Tree Surfing

History
I started blogging on Live Journal the late summer of 2004. It was quite an interesting experience for me. I had created several websites in my high school years, but most of them were short-lived, and quite lacking in solid content. Blogging’s focus on content and connectivity really changed the role of the internet in my life.

In a short span of time I met many new friends and reconnected with old ones. Reading blogs allowed me to connect and learn from people without the formality and waste of most social interaction. Time being the valuable commodity that it is. Blogging for me, became a means of condensing and delivering information and opinions.

Originally I had great aspirations for my LiveJournal. Being recently married, working a job I hated, becoming a first-time father, and not having many artistic outlets really pulled me away from the site I had originally envisioned. The journal/diary feel of the site too easily allowed me to slip into weeks of self-pitying posts. This was not the content I wanted to read or write.

I had wanted more control over the layout and appearance of my blog, but LiveJournal’s interface and obscure coding section was a huge hurtle that I simply did not have the free time or will to overcome, although I tried for a long time. Other free services had as many problems as Live Journal, and the highly recommended self-publishing blog software required an independent hosting server. I was very hesitant to pay for a server, and put in many hours trying to set up and code an independent blog.

Then I discovered Blogsome, a free Wordpress hosting site, where you’re reading this post from right now. I finally had a lot more freedom to express myself. A good layout, and administrative functions that allow me to focus more on content and less about organization or making things appear correctly. I’m quite happy with where I am now, and hopefully my readers, old and new, like the changes I’ve made.

What is Blogging?
The term “blog” was originally slang for web log. Although, I have trouble classifying the word as slang now that it has entered mainstream use. The general definition of a web log is a internet publication in which the posts appear in reverse chronological order.

Blogging by definition isn’t really that innovative at first glance. However, the blogging process, and it’s implications are gaining great influence in the world today. Blogs encourage social relationship with people whom you may have never otherwise even been aware of. It also has the potential to quickly spread ideas, and information across the internet.

Some people even believe that blogging will lead to the downfall of official journalism, although I have reservations about making such a grand claim. I do however believe that blogging represents a tremendous opportunity for “bottom-up” growth of society. A single person has the opportunity to spread his or her voice, vision, and ideas quickly to others.

As a someone develops their blogging network they gain support and knowledge that can encourage some truly wonderful results.

My Blogging Theory
Opinions about the correct, proper, or best way to blog vary as much as the people who write them. It ranks right up there with the definition of Art, and the Meaning of Life.

Some blogs adopt a very official voice, others are nothing more than semi-public diaries. Unlike a diary or personal journal, blogs are designed to be read by others. The relationship between reader and writer is much more personal that traditional publishing. Feedback and comments are usually greatly encouraged. It is because of this relationship that I hold the blogging view that I do.

Blogging encourages interaction. The interaction of information and ideas, of author and reader, and of opinions. Many times this can lead to very heated and controversial conversations. I don’t believe in passive blogging. Obviously there needs to be some consideration of others feelings: mutual respect is key to good communication. But a safe blogger is generally a boring blogger.

Controversy+Solid Information+Clear Writing = Great Interest/Popularity.
The most popular blogs are those that provide good information or effectively cover controversial topics. As an individual I probably cannot compete against other people or collaborative groups who have already established themselves as powerful informers and writers. However, the wonderful thing about blogging is the power of the individual.

Each person has their own voice or style, and there is a certain intrigue with those different from ourselves. Diversity also equals interest. If you’re blogging to be popular, you’re writing for the wrong reason. If you really have something of worth or interest the readers will come with minimal work. Some people spend lots of time promoting their blog, but if they write nothing of substance then they will not gain a substantial audience.

The purpose of this blog is to express my opinions and provide my readers with links to useful information. I’m also trying to keep the personal touch in my writing, without falling into the temptation of self-gratifying posts.

What I dream of is an art of balance.
Henri Matisse (1869 - 1954)