Thoughts on Blogging
- Posted by Johanna on May 27, 2008 at 12:28 pm
- Category: Meta
If everyone misunderstands what you’re saying, maybe it’s not them that has the communication problem.
Then again, maybe they really don’t want to hear what you’re saying and would rather discredit you than re-evaluate the world as they see it. It happens. It’s their problem, not yours.
The blogverse is a conversation. You will be disagreed with. If you only want agreement, start a cult.
If you think you’re too smart for the room, leave. You’ll quit both sounding bitter and annoying the rest of the room’s inhabitants.
If everything about comics annoys you, TAKE A BREAK. It’ll be here, whether or not your return.
You probably need it more than it needs you. That’s hard to accept.
We’re all egotists — that’s why we think our opinions are worthy of being published and read. Yet we all seek love — that’s why it’s hard to cope with being disagreed with.
Don’t take it personally. It’s not about you.
Posts like these never do any good.
May 27, 2008 at 1:05 pm
If you could point me to a step-by-step on starting a cult, I think that would be the best course of action for me to take! Although people do sorta annoy me . . . maybe I need to think about this more.
May 27, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Well said, Johanna. Very well said.
May 27, 2008 at 2:07 pm
This is a fine level headed post aimed at someone who takes everything personally. My experience has been to just move on when dealing with people like that. Nothing you can do can be considered anything but a personal attack.
Besides they seem to be self imploding all by themselves. We rather have your take on comics and the occasional awesome recipe.
May 27, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I would much rather read an analysis of comics-as-entertainment, than read whining about what it should be.
Bill
May 27, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Honestly I always found it kind of interesting when someone disagreed with me. Its always great to see things from a different perspective, and if it was a well written disagreement than that was actually mentally fun.
Its better to be disagreed with, than ignored (perhaps because your opinion wasn’t thought important enough to disagree with) right?
May 27, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Stepping away for a bit is a good idea. I’ve been online for 7 years, and have taken 2 extended breaks from certain things, and you’re right—they were still there when I came back.
Just yesterday I deleted a Bookmark (Favorite, for you IE users) of someone whose voice no longer appeals to me. Maybe in a few months I’ll check it out again, maybe not.
May 27, 2008 at 6:47 pm
John: If I knew how to do that, don’t you think I would have already? :)
Mark: Thank you. Why aren’t you still blogging? We need more voices like you.
Pedro: It’s not aimed at anyone. I was inspired by some things going on lately, but that was just a spur to go off in a different direction. I seem to remember saying something similar back in the Usenet days. Glad you like the recipes!
Bill: Complaining can be fun, sometimes, but not as a steady diet.
James: Me too.
Alan: Good idea, to keep things fresh for yourself.
May 27, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Johanna,
I agree. On occasion, I blab about projects that are note-worthy on my site at- http://www.lonestarpress.com/overunder.html If memory serves, I think I called AMAZONS ATTACK a crime against trees. As a freelancer, I try to refrain from career-ending criticism, but man that mini was terrible.
Bill
May 28, 2008 at 12:17 am
Brilliantly said. Thank you. I am shocked by the number of people who adhere to the same arguments, the same close-mindedness, and repeat their attacks ad hominem.
Remember: The only person who ever wins a fight on the internet is the person who logs off and finds something better to do.
May 29, 2008 at 1:02 am
I’m glad everyone always agrees with me. It makes it a lot easier to write posts that don’t revolve around clipart and paranoia.
May 31, 2008 at 8:51 pm
[...] with. If you only want agreement, start a cult.” – Johanna Draper Carlson potentially telling me why I should start a cult, I think. Maybe I’m taking her broad advice too personally. Feel [...]
June 1, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Great post. I have to come back to this from time to time to remind myself to not lose sight of things.