the musings of a quasi-badass son of a preacher man
Seriously, I’m curious.
Why do people read blogs?
Discuss amongst yourselves…and if you wouldn’t mind doing me the favor of sending all your friends here to satiate this little curiosity of mine, I’d appreciate it–yes, I’m being a link-whore, deal with it.
Seriously, I’m curious.
Why do people read blogs?
Discuss amongst yourselves…and if you wouldn’t mind doing me the favor of sending all your friends here to satiate this little curiosity of mine, I’d appreciate it–yes, I’m being a link-whore, deal with it.
I initially started reading blogs to find like-minded recovering evangelicals. I still enjoy meeting unconventional Christians but I have also really enjoyed reading thoughts from people who challenge me spiritually, politically, etc.
For me it was a place I could challenge my beliefs. I felt as if my theology was stale and plasticky, so I started hanging out at places like these, and got totally screwed up.
Also, it’s a great way to ind good YouTube videos…
Because it beats working.
what Jim said.
I like to multi-task between diversions and actual productive work… and blogs are a good way to (1) find out what other people are doing/thinking and (2) learn from them.
Because I hate TV and radio. Gotta get my junk somewhere.
I mostly read blogs to check up on what my friends are up to. I’m don’t read tons of them.
mgd
It started off as therapy. I grew up thinking that to be a Christian, you had to be a literalist, you had to think women couldn’t be in ministry, you had to think gay people were going to hell (but God loved them! really!). One of my Bible professors and several good progressive Christian friends helped me change my thinking, but they all live elsewhere, leaving DH and I to grit our teeth in frustration. I discovered progressive Christian blogs about a year and a half ago and it was a revelation that there were SO MANY Christians who were like me. Partly because of those blogs, we’re now in an Episcopal church that we love. Now blogs are less therapy and more entertainment/education.
I don’t read blogs.
Doh!!!
3rd shift
+ 40 hours/week
+ internet access
+ low-intensity job
+ A.D.D.
= blog reading
I stumbled upon one by accident. It presented a different way of looking at faith. Since then, I have expanded to broader topics and just enjoy getting a perspective from folks I wouldn’t run across in my life bubble. I suppose there is a touch of voyeurism in some, intellectual challenge in some, a good laugh in some, kindred spirits in some, and wry amusement at the lunacy of some.
Something like axegrinder…
2nd shift
+ 50 hours or more per week
+ high speed internet access
+ super high-intensity job
+ A.D.H.D.
+ I HATE TV!
= blog reading
Three years ago I began suffering the most delightful midlife crisis ever devised by humankind: my youngest child entered half-day kindergarten, and I got a well-paid job three evenings a week as a writing tutor. After only ten thousand repetitions of my mantra to students (um, this essay needs an intro. it needs a conclusion. it needs to appear as though the subject actually matters to you. are you in there?), I began to say, heck I bet I could take some of my journal writings and craft intros and conclusions and framing stories…
I wrote an email letter to a friend I used to write letters to, back in the days of pen and paper, and I emailed him a few stories. He told me that even great stories suck when sent by email, and told me to start a blog. I asked, what’s a blog? I was really skeptical of this public form of narcissism. “A blog is a commitment to write,” he answered. I can do that, I thought.
A blog equals all the stray paragraphs of letters I wish added up to something. It’s a letter. It’s a place to park my writing as it happens. I started to write a book, a memoir including living people who might be sensitive to my portrayal of them. Okay, former boyfriends, to be specific. I have written to each person in my stories to see if my stories ring true, and if I’ve been too sharp or utterly deluded.
So, to be very, very long in answer, once I started a blog, I wanted to read other folks’ blogs. I’ve always written twenty times more letters than I receive. Now I can find other folks very interesting letters. I look for writers asking some of the same questions I am, of course, about faith in terribly cynical-making times.
“As a writer” is a bit of a new phrase for me, but as a writer, blogs often offer great writing prompts, ideas I want to explore.
I find the kind of writing that is honest, meandering, unedited on blogs. I don’t read anything remotely sappy or devotional. I subscribe to six blogs, I think, three of which belong to good friends, three which are just interesting.
And yeah, I don’t watch television, if we are looking for that common denominator.
Reading blogs is a way to tap into the Great Conversation.
