A reason for blogging

The reasons for writing a blog are, I imagine, as varied as bloggers themselves are.  Some have strong views on political or social issues and hope to persuade others to agree with those views.  Some feel an irrepressible desire to simply express their convictions or protest against the way things are, even if they have little hope of winning anyone over.  Some enjoy the back-and-forth of debate and seek to provoke it.  Some are moved by enthusiasm for a genre of books or movies, or for a particular culture, and want to share it.  Some seek to show off their art or writing or photography in hopes of winning admiration from others.  For some, it's a way of keeping acquaintances informed of events in their personal lives -- a form of social media.

Some of those motives apply in my case to varying degrees.  Readers may have noticed that I have strong opinions on a number of issues.  Although I hate arguing with people and will do almost anything to avoid it, I hope that my posts attacking religion or supporting various social policies will contribute something to the arsenal of ideas and arguments available to those who do choose to engage in debate with opponents.  And it's interesting to see what others think of my writing, and rewarding to acquaint others with the things that fascinate me.  But over time, being honest with myself, I have come to realize that there's a rather different motive that drives me to keep blogging -- the desire simply to catch the attention of like-minded people.

For a person like me, making any kind of connection with people I have things in common with can be difficult.  At most of the jobs I've had, for example, once co-workers get to know me, most of them show little interest in any further interaction because they conclude that I have nothing interesting to say -- and by their own standards, they're right.  I know nothing about sports or current TV shows or the latest doings of the Kardashians or the royal family, and I don't care to fake an interest in such things just to socialize.  I'm quite happy to keep to myself, and see no point in actively facilitating conversations I would find boring.

But the internet is global and allows interaction with, potentially, anyone with a computer and a connection.  To the extent that others, however few, share aspects of my view of life or my cultural or artistic fascinations, it's at least theoretically possible to catch their attention.

And so I write this blog because it's a manifestation of who I am, put out there for others to react to as they choose.  Those who find my views and interests boring or repulsive will presumably ignore it in favor of other websites they find more appealing, which is fine.  But if someone feels that something I've posted resonates with them and decides they've found a kindred spirit on some level, then the blog has done its job.

This is why, too, I occasionally post things that most people would find cryptic or bizarre, or that I know in advance will provoke rejection or disdain from the majority of readers.  In some cases I'm using language or imagery specific to some particular subculture or to the enthusiasts of particular concepts, even if it is not meaningful to anyone else.  Or I'm posting an idea, vision, or aesthetic which is not generally popular, in hopes that it will catch the eye of one of those few with whom it does resonate, if they happen to be reading.  If that connection is made, even occasionally, then it's worth putting up with the negativity such posts tend to provoke.

The most interesting blogs are the most personal ones, the ones that express the enthusiasms, the vision, the aesthetic tastes and creativity of the blogger.  That kind of blog is a manifestation, in online form, of its author.  That's what I'm doing here.  What co-workers see when they glance into my cubicle at the office is not the real me.  This is.