Blogs 'n' Things

[James]

[color=#808080]Before I say anything, I'm going to point out that there have been threads on blogs before.

[i]But[/i], we haven't had one in a while. And I've been thinking about blogs lately, because I've been reading through a couple. And I find them interesting, especially when I'm reading the thoughts of people who I'd really like to get to know more. It's a way of finding out how people think and feel without necessarily sitting there and asking them a whole list of questions.

My friends on OB will know that I've had about 10,000,000,000 failed blogs in my life. lol

Well, actually, only two. But both suffered from lack of updating/attention and were generally pretty poor. Plus, I kept having technical problems with 'em. But I've started a third (which you can find by clicking the "WWW" button under my posts). Hopefully this time, it'll work out. ~_^

Anyway, I guess that I wanted to ask people (especially frequent blog users) why blogs are so attractive. I mean, some people use them religiously...to the point where they're posting a couple of times a day or more, or they're describing every aspect of their life in great detail.

Obviously, blogs are kinda public. Anybody who knows the address can access 'em. So, do you find that you're really writing the blog for yourself...or for your friends and others? From my point of view, I really don't want to include anything [i]too[/i] personal in there, because no matter how personal the site is...it's still something that anyone can see, even people who I wouldn't want to share things with necessarily.

And yet, some people really get into some very deep ideas in their blogs. Some people write poetry (which can be great to read) and some use their blog in other interesting ways (surveys might seem boring, but you can learn so much about a person when they answer one).

But anyway, I also thought I'd give everyone the opportunity to link to their blog in this thread and to talk a little about it. It's nice to update this sort of thing now and then, because I know that I really enjoy browsing through the stuff people have done (some blogs are so personalized and unique that they're really fantastic to look through).

And since everybody likes surveys (or so it seems), I thought I'd make a little one here too.

[b]My blog address:[/b]

[b]Blog name:[/b]

[b]Thoughts behind it/reasons for creating it:[/b]

I guess the last question is more a general one. In my case, a blog isn't anything very serious. It's a way for people to learn a bit about me, especially if they're too afraid to ask...or if they simply want to read things that they might not have known. And I guess, in some ways, it's like thinking aloud. Putting your thoughts down in words (either written or typed) can really help you sort through things, I think.

Of course, I know some people really take their blogs very seriously, while others do nothing but tell jokes and funny stories...everyone's different. I'd really like to see what this thread comes up with, because I'm sure that there are many OB members out there who'd like to learn more about each other (and who may not know each other's blog addresses). Now's your chance. ^_^[/color]

[Guest cloricus]

To be honest, I have no idea at all. I first heard about blogs along time ago and subsequently looked for one that I liked, but never found a good design so I never started one. I had a renewed interest in them about four months ago and again failed to find one that I liked despite the appearance of several blog sites dedicated to blogs! (When I first looked for them there was one site and a few people who gave out opensource code for them, years ago.)
Any way the only thing I can add to this is a short story of a blog that I've been attached to that was made and is run by Raven; I was searching for a program that a friend recommended to [strike]hack[/strike] log into a "place". Anyway I came across this very interesting person (who in fact is very dull, but funny.(Raven)) and I've been reading and participating in his blogs for awhile now. And to sum this up how I began, my answer to the questions are plainly that I don't have a damned clue.

-eps-

[Desbreko]

[color=indigo]o_0 . . .When I click the "WWW" button, it takes me to "http://otakuboards.com/www.shineget.com/blog".

Anyway, you can find a link to my blog in my signature, but I'll also put the info up here since if I don't post my signature won't be in this thread, and hence no one will see the link. . . . Or something. :cross:

[b]My Blog:[/b] [url]http://www.desbreko.blogspot.com[/url] (Yes, I'm too lazy to host it myself. I did make a simple little custom layout for it, though).

[b]Blog Name:[/b] You Don't Want to Know

[b]Thoughts/Reasons:[/b] Well, the reason why I made it was because people kept telling me I should make one. So it sort of started out as a way to get people off my back about it. ;) After a while I started to get into it more, though, usually posting once per day. And those posts would usually consist of totally random crap that happened to me that day or that I was thinking about. (The "Random Thoughts" section that I had going for a while). Then I started to lose interest; I didn't really feel like typing out my thoughts and that anymore, and now I barely ever update it. Maybe I should start again. Most of the time I don't like to talk about overly serious stuff in it, but sometimes it spills out.[/color]

[James]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Desbreko [/i]
[B][color=indigo]o_0 . . .When I click the "WWW" button, it takes me to "http://otakuboards.com/www.shineget.com/blog".

