MIA
If any of you are still reading this little parcel of internet, you know the blog has been pretty quiet the last couple of weeks. No real written posts. Just a meme, three hot guys, and one of those dreaded football posts. I’ve been going through a little bit of shit lately and that has contributed to my online abscence. I’m not going to go into it , for a couple of reasons: 1)I’m just not the type to really talk about that sort of stuff and 2) I promised myself that I would never use this blog to unload my woes on you guys. Everybody has enough of their own problems, you don’t need mine, too.
The main reason that the crickets have been wailing around here is because I just haven’t felt very motivated to write anything. And you know me, if I don’t have anything to say, I keep my mouth shut. But, even that isn’t what has caused me to be a blog slug. I guess I’m going through what they call post-partem (whatever the hell partem is) depression like women do after having a baby. I’ve given birth to this blog and now I don’t want to touch the bastard. Actually, even that isn’t really accurate either. For a while now I’ve slowly been getting a little bit discouraged about the whole blogging phenomenon. And it’s made me wonder if I really want to be a contributor to the craziness.
The blog community is reminding me of the middle school cafeteria. In some ways that’s a good thing. It’s a chance to hang with your buds (your blog roll), shoot the shit (e-mails), and check out the hotties together (pictures, pictures, pictures). You’re all scratching “AFA” and “2cute2B4gotten” in each other’s yearbooks (comments), and trading your jello for a pudding cup. (Okay, that analogy doesn’t work.) You’ve got the popular kids, the geeks, the brains, the elitists, and more, all coming together to feed on their own slice of the mystery meat called blogging.
But there’s the not so good stuff, too. Like the near-pathilogical need to be popular. Some methods people use to gain traffic are downright embarrassing. Particularly those schemes that offer to help you build traffic, when in reality it’s to build the traffic of the blogger offering to help. (At least in middle school, the only pyramids were done by the cheerleaders.) Yes, we all want people to read our stuff, myself included. Otherwise we would not make it public. But, what does it matter what share of the blog market you’ve got, anyway? It’s not like you’re selling a product. You’re just writing stuff.
Then there’s the band kids over in the corner selling candy bars for a trip to Myrtle Beach. Those are the people asking for donations to “keep the blog up and running.” Now, I’m not rying to put anybody down. I just don’t get it. How much money does it take to operate a blog? It’s a blog, not PBS.
And don’t forget the Heathers: the bloggers who get their jollies by making public personal assaults against other blogs and their authors. They hurl vicious attacks which, more often than not, prompt even more vicious responses. Then the disciples of both sides get involved and before you know it, everybody’s getting served.
I really didn’t want to go on a little rant like this, but I guess it’s something I had to get off my chest if I’m going to move forward. I guess it’s time I quit hanging outside the guidance office and get back to enjoying my friends in the cafeteria. The best thing is to just let the populars and the Heathers roll off my back. And the only thing I plan on getting served is lunch. Anybody want my jello?
January 25th, 2006 at 7:08 am
Me, Me I’ll take it! Wait, is it red or green? LOL
January 25th, 2006 at 8:17 am
Whatever you are going through, hope it passes quickly.
Heathers? you are SO not a Heather, Veronica! Oy… I was gay even when I thought I was straight watching that movie for the first time with my college girlfriend… bless her heart.
January 25th, 2006 at 9:45 am
Anybody want my jello?
*
Now, it could just be me, but that sounded dirty.
January 25th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
Hope the personal stuff works out. Don’t worry, we’ll still be here.
Great analogy. You really nailed it. I was on odd egg in high school that I belonged to several groups but never felt like I belonged to any of them. As an adult, I still feel that way but the big difference is I like it now.
January 25th, 2006 at 3:59 pm
I certainly hope your problems get sorted out and are not too serious. Good luck!
January 25th, 2006 at 7:07 pm
Take care… and I’ll keep coming back to read… what ever you write. Hope you and yours ar e doing well.
January 25th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
I like your blog. It makes me feel less lonely. Do what is best for you.
kevin in Baltimore
January 26th, 2006 at 12:06 am
Sorry to hear you’re ‘blog bored’. Know the feeling.
And I know your feeling about Junior High school. Pretty right on. Especially the Heathers. It amazses me guys who don’t ‘put themselves out there’ are the quickest to judge and tear down those who do. And I don’t get the need to generate the traffic. I saw a couple of sites that offer services designed to generate traffic. I write as an outlet. If people come across it, great. But I’m not sure I’d want that much traffic. Wouldn’t feel the same.
January 26th, 2006 at 6:02 am
You’re not a “contributor to the craziness”,
you are a complete joy and delight.
My best wishes then…
January 26th, 2006 at 11:30 am
I’d love your jello
January 26th, 2006 at 4:38 pm
Thanks for keeping it real!
I ALWAYS enjoy coming to your site.
And I don’t think of Jello when I think of you.
I think of big, hard things.
January 26th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
Your blog represents you. Don’t stop it just because of some jerks. You think desperate attempts at blog popularity is something sad? Check out the MySpace pages of people with 173445 friends. That’s a definite popularity contest right there.
January 27th, 2006 at 2:11 am
Yes, the popularity contest that has become the blogosphere is getting out of hand. I refuse to take part in any sort of blog awards for the very fact that I don’t need an award for self-expression. I blog because I love to share my life and interact with other people. Keep it up Tony (hard & otherwise), you’re still one of my faves!
January 27th, 2006 at 6:36 am
It is interesting how very little some develop past jr. high school. The challenge, I think, is to find validation within us rather than from the outside. Some have it. Some are on the right path. Sadly, some don’t even know that’s what they need. I always enjoy your read because you provide sanity to the craziness but as you rightly say, be true to yourself and let the rest will work it out on their own.
January 27th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
Wow, I think you may have helped me come up with a blog subject on this very important anniversary of 1 year of blog existence for me. Sorry to hear that you are in a funk. Chin Up! Do what’s best for you. But I would hate to see two blogs that I enjoy reading end (Bill in Exile called it quits).
Whatever you do….just remember there are people out there who enjoy what you have to say and regardless will remain (virtual/physical/emotional) friends.
January 28th, 2006 at 1:59 am
Don’t feel bad bud… I’m kinda going through the same thing myself. For the time being, I’m running out of things to say… even my weekly “Inspiration” postings are seeming kinda dull to me at this point… and that’s all I ever seem to write about anymore… ugh… such is the way of a teacher heheh.
Anyway, I’m glad that you haven’t completely disappeared, and I promise I won’t either
January 28th, 2006 at 10:19 am
the hi-school dynamic is huge… but your excellence seems independant.
aren’t you one of the coolguys that goes home for lunch ?
i’m the type that’d spend lunch money on the jukebox.
Chelsea High sucks !!
January 29th, 2006 at 5:21 pm
I totally get the high school analogy, even though I might have avoided ‘red-necks’ like you…but secretly stole looks at you when nobody was looking!
February 1st, 2006 at 12:39 am
You never struck me as one to play those games. With this post you proved me right. I hope you’ll keep the blog going.
Jello. mmm.