Picked up this heaven sent tag from Pradeep. Been wanting to write about blogging for some time now.
1. Are you happy/satisfied with your blog, with its content and look? Does your family know about your blog?
I am very satisfied with my blog, because I have no aspirations or ambitions for it. All I wanted was to write without censure and editing. My family knows about this blog and I started blogging with their approval. I am happy with the feel as I am not obsessed about my blog.
2. Do you feel embarrassed to let your friends know about your blog or you just consider it as a private thing?
I am careful about who knows about my blog. I come from a conservative community and everything I write has the potential of a scandal. So only some close friends and relations know about my blog. I also work in a company that requires me to admit to any blogging activity and so I write under a pen name. I would love to blog under my name but then it would restrict the freedom of expression and I do not want to write politically correct posts.
3. Did blogs cause positive changes in your thoughts?
Yes. I never thought when I started blogging that anyone would be interested in my writing. But surprisingly there seemed to be an increasing number of guys reading my blog. And they were such gentlemen!!! And I say this not because they liked my posts, but because they seemed tolerant of a gals outlook on life and guys in general. My perceptions about guys have changed. I have realized that the community of guy bloggers are thorough gentlemen or maybe only gentlemen blog :) I feel good to have connected to so many people.
(All you gals scouring shaadi portals...you know where to get the best guys...at my blogs!!!!!!!! And it’s FREEE!!!!)
:p
4. Do you only open the blogs of those who comment on your blog or you love to go and discover more by yourself?
There was a time when I had time to blog hop and that is how I discovered most of my blog pals and I sort of settled into reading some on a regular basis because I like their writing. Through my blog pals many people discovered my blog. But nowadays, I comment only on posts that I like reading. If I come across interesting blogs I do comment.
5.What does visitors counter mean to you? Do you care about putting it in your blog?
I put it the Statcounter at Poomanam on Leon's advice last October (2005). It has been a real eye opener. I realized that there are more silent readers than commenters. I get an average of 10k hits at Poomanam and 2 K hits per month at Think Pad. I did care about putting in one at this blog for the same reason. However the fact is, nothing affects my writings. I write what I want and will keep writing till I feel like, whether there are readers or not. That is my blogging philosophy.
6. Did you try to imagine your fellow bloggers and give them real pictures?
No, I didn’t.
7. Admit. Do you think there is a real benefit for blogging?
By real if you mean ‘monetary’ then I do not know. Otherwise it is a great help…most reticent people turn very eloquent while blogging. And once you get used to expressing your thoughts, you get a clearer picture of who you are and what you want in life. I would call bloggers a ‘mind community’. When you see a person in flesh and blood, some prejudices like the way a person looks or some mannerisms can cloud your impression of the person. But in blogs you respond only to the person’s thought process, which I think is the most honest form of interaction.
8. Do you think that bloggers society is isolated from real world or interacts with events?
I don’t think there is a bloggers society. I think we all have our offline life and do not spend our entire time at our blogs to be called a society. Blogging is just another small part of our daily lives. But when it comes to calamities, bloggers do rally around and do their best to help.
9. Does criticism annoy you or do you feel it's a normal thing?
Criticisms of my writing style annoy me because I am not a professional writer. My blog is like my personal diary. You don’t peep into people’s diaries and comment on their writing styles do you? My blog is the same. Just another random rambling. Criticism also means you are taking away the right of a blogger to freedom of expression. Period.
I also do not like expectations from me, something that is happening regularly these days. I do not like my blog (Poomanam) being in the limelight though inadvertently it has. I want it to be considered just another blog and not a regular syndicated humor column, which seems to be the popular perception now.
10. Do you fear some political blogs and avoid them?
I don’t fear political blogs. My favorites are on my blogroll at Poomanam. But I know nothing about politics so don’t comment on political blogs except at DOC and Vinod's and lately Brijesh's blogs… and that is because these people tolerate my comments and have not booted me out yet. :p
11. Did you get shocked by the arrest of some bloggers?
I didn’t know anything about this. But if they have used their blog for criminal or anti State activities then they deserve it.
12. Did you think about what will happen to your blog after you die?
It will die with me. My blog is uniquely me. My friend and my brother has my User ID and password. So they will keep it open I guess till there are readers for the archives.
13. What do you like to hear? What's the song you might like to put a link to in your blog?
I would like to hear:
WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD - Louis Armstrong
I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
The colours of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shakin' hands, sayin' "How do you do?"