[/color] [/B][/QUOTE] [color=#335062]

Ah yes, that was pretty bizarre. I've fixed it now though. ^_^

Anyway...

[b]My blog address:[/b] [url]www.shineget.com/blog[/url]

[b]My blog name:[/b] My Little Universe

[b]Reason/thoughts:[/b] I'm the same as 'breko, basically. People were asking me to make one and suggesting that I should. And some people got mad at me for not updating my old one, lol. I was surprised that anybody read it, because it was mostly pretty dry/boring stuff. Still, the new one should hopefully work out. I don't know where it'll go...but this time I think I'm just going to stick with the one blog, even if it doesn't cooperate. :worried: [/color]

[Solo Tremaine]

[b]My Blog:[/b] [url]www.solotremaine.blogspot.com[/url]

[b]Blog Name:[/b] Solo's Blog

[b]Reasons/Thoughts:[/b] I guess mine first started when I saw everyone else's. I used to have one on Bolt, but it fell through because I didn't have that much to talk about and didn't have enough free time to write anything in it.

I'm not too sure why I write in it, really. I think it's just a nice place to put thoughts down that you might not have had a chance to discuss. I admit, it can come to a point where you start writing more for other people rather than yourself, but it can be easy enough not to do that once you've spotted yourself doing it. I did for a while, but then managed to stop.

They are personal things. My blog's name isn't as interesting as a lot of other people's, but it doesn't bother me that much as I don't really think it needs to be called anything else. I know other names sound good and can be thought-provoking and interesting, but I just didn't want that, really.

Most blogs are just innane ranting I think, but it's good to get these thoughts out. Of course, I do my best not to offend people who may be reading it, but if you have a problem with them it's probably best to say anyway (albeit possibly more discreetly, by PM or something). But you can't expect people not to read it if you put it up. So in a way they're meant for other people to read. I'd hoped that people'd be able to get to know me better through reading the Blog (assuming they did)- sometimes I don't get to talk to people as much as I'd like to, and it's a nice chance to let people know how you're doing.

I try not to be depressing too much of the time in my blog. Reading rant after rant can get a little oppressive ^_^;

[Kei]

[color=royalblue][b]My Blog Address:[/b] [url]http://evilbadtzmaru.blogspot.com/[/url]

[b]Blog Name:[/b] Oh Badtz, Not Again.... (Weird, isn't it?)

[b]Thoughts/Reasons:[/b] Because my mom kept reading my journal and she's computer illiterate. (Kidding...slightly)

I basically use it just to spout random crap about my life once in a while. Rants, banter, etc. But I'll write in it if something big happens too. I think I'll keep this one up, though. I've had about three of them before this one. But I've got a nice little skin for it, so, yeah.[/color]

[JJ]

My Blog Adress: [url]http://jjriddler.blogspot.com/[/url]


Blog Name: The Blog of JJRiddler's Sad Life

Thoughts/Reasons: Basicly I just started this because I am doing alot this summer and I want to write about it. That and I need somewhere to ramble.

[Rain]

[size=1][b]My blog address:[/b] [url]http://ashyness.blogspot.com[/url]

[b]Blog name:[/b] Blog of the Squidge Queen

[b]Thoughts behind it/reasons for creating it:[/b] Everyone else had one? Heh, well Duo M told me I should get one, so I did. It's basically full of song lyrics, surveys (I'm a survey whore) and my weird schemes, with a few serious posts every now and then. I don't write too much personal stuff in there, because it's on the internet for everyone to read. Also, like Solo said, it's a good way to let people know how you are if you can't talk to them. Although, Blogger seem to like stuffing me around when I try to post. >_<[/size]

[Queen Asuka]

[color=hotpink][size=1]Interesting thread, Jamesness.

[b]My blog address:[/b] [url]http://www.teenopendiary.com/entrylist.asp?authorcode=B591183[/url] I never could get the blog website to work for me, so I found another venue.

