Tag, I’m It.
Ok, I give.
Two people have spammed me with the “why I blog” virus. They would be none other than Pammy and Diane.
According the official rules, I am supposed to list 5 reasons why I blog and then spam four others.
So here goes…
First of all, why I started is a mystery to me. I’ve always been a news junkie and had been reading some blogs and found them interesting (Billy, CJ, & Polly mostly). I used to run a Bulletin Board, back when 1200 baud was akin to high speed cable, so maybe it was just natural that I picked up on it again. As the late Harry Chapin said: All my life’s a circle.
Second, it was so darn easy to start one. I didn’t think far enough ahead to figure out what I’d call it, so I sat on the screen that said “enter your blog name here” and all I could come up with was Peoria Illinoisan. I have no doubt that it was a take off of SIU’s newspaper the Southern Illinoisan, but my mind works in mysterious ways and I wouldn’t realize that I was stealing the name until later.
Third, I certainly did not start this, as others have done, to let loose their creative writing ability, because I have none. I think I’m getting better, but that’s open for debate.
Fourth, it gives me something to do. An outlet from work, raising kids, and general home life. We all need an outlet. Apparently this is mine.
Fifth, I continue to blog because of the social interaction, which relates back to reason #1. I’ve met some very nice people and had some great discussions. I’ll even go out on a limb and say some people I’ve met I could call friends.
Sixth, even though I’m supposed to stop at five, Blogging makes a me smarter. I find writing my thoughts down really expands my knowledge of a subject, makes me think a little harder and opens my brain in ways that would never have occurred otherwise. I’ve always scoured the newspaper and been an AM Talk Radio kind of guy, but until I began actively blogging, I was unaware of the amount of information that is not reported.
I find the local blog community to be one big family, squabbles and all. I’ve been told it’s a clique, but it’s a clique that anyone is welcome to join. We come from different places, jobs and viewpoints, but we also have specific knowledge and specialties which contributes to the whole, and that’s the beauty of it all.
Because I don’t want to ruin my chances of Bill Gates sending me a million dollars, or Rahib Rasheed depositing his family fortune into my bank account, I must spam four other bloggers whether they like it or not.
I consider them to be the big four and I’d like to hear their thoughts on the virtues of blogging.
