Hi folks. This is a followup to my earlier entry (which I have not edited in any way since posting), where I led off with the deliberately outrageous statement "Blogs are boring."
(I've been posting comments and answering lot of e-mails, so please excuse me as I repeat and steal from myself.)
I
posted this largely to stir things up. Nothing in my post, though, was
meant to call any person, blog or blog entry boring (other than maybe
my own).
As I said, blogs are most interesting to people you
know, the people who know you, and the people you interact with online.
If you've found blogs you like and that you follow -- well, now you
"know" them. They become important and interesting to you.
I didn't mean to belittle anyone or hurt anyone's feelings, so if I did, I apologize.
Here's where I'm coming from.
First off, I am not annoyed now. See? Smiling. I'm smiling:
Next, I am not trying to change how anyone writes, what they write about, whose blogs they read, or anything else.
If you enjoy blogging (and I hope you do), and have found blogs you enjoy reading (which I think you have), nothing I or anyone else says can change that. Which is the way it should be.
Furthermore, when it comes to personal blogs, "boring" is not a bad thing. In fact, boring is good. Here's why:
Very few of us are going to break big news stories in our blogs.
Almost none of us are former Hollywood child actors, or blogging cross-country as we promote our movies.
We're not going to be writing Shakespeare every day or blogging entries from the top of Mount Everest. And you know what?
That's perfectly okay.
Maybe "boring" is the wrong word -- but I don't think mundane, ordinary, normal or regular are much better.
Part of what I'm trying to do is deflate some of the media hype about blogging. Blogging is just something that people do. And we like to do it.
One downside to all this hype is that I've personally heard from people who feel intimidated
and discouraged from starting their own blogs, because they feel
pressure (that they put on themselves) to be "interesting" -- instead
of feeling free to write about what they know, or what happens to them.
Like
I've said elsewhere, no matter how "boring" you might think your own
blog is, there's bound to be someone out there who finds it interesting.
All that I ask right now is that people take a leap of faith and know that I don't actually hate you all, your journals, or my job, and maybe re-read my entry with that in mind.
I did set out to shake things up a bit in the middle of the summer slump, maybe jar a few assumptions and get people to think about why they blog. If the question is "Why do you blog?", there really are no wrong answers.
Having said all that, there were a lot of comments in my blog, and entries in your own Journals, responding to my post and Scalzi's entry talking about my post.
A
bunch of you even took it upon yourselves to post your own "Annoyed"
journal entries, in some cases emulating the pose in my photo
(apologies if I've missed any):
- Omar, the Lord of Butter, started the ball rolling
- Dornbrau has one too and is keeping a list
- Brandy's take (is my bolding that random?)
- Angelia Rian turns to the dictionary
- Christina expresses her boredom in brown
- Kell lists out some interesting boring factoids
- Even the 2-Faced Baseball takes a swing
Also, here's a small sampling of other commentary in your Journals:
- Jodi chimes in
- Tina agrees and disagrees
- Coy's concerns include, "Hey, who made him boss?"
- Hadonfield opines on opinions
- Jeanette holds a poll from across the pond
Lastly, as journaler Sepintx pointed out, if you do a Google search for the phrase "blogs are boring", my entry comes up as #1, thanks to your links.
This was not my intent, but I'll take it.
Again, I'm not one for non-apology apologies -- if I upset you or otherwise insulted you, I'm sorry.
Like I wrapped up the prior entry, so I wind down this one: "Does this mean that people are going to stop blogging? Of course not. And it shouldn't. If we're lucky, maybe people will just stop talking about it so much and just do it."
Thanks -- Joe
55 comments:
Awww Joe.....Thanks man! I was on the same page...I thought it was quite humurous...I took no offense, none what so ever!!! Glad you're not annoyed anymore! (never realized that "power" of the word huh? kidding!)....
Yep when you wanna stir it up..you stir it up gooooddd!!! LOL All in fun on this end!
Thanks for the shout!
Peace
Jodi
Bravo! Good save! Hmmmmm, which leaves me to ponder... how best can I parody THIS entry in a boring yet good way?
