Two years
I just remembered it's been two years this month that I started this weblog. Reading some of the old entries I realize my writing has improved. Or so I'd like to believe. Actually, I knew my writing improved even before because if that's not the truth then I'd be really embarassed, and I'm not embarassed so I guess that means I'm really good writer (as you can tell from this sentence).
My "about" section is currently not up because it has to be redesigned to fit the new scheme and while I think of something else to put there I will give you the top 5 reasons why I write this blog:
1. I like to write.
2. You might know that I live several tens of thousands of miles away from my closest family and friends and this is a way to let them know I'm ok and also keep them interested in me. (It's also an attempt to keep up the myth that "moving to the USA" is still what it used to be: pure financial success!)
3. Let everybody know what I think.
4. Keep some sort of diary. I never managed to do what is considered faithful diary-keeping, so this is a pretty big deal.
5. I don't know. I picked 5 because it sounded better than 4.
If you read lots of blogs or generally have checked out other sites, you will see that there is some sort of "culture" around it and interestingly the communities are separated by countries as if they were truly "located" somewhere. It seems there is also some sort of clique-building going on... some sites are always linked to, popular weblogs link to other popular weblogs (sort of like: if you link to me I'll link to you etc. etc.) Not suprisingly the popular ones will have a similar tone, format and political background. It's impossible not to think: "Oh, should I be more like soandso? Maybe my site is boring. Does anyone else read this besides my mom? Do I suck at writing? I think I suck at writing. I'm not cool, who am I kidding... Maybe if I only wrote about the Drum and Bass albums released in 1997 and make everyone who's never heard of it (about everybody I know) feel really stupid and backwards, then I'd seem cool and be linked to more."
Why we always fall into that high-school-thinking I don't know. Maybe because there is always this need to draw a line between them and us. It's tiring to always having to measure yourself against popular opinion. What's out there makes a statement about you before you even opened your mouth. Ok, how did I get here. Ah, yes, all I wanted to say is that my reasons for this blog are rather personal and don't have much to do with the weblogging avantgarde.
I like doing it, I hope you like reading it.
Posted at 03:03 PM on March 27, 2004
yes - I do, a lot. of course I'm just family - but very, very cool, popular, avantgarde family ;-))))
I too have noticed the cliquish attitude of blogs in general. I don't have one mostly for that reason. Plus since I am a Catholic obviously every other Catholic blogger would hate me due to the fact that I do not follow the "Hail Bush our Father Leader and Saint" mentality.
I really like your blog though, it is nice to read a Catholic blog by someone who is not part of the Mass Cultural block of American sudo-Catholisism.
I actually wish I could find another one or two to read. In the webworld I am a school yard outcast.
Plus since I am a Catholic obviously every other Catholic blogger would hate me due to the fact that I do not follow the "Hail Bush our Father Leader and Saint" mentality. I have not noticed that in St. Blog's at all, on the contrary many are very skeptical of Bush, in many of the larger blogs like Mark Shea, curt Jester and HMS Blog. The attitude is sort of anti-Kerry because he is so pro-abortion which is a nasty boat we all kind of fall in, but what you describe I have not seen.