Why do I read blogs? I don’t really, but in my never-ending seach for procrastinating activities, I was searching for someone who could help shore up my Christian faith, add a bit of spice to the soup. That’s how I ended up here, and you just happened to ask this question. Really, I think I need the input of another’s soundtrack, other than that one that is continuously running in my head. I am going to search for fashion blogs next…
I read different blogs for different reasons. I read maddox because he fucking cracks me up. I read yours because while we frequently don’t see eye to eye I don’t flame your ass because you’re the only person I’ve seen presenting legitament arguements, haha.
Because they’re there and I can? 
To sneer at my fellow man, mostly….
I started reading blogs that my friends back in Oklahoma had. Then, I decided to start my own because it looked like fun.
Mostly, I appreciate the blogs (such as yours) that are a blend of personal anecdotes and spiritual insight (without going all sappy and devotional). Most Christian blogs are shallow, preachy, or condescending (or all three!), and I’m glad I’ve found other like-minded individuals who write more honest, raw, and thoughtful blogs.
Plus, I get a voyeuristic thrill from being able to peak into other people’s lives and see what all my friends are up to. 
I initially started reading blogs to find like-minded recovering evangelicals. I still enjoy meeting unconventional Christians but I have also really enjoyed reading thoughts from people who challenge me spiritually, politically, etc. CHECK
Plus, I get a voyeuristic thrill from being able to peak into other people’s lives and see what all my friends are up to.
CHECK
Entertainment
CHECK
looking hard in the hope of a hi-FIVE or something.
wanting to get turned on to some wisdom i’ve yet to access (that’s entertainment).
stories.
i want to know what people are talking about.
conversation conversation conversation.
succumbing to the power of distraction and all that.
“word up” is the code word.
jdd
it’s cheaper than books.
David Dark reads your blog? I am so jealous. I want really cool writers to leave comments on my blog. I guess I better ask better questions.
It passes time. And they’re interesting.
I started reading them shortly after I started reading online comics. It was good fun for a while. Then I found blogs like Real Live Preacher and The Main Point and somewhere along the way I found you, you link whore, you. And Walking the Dogma, and a host of others now residing on my blogline. The things I’ve read have been very helpful, uplifting, and at times sad; blogreading let me know which of my friends were directly affected by disaster (a pair of bloggers were in New Orleans and are now relocated to Iowa.)
Oh, and my hands hurt from handwriting journals, and this was faster.
Blogreading opened my mind to a much bigger world and a lot more folks, and I’m grateful. Can’t wait to see you all when Jesus comes back to wrap this up for us.
I am always interested in what people have to say and to have a little spirited debate. I’ve discovered a lot of new bands, books, etc through these things.
I started reading blogs to find out more about theology, culture, issues within “Christendom” etc. I always said I’d never be a “blog guy”, now I am! What a sell-out I am…blogs keep you on your toes, and as the kids say, “in the know”
Hey,
I used to hate blogs and blogging. Then my friends starting putting their pics up on their blogs so i’d go check out the pics, then they’d write about how their days’ went. Eventually i started reading friends’ blogs regularly, and one of them linked to yours. Which i have to say, I”m quite grateful for. You write wonderfully. And you should feel a little special because yours is the only “non friend” blog i read
As an alternative to downloading porn, the act of blogging can readily be described as masturbation, only with less guilt.
It beats Left Behind.
I read blogs because I feel like a freak and I need to connect to other follwers of Christ that feel like freaks too. I also wanted to share my paintings and my poems and songs and I wanted to participate in an exchange of ideas. Now that I have done it for a while, I see it as a really awesome way for the Holy spirit to move throught the body of Christ. I often feel at church, we tell him where to go. In the blog world, Jesus speaks when he wants and he’ll use the darndest things and people to show you his face. Blogging is like a part of the spiritual nervous system.
I read because I care. Seriously.
Oh, yeah. That, too. I do care. Really.
To see photos like this:
When you write one, you see the importance of the art and want to encourage that in others. “We read so we know we are not alone.” CS Lewis
I read blogs because it connects me with a wider community. Sometimes i leave comments (which I regard as a privilege) but often I do not. And I always learn from the ideas and opinions of other people. I even find courage to continue exploring my faith.
