Why do people blog at Joeuser?

tractorman

Published on March 25, 2004 By Joan of Arc In Blogging

The reason this question intrigues me is that I have noticed a deep comradery among many of the members of Joeuser. Is this unusual? I have not blogged much at all (in fact, this is my first blog post), but the dynamics of the joeuser group are.....are.....like a family it seems. Some members are very parental (both maternal and paternal), some are children (both brothers and sisters), some are comedians, some are totally obnoxious, and some are totally outrageous.

So why would we come online to be part of a family when we all struggle with our own families already? Are we trying to find a place where we are more accepted than in our current families? Are we attracted to a place where it appears that people will listen to us? Or to a place where we can say things that our family wouldn’t accept, or wouldn’t have time for?

I thought perhaps I could pin it all on our need for acceptance, but how does that explain the feelings of mutual dislike of certain contributors to the site? I actually feel good about feeling bad about some people, knowing that many others on the site feel the same disdain. If everybody was kind and polite and unopinionated, this would be a less colorful experience, and in fact it would not mirror real life at all.

Well, I’ve asked more questions than I’ve answered, but I’m curious to hear input from those of you who have been around awhile.

In the mean time, what’s for dinner?

Comments (Page 1)

Dan Kaschel

on Mar 25, 2004

We'll have irony for breakfast,
And comedy for lunch,
But if it's sucky we'll get lucky
And go out for brunch!

~Dan

Joan of Arc

on Mar 25, 2004

chronologically, if your lunch was sucky, you'd have to have a second lunch, a dinner, or perhaps a linner, but you really couldn't go back and have a brunch. (unless they had one of those all day buffets)

tractorman

Sir Peter Maxwell

on Mar 25, 2004

People blog because they wish to read my articles. This is simple fact.

Joan of Arc

on Mar 25, 2004

Simple Pete
On his seat
feigns defeat
or retreat

sorry T-man, couldn't help myself. I blog simply because I like to think aloud and have others respond
joanofarc

dharmagrl

on Mar 25, 2004

I blog because....hmmm.....

.....my husband is gone and I don't really have anyone to talk to around here. Blogging allows me to write what I think and what I feel. As an added bonus, other people respond to what I think and feel. I also get to read what other people think and feel, and to be honest I've learned from other people's viewpoints on different issues.

Blogging gives me a sense of community and comraderie. I've actually started to refer to people I've met here as 'friends'..as in "I have this friend that I blog with, and she was talking about..." I feel comfortable here, I feel intelligent here, I feel (in Jill's words) 'more than just mommy' here...

..and finally, I blog as a means of communication with my husband. Our phone conversations and IM's are limited...too limited to allow us to get into deep discussions...so he comes and reads my blogs every so often to get a handle on what's been goin on with me that I haven't had the opportunity to tell him about.

I think that if this were just an online journal-esque site, I'd have stopped blogging by now. It's the other people that keep me coming back for more.

MasonM

on Mar 25, 2004

Personally I blog because....ummm.....well................I have no idea. Catharsis of sorts? Kinda like keeping a diary which you then allow others to read and (hopefully) comment on.
I always look forward to the comments. A way of sharing your life and experiences with others.

And, oh yeah, to read SIr Peter's articles.

Pizza for dinner

wnx_decoy

on Mar 25, 2004

I think I can fairly confidently say I have been here a while and the only reason I've come up with for why I personally like to blog on here is because, well, basically, it's fun. You know, most people my age like to go drag race or party. Some like to get drunk and see if they can get away with it. Then others prefer to just sit around watching tv. To be honest. I don't like dancing, I don't want to go party, or drag race. I definitely don't want to waste my time watching tv. I guess you could say this is a temporary source of keeping my sanity. During the summer and spring months I'm out running around, riding my bike, jumping on my trampoline, practicing for soccer, swimming with my friends, or just sitting down to look around me. If I didn't do this I would probably go insane and then I wouldn't do the things I do during my active months, and I don't want that.

I guess what I'm saying is this is just another after-school activity for me that I enjoy a lot.

