Why blog? Why read blogs? Here's one good reason...
In the previous post, I mentioned John Dvorak's column about the "futility of blogging" and how it's doomed, apparently because we can't all be all things to all people, and, by implication, can't make any money at it.
That column merits a lot more dissection, but that's not what Saturday afternoons are made for.
Instead, I want to point to one absolutely perfect reason for blogging and for reading blogs: Dawn Eden's post from early this morning titled "Summer of Love." (I'm giving you the title in case the Blogger permalink is hosed, which it probably will be.)
Dawn has brought to life the passion and drama (literally!) of her grandparents' courtship, as viewed through the pages of her grandfather's journal. It makes for fascinating reading, funny and romantic and sad and happy...and you would never have known about it were it not for Dawn's blog.
Connecting to people whom you'd otherwise never have known existed -- that's the strength of blogging. We can get our news and opinions from a thousand other sources. We will, however, never run short on the need for additional sources of beauty, wit, wisdom and creativity.
That's what got me started writing over twenty years ago. I was motivated to leave behind a written record of the events of my life and what family history I had known about. Everything I received from my own Father was verbal history. I fear that I wasn't paying close enough attention when he was sharing, so I possibly missed a lot of valuable details.
It's terrific that Dawn's grandparents left all that in writing for her and others. I'm glad she's sharing with us.
Posted by: Clarence at November 23, 2003 02:33 AMI don't know whether the permalink is hosed, coz something's wrong with your link... double "a href" tags, I think.
I treasure blogs for the way they help me connect to people. They cut to the chase, showing a person's heart and mind. If I were to meet you or Dawn or any other blogger in person, we'd be doing all the "getting to know you" stuff and might never get past that to the real person underneath. Of course, this is only true of blogs where the blogger shares him/herself, not blogs like Instapundit!
Posted by: irene at November 23, 2003 02:13 PMIrene, thanks for catching my coding boo-boo; it's corrected now.
Just another example of how blogs help people connect. You now know that I'm a fumble-fingered klutz! ;-)
Posted by: Eric at November 23, 2003 02:20 PMAbout the publisher
Random Abbye photos...
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How the West was Won
Beware of Vampire Dog
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NBC Bungles Web Video
Random Thursday: The Monday Olympics Edition
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Random Thursday
Chair Play
Book Review: "The Road"
Education is paramount. Well, next to jet skiing.
Warbirds, Old and New
The Neighborhood:
West Texas Blogs:
[Midland unless otherwise indicated]
Other Texas Blogs:
The Business:
The Church:
The World:
Very well said, I believe that's one good reason for blogging.. :-)
Posted by: Amanda at November 22, 2003 05:32 PM