Why You Should Blog December 11, 2011
Posted by TimTheFoolMan in Blogging.trackback
One day when my youngest son was sitting in class at his High School, the subject of bloggers and blogging came up. One of his friends said, “What kind of weirdos blog?”
My son said, “Weirdos like my Dad,” with a laugh. While I appreciate the fact that not everyone has the desire to write a blog, I think everyone should. Here’s why:
- Because it helps you verbalize/organize your thoughts/opinions
a. Shape your opinions based on voices outside AND inside your own head, don’t be a “ditto-head”
b. If you write for an audience that may not agree with you, you’ll make a more coherent argument
c. In the process of organizing your thoughts, you’ll learn things you wouldn’t have otherwise - Because it contributes something
a. Link to: http://www.herecomeseverybody.org/2008/04/looking-for-the-mouse.html
b. Contributing anything helps us move out of a “consumerism mode” - Because it makes you a better writer
a. The only way to get better at something is to do it, and by blogging, you get to write about what YOU think is important
b. Over time, readers will discover what you’ve written and will give you feedback - Because it’s “live”
a. In sharp contrast to TV, and in much the same way as we find with live theater, feedback from an audience (even if you don’t engage them in extended conversations) adds depth to the experience
b. As people respond, if you engage them in discussion, you have the opportunity to learn even more, or possibly just expand further on a topic than you had originally thought was appropriate.
That, my friends, is why you should blog.
A Fool and his Words are Soon Parted 
Nice comeback on your son’s part.
I second all of that…especially point #3. You know what they say– practice makes…well, not necessarily perfect, but certainly better.
I would also like to add that it serves as a second memory for the events, big and small, of our lives we think we’ll never forget but inevitably do.
My sons are infamous for their comebacks!
A blog is an essay that gives the writer time to coordinate their thoughts to make a reasoned point. Blogging is thus harder and more time-consuming than Tweating or firing off a Facebook comment.
Contrast with Facebook. These tend to be from-the-hip advocacy posts and implicit calls for support of said advocacy. Note how many politically-oriented FB postings start by linking to an inflammatory web site.