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Sparkle (0)
I find the sociology behind social networking online fascinating.
Quite likely, if you post an article here that has to do with blogging or social networking in general, I will have an opinion that I feel compelled to share. I will hope that the comments section of your article will burst to life with riveting discussion and dissenting opinions. I love that stuff. Truly and well.
Recently, Loralee wrote a piece called Hey Jealousy: Every Blogger was a Newbie Once which had that very thing happen. And though I was a little late to the game, I was in it - I made several comments and got into the discussion with others about this topic. The cool thing about Loralee's article is that she was right there in the comments section replying to people, giving the discussion the care and feeding it needed to really take off.
I love when that happens.
Sometimes my brain gets all zombie-ish Need American Idol or perhaps Time to Make the Doughnuts or something. And something like this type of discussion (or maybe sex or chocolate!) will titillate my brain cells, wake them out of their coma, incite them to action. I can actually feel the hamster of my brain start to run in its wheel. And, people, it is a squeaky wheel - make no mistake.
(Also? My hamster is prone to short bursts of energy and then mostly just lazes around on his little brain-sofa watching his little brain-TV. He's just 2 notches up from worthless then. But when he's running in his wheel? He's a maniac. Personally, I suspect he might be bi-polar.)
Anyway, back to the topic at hand (holy cow, maybe he's got ADHD too - that could explain the rambling disjointed nature of how he makes me write, couldn't it??) - Loralee posted her piece and the comments section lit on fire and it was a great discussion. (Also? I think she is going to write a follow-up piece so watch for that. My hamster is already anxiously tapping his foot in my head. Or perhaps I had too many Jello shots last night. Either way...)
Some of the comments were about comments (just so meta!) and got me thinking. About comments, naturally.
Are the people who want them and need them and seek them out with fastidious determination shallow and vain?
Are the people who don't care about them more secure or superior? Are they fooling themselves that they don't care? Are they in denial about caring?
(Do they have brain-hamsters that are simply depressed and apathetic??? That's the real question, now, isn't it?)
I do not know the answers to these questions but I find it interesting to ponder them. I can, however, answer from my own perspective. Well, OK - I'd be willing to answer on behalf of the hamster too, because he's watching SpongeBob right now and just can't be bothered. {rolling my eyes at my hamster, what in the world do I keep him around for, anyway?}
I am most definitely shallow and vain.
Or maybe I should re-phrase. It's quite likely that I am shallow and vain OR - I could just be a human being who seeks validation and who struggles with insecurity.
I recently wrote a piece called Why We Write (Which? Zero comments. After I cried real tears and tossed myself prone on the floor to kick and scream and lament the injustice of it all, I finally got over it when I was distracted by chocolate. Sometimes having a hamster with ADHD works to my benefit, I think.) in which I state that I write for acceptance, to be known and loved (or at least liked) for who I am.
Like many others, this is my way of putting myself out there. And I do put so much of myself into my writing (like so many of you do, too). It's scary to do this, risky even. It's the same as "What if I throw a party and nobody comes?"
That is what my personal blog feels like - throwing an online party and hoping that others will find that they want to hang out with me at my house because they like my company.
I also understand that people are busy and have tons of things competing for their time and attention and I don't take it personally when they don't come to my house for my party each time the music starts to play. I want people at my party, but I understand that the onus is on