PG
to keep up with friends, to get a laugh, and to read viewpoints of others who challenge me to crystallize my own thoughts.
maybe people want to read blog just to know more about people’s life. to know whats extactly going on in your friend’s life. and you can be thee for the person. sometime you rather type it down then saying out. for me. i rather type everything in my blog.
can be also be die to boredness. Go from blog to blog. (:
for fun laughter peace joy and fuck. (:
The blog culture reflects the need of dialogue. When I begun with a dialogue in Internet in 1995 there were Listserv lists and IRC. Later came the SQL based forums and blog is the latest dialogue form. Right?
Without dialogue no development of the mind. I started my dialogue as a way to put my thoughts “on the paper” so I can see them and analyze them. Then I want of course to share them.
Blogs is a very nice invention as they can be personalized. When I am here I feel like being in someones home. But I would like to know the others name because without a name everything become impersonal. My real name is Stellan! Welcome to *my* home of thoughts on aeolians.blogspot.com!
Here’s a random scripture to use as a heuristic for this question - why do people read blogs?
1 Chronicles 16:39, 43 says:
“David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place of Gibeon… Then all the people left, each for his own home, and David returned home to bless his family.
What does this mean?
Here’s another random scripture.
Amos 5:21
I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.
Kerry
Because I’m procrastinating. I know I should write a blog post. I just want to read another post before I start mine.
Recovering said,
November 13, 2006 at 4:44 pm
I initially started reading blogs to find like-minded recovering evangelicals. I still enjoy meeting unconventional Christians but I have also really enjoyed reading thoughts from people who challenge me spiritually, politically, etc.
jeff said,
November 13, 2006 at 5:02 pm
For me it was a place I could challenge my beliefs. I felt as if my theology was stale and plasticky, so I started hanging out at places like these, and got totally screwed up.
Also, it’s a great way to ind good YouTube videos…
Jim said,
November 13, 2006 at 5:28 pm
Because it beats working.
lou said,
November 13, 2006 at 5:40 pm
what Jim said.
I like to multi-task between diversions and actual productive work… and blogs are a good way to (1) find out what other people are doing/thinking and (2) learn from them.
tech_sam said,
November 13, 2006 at 6:04 pm
Because I hate TV and radio. Gotta get my junk somewhere.
Maria said,
November 13, 2006 at 6:20 pm
I mostly read blogs to check up on what my friends are up to. I’m don’t read tons of them.
mgd
Lisa in Fl said,
November 13, 2006 at 7:09 pm
It started off as therapy. I grew up thinking that to be a Christian, you had to be a literalist, you had to think women couldn’t be in ministry, you had to think gay people were going to hell (but God loved them! really!). One of my Bible professors and several good progressive Christian friends helped me change my thinking, but they all live elsewhere, leaving DH and I to grit our teeth in frustration. I discovered progressive Christian blogs about a year and a half ago and it was a revelation that there were SO MANY Christians who were like me. Partly because of those blogs, we’re now in an Episcopal church that we love. Now blogs are less therapy and more entertainment/education.
Steve C said,
November 13, 2006 at 8:57 pm
I don’t read blogs.
Doh!!!
axegrinder said,
November 13, 2006 at 10:54 pm
3rd shift
+ 40 hours/week
+ internet access
+ low-intensity job
+ A.D.D.
= blog reading
H.Kay R said,
November 13, 2006 at 11:01 pm
I stumbled upon one by accident. It presented a different way of looking at faith. Since then, I have expanded to broader topics and just enjoy getting a perspective from folks I wouldn’t run across in my life bubble. I suppose there is a touch of voyeurism in some, intellectual challenge in some, a good laugh in some, kindred spirits in some, and wry amusement at the lunacy of some.
Art said,
November 14, 2006 at 4:05 am
Something like axegrinder…
2nd shift
+ 50 hours or more per week
+ high speed internet access
+ super high-intensity job
+ A.D.H.D.
+ I HATE TV!
= blog reading
denise said,
November 14, 2006 at 9:10 am
Three years ago I began suffering the most delightful midlife crisis ever devised by humankind: my youngest child entered half-day kindergarten, and I got a well-paid job three evenings a week as a writing tutor. After only ten thousand repetitions of my mantra to students (um, this essay needs an intro. it needs a conclusion. it needs to appear as though the subject actually matters to you. are you in there?), I began to say, heck I bet I could take some of my journal writings and craft intros and conclusions and framing stories…
I wrote an email letter to a friend I used to write letters to, back in the days of pen and paper, and I emailed him a few stories. He told me that even great stories suck when sent by email, and told me to start a blog. I asked, what’s a blog? I was really skeptical of this public form of narcissism. “A blog is a commitment to write,” he answered. I can do that, I thought.
