Recreational Blogging
Blogs, short for web log, have become all the rage in the last few years. While there are many uses for a blog, recreational pleasure is part and parcel of the experience almost universally. Why do people so avidly follow blogs rather than reading regular news articles online?
There are a number of reasons, some having to do with the readers and some having to do with the bloggers. Overall, blogging is an interactive communication. Many readers enjoy perusing blogs, and find favorite blog writers because it not only offers information, but the ability to communicate directly with the writer and other readers. Many blogs will garner strings of comments which not only question the original article or premise, but extend the overall discussion. Some bloggers actually use their post as a springboard to an interactive game, rather than a straight post about a certain topic. Such games might take the form of word or poetry plays in which each commenter answers the previous article and then leaves the clues for the following commenter to fill.
Not only is the blog interactive, but there is a blog written for virtually any area of expertise and topic of interest imaginable. Blogs will offer tips and tricks to accomplish certain goals as well as discussion about topics pertaining to those goals. There are blogs that offer job postings related to that field and often bloggers will develop an active ‘cyber’ relationship with a good portion of their readership as well as the other bloggers who they frequent.
So, what’s in it for the blogger? Why devote time to writing these articles and posting them free of charge on the web, when they could as well devote the time to writing articles and submitting to paying publications that work in their area of expertise? First, many bloggers do use some form of pay for advertising, though this is not always a lucrative exchange and often does not pay for their blogging time in any concrete way. Many bloggers use their blog to build readership and advance their personal network and profile. If you build an avid readership to your blog, you can link that to your professional website, any profile hubs you’ve put online, and link this to your profile lenses. This gives the blogger a good online profile which can aid in building his or her career, especially if they are self employed or freelancing in their field.
Besides building their business and personal profile, many bloggers do so simply because they find enjoyment in the writing and exchange of ideas. Unlike some posting boards and chat rooms, blog writing offers the author the ability to direct the entire article and lead a discussion on topics which interest them. The tone is often set by the writer themselves, so if they prefer more professional exchanges they can direct their posts in this way.
Some bloggers use their posts as an online journal or diary; purposely leaving their real and professional lives separate from their blog persona. This affords them the space for cathartic writing. Many will discuss very personal life issues that they may not normally discuss with anyone because their anonymity allows the safe release of these pent up emotions and the support of readers in comments gives them a semblance of emotional strength. Some may simply enjoy the platform and may turn their blog into an area to give their opinion openly, debate, and discuss current events.
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