Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Why blog?

I was thinking about that today...and I really am not sure if I know the reason...other than it is neat to look back and see what has happened since I first started blogging several years ago.

Sort of a diary perhaps...not really, I used to think no one read this blog, now, I know better :) So nothing scandelous or crazy goes in here :) But just things that happen in my life.

A good thing about the blog has been all the people I have met through it :) I am not, by nature, able to just go up to people and introduce myself and say HI I AM LORETTA! WHAT'S YOUR NAME!?!?

Call me anti-social...call me shy...but I just can't :) If someone introduces themselves to ME, I am good to chat and talk---and talk I do :) I just don't normally make the first move. But the blog has really helped with that. People DO come up and say howdy :) Thanks to all of you who have. I know many more people now because of it. And many of you also know, once I know you, I never shut up :)

I'll admit, having people come up to me and say "IT'S EVEN! How is she doing??" really creeped me out when it first started happening, as if my brain freaked out and screamed "YOU DON'T KNOW THEM!!! RUN!! RUN AWAY!!!"...I of course, didn't (Andy said it wasn't proper and I would embarass him) but it took some time to get used to someone knowing me without having ever formally met me. Now I am very comfortable with it. I think this blog has really helped me come out of my shell :)

It has also helped me see how things turn out for the better, looking back, how the future happened, how life just goes on...and that going with the flow normally is a good choice!

I have had some hard questions answered for me in my blog, people have come out and helped me with training issues on several occasions, which I am very grateful for. It is always nice to have another pair of eyes or ears that I can bounce ideas off of.

I enjoy reading other people's blogs, because, lets face it...we are all nosy :) I love to see what others are thinking, training, taking pictures of. You find people with similar thinking as yourself, and others that think nothing like you. And you LEARN...information, thought provoking entries, and sometimes just really funny shit, the kind that makes you laugh so hard your stomach and face hurt for days :)

You see how much people really care about their dogs, how sick and twisted some people's minds really are (and how much you find that amusing...which...what exactly does that say about yourself?)...and times you see what things people are going through that are not so great, and you give support...and in return get that support back. Ten-fold...

So...completely out of curiosity...why do you blog?

12 comments:

Nicole said...

I always feel weird posting on people's blogs when they don't know you
but I think you bring up a couple of awesome points!
haha we are all nosey, that's why on blogger it asks "would you like to follow (insert name here)"
er... since you asked,
I started my blog one day because I was angry and I wanted SOMETHING outside of the everyday world of people getting mad at me/ stress of everything/ ect. so I started a blog. it was supposed to be just one post but it has proved addicting. Plus on my blog I can say what I want to say and no one cares.

Laura and The Corgi, Toller, & Duck said...

My main reason is to have a way for me to keep track of my dogs training. Posting my goals and results every month push me to do more with my dogs.

But of course I could still keep a journal and make it private. The reason I think a lot of us make it public is because of the great dog community. We love getting comments and validation of our training. And we love having someone to share with. I can tell my coworkers about my running contacts success or about my new leg in obedience, but they don't care. It feels good to share to people who not only care but actually get what I'm talking about!

Chris and Ricky said...

I started blogging about 6 months after I got Ricky because I thought it would be a neat way to keep track of things that happened to Ricky - kind of a journal for training etc. I had no idea that I would make so many good friends doing it! Everyone is so supportive - if your dog gets sick or has a problem or something great happens your blogging friends are there to comment to make you feel better or to ease your pain or whatever. I think it is amazing! People you would have never ever met otherwise! And I have learned so much from all my blogging friends too. It has been a wonderful experience for me and has made me a more positive person (since my natural tendency is to be negative).

Unknown said...

I mostly blog for my own benefit, so I have an easy place to remember things. Generally it's nail polish, a little about my dogs, and lately, more about transports I do, and the blog is an easy way to share those pictures with all the other wonderful volunteers.

I read bunches of blogs, because, well, I'm interested in learning about lots of things, and I also love to look at pretty pictures.

Diana said...

I have no idea why I started blogging. I went and read my first post and its doesnt give me a clue. LOL I know it was to just mostly post things about my dogs. My pictures have gotten much better looking. I look at the first pictures posted and I cant believe I put those on there.
It is weird when someone comes up to you and starts talking to you about something on your blog and you didnt even know they read you blog. So anyway I keep blogging becuase its an outlet for feelings and keeps track of my life. My sister reads it to know what Im doing and where Im going. Ive met some really nice people and its fun to get comments. Its like that movie, "you got mail" and they are excited to read the mail. LOL Diana

Karissa said...