[b]Blog name:[/b] ~*Fairy Lights*~ It's just a cute word from a Harry Potter novel. ^_^

[b]Thoughts behind it/reasons for creating it:[/b] Mostly so my Otaku friends could learn a bit more about me and reply to some of the things I have to say and perhaps give me some advice. Most of my entries are very dry, but sometimes I have real issues in there. It's nothing like my real diary, which is very personal, but what I want you to know, it's in my blog.

By the way, I love reading other people's blogs, too. I feel like I'm right there with the person. ^_^[/color][/size]

[Red]

[color=002E55]Well, a few people know what address my blog is at now, since I gave up with my other two.

You bring up a point there which I think I've brought up with you too.. some people are writing their blogs for others. I started doing that and it just seemed pointless; to create something that you put your feelings into like an open diary, but tip-toe around things.

My blog allows me to show those close to me how I feel about things without directly telling them. Something happened to me yesterday that took me 15 minutes to say to someone, but I just flowed through it in my blog. In some ways, it's a way of showing myself how I feel and how I think.

My typing in there seems to revolve around one person a lot of the time.. and it's like I've been trying to nip love in the bud and find out what it means, why I feel it etc. but I still haven't. It's interesting to see that one day I think I've found out how I really feel, yet the next day I come back feeling so differently.

I suppose I feel the overwhelming urge to be an idiot and give out my private blog address. lol.

[b]My blog address:[/b] [ Removed ]

[b]Blog name:[/b] Confirmed Idiot

[b]Thoughts behind it/reasons for creating it:[/b] I got bored of feeling like I was writing stories for people in my old blog - that I wasn't showing myself and others how I actually feel about people, or perhaps just one person. I rant in there, most of the time inconsistantly. That's what I like; not being so darn controlled, just typing as I go.

I've always been wanting to keep it simple, so don't expect an extravagent layout. I'm hoping to make a template myself though.. make it a little more personal.

I'm not going to stop being very open in that blog now that I've posted it on here.. I just suppose I feel kind of open today. Oh, and anyone who reads that stuff and doesn't like swearing, I apologise.[/color]

[conpiracymonki]

[size=1]
I blog whenever I feel like blogging. So the dates are real irregular.. miss a month.. then three in a day.. ¬.¬

But yeah. I seem to be having technical difficulties with mine right now. At first it'd publish the blog-post from the day before (so the blog was always one day behind), but now, all the blogs post, but don't publish onto the site itself. So I just keep it slightly living with the help of a flooble-thingy.

[b]Blog Address:[/b] [url]http://www.AJeh.blogspot.com[/url]

[b]Blog Name:[/b] [b]AJ:[/b] A Munky Among Men (One of two)

[b]Blog Title:[/b] AJ

[b]Thoughts behind creating it:[/b]
It wasn't really made specifically to show people how I feel, or what my day's been like, really. Just somewhere to vent out/rant on/chat about how good/bad/however my day went, and how I'm just generally doing. I'm not really bothered whether or not anyone reads it, or anything. But I more or less made the design myself, so it suits me very well, and doesn't look too ugly.

But it's really just some space to type up stuff that people might not want me talking to them about mid-conversation o.o

[b]*stabs blogger*[/b][/size]

[Spikey]

[COLOR=indigo][B]My Blog Address:[/b] [url]http://gamer10.blogspot.com[/url]

[B]Name of Blog:[/B] It's a New Day

[B]Reason/Thoughts:[/B] I made one for everybody to see my life in words. Nobody really wanted me to, I guess I wanted to, although I think now peaople will know the daily ruteen of my life. Atleast I hope, and I hope they are able to understand it. :)[/color]

[Shy]

[b][size=1]My blog address:[/b] [url]http://www.angrystudent.blogspot.com[/url]

[b]Blog name:[/b] Angry Student

[b]Thoughts behind it/reasons for creating it:[/b] Sara kept bugging me to start one, so eventually I did. I have had it since November, and during that time it has changed quite a bit. I think I'mm on the third laytout now, and the type of posting that I do has also changed. I used to post recaps of my day, and then I posted long and depressing rants about life, but it started to draw a lot of attention from the OB community. Not that there is anything wrong with people reading my blog, but I don't like the idea of a complete stranger contacting me because of something I said on my blog.