A blog equals all the stray paragraphs of letters I wish added up to something. It’s a letter. It’s a place to park my writing as it happens. I started to write a book, a memoir including living people who might be sensitive to my portrayal of them. Okay, former boyfriends, to be specific. I have written to each person in my stories to see if my stories ring true, and if I’ve been too sharp or utterly deluded.
So, to be very, very long in answer, once I started a blog, I wanted to read other folks’ blogs. I’ve always written twenty times more letters than I receive. Now I can find other folks very interesting letters. I look for writers asking some of the same questions I am, of course, about faith in terribly cynical-making times.
“As a writer” is a bit of a new phrase for me, but as a writer, blogs often offer great writing prompts, ideas I want to explore.
I find the kind of writing that is honest, meandering, unedited on blogs. I don’t read anything remotely sappy or devotional. I subscribe to six blogs, I think, three of which belong to good friends, three which are just interesting.
And yeah, I don’t watch television, if we are looking for that common denominator.
wildwest said,
November 14, 2006 at 9:33 am
Reading blogs is a way to tap into the Great Conversation.
OluInc. said,
November 14, 2006 at 10:03 am
Why do I read blogs? I don’t really, but in my never-ending seach for procrastinating activities, I was searching for someone who could help shore up my Christian faith, add a bit of spice to the soup. That’s how I ended up here, and you just happened to ask this question. Really, I think I need the input of another’s soundtrack, other than that one that is continuously running in my head. I am going to search for fashion blogs next…
Frank said,
November 14, 2006 at 11:57 pm
I read different blogs for different reasons. I read maddox because he fucking cracks me up. I read yours because while we frequently don’t see eye to eye I don’t flame your ass because you’re the only person I’ve seen presenting legitament arguements, haha.
shelly said,
November 16, 2006 at 12:21 am
Because they’re there and I can?
Bridgier said,
November 16, 2006 at 2:09 am
To sneer at my fellow man, mostly….
ninjanun said,
November 16, 2006 at 1:32 pm
I started reading blogs that my friends back in Oklahoma had. Then, I decided to start my own because it looked like fun.
Mostly, I appreciate the blogs (such as yours) that are a blend of personal anecdotes and spiritual insight (without going all sappy and devotional). Most Christian blogs are shallow, preachy, or condescending (or all three!), and I’m glad I’ve found other like-minded individuals who write more honest, raw, and thoughtful blogs.
Plus, I get a voyeuristic thrill from being able to peak into other people’s lives and see what all my friends are up to.
Nicolio said,
November 17, 2006 at 4:53 pm
I initially started reading blogs to find like-minded recovering evangelicals. I still enjoy meeting unconventional Christians but I have also really enjoyed reading thoughts from people who challenge me spiritually, politically, etc. CHECK
Plus, I get a voyeuristic thrill from being able to peak into other people’s lives and see what all my friends are up to.
CHECK
Entertainment
CHECK
david dark said,
November 17, 2006 at 9:35 pm
looking hard in the hope of a hi-FIVE or something.
wanting to get turned on to some wisdom i’ve yet to access (that’s entertainment).
stories.
i want to know what people are talking about.
conversation conversation conversation.
succumbing to the power of distraction and all that.
“word up” is the code word.
jdd
sojourness said,
November 22, 2006 at 10:27 pm
it’s cheaper than books.
denise said,
November 25, 2006 at 12:28 am
David Dark reads your blog? I am so jealous. I want really cool writers to leave comments on my blog. I guess I better ask better questions.
Chelz said,
November 25, 2006 at 4:23 am
It passes time. And they’re interesting.
MMM said,
November 26, 2006 at 6:58 pm
I started reading them shortly after I started reading online comics. It was good fun for a while. Then I found blogs like Real Live Preacher and The Main Point and somewhere along the way I found you, you link whore, you.
And Walking the Dogma, and a host of others now residing on my blogline. The things I’ve read have been very helpful, uplifting, and at times sad; blogreading let me know which of my friends were directly affected by disaster (a pair of bloggers were in New Orleans and are now relocated to Iowa.)