I like reading your blog because you are a good, creative writer! I can't stand reading blogs of people with piss-poor grammar skills, but I admit to subscribing to a few of those for entertainment value.

I started Secret's blog as a copy-cat thing. I knew someone else who was blogging the growth & training of their first Border Collie, so I decided (before I even brought her home!) that I was going to do the same thing. I started on day one and it's been almost a year now! I don't do it often enough, but it is fun to look back on what we've done over the last year and see how much she's changed. It's also a good reminder of how far we've come, as now I can't help but chuckle at all of my posts complaining about her lack of toy drive. :o)

manymuddypaws said...

I started my blog because I have an awful memory. It was a way to write down my training thoughts and plans. It has since become much more than that.

I still use it to keep track of my training, and trial results but I also use it to keep my photos, and be able to keep in touch with dog friends. I enjoy writing (always have) and the blog is a great way to express that. I also love to take photos of my dogs, and the blog gives me a place to put them.

The blog will always be mostly for me. But it has also introduced me to LOTS of really great dog people who have the same ideals and interests as me. I've made a lot of internet "friends" because of it. I enjoy reading what other people are doing with their dogs, and I think that the more you read the more that you learn and understand.

I also use my blog as a vent. I am passionate about what I do with rescue, and with my own dogs. I have a clear picture in my head and heart about what a responsible dog owner does and it is helpful to have a place to vent about it.

I read your blog because your dogs are beautiful (the inner border collie stalker in me), and you are a great trainer. I tend to stick to blogs that either make me laugh, or interest me in the content or writing style. Yours falls into all of those categories.

Anonymous said...

I started blogging to find a more efficient way to send puppy Vic updates. I didn't know who was sick of my persistent emails (Vic's first hike, Vic meets Gari the Cat, Vic is adorable...).

The blog was also initially for my students, so they could get inside my training head.

Then, and this is one of the great things about the LJ community, I started making friends with fellow LJers. I'm really not a very social person by nature (what a surprise, a blogger, that is slightly retarded socially!), but I generally really like dog people and the blog helped me find lots of them. :-)

The blog was also remarkable when Max was diagnosed with lymphoma. The reassurances of those who had been down that road and hearing that Max's story was helping others was truly a gift.

Mostly, my blog is the diary I wouldn't otherwise keep about my life with my dogs (my hubby rarely makes the blog ;-)). It has been so helpful and fun to be able to look back and it helps me be more organized for the future. :-)

Taryn said...

I think the first blog I started to follow was The Daily Coyote by Shreve Stockton. Her blog and photographs became so popular she ended up with a book deal! Before that I hadn't even noticed that blogs existed.

Next, a long-distance friend I made because we each had a dog from the same litter (a dog-in-law if you will....) started a blog primarily about her dogs. Soon her blogroll started to list others with the same breed (Cardigan Welsh Corgis) who were also blogging about their dogs. So jumping from blogroll to blogroll, I found more and more Cardi-owners (like Amanda who comments here). I finally took the plunge and set up my own Cardigan-themed blog. At first I worried I'd have nothing to post, but since my life is very dog-centric, it became appparent finding post-fodder wasn't so hard after all. Also, I love to take pictures, and the blog became a creative outlet for me. I am always on the lookout for new photo-ops. Now that I have been blogging for over a year, I also appreciate being able to go back and revisit days gone by.

At this year's Cardigan Welsh Corgi Nat'l Specialty, it was SO much fun to meet quite a few of the people who had been reading my blog and I, theirs. The sense of community among our breed is very strong and it's great that the blog world has given us all a chance to find each other.

And lastly, I can take comfort in knowing that I am far from alone in my love of all things dog!

Kiyi Kiyi said...

I like to blog to keep track of things too. It also really creeped (still does) me out when people in 'real life' talked to me about my blog. It's amazing that someone reads my blogs and I love it, but it also surprises me.

P.S.
I'm having a giveaway on my blog http://justatibetanpup.blogspot.com
I hope you enter!

Anonymous said...

Exactly what the other Laura said! :-)

Achieve1dream said...

What a great question and everyone has great answers. :) I originally started mine as a way to keep track of training and also a way to remember things from when Jackal was a puppy. When Storm was a pup I didn't keep a journal or take many pictures and I really wish I had because she was so cute (still is of course)! I have always liked the idea of keeping a journal, but it was kind of boring. Blogging is sort of like keeping a journal but so much more fun (especially because it combines my love of writing and photography)!! It's also a great way to make friends, find help when you need it and get reassurance when you're totally panicking that something is wrong with your dog (or horse, goat, etc). I've enjoyed blogging way more than any other online venture I've made. :)