They're really saying "I love you"
I hear babies cryin', I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world
Oh yeah
I can hear anything as long as it is melodious or has a good beat. I would put a new song everyday on my blog :)
This is one time I will take great pleasure in tagging some people. And these are a few of my favorite men err..I mean tagees :p
Alexis, Mind Curry, Jiby, Mathew (if the Germans allow you to blog), Ganja Turtle, Fleiger and Emmanuel. And a very eloquent and elegant gal blogger...Quills!
32 comments:
awesome insights..and i have imagined a pretty close picture of what silverine looks like ;)
I can hear anything as long as it is melodious or has a good beat.
admit it..just say it in one word..himmy!
:)
It will die with me
not a very nice thought at all..but its so true..and a whole lot of blogging activity will die too..
heres once again to one of the finest bloggers and person i know!
ok done..this must be the fastest tag that i did..and i have to thank you again for honoring me..and ofcourse the inspiration :)
"But in blogs you respond only to the person’s thought process, which I think is the most honest form of interaction."
Couldnt agree with you more. :)
Nice post... I was thinking of tagging you, but I somehow thought you had already done that,sorry. [Oh yes, I have done this tag here :(] Thank god, you got tagged by someone else...
This is one tag I did on my own, because it really helped me think about what I wanted to write and why I was writing. I like writing, and so blog was a natural option for me. But the comments you get are really the things which make you rethink your outlook, your stance on things even when you won't change it.
And yes, agree with you, writing under a pen-name removes a lot of prejudices on part of readers...
You know, you are truly an inspiration with your candid, thought provoking and wonderfully funny posts. And always a treat to read. I keep visiting your blogs, although I may not comment all the time. But I always enjoy and it is always the right "perk up." Sometimes it works even better than chocolate..(and if you know how much I love chocolate, you would understand). :)
I will surely take up your tag. Thanks for tagging me. :)
mind curry: hmmm would love to know what the picture looks like :)
*gwumble* wokay I admit it, it is my dear himmy :|
:p Yeah him and 'What a wonderful world' and Rhinestone Cowboy,I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing and We didn't start the fire and many many more :)
Thank you so much dear doc, you are one of the nicest guys in blogosphere and I mean that :)
Alex: Thank you, why don't you take up the tag ? :)
Alexis: Thank you so much :)
I am so looking forward to your tag!
Quills: What a lovely surprise to see you :) And that was one of the most wonderful compliment I have ever recieved !!! I am looking forward to your tag, your posts are so delightfully feminine :)
Fleiger: Thank you :) Blogs are still in the nascent stages and I for one would like to see people treating it as different from professional writing. One of the reasons why Blogs are so addictive is because it is written by ordinary folks, which makes it so spontaneous and honest. And that is why I appreciate comments from people who empathise with the post or appreciate the spirit in which it was written :)
Posting under a pen name has benefits and pitfalls..U can write anything under sun as long as u dont unveil yourself...The reader could very well be intrigued by the curiosity .. But again, being open has served me better in this blogworld if you really want the world to know that you have something to say..And,yeah..over a period of time, insights into who you are will accidentally come into your writing..I guess its not impossible for someone from this blogworld to figure out who you are .. :) ( If he/she has the patience and intellect )
Actually, thats a point. Tagging requires effort and yes silverine, i am taking it up!
:)
Yes, blogs by definition are personal writings, done by individuals who may or may not be professionals. But I am sure as awareness of blogosphere increases, we will treat it more as a diary entry than newspaper articles.
Blogs are addictive, ask me...
And you get visits in Ks per month? I have just trigerred the fire alarm in my apartment. Must control my jealosy ;)
ajith: Posting under a pen name has absolutely no pitfalls unless you are an anti social element. I wouldn't call blogging under your own name as "open". I would call it restricted writing unless you are a Shobha De. There is nothing 'hidden' under a pen name. Writing under a pen name just makes it easier to write. And even if you are writing under you own name and your writing is appreciated then there will be curiosity about you. Man by nature is curious. And believe me it is not easy for anyone in this blogoworld to figure out who you are unless a person gives you direct clues.
Alex: Thank you :)
Fleiger: Awareness for blogs are increasing believe me. I have kids from colleges writing in telling me that I have inspired them to blog, in fact some have already started. So there is a growing awareness. And don't be J, you will soon be there :)
Thanks a lot for picking up the tag yourself. That point about perception of guys was interesting.
