I finally have some insight into the motivations behind a common question many close friends have asked: “I know you would journal anyway, but why do you have to share it with complete strangers?”
Typically, I explain that the public nature of blogging is more a side effect of the means of publishing, where it is incredibly easy to reach a wide audience, than the result of pure intention. I also explain that I consider my blog to be “virtually private,” given the work that someone would typically have to go through to stumble onto it. I always admit, however, that I do appreciate how blogging creates the possibility of making connections with people I might not interact with otherwise.
Today, though, I thought about creating a tumblelog in addition to my regular blog. Why, you might ask, would I need another blog? Well, I thought, it would be nice to have a place to put the incomplete thoughts, observations, and experiences that aren’t worthy of being on my “real” blog. That was when it became clear.
As I thought forward to what a typical post might be like, I considered the unlikelihood of having any sort of audience, because of the sheer unreadability of such a blog. But then, if so poor in quality, why share? In that moment I saw that to publish such prattle would liken me to those dreadful students who utter unintentional non sequiturs and regard their words with far greater importance than they deserve.
The desire to have a tumblelog does point to a personal need for (yet another) avenue to release creative energy. But for your sake, brothers and sisters, I will keep those things private. After all, I’m not a narcissist.