Is blogging stupid? Sometimes it seems like it is. In my experience, unless I REALLY don’t understand how everything works, it seems like everyone is just patting each other on the back, with the hopes that they’ll get patted back (pun not intended). For instance, sometimes I’d get 10+ likes on a blog post, but then when I would check my stats, I saw that I’d only had two visitors and five views. That just doesn’t sound right.
The idea of Liking a post that you haven’t even read is just wrong. It’s like lying. It’s creating a fake community. When you’re in a community you start to expect things from the people in that community. You expect a certain level of trust and sincerity. But what if the foundation for that community is actually something weak and fleeting? What if your community is built on a lie? What if people actually don’t care about what you write?
I’m not trying to judge anyone. Seriously, I’m not. But if all of this is true, wouldn’t that make blogging virtually pointless? Like “Yay, I have a bunch of fake followers!” Or “Yay, I have so many fake fans!” Are we (or am I) just deluding myself whenever I feel proud for getting a bunch of Likes? It’s hard to tell.
I guess the important question to ask is What are you really looking for when you blog? Am I just Liking this post for the sake of getting Liked back? Am I a “selfish” blogger? Obviously, getting a Like or a comment feels good regardless of whether the person really meant it. But I think that, for a sincere, honest community of bloggers to be formed, we need to be more aware and more truthful when we go to give support to another writer. Meaning that we need to be ACTUALLY supporting them, not just focusing on ulterior, personal motives.
Hey, I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. I’m guilty of Liking and Following just for the sake of attention as much as the next guy. Everyone wants to eat but not one wants to get eaten (that’s from The Inheritance Cycle, btw). It’s a complicated world :S
Just some thoughts…hopefully you don’t end up hating me if I offended any of you. Hopefully you’ll recognize this as an honest post from one blogger to another!
Stay awesome,
Dom (Aul)
The Golden Lands 
I so totally completely agree!!! And I’m “liking” your post for real. 🙂 …Actually, can I reblog this?
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I’ve never read such a refreshing post as this. Thank you for sharing!
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You’re awfully welcome! Thanks for reading.
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Sometimes it brings me down to think about it really. But. . .I only like something I like and my interests are limited to about ten or so tags. I comment most of the time I like something. You might think I’m ridiculous but I probably comment on twenty or so articles a day and unusually not the current article. I work a more than full time job and I’m old so this is considerable effort! Of course the reciprocal pat would be nice but hell if someone takes a sentence from me that’s something!
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That’s exactly what I try to do! Usually, when I actually like an article, I comment on it. That’s also what tells me that people like what I write. If they genuinely like it, they’ll take the time to say so!
And no worries I’m not judging. Thanks for stopping by!
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Ah, I’m guilty of this one as well. It’s not the “I don’t have time” more than it is the “I feel like I have nothing productive to include in this discussion other than a ‘great post!'” Thinking back on it, I love it when people comment on my blog, whether with a short compliment or a discussion, so may I should reciprocate the gesture more often.
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Exactly. Commenting says a lot more than a “Like”. Just the fact that it takes effort to comment shows that someone actually cared about what you wrote.
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Blogging for the sake of community or likes or anything of that nature does seem a bit obtuse to me. That isn’t to say that any sense of community or collection of followers generated by blogging is completely devoid of meaning or unimportant, but perhaps there are deeper and more internal reasons out there for the actual act of blogging, that don’t lean on the approval (likes and follows) of others. Simply liking a post or following a blog takes little to no effort, and as the blogger, those minimalist interactions can leave you questioning their validity, and potentially your own as a blogger, if you dwell on wondering how sincere those likes and follows truly are.
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That’s a good point. Personally, I feel like a lot of the time there’s an external reason for blogging inscribed on every bloggers motives. Maybe they don’t necessarily need to lean on the approval of others, but every blogger is publicizing his or her work. If they aren’t hoping that someone will at least read their blog, then why blog at all? If they have the purely internal reason to write for the sake of writing, but no desire for anyone else’s approval or attention, why not just write in a Word Doc, or in a notebook?
I definitely see what you’re saying, however. Good thoughts to mull over!
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Obviously, there is some kind of extrinsic motivation for all who write, whether in a blog or otherwise, that seeks the approval of others. More traditional writing, though, has a more certain reward. When someone buys a book, he’s made a monetary investment in that author, and if enough people buy the book, then the author gets his reward. Clicking like, though, doesn’t necessarily require any real investment on the part of the reader, and neither does following. Unlike more traditional writing, however, it does seem that most blog readers tend to be bloggers themselves, and so, there is a greater question of motivation on the reader’s part than there is with more traditional writing outlets.
My point about having more intrinsic motivation is that even in more traditional venues, good writers enjoy writing for the sake of writing. Not all good writers are popular writers, but all writers put their work out there for others to read. All artists (musicians, painters, photographers, etc.) put their work out for public scrutiny, but whether or not they continue to produce art rarely has anything to do with society accepting their work, at least that’s my theory.
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Very well said. It’s kind of the same motive for me, the idea that someone is reading my work, regardless of whether they liked it or hate it is great thrill as a writer. I started blogging because I had a passion for writing (no matter how bad it was), but no audience to share that passion with. Sure I could just be satisfied with my work, but having it read and liked by others with similar interest and skills has definitely made blogging more worthwhile.
So yes. while I do enjoy writing for the sake of writing, I also enjoy the perk of my posts being read (even if it’s just by one or two people!). It’s also an effective way of garnering feedback on your own writing from a community of fellow writers.
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Sure, I can agree with that! Bloggers who hate blogging don’t blog for very long, or they don’t get that much attention. And that’s a good point concerning artists…I didn’t think of that. I guess I’ve just personally been a little frustrated with my followers sometimes. Like sometimes I’ll post an article that’s 1,000+ words long…and someone will like it literally five seconds after I posted it. And I’m like…really?
So I’m just trying to be honest with my followers…that’s all.
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Great post! No one’s required to be an honest blogger, however, following the “blogger’s unofficial code of ethics” definitely has its perks. The feeling of achievement you get when your post is noticed, read, and liked by other people because it was YOUR writing, and not your rather questionable ability to “market” your blog out to others.
I do feel like people get those mixed up sometimes. Like “Hey! I’m just bringing more attention to my blog like any other decent site owner, right?”(and then there are some who purposely like and follow in hopes of a like back). However, those types of bloggers will never get to experience the joy of seeing their site get popular built from the foundation of their own writing, nor will they ever be as ecstatic as I am when I see a like on my post.
I think the real question is what do you get out of blogging? I’m certainly not doing it for any monetary reasons. If it’s to better your own writing, developing a style, or just for the experience, than I believe those shady marketing strategies are just counterproductive altogether.
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Well said! I agree that sometimes people get mixed up sometimes…and I do too! But I’m definitely going to try to not be the kind of blogger that only Likes and Follows for attention. Thanks for saying something! You’re the perfect kind of follower 😉
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This is actually really refreshing to read..
And sort of true because I sometimes wonder if people actually read what I’ve written or does it all mean nothing.
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Exactly! I just thought it would be fair for me to speak up, since we all end up wondering if people actually like what we write. It’s a legitimate concern!
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I think almost everyone thinks that way and I’m glad someone brought it up because you come to this point where you wonder if blogging even makes sense anymore.
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Well, I’m glad you liked it!
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