So, there's been a lack of blogs.
So what? you say. Well, I promised myself a blog per day, which means 30 for April, not, erm, 6.
Notes have been taken, being an incredibly sad sort of person, and a promise is a promise even if only to oneself. Titles will be as incredibly sad notes decree.
Sick chiddlers, being away on holiday (yay!) and now exams mean no time for bloggage.
They will follow. One per day, even if most of April arrives at once.
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Blogspace
There's a pandemic (yes, pandemic, it absolutely qualifies) afflicting Blogger at present.
It affects the ability to form words into coherent sentences and transfer them into type.
A number of key blogs have been infected with this potentially lethal condition.
Suspected reasons for succumbing to this devastating state of being:
1) having something better to do.
This may be an urban myth, but there is increasing evidence that some bloggers have been doing Other Things.
2) Illness, pain or suffering.
While this is clearly not a valid excuse for neglecting one's duties as a blogger, it's one which seems to have a profound effect on one's ability to spraff on.
3) Lethargy and the dangerous 'Being Really Pissed off at the Internet and all who sail in her'. Those who suffer from this either feel the cretinous population of the 'net simply don't deserve time and words devoted to them, or they feel uninteresting and that the genius population of the 'net don't deserve being inflicted with drivel.
So what can you do? Adopt a blogger. Build them a secure and cosy nest to
blog from.
Or if it yourself that is suffering, then a daily dose of calendula will have the expected effect.
Annoyingly required disclaimer: this is not aimed at anything: no particular blog or any person is implicated. For the record, my own lack of bloggage is due to a mild case of reason 2.
It affects the ability to form words into coherent sentences and transfer them into type.
A number of key blogs have been infected with this potentially lethal condition.
Suspected reasons for succumbing to this devastating state of being:
1) having something better to do.
This may be an urban myth, but there is increasing evidence that some bloggers have been doing Other Things.
2) Illness, pain or suffering.
While this is clearly not a valid excuse for neglecting one's duties as a blogger, it's one which seems to have a profound effect on one's ability to spraff on.
3) Lethargy and the dangerous 'Being Really Pissed off at the Internet and all who sail in her'. Those who suffer from this either feel the cretinous population of the 'net simply don't deserve time and words devoted to them, or they feel uninteresting and that the genius population of the 'net don't deserve being inflicted with drivel.
So what can you do? Adopt a blogger. Build them a secure and cosy nest to
blog from.
Or if it yourself that is suffering, then a daily dose of calendula will have the expected effect.
Annoyingly required disclaimer: this is not aimed at anything: no particular blog or any person is implicated. For the record, my own lack of bloggage is due to a mild case of reason 2.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Anonymity
I do love smuggery.
And yes, I do know the correct word. I like that one better, ok?
"I am better than everyone else. I have no idea about why people do things but I shall judge anyway".
I was left the following comment on an old blog entry I made about my other "101 things" blog. It says:
67: find something better to do then make blogs about nothing.
Goodo. Can I just point out that the use of the word "then" in the middle of that makes that sentence a little nonsensical? Do something interesting, then write about nothing. Would it not make more sense to write about the something interesting? Ah. Maybe you meant "than", that would actually make sense. Not to worry about spelling though. It's not important, people KNOW what you mean and it's just old fashioned and bothersome to use the word that makes sense.
Back to the point however. This riles me. It is something that crops up relatively often from the smug and uncaring.
"Don't you have anything better to do?"
No.
Mostly I don't.
Don't you think if I had something better to do, I'd be doing it?
I have noticed (and previously noted, I bore myself) that people who spend a lot of time on the internet fall into the following categories:
1) people who are primarily on their own a lot, for whatever reason. That is somewhat lonesome and it's a type of company. Not a very good one but it's a wee bit better than putting the television on for company. The people I have noticed tweeting most (and pleasantly, there are more prolific bores) are writers and quite probably have lots of better things to do at other times, but who maybe just want to make contact with people.
2) people who have insanely bad jobs and a combination of hatred for the job/organisation, boredom, and ability to access the internet.
3) liars. people who fall into one of the above categories but make like they have interesting lives. Most people aren't Stephen Fry and if they're doing something, they don't have time to post about it.
4) people that actually have a lot of others that want to know what they have to say, who make time to say it and who should be thanked for doing that rather than derided. (This also includes people who think this applies to them but who are a bit deluded).
