The Prodigal Blog
Several YEARS ago now, I left a post on this "blog" ( to use the parlance of our times ) that was basically a farewell to all of this exhibitionist nonsense. In less than 2 short years, the "blogosphere" ( to use the parlance of our times ) had erupted into a raging, uncontrollable sea of competing opinions and pedantic, shameless voyeurism. Every Tom, Dick and Harry had one virtually overnight. I mean, if you didn't, who were you? Who was appreciating your dry & acerbic, but informed, wit and observations? Why weren't you sharing every pivotal second of your obviously significant existence? Do you even really exist? If a tree falls in the forest and no one's around, who's reading my post about the sound it made?!
Alright, so I got a little dramatic for comedic emphasis... But the point I'm making stands! It got too big too quick and it just turned me off. Kind of like all the Harry Potter bullshit. I just can't trust something that TOO MANY Americans are suddenly into. In our culture, it usually indicates something that is overly indulgent.
Well, it's been another 4 years since that last post, and in the 6 total years since that very first post, the blogosphere has proved itself to be just that: Overly indulgent.
But we all live with it now. Everyday. Like a cultural reflex.
It gives a voice to millions of people who would otherwise be unheard. It permeates every level of media from entertainment reviews to political punditry, often turning average schlubs into flash-fried sensations, rapidly conflagrating in what has become 15 seconds of fame instead of 15 minutes. Why, we've even condensed blogging itself to a few mere words or sentences on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. No single opinion, expression, revelation or even inanity is immune from being shared... And in less than 140 characters, by gum!
And that is why I return.
With it's oversaturation and unyeilding activity, the blogosphere has finally become large enough to be a refuge for someone like me. You see, I strike a delicate personal balance between embracing and supressing the attention I like my writing to have. I don't mind being read, but I don't like feeling like I HAVE to be writing for people, especially people I know. That kind of spotlight is very unappealing to me. But now, I get to see how long I can hide inside of this mighty, abstract cyber-orb. Simply sharing a few thoughts from time to time, MAYBE putting up a photo or a video. Just writing in the now hidden, shadowy recesses of the interwebs, and waiting... for me to accidentally provide a laugh or rumination for anyone who might stumble by.
Blogging, Take 2. For however long it lasts again...
I make word thoughts from my head lump using my pants compooter.
Alright, so I got a little dramatic for comedic emphasis... But the point I'm making stands! It got too big too quick and it just turned me off. Kind of like all the Harry Potter bullshit. I just can't trust something that TOO MANY Americans are suddenly into. In our culture, it usually indicates something that is overly indulgent.
Well, it's been another 4 years since that last post, and in the 6 total years since that very first post, the blogosphere has proved itself to be just that: Overly indulgent.
But we all live with it now. Everyday. Like a cultural reflex.
It gives a voice to millions of people who would otherwise be unheard. It permeates every level of media from entertainment reviews to political punditry, often turning average schlubs into flash-fried sensations, rapidly conflagrating in what has become 15 seconds of fame instead of 15 minutes. Why, we've even condensed blogging itself to a few mere words or sentences on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. No single opinion, expression, revelation or even inanity is immune from being shared... And in less than 140 characters, by gum!
And that is why I return.
With it's oversaturation and unyeilding activity, the blogosphere has finally become large enough to be a refuge for someone like me. You see, I strike a delicate personal balance between embracing and supressing the attention I like my writing to have. I don't mind being read, but I don't like feeling like I HAVE to be writing for people, especially people I know. That kind of spotlight is very unappealing to me. But now, I get to see how long I can hide inside of this mighty, abstract cyber-orb. Simply sharing a few thoughts from time to time, MAYBE putting up a photo or a video. Just writing in the now hidden, shadowy recesses of the interwebs, and waiting... for me to accidentally provide a laugh or rumination for anyone who might stumble by.
Blogging, Take 2. For however long it lasts again...
I make word thoughts from my head lump using my pants compooter.
posted by Sean Corley at 10:23 PM
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