The Psychology of Blogging
Thinking about the discussion in class today, I actually went and did a follow up on Jason Kottke's blog, as well as look on several random others. Like we discussed, they really do seem to follow the same theme: namely a central figure who makes the blog, usually cynical, who manages to win a fandom of suckups and mindless followers. This reminds me of the phenomenon of MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) games and the sort of digital escape world it creates. In games such as World of Warcraft and Eve Online, relative nobodies who are "losers" in real life are able to obtain great fame, popularity, and political clout in a "world" which allows them to excel. Just like the Underground Man mentioned by Prof. Gibson who writes notes because he is bored, people who blog do it also because they are bored, with the additional factor of potential popularity increase. In Notes from Underground, no one ever read the protagonist's writings, except the reader. However, for blogs, the potential audience is simply staggering. Thus it seems, that many of these bloggers blog simply for attention and to please their fanbase in order to boost their own self-confidence, and perhaps feel like a big shot. Maybe I'm wrong. Thoughts?
posted by Anonymous at 6:30 PM
3 Comments:
I think that the blogging phenomenon is certainly only going to get bigger. Its ability to allow people who may be down on their luck - or just want to seem that way for attention - to have an outlet for their problems is a great asset, especially in terms of a way of venting out their personal issues.
What I find concerning, however, is that more and more people in government positions are citing bloggers as references for their policies. For example, President Bush yesterday in a speech to cattle ranchers cited a blog that was apparently writen by an Iraqi dentist who said that the violence is subsiding where he lived and people were heading back to their homes. What poof does he have of this? You can't just say things and not back them up. But this is why blogers need to be taken as questionable at best. We don't really know if they are who they say they are.
I'm sure that some people are actually telling the truth on their personal weblogs, but I guarentee you there are a massive amount of people who lie as well. The real question is, why do people find blogging appealing? Is it a type of reverse voyeurism? Your thoughts?
Blogs are just the "easy-bake oven" of personal websites. I remember making websites in the late 90's, either personal or whatever. Now people are too lazy to actually make their own site. So they use the "ready-to-use" version provided by blog websites. Blogs are just another sign of our laziness. But on the other hand, they are a good form of communicaton, especially those that can't or rather not make their own website.
Personally, I think that blogging creates a perpetual cycle of isolation. The online world gives people who are too shy or introverted to communicate and connect with others in an environment that is free of awkwardness and embarrassment. While enabling people like “Jason” to form relationships with similar individuals all over the world, one must ask themselves, have valuable and real are these relationships? Once a person gets comfortable with the protection of the internet, I think it would be hard to convince that person to really engage in life instead of simply blogging about it. I’d hypothesize that once a ‘loner’ has entered the online world and makes a connection with others they can quickly loose touch with reality and be reluctant to engage in the real life experiences that define the human existence.
Now I’m not saying that I never use the internet; I’m just as addicted to msn and facebook as the next Western student. However, I believe there is a fine line between appropriate and over-use of the online media. Although being hurt, ridiculed and embarrassed etc does suck, they are all feelings that can’t compare to any emotion felt in the online world. I think that it many respects the internet helps those who feel alone and isolated in society become further disconnected from the experiences that tie human beings together and promote tolerance and acceptance of one another.
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