The "101 things" blog is a tool thing and not remotely meant for entertainment. It's not listed on searches, it's just there for me and it's not hidden because there's a vague possibility I'll be embarrassed into getting on with it. This here blog: it's not meant to be anything other than blether, mind burps, a way to say things that have occurred to me. Hence the title; it could have been called "It's extremely interesting" or "It's content heavy" or "It's lots of things" or "It's basically waiting to be compiled into a paperback". It's not, it's called "It's nothing at all". It therefore contains many words about nothing in particular, occasionally accidentally happening upon something interesting, and is listed partly because nice people sometimes say hello, and partly because just once in a while I'm saying something I like to be out there.
I am incidentally saying a lot less than before, but that's a little to do with the fact that I can concisely comment in a twittery manner, and mostly because the stuff that's keeping me busy is far from interesting. Today for example, I made a "hoover" out of an easter egg box and a wrapping paper insert. Time consuming: yes. Interesting: no, not really.
So, Mr/Ms Anonymous: yes, I would like to have something better to do, it is sage advice and I shall be sure to start finding something better to do with my time. I only wish I'd thought of that myself.
For the record, I do not like anonymous comments, unless it is done in humour. Anonymity in order to have a go at someone that may or may not know you is cowardly.
And yes, I do know the correct word. I like that one better, ok?
"I am better than everyone else. I have no idea about why people do things but I shall judge anyway".
I was left the following comment on an old blog entry I made about my other "101 things" blog. It says:
67: find something better to do then make blogs about nothing.
Goodo. Can I just point out that the use of the word "then" in the middle of that makes that sentence a little nonsensical? Do something interesting, then write about nothing. Would it not make more sense to write about the something interesting? Ah. Maybe you meant "than", that would actually make sense. Not to worry about spelling though. It's not important, people KNOW what you mean and it's just old fashioned and bothersome to use the word that makes sense.
Back to the point however. This riles me. It is something that crops up relatively often from the smug and uncaring.
"Don't you have anything better to do?"
No.
Mostly I don't.
Don't you think if I had something better to do, I'd be doing it?
I have noticed (and previously noted, I bore myself) that people who spend a lot of time on the internet fall into the following categories:
1) people who are primarily on their own a lot, for whatever reason. That is somewhat lonesome and it's a type of company. Not a very good one but it's a wee bit better than putting the television on for company. The people I have noticed tweeting most (and pleasantly, there are more prolific bores) are writers and quite probably have lots of better things to do at other times, but who maybe just want to make contact with people.
2) people who have insanely bad jobs and a combination of hatred for the job/organisation, boredom, and ability to access the internet.
3) liars. people who fall into one of the above categories but make like they have interesting lives. Most people aren't Stephen Fry and if they're doing something, they don't have time to post about it.
4) people that actually have a lot of others that want to know what they have to say, who make time to say it and who should be thanked for doing that rather than derided. (This also includes people who think this applies to them but who are a bit deluded).
The "101 things" blog is a tool thing and not remotely meant for entertainment. It's not listed on searches, it's just there for me and it's not hidden because there's a vague possibility I'll be embarrassed into getting on with it. This here blog: it's not meant to be anything other than blether, mind burps, a way to say things that have occurred to me. Hence the title; it could have been called "It's extremely interesting" or "It's content heavy" or "It's lots of things" or "It's basically waiting to be compiled into a paperback". It's not, it's called "It's nothing at all". It therefore contains many words about nothing in particular, occasionally accidentally happening upon something interesting, and is listed partly because nice people sometimes say hello, and partly because just once in a while I'm saying something I like to be out there.
I am incidentally saying a lot less than before, but that's a little to do with the fact that I can concisely comment in a twittery manner, and mostly because the stuff that's keeping me busy is far from interesting. Today for example, I made a "hoover" out of an easter egg box and a wrapping paper insert. Time consuming: yes. Interesting: no, not really.
So, Mr/Ms Anonymous: yes, I would like to have something better to do, it is sage advice and I shall be sure to start finding something better to do with my time. I only wish I'd thought of that myself.
For the record, I do not like anonymous comments, unless it is done in humour. Anonymity in order to have a go at someone that may or may not know you is cowardly.
Saturday, 7 March 2009
Lent and the demise of a pointless blog
Hmm. I was writing another blog about my progress in Lent. And it was pointless.
So here's the introduction:
I am not a religious person but I am by birth (and baptism) a Christian. I celebrate Christmas and Easter. I ate pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. I thought I should think about what it's all about:
chocolate
pancakes
eggs
more chocolate
I'm fairly sure of the Easter story. But the Lent bit is something I don't really know about.
I have learned:
It represents the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by Satan. Christians use Lent as a time for prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self denial. Pancake Tuesday is a using up of all the fats and flour before the fasting begins. So called Shrove Tuesday because one is meant to shrive and achieve absolution before Lent begins.
