For A Healthier, Shinier Coat
Posted on May 28th, 2007 in Housekeeping
Sometimes I get some pretty interesting comments on my blog, although that is to be expected with this sort of subject matter.
It’s been a while, I was starting to miss those special anons. You know the ones I am talking about.
As a blogger who doesn’t take blogging seriously, I don’t care when people don’t agree with me. It doesn’t bother me when they call me selfish or horrid or a slut. People are free to have any old opinion they like. Just as I am free to have mine.
Blogging does require a certain amount of vulnerability. However, I warn that if you are going to open yourself up to people, you’d better have hide like an alligator. Often people will attempt to be hurtful or cruel to you. That is a part of life. If you can’t take it, you’d best blog about something safe and neutral.
Either that or don’t allow comments.
I have always left comments turned on. Only once in the history of this blog have I deleted a comment (that doesn’t include the spam ones I’ve removed). I enjoy and appreciate comments, even from people who think I am an awful person. I want people to have a reaction when they read this writing. Good, bad, or indifferent. I like that my words make people feel something, even if it’s loathing. Words have incredible power, and it pleases me to know that mine have an effect on people. When someone comments it shows me that they felt something strongly enough to give me some of their time and leave a thought here. That’s really awesome in my opinion.
One recent commenter stated that they intend to refer people to this blog in order to show them how NOT to live/be/act. I say that’s fantastic. I’ve fucked up plenty in my life, and over the past year or so especially. If even one person can learn from my mistakes and save themselves some sadness/upset, it makes this blog even more worthwhile. Even though it was not intended as such, I am going to take that statement as a compliment. If I can help someone else through my downfalls, it thrills me to no end. It also expands the purpose of this blog beyond just being a personal space for me. It makes it worth that much more.
Whether people read me and love it or read me and hate it, at least they are reading.
This blog will always be for me first. I would never be bothered to update if I was just doing it for my readers (gone down that path a couple of times already). Writing brings me great joy, it’s one of my favorite hobbies. That is my greatest motivation.
Recently I’ve started an old-fashioned paper journal as well. Sometimes I just want to write down my thoughts without opening myself up to feedback from other people. I don’t expect that over time all of my writing will end up in that book rather than here, but one never knows. I like to think that this blog will be around for a long time to come.
While I don’t ever intend to turn off the comments, I am considering moderating them. If only because the spam-artists are slowly getting the better of the word verification and other security measures. Quite a number of blogs have had to go that route, which is annoying, but a fact of Internet life I suppose. If comments ever go to moderated, that will be why, not because I want to discourage people from commenting.
I wish everyone a good evening. Details about my weekend to follow.
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