Travis Ennis of Travis Ennis’ Weblog asks "Why do we blog? MLS/IS Student bloggers that is."
This question seems to be one that I have to constantly revisit myself as it recurs across the blogosphere in different contexts, and in my own life. The answer is an ever evolving one for me, although I believe there may be some underlying "structure." With that in mind, here are some excerpts from a few previous posts where I made statements of relevance to this question:
It is an experiment in self-expression, cultural critique, and the use of social software. I, for one, do not expect that I have anything more important to say than most others. But, I have been told several times lately by people whom I respect that I need to say some of the things I have said to them to a wider audience. This is one attempt to do so.
So, what is this about, and for? (1st post) 29 Jan 05
While it may not have been my explicit intention when I started this blog back in January, it is now one of my primary intentions, which I am now stating publicly, to use this blog as a means to stitch my life together into a coherent whole—past, present, future, academic interests, hobbies, family, friends, enemies, loves, hates, desires, fears, hopes, thoughts, wishes.
Blogging as Metaphor 9 May 05
For me, feedback is one of, if not the main, reason for blogging. … Maybe there’s a metaphor in this that I’ll use for my blogging. It is blogging as the peer review process in action. Just a bit more public, and a bit less anonymous. I have a lot of respect for the peer review process, not because I particularly believe in it, but because it has turned out so much that I value. It has also turned out a whole load of horse pitooey!
Blogging in the Academy (Tribble escapade) 21 Jul 05
My "concern," if you can even call it that, is that I don’t write much that I would think fits in these categories. Of course, what the reader thinks is of more import in this case. See, I don’t think of myself as an MLS student blogger. I am one, of course. But I am also a divorced middle-aged male blogger. And an Army retiree blogger. And the father of an active duty soldier who has been to Iraq blogger. Ad infinitum or is that nauseum?
The point is that I am a blogger who happens to be an MLS student. I do write a bit about the profession and some of my experiences in school, but I don’t think of myself in the same vein as (I do of) Joy or Meredith. They both stay rather focused on the school/field thing and I don’t; and yes, I know Meredith has graduated. There are a lot of people in me, and I am fighting to keep them a (somewhat) coherent whole despite what my culture would prefer. There is no separation of roles here, or at least I am trying for that. It is an evolution for me; certainly not any intelligent design here.
MLS student bloggers 12 Aug 05
I did, in fact, use Joy’s initial post and my musings to decide to try and focus a bit more in my blog, for now anyway. But it was because Joy’s timing was good (for me), not because she made me think I had to. But, I also decided to stay myself. I am one person who does many different things and has many different interests, but I am not a collection of roles. I am a whole person.
MLS Student Bloggers ‘R’ Us 28 Aug 05
So, why do I, as an MLS student, blog?
So far, in my writings on the topic there seems to be three major metaphorical themes: experiment, sewing/stitching the pieces of my life together, peer review. To that list, I think I’d have to add the search for community. Of course, that was already implicit in the three previous themes.
So the simple reason(s) why I blog:
I blog to express myself.
I blog to make and shape meaning in my life and to remember.
I blog for community and connection.