Creampuff's 5 Reasons for Blogging

I'm part of the Lady Creators SaIon at Buddies this year. The other women in the group are mainly smart, funny, brilliant performance artists. For example, one of them is my incredibly sweet and lovely friend Jedo, whose last performance piece involved sharpening pencils with her vagina. Yeah, that's right. It was interactive. And then there's me and my linear, traditionally structured Victorian lesbian historical fiction. We go around the circle and talk about our work and I feel like an artistic Luddite.

During a recent salon, however, the tables were turned when we got to talking about online communities and social media. I realized that only one of these women has a website and NONE of them blog or have any real kind of online life (unless you count myspace and I don't, because it blows). And these women are very nice people, but I could tell they all sort of thought that having an involved online life was the last refuge of the anti-social loser. What?? NOW who's the Luddite?

I think I came off as a little defensive in my rebuttal.

When Cas over at Bright Meadow tagged me to write about my 5 reasons for blogging, I saw it as a welcome opportunity to refine my Lady Creators Salon sputterings so that next time someone doesn't understand the point of blogging, I'll actually have something articulate to say.

Reason #1: Instant Gratification

It takes a long time to write a play (well, it takes ME a long time) and it can be weeks, months or years before you get any feedback on it and then often the feedback is "It would be better if it was set in France, why not set it in France?" or "No grant for you!" or "Oooo, SPACE!! SET IT IN SPACE!!" It takes less time to write a blog post, I sometimes get feedback on the same DAY and no one in the blogosphere turns me down for grants. Although I think we can all agree that my blog would be better if it was set in space. With Gina Torres in tight pants. And me with no pants. Okay, I need a minute.

Reason #2: Community (and a little voyeurism)

My life has been infinitely richer since I blogged my way into this international community of incredible, accomplished, intelligent, hilarious people. In the two years I've been blogging, I've seen romance ignite, children conceived and born, knitting accomplished, Masters degrees, PhDs and bar exams completed, cross-country trips chronicled, goals attained, demons shared,discussed, dealt with, conquered and many, many photos of cats (CATSPIRACY!!). I've worried over people being hurt or ill or depressed, clapped my hands with glee at successful first dates and even been adopted. When I describe the kick I get out of peeking through these blog-shaped windows into other people's lives, it's like I'm giving my own teary-eyed version of the Rutger Hauer speech at the end of Blade Runner:

"I've read things you people wouldn't believe. Posts vaguely related to playoff hockey that made me cry. Women who do all their own home renovations. And Syd, who has more guns than I have bras."

Reason #3: Self-Preservation

I like to think I have a good memory, but sometimes, I am wrong. People with better memories than I will often remind me of hilarious stories I told them years ago in university and I won't have a clue what they're talking about. Without the blog, there's NO way I would remember things like:

• Accusing Katr of having an affair with someone named Louise; 
• How I want to be more like Ma Ingalls; and 
• That two Solstices ago, I planned to start a family band called Dr. K and the Repeaters. GOLD!

My last two reasons come via my favorite old Roman guy Horace. I aspire, through pretty much any writing I do, be it plays or marketing copy for industrial lubricants, to achieve the twin artistic goals of docere and delicare:

Reason #4: To Educate

I'm not stingy with my knowledge. It's been my privilege to share with you my online dating tips, my brilliant invention for staying cool in summer and that New England isn't a state. That's right - it's a BUNCH of states. Yeah, you're welcome.

Reason #5: To Delight

Seriously, I just want to entertain you with my stupid stories. A lot of people who write say they have to write, that they'd do it even if no one else ever read it. Not me. Although I do laugh a lot at my own jokes. If I didn't see it as a way to connect with people, if it wasn't about sharing instead of merely recording an experience, I wouldn't do it.

And now, for the tagging that must follow these types of endeavours. I tag zuhn, Melissa, Drew, Lex, and Whozat (or Shrike, you know, whichever). Answer! Or keep it a mystery. Or just post photos of sock monkeys. As you choose.

Comments

[Gorilla Bananas]

"Or just post photos of sock monkeys. As you choose."