It lasts more than 40 days because it doesn't include Sundays. Sundays during Lent are meant to be minor celebrations of Easter. As Wiki puts it "Jesus' victory over sin and death". Not entirely sure I go with the "victory" concept, but never mind. We celebrate something. That's assuming he was real and anything at all to do with God. If He exists. Whatever.
Unsure what Jesus did on Sundays. Possibly did 40 days straight, but we always needed Sundays off. Unsure also as to whether Sundays are properly exempt and you don't have to fulfil any of the other stuff, or if you just slightly act Easter-y.
Maybe have a Creme Egg on Sundays in Lent?
Right. So. I'm not religious. I said that. But neither are the other people around me who give up things for Lent. I never do. I usually give up something I don't do anyway. It was going to be solvent abuse this year... but I decided to have a think. It's being a parent, it makes you THINK. I never used to think, I merely opined. Now I do this thinking lark. Troublesome.
It's not about having-a-reason-to-diet. It's about grieving. And self atonement. And I'm a bit of the opinion that even though I don't believe in it all, if I'm going to eat chocolate on Easter Sunday, I should really pay attention to the other stuff. And so have answers to the perpetual "why?"
So, for Lent this year, I intended to record each day (except Sunday when I'd ponder other things) what I had done in the way of prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self denial.
However, I have found that I have little to record each day. So, a bit pointless and so bye bye to that.
What I learned:
Self denial: I'm not so good at self denial. Right now I need to go on a health kick so as not to feel cack all the time. So that's little to do with self atonement and a lot to do with survival.
Prayer: not going to happen.
Almsgiving: I give little to charity, I certainly don't do it every day.
Penitence: I would hope I usually make amends for what I have done wrong. I don't think I necessarily want to write it down. Maybe I should. I'm not going to.
Maybe it would be nice to record a daily moment of niceness. Hmm.
So here's the introduction:
I am not a religious person but I am by birth (and baptism) a Christian. I celebrate Christmas and Easter. I ate pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. I thought I should think about what it's all about:
chocolate
pancakes
eggs
more chocolate
I'm fairly sure of the Easter story. But the Lent bit is something I don't really know about.
I have learned:
It represents the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by Satan. Christians use Lent as a time for prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self denial. Pancake Tuesday is a using up of all the fats and flour before the fasting begins. So called Shrove Tuesday because one is meant to shrive and achieve absolution before Lent begins.
It lasts more than 40 days because it doesn't include Sundays. Sundays during Lent are meant to be minor celebrations of Easter. As Wiki puts it "Jesus' victory over sin and death". Not entirely sure I go with the "victory" concept, but never mind. We celebrate something. That's assuming he was real and anything at all to do with God. If He exists. Whatever.
Unsure what Jesus did on Sundays. Possibly did 40 days straight, but we always needed Sundays off. Unsure also as to whether Sundays are properly exempt and you don't have to fulfil any of the other stuff, or if you just slightly act Easter-y.
Maybe have a Creme Egg on Sundays in Lent?
Right. So. I'm not religious. I said that. But neither are the other people around me who give up things for Lent. I never do. I usually give up something I don't do anyway. It was going to be solvent abuse this year... but I decided to have a think. It's being a parent, it makes you THINK. I never used to think, I merely opined. Now I do this thinking lark. Troublesome.
It's not about having-a-reason-to-diet. It's about grieving. And self atonement. And I'm a bit of the opinion that even though I don't believe in it all, if I'm going to eat chocolate on Easter Sunday, I should really pay attention to the other stuff. And so have answers to the perpetual "why?"
So, for Lent this year, I intended to record each day (except Sunday when I'd ponder other things) what I had done in the way of prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self denial.
However, I have found that I have little to record each day. So, a bit pointless and so bye bye to that.
What I learned:
Self denial: I'm not so good at self denial. Right now I need to go on a health kick so as not to feel cack all the time. So that's little to do with self atonement and a lot to do with survival.
Prayer: not going to happen.
Almsgiving: I give little to charity, I certainly don't do it every day.
Penitence: I would hope I usually make amends for what I have done wrong. I don't think I necessarily want to write it down. Maybe I should. I'm not going to.
Maybe it would be nice to record a daily moment of niceness. Hmm.
Friday, 9 January 2009
Blogging along
Why blog? It's sort of impersonal while shouting out to the world, "notice me!! me!! yes, me, the one saying nothing much over here!"
The impersonal bit:
People are mostly busy. So if you send an email of the inane thoughts you have had of a day, they quite probably won't have time/energy/inclination to reply with same. And if it's something bigger, then by emailing you are saying "You. Yes you, recipient of this email. Here is my problem. Please think on it and send me a response. I am relying on you to say the right thing and will be mortally offended if you do not". And then they are genuinely too busy or unable to say the right thing, or worried about your reaction, or some other reason, yet you assume they either don't care or that they have decided you unworthy of any further communication.