J-Land were the bite is actually worse than the bark! lol I took no offense in the first place.......only because I knew that not ALL blogs were boring! lol
WOW! People really reacted to that boring thing! It's put some amusing reads out there.. Smart idea ! lol
Tammy
http://journals.aol.com/lilbithvnnhell/startingover
Yayyy!!! I was sort of afraid of seeing that look again. Soooo much better with a smile.
Great follow up.
Have a good evening,
Tina
I just did a nice little dance because Joe the Journal Editor linked me in his J! LMAO! Thanks Joe! I had fun with the whole blogs are boring bit!! And you did stir things up, you got half of J-Land hopping! Haha!
It did make for a good Saturday 6 question over at Pat's journal http://journals.aol.com/pattboy92/PatricksPlace/entries/1202 and another question out there asking us to describe why ppl would want to read our blogs. http://journals.aol.com/chasenkids/CHASENKIDS/entries/1723
Guess J~Land has to create it's own drama sometimes to get the juices flowing lol
Much Love,
Mary
http://journals.aol.com/hunybea4him/HunybeasOpenJournal/
OMG? I SO can't believe you are expected to put this apology out there...wrong...very wrong. Thicken your skins people! Not everyone has the same outlook/expectations! Geez o mighty! Roll with it! I think you are great Joe for stating your opinion...even if it did stir the pot a little...I award thee "The Big Ol Stirrer Spoon"...stir away! C.
http://journals.aol.com/gdireneoe/thedailies
Joe, Funny, returning from our anniversary dinner with my husband, I found your recent entry. I posted in my "boring" blog http://journals.aol.com/rap4143/MyDayMyInterests/entries/470 sending to my husband at work...the people at work enjoyed reading my "boring" journal LOL.
During dinner my husband was telling me how much he appreciated my my "boring" entry. I brought your name, your post stirring up the pot...the editor of AOL's journals........you are adorable and fun!!!! Continue the great work!!!
Betty
Hey, Joe ..... Whew... Bet you are more than glad to have this whole thing behind ya !! I gotta say, I think what you did was a good thing. Every once in a while, us journaling folk need to think about what it is we are writing, and why. You just provided us with the opportunity. Many thanks, Tina
http://journals.aol.com/onemoretina/Ridealongwithme
holding up the score cards...
8.2, 6.4, 7.9, 8.8....
pass the crayons please.
ps. you're cute for an old geezer.
http://journals.aol.com/floralilia/ahemtaptaptapisthisthingon/entries/929
Yep, you are still #1 under Google's search for "blogs are boring". Proud moment for you huh? LOL! Hey, Marvin the Martian!! I want to go to a job where I can wear Marvin the Martian tee-shirts!!!!! :)
Hugs,
Lisa
P.S.: Not even leaving my link because I have a "Mommy" journal and you would find that utterly and totally boring! ;)
Mine is still boring..Thank you just the same..my love cinderella
Nice smile, Joe!
*** Coy ***
Hey I didn't take it personally. What you may think is boring, another may think is interesting.....MINE IS STILL BORING THOUGH......LOL Pretty nice pics though....CUTE.
http://journals.aol.com/Fairyk4u/runningthoughts
h
See there…someone really does care about “gravel with a hint of banana”! HA! That’s all I wanted to hear! You rock Joe!
http://journals.aol.com/erinnae1977/SporadicEndeavors/entries/481
Hey, I got it. Really I did. Great smile, by the way,and anybody who likes Marvin the Martian can't be all that bad.
You'll be stuck at #1 in Google for "Blogs are Boring" for a while! Long after all this is buried in the archives. Great to see you out commenting. That's very cool of you to do that.
I have an official request. I want text formatting in the comment response box so I can randomly bold portions of my comments. Not that I would bold random bits of my comments, but just if I wanted to bold stuff.
Thanks for all you are doing!
An homage is always fun. Too funny!
