Review of Pages 1-36, Blogging

--Read pp. vii-36 in the Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging. (Book is now available in the bookstore.) This includes the Forward, the Introduction, Chapter 1, and part of Chapter 2. Much of this material is designed to make blogging appeal to you, and you’ll find lots of personal accounts addressing the question “why blog?” Comment on which reasons you find most compelling? Why? Least compelling? Why?

This section of the book seemed intent to hype its reader up about the prospect of blogging. It’s spoke of blogging as an utterly addictive and mind opening act that is better than any experience ever attempted. To say the least, I had a feeling of over enthusiasm about this section. The forward, by Arianna Huffinton herself, boasted on her success as a great blogger. To her bloggers were a united, serious front to fight current events. Although I’m sure that is what blogging means to some, others are just doing it to pass time, or to try to put their unfinished thoughts out there. Perhaps the writer of ‘Complete Guide to Blogging” has assumed that the reader is also caught up in the fast paced world where blogging is as important as life itself. Another thought, does this book do me any good? Isn’t the fun of blogging about exploring all the gagets and figuring it out yourself? I’m most likely being a little too critical, but as a recent blogger, I feel that there advice is helpful, but maybe a little too helpful.

In terms of why blog?? I mostly liked the reasons revolving on getting a thought, without it being perfect or polished, out there into cyberspace. It gives any individual with an internet connection and some sort of passion an endless amount of space in blogosphere. However, I would also argue that there is nothing as special and rewarding as writing to yourself in your favorite tattered notebook. Here you can doodle and even write a funny story while life is in action. What I found a little disturbing was the notion that people blog purely to vent anger over something or someone. I understand a blog’s therapeutic possibilities, but I feel that blogs should be kept welcoming, not hateful. However, there’s probably more than one person who hates it, as I do, when someone talks on the phone while using a public bathroom, so why shouldn’t I blog about it?.....