To blog or not to blog?

This seems to be the question.

This week on several blogs the author has wondered whether to continue to blog.  It seems this happens regularly with women who are juggling a lot of things and wonder whether this little pleasure should take a back seat.  Trisha, is just feeling perhaps now is not the time to be blogging, Jeanne at A Peaceful Day, feeling that her followers had dwindled and the effort was not worth it.



In my three plus years of blogging I have  tossed this very question over....often!  In the early days it was the fear of becoming all consumed by blogging, reading other blogs, commenting, gaining followers.  Then when I got that under control, it would be the business of life, the realities of coping with a family, home schooling  etc.  Just when life was hectic and full of exciting potential posts I would find I had not a moment to write them down!  Sometimes I even wonder whether my cyberspace friends in actual fact get more of my time and energy than my real life friends!?

My health and family situations have helped me to get a better focus and balance , I think.  I have built up some good and special relationships over the net and I really want to keep them.  But I no longer blog to get comments but for my own pleasure and record and I suppose, speaking to those friends out there who are interested.  I still love comments.  I would love to have an intelligent, radical blog which stimulated lots of feedback and discussion.....but Mumma's Place is and always was, just a homely little eclectic blog where friends are welcome and every once in a while something earth shaking is written!

I had not been monitoring traffic on my blog for ages when the new Blogger came in.  Now it is much easier to see the numbers and I have to say that on most posts the number of visits is at least double and often more than the number of comments.  I am always surprised but not upset that people have read but not commented. 

Recently,  Susan and Jeanne were discussing blog interaction and Susan made this comment (in part)

"I like forums bcz there are lots of people there... which means lots of opinions. Whereas on my blog, I'll ask a question and usually receive limited responses because the people who pop in and comment do so because they follow my blog - which means they are usually of a similar mind or approach. But with forums I get all different kinds of opinions, based around home education.

I hate that FB has pretty much killed the life of forums because no matter the pro's of fb, it cannot replace the beauty of forums. Ever. It just isn't set up the same way, to handle in depth discussions, etc. KWIM?"

This rang very true to me.  We tend to frequent the blogs which we find hold similar  views and interests eg.  Christianity, homeschooling, a hobby perhaps.  We very often comment in agreement or encouragement, perhaps sharing tips and advice.  We rarely comment if our opinions differ.  I remember making a negative comment about a book once and feeling howled down.  I was sorry to cause that sort of emotion and regretted voicing that opinion.  A persons blog is not the place for that. Now, I don't comment if I do not agree on personal blogs.

As Susan pointed out above, Forums are a different realm.  The person you wish to disagree/ debate/ or advise does not usually own the site.  It is not a personal attack on someones private space.  It is an open arena to test thoughts and ideas and usually moderated so that every one plays nice.

I have joined a couple of Christian Forums over the years and still read regularly on the Puritan Board.  I have come to a point where I almost entirely comment only in the Ladies Tea Parlor there.  Some of the big boys play rough!  But I do read and learn a great deal from the discussions on PB. This can be time consuming as well so I have to watch my self.  I find I keep going over to see the follow up comments . I have also made some really lovely and special friends there with whom I correspond and pray and even play on line Wordscraper with!  Hi Carol, Heidi, who actually also read my blog and  Nancy, Mindy!

Although I have been a member at the Aussie Homeschool Forum for about three years I have only just started to read and comment there regularly.  This in part because of Susan's arm twisting,  persuasion, encouragement.  I think for me this might be a nice balance for use of Internet time.  I blog maybe, once or twice a week, and keep up with my buddies here.  I can meet new people, and have interaction more specifically in the home schooing area on the Forum.

BTW I had written most of this post earlier in the week, even asking Susan permission to quote her.  I added the first paragraph in tonight after reading these ladies thoughts this week.