If you blog it, then you're not usually aiming it at anyone in particular, contrary to the belief of those reading it. Anyone that wants to read and respond can, but if one particular person can't or doesn't want to, there's nothing personal about that. It's safe, even if you have to be generic to remain safe.
The notice-me bit:
Being noticed for what you've written is rather good. It's damned nice when someone who thinks like you or shares an interest contacts you to say so. Blogging allows both, as well as the slim possibility that someone you'd want to read it stumbles on your blog. Of course, there's the other 99.9% of the time when you are entirely insignificant. But still. There's moments that wouldn't happen otherwise.
Other immensely shallow reasons for blogging:
it's nice to see your own words written down
it's nice to talk incessantly
every post is about something you at least cared about at that moment
when you forget things, you can look back at what you blogged about them
That was me learning about traffic volumes and forecasting.
The impersonal bit:
People are mostly busy. So if you send an email of the inane thoughts you have had of a day, they quite probably won't have time/energy/inclination to reply with same. And if it's something bigger, then by emailing you are saying "You. Yes you, recipient of this email. Here is my problem. Please think on it and send me a response. I am relying on you to say the right thing and will be mortally offended if you do not". And then they are genuinely too busy or unable to say the right thing, or worried about your reaction, or some other reason, yet you assume they either don't care or that they have decided you unworthy of any further communication.
If you blog it, then you're not usually aiming it at anyone in particular, contrary to the belief of those reading it. Anyone that wants to read and respond can, but if one particular person can't or doesn't want to, there's nothing personal about that. It's safe, even if you have to be generic to remain safe.
The notice-me bit:
Being noticed for what you've written is rather good. It's damned nice when someone who thinks like you or shares an interest contacts you to say so. Blogging allows both, as well as the slim possibility that someone you'd want to read it stumbles on your blog. Of course, there's the other 99.9% of the time when you are entirely insignificant. But still. There's moments that wouldn't happen otherwise.
Other immensely shallow reasons for blogging:
it's nice to see your own words written down
it's nice to talk incessantly
every post is about something you at least cared about at that moment
when you forget things, you can look back at what you blogged about them
That was me learning about traffic volumes and forecasting.
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Bloggage
To blog:
To write down thoughts, to make them readable for those that might like your thoughts, to find like minded folk.
In theory.
In actuality:
A place for people to judge, to take offence where amusement is intended, to take amusement where empathy was intended and for general superiority over the person you may or may not know because anyone can hide on the net.
Or not, if they're not very clever.
I don't need to have virtual people I don't know confirming all the fears I have about myself. I've been told I'm offensive, not amusing enough, not clever enough, not entertaining enough and not a good enough writer.
It's a blog. Just a blog. I'm not trying to make friends (because people generally suck), write a masterpiece, gain notoriety or be the official voice of blogdom. I just write down what I think. Which happens often, because I think a lot and am in the house bored out of my skull or not asleep when everyone else is. I don't actually want the thought police judging what I think, if that's all right with people. If you don't like it, here's a thought: don't read it. If I comment crap on your blog/website, then feel free to chastise, but this is mine.
What Wiki says:
Personal Blogs
For the record, some people are very nice and I'm sorry for being a tit. I'll grow up one day, or get a job, or something.
To write down thoughts, to make them readable for those that might like your thoughts, to find like minded folk.
In theory.
In actuality:
A place for people to judge, to take offence where amusement is intended, to take amusement where empathy was intended and for general superiority over the person you may or may not know because anyone can hide on the net.
Or not, if they're not very clever.
I don't need to have virtual people I don't know confirming all the fears I have about myself. I've been told I'm offensive, not amusing enough, not clever enough, not entertaining enough and not a good enough writer.
It's a blog. Just a blog. I'm not trying to make friends (because people generally suck), write a masterpiece, gain notoriety or be the official voice of blogdom. I just write down what I think. Which happens often, because I think a lot and am in the house bored out of my skull or not asleep when everyone else is. I don't actually want the thought police judging what I think, if that's all right with people. If you don't like it, here's a thought: don't read it. If I comment crap on your blog/website, then feel free to chastise, but this is mine.
What Wiki says:
Personal Blogs
- The personal blog, an ongoing diary or commentary by an individual, is the traditional, most common blog. Personal bloggers usually take pride in their blog posts, even if their blog is never read by anyone but them. Blogs often become more than a way to just communicate; they become a way to reflect on life or works of art. Blogging can have a sentimental quality.
For the record, some people are very nice and I'm sorry for being a tit. I'll grow up one day, or get a job, or something.
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