Bismillah.
I read an article about the ever-expanding world of bloggers in Fortune Magazine several months ago. Promising myself that I would never join this narcissistic world, today marks the beginning of my broken promise. I broke my promise largely by accident. I was trying to make a post on Muniba's blog when I was diverted into creating my own blog. Damn technology.
I've always kept journals but the thought of having others read my private thoughts, feelings, and insights seems troubling. In high school, when this internet craze over livejournal and similar programs began, I could not understand the motivation for sharing so much of yourself in an internet world in which you exercised no control. Not only do I have little control over who reads my blogs, I can't even grasp who my audience is exactly. Who am I writing for? What motives do people have for reading about me? I read another friend's blog one day, but only out of pity because no one comments on his unoriginal insight. I do not want to be the person that says, Read my Blog. (Sorry Mubashar, but you are endearingly pathetic)
Human interaction would naturally be disinclined (might not be a word) to the isolationist world of blogging. I know there is a large internet community of supporters, but I am sure I would much rather sit at a coffee shop somewhere in the village, looking at you, laughing, smiling, drinking, while you tell me about the things you've done and read and seen. I would like to read your face as you listen to me, as I tell you about my angsts and fears and hopes and stories. I would much rather do that than sit facing my computer, typing my thoughts onto a screen that is accessible to all, even to those I don't want to share with.
My goals ultimately for Sadia's Blog are: largely personal development, specifically (1) to open myself up to technology and overcoming my fear of The Internet; (2) To use my blog in lieu of my written journal (my handwriting has deteriorated over the years and is hardly legible, even to me); (3) To organize my thoughts more efficiently. In a word, narcissism.
What you might gain from reading about me, I cannot fathom. But I hope you enjoy what I offer of myself.
I read an article about the ever-expanding world of bloggers in Fortune Magazine several months ago. Promising myself that I would never join this narcissistic world, today marks the beginning of my broken promise. I broke my promise largely by accident. I was trying to make a post on Muniba's blog when I was diverted into creating my own blog. Damn technology.
I've always kept journals but the thought of having others read my private thoughts, feelings, and insights seems troubling. In high school, when this internet craze over livejournal and similar programs began, I could not understand the motivation for sharing so much of yourself in an internet world in which you exercised no control. Not only do I have little control over who reads my blogs, I can't even grasp who my audience is exactly. Who am I writing for? What motives do people have for reading about me? I read another friend's blog one day, but only out of pity because no one comments on his unoriginal insight. I do not want to be the person that says, Read my Blog. (Sorry Mubashar, but you are endearingly pathetic)
Human interaction would naturally be disinclined (might not be a word) to the isolationist world of blogging. I know there is a large internet community of supporters, but I am sure I would much rather sit at a coffee shop somewhere in the village, looking at you, laughing, smiling, drinking, while you tell me about the things you've done and read and seen. I would like to read your face as you listen to me, as I tell you about my angsts and fears and hopes and stories. I would much rather do that than sit facing my computer, typing my thoughts onto a screen that is accessible to all, even to those I don't want to share with.
My goals ultimately for Sadia's Blog are: largely personal development, specifically (1) to open myself up to technology and overcoming my fear of The Internet; (2) To use my blog in lieu of my written journal (my handwriting has deteriorated over the years and is hardly legible, even to me); (3) To organize my thoughts more efficiently. In a word, narcissism.
What you might gain from reading about me, I cannot fathom. But I hope you enjoy what I offer of myself.
Oh Sadia, coming here to see more of your inner monoloques and ideas is more than reason enough to go online for me :)
ReplyDeletewhat happens when there are many friends whom you would love to share that coffee shop moment with and don't have the time, or they are so distant from where you are that these feeble means of connection are the only things that keep you from losing touch with one another? i think in instances such as those, blogs, emails, IM's, etc. all help... plus sometimes a few minutes or even hours in the coffee shop can't open up inner thoughts as much as writing can... you're a lit major- you of all people should know the importance of written words.
ReplyDeleteSometimes human face-to-face interaction is mediocre. Many times, in fact, after the initial spark, smile, handshake, it becomes difficult to keep up a correspondence unless the other party is inspiring, challenging, great enough. I like to think we get better with time. Relationships, friendships develop and grow over time but somehow, it becomes more difficult to make them grow and develop, especially if you want brilliant conversation all the time.
ReplyDeleteyou can't stop the machine now. imagine life in 10 years. unless the processes of capitalism implode or we all die of cancer, the internet will be ... god.
ReplyDeleteit was a beautiful concept you know. it started out like television started. a public medium for normal folks to use, empowerment! but everything eventually gets conqured and now look at teh state of public television, if they can manage securing long-term funding at all. the internet was supposed to be the ultimate in public, free, information. the internet ..is a godamn socialist. unix / linux / open source!! those have ideals! think abou it. i lurve applying the common's theory to the internet. i believe it. < / end tangent >
now i dont know how much of blogging is a transfering of your emotions from "real" life to the screen. i always get emails saying things like "i didn't know the internet wasn't 'real life'"
boo. i've been co-opted. i know that.