CBMused

When I started this blog not long ago, I made a mental note of topics to avoid. High on my list were subjects like politics, religion, current affairs, serious issues and topics I have no desire to discuss on any blog. We all have our reasons for blogging and sharing our thoughts or lives with the world, mine include escaping the humdrum and tedium with which the media bombards us.

Another topic I wanted to avoid was blogging itself. Yet I have been observing an interesting phenomenon of late on certain blogs where I occasionally lurk, especially those who garner a lot of comments and I can’t help but wonder what makes a blog gains popularity.

The blogger may be an interesting writer who draws a lot of attention or they may be on a mission to conquer the blogosphere through excessive commenting and thereby bring a lot of traffic to their sites. Regardless of the reason, it is often the study of the comments that proves more revealing.

If we believe popular culture and the celebrity hype that paper and online magazines feed us, people are drawn to popularity, often worshipping the famed as higher beings they wish to emulate through fashion, appearance and lifestyle. Popular bloggers may share a similar status, drawing lesser known readers to their web of fame.

Like the adage that the rich become richer, blogs with a lot of comments seem to attract even more comments. Yet for me, quality over quantity remains the dictum to which I relate.

At school, I’ve never been the girl who collected friends, always preferring a close few over a large number to boast. Popularity didn’t cross my mind, though I was the quiet/pretty/shy/studious type, I forged friendships based on connections or some shared interest.

My site is testament that when it comes to popularity, I am not that different to the Cléa of those early school days. I could go on a commenting spree hoping to attract the masses but that would not mean I would get the audience I desire. For now, I am content to have a small group of visitors whom l enjoy receiving in my home as much as I like visiting.

I guess our core personalities and values don’t change that much when we grow up.

Mixed Greens and Diced Tomatoes
I’m overwhelmed and touched by everyone who has responded to The Heart of the Matter. You’ve all given me valuable insights and positive ideas that I will pass on to my friend. Thank you.

Blue Cheese and a Dash of Dijon Mustard
How to Write a Misery Memoir is an article that caught my attention. It offers advice on how to spruce up an autobiography. I have one piece of advice to add: start a blog for practice and in no time you can inject the right amount of fantasy or fiction or Dijon mustard into your bio. With so many blogs claiming to offer real stories, yet eyebrows are silently raised in doubt, we can all become wannabe writers.

Spanish Onion
One can get drunk on lack of sleep. One can get high on strong paint fumes. One can become intolerably irritable when a morning person says hello. Either way, it’s sure to end in tears. And blog posts that don’t make sense.

Roast Beef
After my reminiscent post, For the Love of Tokyo, I came across more Japanese oddities that made my heart flutter. These sexy school boys may be the equivalent to a geek’s Maid Café, and admittedly while they look ‘cute’, I prefer my ‘boys’ to look show more bulge: broad shoulders, strong pecs, washboard abs, killer legs and pinchable bums. Know wha’ I mean?

She looked very much a blogger I know. And by that I mean one who has posted a photo or two on a blog I read. It has been a while since we properly “caught up”. So it was just a matter of time before we discussed the latest interests and hobbies.

I studied her face intently, as it has been a while, and compared her features to that of the blogger’s partially hidden head shots. Possibly… Maybe…Then for a moment, I dismissed the possibility. I knew her not to be as eloquent with the written word.

“So what is taking up your time of late?” I asked as we ordered another glass of red wine.

She gave me a hesitant look and quietly said, “Writing.”

My mind flashed with possibilities. Could my friend be the blogger in question?

I confess to a lingering doubt until she professed in an almost apologetic tone, “I’m into poetry”. She explained that she was not very good with words but used her writing as a therapeutic journey of self discovery.

I smiled and gave her encouragement to continue. Yet I never would have thought she would choose poetry. Erotic writing would have made a lot more sense.

So I had her penned as the erotic writer. But would I tell her?

Definitely… maybe…

Sorry for my lack of blogging and commenting of late. I never realized how committed one must be to keep a blog going.

Back in the days when I kept a diary, it was much simpler. Granted not as much fun and interactive but it seemed to take less of my time. Maybe I didn’t worry about grammar and typos back then. But a couple of my friends read this blog, so I have to make an impression now.

In fact, my best friend gave me a bit of advice when she read my blog: Link more (easy). Write shorter blogs (ahem…). Ask more questions. Write a confession. Put something up every day for a week (omigod). Do a Q&A. Vent your spleen. Use ‘fuck’ in a blog (just did…). Etc… Of course, she doesn’t have a blog and she doesn’t even comment here. Hello… Hello… is there anyone out there? was aimed right at you (how’s that for linking).

Truth is, I don’t spend much time online. Does that make me a bad person? After going through some changes, now that I’ve settled in the new house and did some redecorating, made friends with a couple of my neighbors, took up Pilates and joined a book club, time just slips away. And when it gets too much, I’m reminded that life is to be enjoyed to the fullest, and occasionally fun to see it through the eyes of a two year old; it puts it all into perspective.

What says you? Do you spend much time online ahead of living your life?