Blogs - Do you write one? Do you read some? Opinions please.

[WildGoose]

What are peoples' opinion on blogs generally? Are they valuable to the world or just another overly self important outlet for our 21st century narcissism?

Love me, look at how my life is individual and great, or woe is me, look at the shite and tedium I have to slog through every day (Guess what any attempt I might make would likely decend into). I find both interesting in some ways, it depends if the author can actually write well or not. The "today I did do" formula gets old pretty quick unless they can punctuate it with a particularly skewed viewpoint of the world or some humour. Arguably it has worked extremely well for some leading to book publishing and other similar stuff.

Do you anticipate they will die a death in a few years when something else becomes the next big thing, and we learn to get over ourselves slightly as the internet moves on? Twitter has already made a name for itself by limiting the word count as apparently these days we can't be arsed to read anything that won't fit on the back of a matchbox.

Do they achieve anything, hold any weight, are they worthwhile in any way?

I've got a few bookmarked, usually for when I run out of other bookmarks and find myself bored in need of 'something' to read, usually less heavy than a wiki entry. If you read any regularly, are there any you would care to recommend and why?

Do you write one yourself, would you like to share that link here? If not, why not.

If you want somebody to actually read it, is it the same story of playing the google game as you would any website? Is the fact the internet is littered with dullard blogs that nobody ever reads down to laziness on the part of the author, or the principle - as with so much in life - that there is only room at the top for so many.

I was vaguely considering doing 'something' related to what I spent so much of my day doing, but it would need some thought to make it interesting or worthwhile reading as arguably what I do is fucking boring, though necessary.

Bit of a ramble, I spend far too much of the day trying to come up with ways to entertain myself that doesn't involve driving over the top of people.

Any thoughts on any of the above?

Ta
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So in other words, he stopped you for being flagrantly in posession of a motorcycle in direct contravention of the Hippies, Darkies and People Whose Face I Don't Like The Look of (Police Powers) Act. 1976

[Tarmacsurfer]

If you have a drive to write, you write. It's that simple.

When pertaining specifically to blogs, as it's self published and unedited the quality of pieces - even by the same author - is very volatile. Whilst some entries may be incredibly deep, well written and thought provoking others will be crass and shallow with no interest and so many mistakes it would make a dictionary kill itself in despair.

Personally I find them a good source of material for browsing and actively follow a couple.
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I'm immortal. Well, so far.

[thx1138]

I follow one or two, mostly journalists that I like. I don't tend to surf or actively seek them out. So, either it's someone reasonably well known within their field, or a word of mouth / online recommendation.

[Steve H]

Yeah, I've still got a website with a blog/diary on it which I started back in December 2005. It hasn't been updated for over 2 years and I don't feel the need to do so at present - apathy more than any other overriding excuse.

It did get me some writing work at one point after a few friends linked some of my posts to publishing 'people' and I was asked to write on specific subjects (one article request was bizarrely about childbirth from a blokes perspective for a pregnancy magazine ) but that kinda fizzled out unfortunately - it was a fantastic experience though and one that I wouldn't have had had I not gone down the online route.

I've gotta admit that I keep the website up 'n running now purely 'cos it's nice to look back on things that I did 4 or 5 years ago.

edit - Actually. the suggestion for me to have an online diary was actually prompted and subsequently set up by a member of BCF so that's another reason to love this place
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Mellow Yellow
The BCF Top TEN - 2010, 2009, 2008, The Original.

[cornish]

[McJamweasel]

I wrote one for a while when I was going through some shit. I didn't feel like I could talk to anyone about the problems that I was having so decided to vent on an anonymous blog. I wrote it entirely for myself, the fact that a few people followed it and actually took the trouble to comment or get in touch was an added bonus. I've not posted on there for a few months now, although I have been tempted to at times.

As for you writing one, if you feel that you've got stuff that you want to get down on 'paper' then go for it.

[edit]I found that getting my thoughts down in black & white did help me arrange them and work through things better. Almost like doing mental arithmatic vs scribbling the sums down.
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[Kickstart]

Hi

For a different way of looking at it, I don't write one and don't seek any out. Tend to take the view that it would take a very high self opinion to think that anyone would want to read my mental diarrhoea, and transfer the same attitude onto those who do produce blogs. Have a similar feeling about writing down daily details on Facebook.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[MarJay]

I find most blogs to be incredibly self absorbed. If you've got a subject and you don't allow too much of 'yourself' into it (just a hint) then they can be readable.

If they don't follow those rules then they end up sounding like the spoof blog some bloke on Visordown wrote as if he was NSR125-Kid-UK. I believe it was called 'Confessions of a Teenage Squid' and it centred upon the fact that his mum wouldn't make his sandwiches.

