Weird phenomenon I'm noticing here:
Bloggers don't read blogs.
Bloggers read friends' blogs.
But blogs for the sake of reading blogs?
Not so much.
[[Side note: Today's post drinking game = jello shot for whenever I say "blog". GO!]]
So, as I do with any outwardly observed phenomenon,
I made it about me.
why don't I read blogs anymore??
1. Jealousy.
Jealousy's a big part of it.
In fact, I find that bloggers have a more difficult time reading blogs than say, laymen.- presumably because there's a competitive, envious side that comes out when faced with work so similar to our own.
2. Annoyance.
Likely based in jealousy, true, but there's something very...irritating...about most blogs nowadays. Maybe it's the I-could-do-it-better syndrome that's much easier said than done, or maybe it's just the fact that the premise behind fashion blogs in particular is, well, annoying.
In what other context would it be OK for us to routinely photograph ourselves, talk about ourselves, and then attend events centered on ourselves?
3. Guilt
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I, for one, feel incredibly incompetent when compared to other "big" bloggers- which, if we're being honest here, are the only real "bloggers"(aside from friends. see: this post's intro) that I know about anyhow.
Guilt for not working hard enough, guilt for not being able to parlay my skill set into something lucrative, guilt for feeling guilt, etc, etc, e-to-another-c
4. Time
Granted, I can make time for 6 Sex and the City episodes per night (even when I'm moving across the country in T-minus 3 days), yet taking the time to peruse the work of others feels almost . . . gluttonous. Shouldn't I be strategizing my own success?
5. Boredom
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Is it just me; or have most fashion (etc) blogs become minor adaptations on an original theme?
True- beautiful things will always be beautiful, but quite honestly - how many east village exposed brick backdrops & tropical affiliate-link-sponsored getaways can I witness before my eyes start to glaze over?
I imagine the number is roughly akin to the licks required to reach the center of a tootsie pop. Give or take a million.
Do you have a blog? If you have a blog, do you read blogs?
If you don't have a blog, do you read blogs?
Does having a blog affect whether or not you read blogs, or are blogs losing their steam?
Just some hump day food for thought.
Cheers.
Once again, you've managed to pique my attention not from the photos or fashion on your blog (which are eye-catching as well), but your content and your words. I really enjoy your love for--or maybe not love, maybe just noticing?--phenomena. As another person who enjoys blogging, I have found myself reading fewer and fewer blogs of people I do not know on my bloglovin feed and sticking to blogs by people that I follow on tumblr. ESPECIALLY the mutual follows. Why is that? I don't know, honestly I think I owe it to them more than I owe it to other blogs. In addition, I actually find myself reading popular blogs less often than blogs with less followers, probably because I feel like they don't need me to read it as much. It's weird, though, isn't it, how there is a culture to blogging and don't get me started on the politics.
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to quickly compliment you on the uniqueness of your photos. You touched on this in today's post, but a lot of blog photos all look the same. As a girl from another rural-heavy state, I know that you didn't exactly choose your background or where you grew up, but I think it's worked out for you. :)
Thanks for a compelling read!
Kayla-
DeleteThis is literally one of the nicest, most thought-out, amazing comments I've ever gotten on this blog.
I can't believe you took the time to write all of this, and you have NO idea how much I appreciate the fact that you not only read the posts but have an opinion about them as well.
That's such an interesting observation about the fact that you also only read blogs by people you already have a connection with and oftentimes those are also ones with less followers. I'm finding the EXACT same thing. I'm so glad it's not just me.
Thank YOU for a compelling comment.
-gab
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLoved this post. I feel that I don't read as many blogs now because I find them to be very fake - particularly the big name bloggers. As I get older I'm becoming more interested in hearing about things other than just what people wore that day. I want to learn something about a city or something new - sort of getting sick of just seeing someone standing around showing off clothes (although I still do it on my blog every couple of days). The blogs I like the most have a nice mix of fashion and real life. Absolutely love, "Love Taza" or "Old one and the wee one too". I also like reading up on what friends are doing - otherwise I don't really look at others.
ReplyDeleteOk, it's time for me to de-lurk.
ReplyDeleteI'm a (recently) former Wisconsinite and I've been reading (and loving) your site for the last few months! Ever since I moved to San Francisco, I've been overwhelmed by the love and support of the blogging community here. At the same time, I've also noticed a change in the way I read blogs. I've gone from reading dozens of strangers' blogs to skimming all of those blogs on my reader and actually taking time to read the blogs of the people that I know! It's so fun to have internet friends (!) that have their blogs. Except for now they are real life friends who I do real life things with! It's like virtual reality and reality have collided. Real life internet friends have totally edged out the competition of my blog reader.
I hope you have the same experience when you move to New York! If it's anything like San Francisco, everyone you meet will have a blog. Definitely explore the meet-ups and events and don't be afraid to email people asking to meet up! Even though I have friends outside of blogging, there's something special about hanging out with someone who has their own internet life.
Also, do you think the annoyance/jealousy/guilt is worse because you're a fashion blogger? I just do a pinch of fashion here and there and I have to say it's where I compare myself the most. I definitely fawn over a few food and DIY blogs, but it's mostly with admiration and awe and less with the envy I feel when I look at the bigger (prettier, skinnier, richer) fashion blogs.
Lots of words, but the summary is - meeting bloggers in real life has made friends' blogs > all other blogs. Good luck on your next adventure! I can't wait to read all about it. xo. Kelly
KELLY!
DeleteI am so sorry that I haven't responded sooner.
First of all: yay for de-lurking. Except "lurking" is such a negative word for attention that I've invited! haha
That's so awesome to hear about San Fran- NYC is seeming to be like that for smaller bloggers, but the big guns certainly don't want anything to do w/ us "wannabes". Which, you know, is fine- 'cause we'll take over the world soon enough ;)
I am really fascinated by your love of the collision of virtual reality and reality. It's such a tricky line to negotiate, because often the merging of the two can be really awkward (like when my new friends catch me editing photos of myself). Alas...I think it says a lot that you can accept a person for who they are in both realms.
Not sure about whether the annoyance is worse b/c of fashion. Could very well be. However, I know many photographers and food bloggers who really struggle with this competitive angst/low sense of self worth due to comparing themselves to other bloggers so....I'm pretty sure we're just all doomed.
Thank you SO much for the comment.
And for agreeing w/ me ;)
kidding.
sort of.
This is literally spot on. Love love love it! I stumbled across your blog via your CollegeFashionista "Around Town" feature. So I started my own style blog a few months back and everything you say about mostly reading the blogs of people you know is so true. I find myself almost addictively reading the posts of fellow bloggers from the midwest (s/o to Ohio) and getting kinda jealous. Like why am I not as good/popuar/original as them?
ReplyDeleteAnyway I'm definitely about to follow this blog because your honesty is so refreshing. Keep it up, xx.
(www.astoldbyflo.com)
yay!!
DeleteI'm so glad you read it and commented.
Did you love my hair in the CF post? Aykarumba. Wasn't aware that there would be photos taken ;)
I think we all struggle w. jealousy crap- only natural. I've found that the key is realizing that everyone has their own avenue to success, and what works for one person won't work for another. That keeps me from trying to mimic people too often.
Thanks again for the post. It's cool that you, too, are more interested in blogs of people you know.
I find it really fascinating!
-gab
I've had a blog for almost 5 years and have been reading other blogs for longer than that. The magic of discovering a new one (be it big or unknown) has not yet worn off on me. I think my own problem is the whole commenting thing. I can read ALL THE BLOGS but my comment trail might make someone think otherwise.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll update you in another 5 years and see what I'm thinking then! ;)