I don't think you should encourage that. Monkeys are cheeky enough without giving them extra publicity. They also have a habit of pissing on me when I'm taking a nap. The Victorian lesbian stuff sound good though. Did ladies know what to do to each other in those days?

[The Feminist Mafia]

Phew! Not tagged. ;-)
And honestly, I prefer those Victorian lesbian stories to the pencil sharpening vaginas. Seriously.
Signing off from the state of new england,
Mafia

[vesper]

awesome list! blogging is definitely RAD!

[zuhn]

Oy! Blast you for tagging.

[roro]

GorillaBananas - I think you'll have to take the cheeky monkey thing up with Melissa. As for the Victorian lesbians, they were . . . ahem . . . quite inventive. Anything to take a break from needlework.

FM - Ha ha - breathe easy, but only for now. If you hadn't specifically said you were trying to have a BREAK from blogging, I would have tagged you in a heartbeat. Lucky New Englander . . .

Vesper - Thanks! I too find it rad.

zuhn - HA ha! That's what you get for leaving snide cat comments.

[Whozat]

Yea! I've lost my tag-virginity!

I will begin composing my response immediately.

(I will do by best to remember what I told Shrike when she asked, essentially, the same question. But she gave it more of an undertone of ". . . you fucking wierdo.")

Oh, and I am quite confused and rather disturbed about the whole hooha-pencil-sharpening concept.

Is she operating a sharpener with it? The first image I got was of someone using it AS a sharpener. That's not right at all, is it?

Either way, it just does not sound like a good way to win dates and influence potential sexual partners.

[Whozat]

Here ya go: Whozat's Five Reasons for Blogging

[Ron Hudson]

Hey Roro!

Well, you are one of the reasons I write and read blogs. You keep me laughing when it is hard to smile and I feel as though I know you even though we have yet to meet. I hope that changes soon...I need to see Vancouver one day and Roger loves the Northwest. It would be great to share a dinner one evening there.

Thank you for writing. If you ever consider stopping, let me know. I will try to talk you out of it.

[kristen]

You are definately entertaining (and often the only culture I get out here). I blog way more when hubby is away, I just need someone to talk to....

[roro]

Whozat - Ha ha - glad I could help you lose your tag virginity. You're a woman now! Your prompt response was inspired. As for the pencil sharpening, y'all may find this hard to believe but it was strangely erotic. We all blushed horribly.Now that's good art!

Ron - You are the sweetest man in Sweetonia. And please, do come to Vancouver!! We would love to meet you and Roger! We even have a guest room (and bathroom, Ron) and you'd both be welcome anytime!!

Kristen - I can see how, even when your kids are cute and smart, you'd need a little adult conversation! Getting to actually meet you (and them!) has been one of the best and coolest parts about this whole blogging thing. Looking forward to doing it again! And in the meantime, I can enjoy all the cute pictures on your site. So cute . . .

[Melissa]

Rose, thank you for setting up a cage match between GorillaBananas and myself.

Also, done and done.

[kristen]

I have to say that for someone who doesn't especially like children, you "give good parent" :)

[Cas]

"to delight"
You certainly do that! Those are five good reasons you've got going on there :)

[Lex]

ACK! Tagged!

[Chaps]

well dude,
I for one am very glad that you do have this blog - for instance, I would never know how Sea Lions look from a distance if it wasn't for your carefully crafted piece the other week.
Also, until I started reading your blog - I thought knitting was something that was forced upon the tenants in old folks homes to make sure the oldies didn't get their fingers lost, but you have shown me that the practice of knitting is alive and well.

Not just entertaining, but educational as well.

[roro]

Melissa - I do what I can. As for the tag response - well done!

Kristen - hahahahahaaaa! I do it for the cookies.

Cas - Thanks! And thanks for askin'!

Lex - you love it. LOVE it!

Chaps - "I would never know how Sea Lions look from a distance if it wasn't for your carefully crafted piece the other week." Hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I am indeed here to educate. And comments like that make it all worthwhile.

[ally bean]

I adore your list. I think that you are so right with "if it wasn't about sharing instead of merely recording an experience, I wouldn't do it." Me either.