I don't know how much longer I am going to keep this, though. I have been toying around with the idea of starting a new one, and I probably will do that during the summer.

-Shy[/size]

[EcCenTriC fairy]

[size=1]My Blog Address: [url]http://www.livejournal.com/users/eccentricfairy[/url]

Blog Name: Uh... EcCenTriC fairy's LJ?

Thoughts/Reasons: I saw someone who had a LJ a year or so ago and I just [i]had[/i] to have one. :) I had my own blog on my own domain a little while back, but I'm too lazy to design new layouts for it and I got sick of the old ones.[/size]

[KittyLynn]

[SIZE=1] [B][COLOR=dodgerblue]My Blog:[/COLOR][/B] [COLOR=dodgerblue]www.thawrkx.blogspot.com

[B]Name of Blog:[/B]C-L's Corner. (Silly me)

[B]Reason for Creating:[/B]I always read most people's I knew. So I decided to get one. I wanted people to get to know me better, like my friends. But like Shy said, when stangers PM me about a blog post, I get uncomfortable. I like my blog. Its my first and only. ^^ And I looove my Kitty layout.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Transtic Nerve]

Who the hell came up with the word Blog? The word is just nasty in it's own connotation.

Address thingy: [url]http://www.livejournal.com/users/gackt_sama[/url]

Name thingy: LJ doesn't give names. Cause LJ doesn't give a shiznit.

Reasons/Thoughts: I probably have had my LJ longer than alot of people here on OB. I started it when one of my friends was like GO! GO GO GO! I had my LJ before they started giving out codes. It was a new thing and it was just becoming a trend. One of the firsts. Before the word "Blog" became popular. So yeah.... I rarely update the thing anymore, maybe once or twice a week. Yeah so I'm better than you! lol.

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson][b]My blog address:[/b] [url]http://deathknight.blogspot.com/[/url]

[b]Blog name:[/b] Divine Divinity

[b]Thoughts behind it/reasons for creating it:[/b] Its just my version of a diary/journal. But, I honestly hardly ever keep track of what I did that day, lol. Usually its just my place to put my theories into a form of writing, or rant. Maybe even to just plunge into online quizzes for a night. It just IS-- It exists for no reason aside from existence. At least that's how I feel.

Warning: Severe adult content in my blog.[/color]

[Mitch]

[size=1][font=century gothic][color=gray][b]My Blogs:[/b] [url=www.deathisaword.blogspot.com]Death Is A Word[/url] [url=www.livejournal.com/~lover_of_anime]Just Whateverness[/url]
[b]Name of Blog:[/b] Already stated above.
[b]Reason For Creating:[/b] Mainly, on the death is a word one, to get down some of my thoughts. The other one...no reason really.[/color][/size][/font]

[Queen Asuka]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Transtic Nerve [/i]
[B]Who the hell came up with the word Blog? The word is just nasty in it's own connotation.[/B][/QUOTE]

[color=hotpink][size=1]I think it's short for WebLog. Can't really give you much of an explanation, though.[/color][/size]

[Genkai]

My blog address: [url]http://www.ujournal.org/~genkai_yyh[/url]

Blog name: I'm not really sure..

Thoughts behind it/reasons for creating it: Well, I really don't have one... Not many people read, maybe one or two, and I only update it once avery 10 days or so..... I dunno, I always wanted a journal, but I don't like to write longhand unless I'm writing a story. I'm really hoping to start updating daily in england.



Well, I don't really know what the idea behind blogs is.. I really think it's a craving for a social life outside of work/school, since your friends aren't around, you still want people to check in on you, and vice cersa.. I dunno.

[Circ]

I feel quite sorry for you all blogspot stuck users...

My blog address: [url]http://circeus.pitas.com[/url]

Blog name: Cerveau Optionnel (current) Once Upon a Time (former)

Thoughts behind it/reasons for creating it: First a trend thing, but also to learn into HTML and wwebdesign. It became just an habit. It's a bit neglected right now. I'm out on layout, for some annyoing reason.

