Being a "Blogger" - March 19, 2007

It kind of sucks. No one takes you seriously.

Bloggers are narcissists. Bloggers can't write. Blogger books suck.

Yep.

If I had to divide the internet up into more easily digestible chunks--and of course separate myself from the aforementioned stigma--I'd say there's two types of bloggers: those who get into blogging to get published, and those who are endlessly fascinated with themselves. Sometimes the bloggers who are part of the latter group get book deals, and endless fascination with oneself, minus talent, minus self-awareness, minus an interesting life equals a bad book. No one cares about your pap smear. No one gives a crap about your credit score. Why would anyone care about the designer labels in your closet? Group one is writing about the skeletons in theirs.

I sure hope I'm part of group one.

But I don't get upset when people call me a "blogger," the same way I don't get upset when I am called "bisexual." I don't give a shit when I'm called "straight" or "Caucasian," though I'm technically neither of those two things. I don't care if I'm labeled "angry." I don't mind if you lump me in with Tucker and his crew. If you feel like calling me a masochist, go right ahead, and if you think I'm an alcoholic, feel free to think so. You want to call me "anti-chick-lit?" I don't care. Seriously, I'm fine with it. Whatever floats your boat, so long as you keep reading.

Its part of human nature isn't it? To break meta concepts down and better define our world, cultures and subcultures, genres and subgenres, tiny easy bite-sized pieces you can pop in your mouth. I wonder if bloggers will mean enough to the future of art that the distinctions will matter. I'd like to think so.

Posted by The Bunny at 3:56 PM

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Comments

I had never even thought of this before you said it. I always just considered your writing to be thought invoking and highly entertaining. You paint pictures and share ideas like only you can. I never even once considered you anything other than just a writer. I dunno, Maybe that is strange on my part, but the word blog even though it is in your URL never seemed to define you. Bloggers that are writers seem to lose that blog pretense in my mind immediately. I guess I don't even see you as a blogger I see you as an artist, a writer. I don't read "blogs" yet I read people who are considered bloggers frequently.

Posted by: Robert at March 19, 2007 04:48 PM

I recently started reading your Blog and you are definitly a Blogger that contributes something. Can't wait for your book to come out.

Posted by: SlayersAngel at March 19, 2007 07:16 PM

Uh...

Why aren't you technically Caucasian? Do you have Asian in you? Basque? Were you born a poor black child?

Posted by: HybridVigor at March 19, 2007 07:56 PM

I don't know what category you'd fall into, but I enjoy reading your stuff.

I'd define bloggers as those who write for themselves, and those who write for others. But then what do I know? :)

Posted by: Dan at March 20, 2007 01:36 AM

What am I Airlee?

Posted by: TheTrixie at March 20, 2007 05:58 AM

I could go off on the rant I wrote a while back about the incessant need by some to but people into categories for all the wrong reasons. Instead, I'll just say, "good on you!" I've been reading for a long time, and never written until now. Only to say, though, that while I too have a blog, it doesn't compare to yours. I'm probably in the quasi-whiny, talentless half. Your life seems imminently interesting, and comes off just as well in writing. Please continue always.

Posted by: JMR at March 20, 2007 03:11 PM

You mentioned that after your book was done, the second place you would take a dump was Ashley Vance's doorstop.

This implies a first. Where is it?

Posted by: HalfNelson at March 20, 2007 10:07 PM

I know where you are coming from, but here's a glimmer of hope: bloggers are being taken more seriously-- by the mainstream media, by the pr and media companies looking to gain exposure, by the advertising agencies who get more hits from being seen on a blog than in Newsweek, and by the average joe who often gets his/her news from local blogs. Will it be considered an art form? Who knows. But you should hold your head up and be proud, woman. You and other RM writers helped make it happen. Fuck 'em if they can't see that.

Posted by: M at March 21, 2007 08:03 AM

ever consider people just blog as a form of creative expression, kind of like a diary?

Posted by: Bill at April 8, 2007 09:41 PM