First things first. I was offended when you wrote "Blogs Are Boring". I feel that you should have known that saying that blogs are boring was a huge mistake. A lot of people have really worked hard at their blogs and for you to have made such a statement was a big deal to those of us who continue to blog. You were wrong and you know that people have really worked even harder since your statement to show that blogs are far from boring. Here's a link to my blog but I'm sure that you will think it boring....http://journals.aol.com/southernmush/DearDiary
Perhaps you will find that blogs are actually artistic and heartfelt.....At least your smiling now and not cranky.....Since your smiling check out a few more blogs and see for yourself that bloggers and their blogs are wonderful.....thanks for listening
Let me re-post my link to my blog -
http://journals.aol.com/southernmush/DearDiary
h
Blogs are boring because we don't have enough font or mood choices to pick from! LMAO! Seriously...I laughed at your "boring" entry. How could I possibly get angry with you? You are so darn cute! ;-)
Obviously, blogs would be a lot less boring if more people bolded random words throughout their entires. Thanks for showing us the way, Joe. Boy, what a tempest in a teacup you've unleashed. I'm amazed at how many people took it personally.
To southernmush, and everyone who thinks like he or she does, I want to say this: make yourself a cup of herbal tea, sit down, and relax. At last count there are over five million blogs on this here interwurble, and you have the temerity to assume Joe was talking about you? Truly a legend in your own mind.
-Paul
http://journals.aol.ca/plittle/AuroraWalkingVacation/
Okay, I tried my hand at Shock And Awe Blogging, which is what I now refer to the little experiment you did about Boring Blogs, and I waited. 6 hits (including one from myself), and I gave up trying to find my standing on the Google search after clicking [next page] 8 times with no reference to my boring blog....... I am thinking that Shock And Awe isn't for everyone. I may as well settle down and get used to my chair of blogger obscurity. (heavy sigh)
But hey, while you're thinking about it...... click here... http://journals.aol.com/dornbrau/JLandBarGrill/entries/1128
h
"I posted this largely to stir things up"
well, that goes without saying!
Wow, I wonder what my hit counter/comment counter would be if I deliberately posted a stir the pot post? But then again, that's not my style. I write for myself. I write to give my little girl her story when she's old enough to read it. And if people chose to come along on the ride, a ride that is a little unusual, and anything but mundane (to me anyway) then they are welcome to.
If I found blogs to be boring, I wouldn't read them or write in my own. Everyone has something interesting to say. Including you Joe, even though most of us didn't agree with it.
~ www.jerseygirljournal.com
Ah the power of a (hopefully) comedic parody! LMAO.
h
Thanks Joe..see here i could completely understand what you were trying to say...in the other entry of yours with all the links and references and what have you...i just did not understand what you were getting at..all i understood is that you were calling all blogs boring! and i can say alot of us saw that and only that!
Thanks Again for Clearing all this up for all of us!
~Britt
Wow... Never thought a post of mine would make it into the Editor's blog...! *is truely humbled* And for that boring piece of mush too... ;) [I actually had to be told by Brandy that my link was here, and until I saw it, I didn't believe it]
I am not quite humbled enough however, to overlook this: Joe, it's *Angelia* with an I between the L and the A, not Angela... Yeah, yeah - I'm testy about it... ;)
Corrections out of the way, I want to say - Good job, Joe...! You really got the ball rolling... :)
yep, a lot of us have been "just do(ing) it" for quite some time now. The sad thing is that some people are feeling intimidated now about what they write. As I have told them, I visit their blogs because in some way or another their daily life is different than mine and it sparks creative ideas and thinking on my part. It is a delight to have a window into other's lives and souls, and I feel privileged to visit their space.
This does at least point out the fact that we have the ability to harm or uplift by what we write. Let's do some uplifting now.
judi
I guess sometimes J-land has to make drama out of nothing.
Your entry did not offend me.
Love the Marvin tee. I have a Marvin watch. Love him!
Kathy
http://journals.aol.com/onestrangecat/OneSummersDay/
Hi Joe :)
:) You didn't offend me at all. The plain truth is...I get bored with myself! As an aspiring writer I know about slumps, summer or not. Periods of uninspiration, blahs, blues and I do know that it will sometimes be reflected in my writing and even my photography. Bored and Boring happen. :)
Always, Carly :) But I can truthfully say...I have never been called boring! ;)
http://journals.aol.com/ondinemonet/Ellipsis
http://journals.aol.com/azurewillow/EllipsisTheBlueWillowGallery
Just my two cents: http://www.thebadinage.com/?p=35
Hey Joe,
I just want to know how you get a job like yours that allows you to stir the pot once in a while.