Yes, I know. In one year since I started blogging, at least 5-6 people I know have started blogging (though only 2-3 have continued posting regularly). Awareness is rising, though it is mostly limited to IT-related people in the ages upto 25. And criticisms from mainstream media (which may be justified sometimes) don't help either.
And believe me, I have ages to go before reaching anywhere near that fig.
Pradeep: Thanks to you I got to do this wonderful tag. Yeah, I was quite a FCP (female chauvinist pig) when I started blogging :)
fleiger: I don't think so, I know plenty of 25+ and more, people blogging these days...it's great isn't it? :) Mainstream media is facing stiff competition from all quarters these days anyway.
hey, thot of posting a comment after completing the tag......
thanx for the same.....
btw nicely written post.....
liked ur comment about criticism.....agree with u....but i like doing it.....i like it as a "give and take" policy....not for the sake of it......i admit it should be healthy......i know that u will be frowning at me for this comment.... ;)
anyway,that was a nice tag......
take care......
Oh, I was talking demographically. From what I heard and saw in my blog-hopping days, many young people started blogging as we check out new gadget, as the next “thing” to do, which puts them as majority of bloggers (Of course, how many continue seriously is another matter altogether…)
And the discussions about mainstream media reminded me of Stephen Colbert on Daily show discussing some bloggers who had carried out a major scoop on some senator, "Oh, we (mainstream media) have nothing to worry about bloggers. With such scoops, they will gain recognition. And if we have learnt anything, it is that recognition brings complacency" ;)
Alexis: Thank you!!!
Emmanuel: "i like it as a "give and take" policy" If someone criticises you then you do have a right to give it back, or else hold you peace or go for a walk :p lol yes, I am frowning :))
Fleiger: I think you underestimate the young. I think most of them are aware that blogging requires an interest in the medium and in writing...I can see many new good blogs emerging :)
About 'complacency' I think the man is insecure ;)
Oh, that's Stephen Colbert, he is never secure... Actually, The Daily Show is a false-news program, and Colbert was one of their star (now he has an amazing show of his own). What he says, you should add negatives to all of his statements. Actually I forgot to post the link, check it out and you will see...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qblj_5AL3h0
And yes, I got the quote wrong...
Anyways, I know many new blogs are emerging, but the medium is still quite new. It is sometimes very hard to tell people what exactly I do when I "blog" or what kind of posts should go on "blog"... (Yes, I have had questions asked about that, especially about tags)
wonderful insights...
I'm doing this soon.
Thank you so much for tagging me...i have been so distracted i havent been visiting any of my favorite blogs for more than a week. this one, i will take up immediately. after writing about so many things on our blogs isnt it just wonderful to write about our blogs.
i really loved the way you wrote this one...i always think about what a great loss it will be for all your readers if you ever decide to quit blogging, god forbid!
Thanks for blogrolling me!
" But I know nothing about politics"
I dont agree with you.You are very much aware of politics as can be seen from the comments you write in DOC and my blog.
I have a suggestion. You can include sitemeter to your blog. You can know more about the people coming to your blog.
I rarely read personal blogs but your's is an exception. You write so well.
Lol!!Thanks for tagging me up..
Will take up the tag soon..I need to ask Merkel for it!!
Thanu: You will love it :)
Jiby: Thank you for taking up the tag, believe me you will enjoy it. About quitting blogging, almost did feel like doing that some time back :)
Brijesh: Thank you so much :)
Mathew: Hola there!!! Nice to see you here :) Tell Merkel I said pretty please :p
you know where to get the best guys...at my blogs
hehehe
ek site khol do www.silverine.com to give the shaadi.com guys a run for their money
I would love to blog under my name but then it would restrict the freedom of expression
Being anonymous can be so healthy and secure most times, right? :-)
So they will keep it open I guess till there are readers for the archives.
So, the visitor count will be a lot more meaningful then? :-)
By the way, I always wanted to ask you this question:
What is Poomanam...?
Is it poo manam (aroma)? Or is it Poomaanam (sky)?
hey silverine, i didnt know you blogged here too :). great post as usual. I think blogging means a lot to you :).
So any other blogging pages you own? ;)
Lalit: LOL
sreejith: Poomanam is spring sky :)Anon blogging is honest and unfettered blogging and stat hits have a lot meaning even now :)
praveen: No it doesn't, which is why I don't like people attaching too much importance to my blog! :)
Silver - That one was awesome!
Cant agree more on criticisms.
pophabhi: Thank you :)
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