There's a rumour going around that blogging is dead. I read this on the internet so I'm sure it's true.
Sad, but true.
And last week I hit a new personal low with all of 23 people visiting my blog one day. Of course I haven't created any content since Christmas and that might have something to do with it. And I did taunt everyone over the last two weeks when I sent pictures of the ocean, the beach, the pool, the golf course in 90F Bijao, Panama to all my pals caught in that Polar Vortex. Nah, that possibly couldn't have had anything to do with it.
Anyway, the blog is dying? I mean really? I'm a blogger. I like to blog. Sure I may have creativity lapses now and then but then a brain fart'll come along and away I go spouting off on one thing or another.
And on those occasions I find I really have more to say than Twitter's 144 characters would allow. Or a picture on Pinterest. How creative is that? Sure I'll post funny pictures or cartoons to Tumblr but, hey, I'm not original. I'm posting something someone else has seen, not to mention countless others before him or her.
Instagram? Forget it.
What else is out there? I don't know and I don't care.
A blog allows one to play with words, to lovingly caress the language and take your time nice and slow until you reach your literary climax. Hey, get your mind out of the gutter. I said literary climax.
A blog allows you time to develop an idea, lay it out there, dress it up and send it off for others to enjoy. Gee, that sorta sounds kinky, too.
Now Facebook, despite it's popularity, will never replace the blog. Well, that's my opinion of course. Sure I follow friends on Facebook. I post items. I comment on other people's status updates. And I've been known to hijack a comment thread or two along with my buddy MikeWJ from the great high as a mountain state of Colorado. But after awhile even that gets old.
And what's with the "Like" button. That just encourages illiteracy. I guess it's for people too lazy to string a couple of words together. You know, noun verb, adjective, adverb, modifier? Click Like if you agree with me. Like, fer sure. Gag me with a spoon.
And what's with all the cats. Every day, everywhere I look people post pictures of their cats. Oh, look here's a picture of my darling kitty pooping on my head. Just about. I exaggerate. I've never seen a picture of a cat pooping on one of my friend's heads. Maybe I just have the wrong friends. I dunno.
And food. Why do some people think the rest of us want to see what they're eating at every meal. Why? I mean I wouldn't eat half the stuff I see on Facebook. And besides, I'm trying to diet. Posting pics of lunch and dinner is just mean.
Now if someone posted a picture of them eating their cat that would work for me.
Wait a minute. I think I have an idea for a new blog. People Eating Cats! What do you think? We can share recipes, cooking methods, summer BBQ hints, how to de-fur a feline, what the best cut of cat might be. Wow, I think I'm on to something. I know for sure I'd be a hit in China.
Instead of always worrying about feeding the cat let the cat feed you.
It would be purr-fect!
Comments
As for blogging, it's alive and well all over the internets but fairly dead in my reader. Most of the long-time bloggers I enjoyed don't post much anymore. At this point, I really don't want to have to seek out a new set of bloggers and break them in just for fun.
But the rest I agree with...I like to blog too. That to me still is the center. Facebook is just a tool to get readers to my blog (hopefully, although like you, the numbers are low some, no, all days for me). I long for the days, where it was a lot...well...simpler than it is now.
As for blogging, Facebook and other social media, they're quickly being overcome by reading good books, listening to good music and watching good television. Well maybe not the last so much because there isn't a lot of good television. God, I'm getting old.
I like to blog, too. I'll guess we'll just have to keep it alive!
I find the LIKE button on FB handy, especially when I read comments that all say the same thing, and yeah, when I'm too lazy to be creative.
Seriously, the blog may decline in popularity for some things, like the on-line journal, bur for others, like reviewing, it's still the best option out there if you want to be able to control your content.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2540205/Have-11m-teens-left-Facebook-2011-New-report-claims-mass-exodus-continues-site-messaging-apps-over.html
Facebook wore thin about a year ago & I installed software to limit what I see. I also tossed people into groups so they don't show up in my feed. I tweak that stuff on a weekly basis to hide more and more stuff. So much is offensive for a variety of reasons. Just prior to finally publishing the 3 Seasons page to pimp my photography. I'd made a decision to leave FB behind. Twitter is a waste of my time. LinkedIn is one place I check in with to help with my job search. Mostly, it's all just garbage. Except for you. :-)
The big question I have for you is whether or not you're going to join the 28 days of insanity over at Nicky's? Inquiring minds and all that crap.
I still read more than 100 blogs each week although I tend to leave less comments because of the time investment. I am somewhat torn between the time involvement vs, the enjoyment. I would personally miss your blog so I hope you don't give it up. On the other hand, I believe that I will in the near future bring mine to an end as I, too, feel like I need to diversify my interests a bit.
I will never be a huge Facebook user. I am a cat lover, but even I get bored with all these cat pictures. I appreciate a really cute photo, but most are just snapshots of cats, doing what cats do - sleeping!
Lately, I have found something else that is filling my time. Making movies of all my thousands of photos. Once that's finished, who knows?
Of course, I've pretty much given up on self-promotion too and it's gotten so that I pretty much write for myself and a small group of blogger friends. We'll see what 2014 brings.
I like the idea of movies from photos. That sounds like fun.
I've been terrible about wriring and keeping up with my blog buddies. I'm hoping the challenge will help me get my groove back.
I'm glad you're in :-)
I visited your blog and loved it. I'm into books, music and to a lesser extent movies so I'll be visiting.
Long live the blog, eh.
I think the biggest thing is consistency. When I published 10-13 times a month my audience only grew. 8-10 times per month, was just to maintain my audience size. I have been publishing about three times a month lately, and I have been shedding readers.
Great post, John. Truly.