{"id":23,"date":"2008-04-08T07:00:11","date_gmt":"2008-04-08T11:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onceuponageek.com\/2008\/04\/08\/didnt-you-read-my-blog-the-heinous-question\/"},"modified":"2008-04-06T01:00:54","modified_gmt":"2008-04-06T05:00:54","slug":"didnt-you-read-my-blog-the-heinous-question","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/onceuponageek.com\/wordpress\/2008\/04\/08\/didnt-you-read-my-blog-the-heinous-question\/","title":{"rendered":"“Didn’t You Read My Blog?” The heinous question…"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not exactly a geek-related post, but after all this is my blog … so I think its fair game.<\/p>\n

Y’know, in recent months one of the most offensive questions I’ve heard is, “Didn’t you read my blog?” Now part of the offensiveness comes from the delivery. Imagine it’s being asked by someone very incredulously and the tone of their voice suggests what they really mean is, “I’m not going to respond to you! I’ve already blogged on that very topic. You should already know my thoughts on this issue. How dare you not read my blog! It’s the most important thing on Earth! It reveals my innermost thoughts which I’m allowing you and the rest of the world to be privy to! If you haven’t read my blog than this face-to-face conversation is meaningless!<\/em>” … well … that’s a rough translation of the subtext behind the delivery of, “Didn’t you read my blog?”\u00a0 Its worth noting that\u00a0the phrase “Obviously you don’t read my blog,” has basically the same effect.<\/p>\n

For those of you that have ever uttered that question\/accusation, please continue…<\/p>\n

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From dictionary.com<\/a>
\nblog<\/strong> – noun
\n<\/em>an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page<\/p>\n

di\u2022a\u2022ry<\/strong> – noun
\n<\/em>a daily record, usually private, esp. of the writer’s own experiences, observations, feelings, attitudes, etc.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Okay, that seems pretty clear. A blog is an online record of the writer’s own experiences, observations, and feelings. Therefore a blog is typically something very personal. So if a blog is personal, it’s really about the writer… not the reader. That leads me to believe that a blogger should be publishing simply for their own personal satisfaction. They should not be publishing because they expect every person they’ve ever met to read their blog and take it to heart.<\/p>\n

Therefore,\u00a0just because you have a blog it doesn’t make it required reading for all your friends. And don’t be surprised or act condescending when you find out\u00a0someone you know doesn’t read your blog.\u00a0 You should publish your blog for yourself, and if someone reads it then celebrate! That’s great! Thank them for reading your blog and move on with your day.\u00a0 It also doesn’t mean they should be expected to leave you a comment every time you post.\u00a0 I subscribe to many of my friends blogs, I read many of the entries (but not all), I enjoy them thoroughly, but I may not don’t bother to comment.<\/p>\n

So next time you find yourself in a conversation and it seems to be re-treading something you already blogged about, please don’t ask the person, “Didn’t you read my blog?”\u00a0 Why not say something like, “That’s interesting. I wrote a blog on this very topic.”\u00a0 See, doesn’t that sound nicer?<\/p>\n

There you have it. Don’t expect people to read your blog. Just be happy if they do.<\/p>\n

\/rant\u00a0<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*Whew*<\/em> I’m glad I got that out of my system. Now I won’t have to hear that question ever again. Well… y’know… because all my friends read my blog, right?\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Tell the world about ONCE UPON A GEEK:<\/h3>