to know people are reading…but still, I had a blog on my old website, which no one read. Like I mean no one…but I kept writing in it for about 2 years…so hits or not keep blogging!
: )
It really feels go when to know that somebody reads your blog. But absence of readers should not be a barrier in expressing our thoughts.
Congratulations. Your efforts are paying off!
I hope so…
You seem to be successful with LOTS of comments, and YES! They can sadly be like air. I’ve enjoyed my visit here very much~I love learning about others’ way of life, what makes them tick, and why (and how) we all do the things we do. (((((HUGS))))) sandi
I am grateful for those comments! It’s great to know that you’ve enjoyed your visit here!
blog on, for heat or hits, keep hitting ‘em keys!
Yeah! It’s not just the hits that can heat up our blogs!
I came across your blog a few days ago. As a Filipino born and raised in Malaysia, I appreciate reading the views of ordinary Flipinos as opposed to what is written in the mainstream media.
Good stuff and I’m looking forward to reading more of your posts.
As an occasional blogger, I can relate as to what you say about blogging requiring discipline. And yes I too look forward to feedback.
Sometimes I feel as if I’m shouting in the wilderness when when I don’t get any comments for my postings.
@ruben sario: Thanks for dropping by! And thanks for that wonderful compliment. I checked your blog and I find it especially interesting.
Cheers!
Write about what you love, and the hits will come. I’ve been blogging for just over a year, and about the only time I see triple-digit hits is when I get mentioned by somebody else. It doesn’t matter to me: I’m writing about what I love, and if others even notice, that’s just gravy.
Success is like a shadow: if you chase it, you’ll never catch it. But turn your back on it and walk away, and you will find that it follows you.
@CapitalSpirit: I believe that I’ve metamorphosed into a more mature bloggers. Gone are those days when I was utterly conscious if I will have hits or not. Right now I am enjoying my blog itself more than comments and hits that I receive. But undeniably it feels good if there is a comment awaiting moderation on my dashboard!