As for super? We're having spaghetti, pizza, Bar-B-Q Ribs, mac & cheese, and mashed potatoes. Sound good to you?

Capt. over and out! ™

One man

on Mar 25, 2004

It's a fascination
why it tickles me so,
To bloggy blog blog
in the highs and in the lows.
A foggy hope of benefit
to hone a skill that is obselete,
You see at Joeuser I smell the action!
Oh wait-- that's just my feet.

I have an inclination
and it irks me so,
To go on writing aimlessly
in the form of a poem.
I am close to my wits end
I think I'll take a seat,
You see at Joeuser I smell victory!
Oh--dang it! It's more like de-feat.

Sorry didn't answer your question, was preoccupied.

Dan Kaschel

on Mar 25, 2004

One-Man- Comical, if slightly lacking in the technical department.

~Dan

Tangled Wishes

on Mar 25, 2004

I had a terrible dinner, not mentionable. 'Specially since I decided to super-diet.

I'm not sure why I blog. I like it, though. And I like reading comments. I like listening to what others have to say about my thoughts and feelings.

I wonder what category I fit in? I'm certainly not motherly. Am I childish? Am I outrageous, offensive?

Maybe I should ask everyone!

~Anne

new-age nomad

on Mar 25, 2004

I started out blogging because I read your sons articles and I'm an aspiring writer myself (which I hesitate to say for fear of expectations). But now, I've just fallen in love with everyone on the site. It just seems we all share the same passion---no matter how different we are.

Not to mention how nice everyone is to me; that's not something you encounter everyday in real life.

Trinitie

imajinit

on Mar 25, 2004

i blog because i have a huge EGO that i can barely contain... sometimes my head gets so big that i can't put my hat on it.

my ego is so big that i have to keep it in a separate room.

I BLOG because it feeds my ego. when i see my name at number 4, my ego screams "OOOH YEAHHH" it wants to go for the number one spot, and the huge sombrero, but i constantly remind it that we will be in the number 4 spot forever, with the likes of GCJ and Dan K ahead of us... not to mention BW...

such is the life of a poor hapless blogger

imajinit

on Mar 25, 2004

i love the smell of sarcasm in the morning

Joan of Arc

on Mar 25, 2004

As for super? We're having spaghetti, pizza, Bar-B-Q Ribs, mac & cheese, and mashed potatoes. Sound good to you?

It actually sounds great capt., I didn't end up eating anything for dinner, and I could use a few mashed potatoes right about now.

I wonder what category I fit in? I'm certainly not motherly. Am I childish? Am I outrageous, offensive?

Maybe I should ask everyone!

~Anne

I couldn't say Anne, I don't know the family very well yet, you seem sweet enough though.

imajinit, you're hilarious, sarcasm or not..

imajinit

on Mar 25, 2004

actually, here's the thing.

in real life, we encounter people throughout our day. These people invariably want something from us. It might be change for what they just purchased, advice, a compliment on their haircut, or the paper that was due today. They 'want' something from us. Sometimes we're able to give it to 'em, sometimes not. If it's something intangible, like 'listening', giving our attention, making them feel good, etc... then the mood we're in is going to determine whether we can provide what they want or not.

that's where JoeU comes in. this is the place that you can come to no matter what time of day or night it is, and no matter what mood you're in. If you have needs, you let them be known, and sometimes those needs get met.

when you encounter someone else expressing their needs on JoeU, sometimes you have the power to help 'em. but if you read their article and don't respond right there at that moment, there's no danger of them being hurt... you can always come back when you're in a different mood, or when you have more time. that's in sharp contrast to what it's like when you're talking to someone face to face.

It's a timing issue. I once pointed out that reading blogs is like always having a ton of personal emails in your inbox. and that's something we can all use a healthy dose of... it's about knowing that there are people out there that care about us. it's about comraderie, as you already pointed out. it's about community, absolutely.

and i'm gonna be late for work if i don't get in the shower... this is NOT the time to be writing a lengthy reply

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