[Juu]

[color=ff00cc] [size=1][b]My Blog Address:[/b] [url]http://juuthena.blogspot.com[/url]

[b]Blog Name:[/b] Life of a Marshmellow Queen

[b]Thoughts/Reasons for creating it:[/b] Well, I've had about a million failed journals irl, and I've always wanted a place where I could keep a record of how days went...etc, etc. Then I figured, since I'm online most of the day, it would be better if I just started a journal online. I update as often as I can, even if nothing special happened that day. Usually, I just fill it up with rants about Ms. Cockburn. The only downside to blogs, to me, is that I have to be a little careful about the things I enter, since people do read it. Also, it gives you something to type under 'homepage'. :bluesweat[/color] [/size]

[amibasuki]

[FONT=arial]if there weren't any people here who knew me offline, I'd post the address; but since there's about four regulars on here who do, I'd best not. there's some stuff written in there that I don't really want anyone I know reading, just cuz. as for the title of it, it doesn't really have one. there's a quote at the top of the page from Les Miserables that goes "To love another person is to see the face of God". so I guess that could be the title.

I got a blog originally so it could be a spat spot to write about some stuff that was really upsetting me at the time, and so I could get it all out there and leave it there. after the situation was resolved (somewhat), I just kept writing in it, and now I write just about everything in there. and I just LOVE the layout! *big thanks to amiboshi for the help*.
[/FONT]

[Sara]

[size=1][b]Blog Address[/b]: [url=http://www.outsidemichigan.blogspot.com]outsidemichigan.blogspot.com[/url]

[b]Blog Name[/b]:
[url=http://www.manysparrows.blogspot.com]Dreamsicle Life[/url] [discontinued]
[url=http://www.limejello.blogspot.com]Lime Jello[/url] [discontinued]
[url=http://www.outsidemichigan.blogspot.com]Cera/Sara/Girl[/url] [current]
[url=http://www.derschmetterling.blogspot.com]Der Schmetterling[/url] [current]

Yes, I think four is enough..

I've tried online journalling in the past, but it never really worked--I kept a journal religiously for five years, and adding online writing to that just never worked out. When my regular paper journal sort of...dissolved...I tried online journals again. I started my first "long-running" (relatively) blog last August, and have had one or another going since then. It's nice to have an easy means of putting thoughts out there.

I had two blogs going for a while...slightly different purposes, but they ended up being similar enough that having two was redundant. I also ended up feeling that I was writing more for others than for myself, and that had to stop. I discontinued Eccentricity (dreamsicle life) and Lime jello and started another, semi-secret one. (With a layout I've been too lazy to modify since Day One, although the header image was only supposed to be up for a day or two...but that's another story.)

Right now I have three "current" blogs. One's not up there, and I really don't know whether I'm going to be giving the address out or not. It's mostly poetry, and giving out the url seems to be inviting criticism that I don't really want/need. (Before anyone claims that one can [i]always[/i] use criticism, it's just a writing exercise for myself. And a bit of an excuse to use a "punny" title I've had in my head for a while.. But anyway!)

I've found Blogger to be very convenient--lets me host my plethora of blogs without getting too confusing, has an easy-to-update system, etc.

Yeah, heh. I bugged Shy till he (finally!) started posting in one.

I read various blogs--I mostly link to them from [i]other[/i] people's blogs. (I'm too lazy to keep an updated list on my template..) It can be rather strange reading things you're sure weren't meant for you, but if it's on the internet, I suppose it's fair game.

A rather unnerving thought. ^_~[/size]

[Syk3]

I think that blogs are so attractive for the same reasons you pointed out. You are able to really get to know people a lot better without asking them a lot of questions, and in some cases you get to see a different side to them, often a deep side that is covered by comedy even when you talk to them on AIM or something. It's an online diary that takes knowing people better without even seeing their appearance to a whole new level. With blogs, I can see more about my friends, and find more things that we have in common without trial and error questioning. That's why I like blogs.

[b]My blog address:[/b] [url]http://syk3.blogspot.com[/url]

[b]Blog name:[/b] Asteroid Blues

[b]Thoughts behind it/reasons for creating it:[/b] Well, I had noticed that a lot of either people had started making one, so I made one to sort of keep up. I liked the results from personal experience when reading other's blogs, and wanted other people to feel the same way with my own blog. I also wanted to archive my life at this time through this open diary that I could always come back and read.