If the 'blog' isn't too self absorbed, and it has humour, and it has a specific subject then it is acceptable. But then, it probably isn't a blog any more.

The only internet articles I read regularly are Pistonheads Shed Of The Week and Film School Reject's Junk Food Cinema (by Bryan Salisbury, highly reccomended!!) I eagerly anticipate both of these articles, otherwise I tend to read BCF or occasionally Wikipedia. I've never really felt the need to read a 'blog' in the ordinary sense of the word.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Redoko]

I only have 1 blog.

I don't read any. Not my thing.




My blog keeps track of all my Private and Project work for University.

Hopefully in my third year I can look back and see how I've progressed.

Link in sig.
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"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
Sudika Sportsman SK50QT > Gilera DNA50 > Honda CBR125 RW7 > Kawasaki Zephyr750 > Suzuki GSXR600 > Honda Hornet CB600F '51

[Tarmacsurfer]

[Phoenix]

I personally don't think the majority of people who write blogs actually do it for anyone else, I get the feeling it's just a personal diary but they're happy for others to read it if they stumble across it. The chances are that anyone who stumbles across it if the blog is not advertised or pushed in any way are most likely looking for that very thing and therefore will find it relevant and interesting.

I've only read 2 blogs in the past, one was of a someone from the UK who had gone to live and work in Canada which is something I was interested in and he could write well so I used to read it regularly.

The other one was more a reading up excercise and was through recommendation and that was Tom Reynold's London Paramedic blog which was later published as the book, "Blood, Sweat and Tea" which is how I read it. That was informative, interesting and very funny so just as worthwhile reading as any other non fiction book or autobiography which are no more than blogs themselves (stories from one person's viewpoint).

[bladerunner]

have a blog to keep a record of any photo work we do and as it's free it's a great way for people to have a sneek peek of what pics we take the same day that we take them. try to update it at least twice a week as it's a hobby more than anything but a good way for people to see what we are up to https://pensansphotography.wordpress.com/
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Current bikes...cbr929, KDX200's, Rd125lc mk2, RGV250's

[CarlosCBR]

A pal from work writes a blog, personally i find some of the stuff written hilarious but some of it is just mindless drivel.

https://www.hobomoments.com/

That pic at the top is something we "made" at work.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OPv5mDPQ14

https://www.facebook.com/carl.simmonds.7

[Dazbo666]

I've considered writing a blog, but only got to the point of registering on an online diary website.
My original intention was that it needed to be a portable, easy access facility that I could update from home, work, or elsewhere (if I was travelling etc).
It would be mainly for my own reference, but I's also be aware that it could potentially be accessed by almost anyone.

However, as already mentioned, I only ever got to the point of researching and signing up to a site.
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1st bike (Sept'06 - May'10) : 1991 GPZ500S / Current bike (since Nov 2009) : 2003 Suzuki Bandit 600N
Word of the day : DILLIGAF

[Aikman666]

I write one, im not entirely sure why

On one side It is for me to have an opinion on what I am learning, as alot of what I am taught is theories, or purely subjective; I think it is important to reflect on these issues to gain a more objective view.

On the other hand it is partly to get my name "out there", designers are meant to be worldly people and having an online presence is quickly becoming a major part of that.

Link in my sig
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Will work for petrol
My Design Blog

[Jayy]

From a web design perspective, they carry massive weight if they're written properly and updated regularly with relevant content to your site. Blogs aren't just personal outlets, they're search engine tools to boost your traffic. Also, getting links from high traffic blogs carry huge weight for your own site too.

[SoND]

Blogs about stuff - ok

Blogs about people - no
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Go back to bed - You have no rights - "Streetfighters ~ Mainstream motorcycling's crackwhore sister."

[Flip]

I write (or used to) write bite size blogs (usually pissed) about things that piss me off. A few friends read them. They give me a chance to vent and swear and ramble. Bloggin' is good.

[Quickly]

[colin1]

I dont think most people's lives are interesting enough to want to read about them. Those who do have interesting lives arent blessed with a way with words.

I quite like the idea of doing a diary for myself, but I think it would only interest me and would probably only be interesting read years later.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[colin1]

I've got some people in my facebook who do some good status updates.
here's one
"2 those of you who say i have no tact whatsoever,I would like 2 argue...
Today i showed constraint when a seemingly almost retarded woman blocked the exit 2 Tesco with her 3kids.
Now,I could have said to her "are you fking retarded??Move yr fat ass out the way +stop breeding".I didnt,I commented 2 the equally frustrated woman next... 2 me that "some people should not be allowed 2 breed!"
See-kinda tactful."
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Wrote one for a wee bit, but then binned it as I wasn't self absorbed enough to justify it.
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