I am committed to writing entries in my blog that at least have a subject. I am not fighting against boring entries, just trying to provoke a little thought and get some sort of dialogue going with readers. Even if it's just a discussion about television!
Thanks from a newbie blogger for getting the ball rolling.
Scarlet
what a great idea ! The idea of stirring people up ! Far too often I get the feeling most people are in a trance, hypnotized, or sleep walking. Great ideas are floating right over their heads !
http://journals.aol.com/tlorenzo201/PeopleHelpingPeople
that was an interresting entrie have you ever considered becoming a writer you should write kid's books that would be freaking awesome to right about little animals talking and what not i look forward to reading your next blog and write some more comments about it see ya
h
Ok , I forgive you.. ;) We all have our "moments".. Mel
Oh, so YOU are the one that hacked everybody off!
LMAO
andi
I'm not amused by your humor, Joe. I await your apology in the comment section of my journal.
Judith
http://journals.aol.com/jtuwliens/MirrorMirrorontheWall
Hey, we're wearing the same t-shirt. Only mine's pink. [and it says 'get outta my space']
No worries here. Someone will always be offended by our words, no matter what they are. Apparently you struck a nerve (or two). That can only mean you're on to something. You got my attention. Good job.
Keep stirring. That's what they pay you for, isn't it? ;)
Nice smile.
*i would forgif you, but i don't know what for*
chekyalata
If anyone was offended by what you wrote and didn't see it for the truth that was in it...a stir to get people motivated and that yes most blogs are boring unless its a friend/family member thats reading it...well I won't finish that thought...but I thought the whole thing was just too funny myself.
My mother used a phrase as we were growing up... " if you're bored.. you must be boring!" that never sat wth me well.. cuz I knew that she was right... so basis of it all.. do stuff when you're unmotivated - even if all you can think of is gargling Swany River ... At least it's trying! - peace
http://journals.aol.com/meanbeansuzay/thoughtsonapage
I read through my round of journals when you made your little "comment" and thought wow, you really pissed a lot of people off. I didn't really take offense. I have listed you in my blog right after I heard about you to keep people informed as to what was happening at AOL Journals. Keep up the good work and BTW, stirring the pot just keeps the soup good. Sometimes the best stuff is on the bottom.
Glad you cleared that up for once and all. We all know how easy it is to misinterpret or otherwise go to your own world about what someone else writes on AOL...Geez, it's easy enuf to do in person. Sassy ;-)
Here’s the 1st question. Are u saved? If so praise Jesus! If not here's how to get saved. "FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED." Romans 10:13 Why do we need to be saved. "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the Lake of Fire." Revelation 20:15. If you would like to get saved. You can say the prayer below or one similar but you have to mean it.
"Dear God:
I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sins on the cross. Please forgive me of my sins and save me from the Lake of Fire. I'm willing to turn form sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior. Thanks for saving me. Help me to walk with you daily. I love you Jesus. In Jesus name this I pray and ask."
Boring is in the eye of the beholder of the Journal.
Floralilia of the Journal "Succulent Wisdom-Juicyness from J-land" was kind enough to honor me a place among the many other writers, many much more "succulent" than I, expressing why I read Journals:
http://journals.aol.com/floralilia/SucculentWisdom-juicynessfromj-l/entries/995
"Inside People's Minds
What fun to read other people's minds
Their loves, their hates and where they stand
Opening their hearts in blogging land
Such treasured finds
To understand for a brief moment,
Mankind."
~ camaroisle050856
*******************************************************************
Since you're wearing a Marvin t-shirt in this photo, and after your original stir-the-pot entry, you most certainly wouldn't need to ask "Where's the KABOOM? There's SUPPOSED to be an Earth shattering Kaboom!" ;)
Maria
http://journals.aol.com/curvyanglintexas/HeartfeltExpressions
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