This reading focuses on a study that surveyed 23 people primarily in and around Stanford University (16 men and 7 women) and attempted to dive further into the simple question "Why do people blog?"
The activity level of bloggers tends to vary from person to person. Some bloggers post multiple times a day, while others may only post monthly. Content of the blogs also depends on likes and dislikes of the writer, or can follow a theme for the blog. Many bloggers have a personal code of ethics that they abide by in order to avoid offending readers.
This study found there are 5 motivators for blogging:
1. Documenting My Life - This notion can be used to update readers in almost real time as to what is going on in the blogger's life. An example of this could be to post updates in text and/or pictures to show distant relatives what you're doing.
2. Commentary - This would be using the blog to offer your two cents on different topics and maybe bring in discussion via comments as to what other people think.
3. Catharsis (Relief) - This is when the blog can be used as a diary. It lets bloggers get their thoughts out and allows for them to blow off some steam.
4. Muse - Using the blog as a source of creativity. This type of blogging has 2 main benefits: an audience to shape the writing, and an archive of potentially reusable posts. Who knows...the next Harry Potter could come from a blog.
5. Community Forum - This idea may relate to the commentary, but it's main focus is sparking a response in your reader, and getting them to add their thoughts to your writing. Many people are too scared in person to say what they would online.
With all that being said, there are some negatives to blogging which make real interaction much more effective. Blogging can endorse laziness, cowardice, and hinder an individual's ability to effectively communicate in person.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the list you found documenting all the reasons for blogging. Some of those I hadn't even thought of so that really opened my mind to even more ways blogging can be used. I was also interested in your final take about how blogging endorses laziness and lack of personal communication. I both agree and disagree with this only because the ways blogging can be used is so vast, it is often unfair to put them all in that category. That being said, there are definitely a good amount of blogs that promote negative ideas and activities, but it is important to pay more attention to the positive ones. Overall I enjoyed reading your post and got several new ideas about blogging from it.