Oh, and my hands hurt from handwriting journals, and this was faster.
Blogreading opened my mind to a much bigger world and a lot more folks, and I’m grateful. Can’t wait to see you all when Jesus comes back to wrap this up for us.
Dave - The Cubicle.Reverend said,
November 29, 2006 at 11:16 am
I am always interested in what people have to say and to have a little spirited debate. I’ve discovered a lot of new bands, books, etc through these things.
St. Brianstine said,
November 29, 2006 at 11:08 pm
I started reading blogs to find out more about theology, culture, issues within “Christendom” etc. I always said I’d never be a “blog guy”, now I am! What a sell-out I am…blogs keep you on your toes, and as the kids say, “in the know”
Terri said,
November 30, 2006 at 4:35 pm
Hey,
I used to hate blogs and blogging. Then my friends starting putting their pics up on their blogs so i’d go check out the pics, then they’d write about how their days’ went. Eventually i started reading friends’ blogs regularly, and one of them linked to yours. Which i have to say, I”m quite grateful for. You write wonderfully. And you should feel a little special because yours is the only “non friend” blog i read
dorsey said,
December 1, 2006 at 6:01 pm
As an alternative to downloading porn, the act of blogging can readily be described as masturbation, only with less guilt.
Kevin said,
December 4, 2006 at 5:25 pm
It beats Left Behind.
melissa said,
December 4, 2006 at 5:47 pm
I read blogs because I feel like a freak and I need to connect to other follwers of Christ that feel like freaks too. I also wanted to share my paintings and my poems and songs and I wanted to participate in an exchange of ideas. Now that I have done it for a while, I see it as a really awesome way for the Holy spirit to move throught the body of Christ. I often feel at church, we tell him where to go. In the blog world, Jesus speaks when he wants and he’ll use the darndest things and people to show you his face. Blogging is like a part of the spiritual nervous system.
Zeke said,
December 6, 2006 at 8:02 pm
I read because I care. Seriously.
dorsey said,
December 6, 2006 at 10:00 pm
Oh, yeah. That, too. I do care. Really.
usan said,
December 7, 2006 at 12:15 pm
To see photos like this:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,235078,00.html
Blue Gal said,
December 7, 2006 at 11:42 pm
When you write one, you see the importance of the art and want to encourage that in others. “We read so we know we are not alone.” CS Lewis
Pete Grassow said,
December 8, 2006 at 3:41 pm
I read blogs because it connects me with a wider community. Sometimes i leave comments (which I regard as a privilege) but often I do not. And I always learn from the ideas and opinions of other people. I even find courage to continue exploring my faith.
PG
Cheryl said,
January 22, 2007 at 2:56 am
to keep up with friends, to get a laugh, and to read viewpoints of others who challenge me to crystallize my own thoughts.
kao an. said,
February 20, 2007 at 2:39 am
maybe people want to read blog just to know more about people’s life. to know whats extactly going on in your friend’s life. and you can be thee for the person. sometime you rather type it down then saying out. for me. i rather type everything in my blog.
can be also be die to boredness. Go from blog to blog. (:
for fun laughter peace joy and fuck. (:
Stellan said,
February 23, 2007 at 6:00 pm
The blog culture reflects the need of dialogue. When I begun with a dialogue in Internet in 1995 there were Listserv lists and IRC. Later came the SQL based forums and blog is the latest dialogue form. Right?
Without dialogue no development of the mind. I started my dialogue as a way to put my thoughts “on the paper” so I can see them and analyze them. Then I want of course to share them.
Blogs is a very nice invention as they can be personalized. When I am here I feel like being in someones home. But I would like to know the others name because without a name everything become impersonal. My real name is Stellan! Welcome to *my* home of thoughts on aeolians.blogspot.com!
Kerry said,
March 1, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Here’s a random scripture to use as a heuristic for this question - why do people read blogs?
1 Chronicles 16:39, 43 says:
“David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place of Gibeon… Then all the people left, each for his own home, and David returned home to bless his family.
What does this mean?
Here’s another random scripture.
Amos 5:21
I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies.
Kerry
jp_wasnt said,
August 19, 2007 at 9:40 am
Because I’m procrastinating. I know I should write a blog post. I just want to read another post before I start mine.