Blog end?
“And now, the end is near...”
Well, as far as blogging is concerned, it certainly feels like it. As a platform it is certainly ‘old school’ and I get the impression that few people under the age of 40 writes one. The blogs that I follow - almost entirely Natural History themed blogs - are showing signs of having become infected by a general blogging malaise - fewer posts, shorter posts, a big fall in interaction with visitors. I’ve got the symptoms too. My posting exhibits a certain tiredness, not as frequent, lacks imagination, fewer comments being left and fewer visitors. This isn’t a whine, they are just the facts.
Is this down to the way our social media functions, in that platforms become passé, attention spans demand short tweets and not wordy lumps of copy? Is it too much effort for visitors to leave a comment, or are the posts not engaging enough? Of course, it could be that if a blogger is dishing up dull material then visitor numbers will fall, as will the number of comments that are left behind. I know that the accumulation of comments is not to be taken as a barometer as to the health of a blog, but their presence certainly points towards an involving one.
Even those blogs that are still producing thought-provoking prose and inspiring material seem to be talking to an empty cyberspace. I even find myself not going to my favourite writers as often, or as keenly, as I used to. Maybe time is up after all?
I still cannot bring myself to pull the plug. There are times when I know that I will post something, and that will galvanise somebody to go out into the field to seek whatever it was that I had written about. If that happens - even just the once - each year, then it was worth it. I used to write opinion pieces, satirical asides and loads of nonsense to pad out the space between my observation derived writing. That spark has left. Either that, or I’ve finally grown up.
The answer might be to send ND&B off on a sabbatical, to get its oomph back.
Well, as far as blogging is concerned, it certainly feels like it. As a platform it is certainly ‘old school’ and I get the impression that few people under the age of 40 writes one. The blogs that I follow - almost entirely Natural History themed blogs - are showing signs of having become infected by a general blogging malaise - fewer posts, shorter posts, a big fall in interaction with visitors. I’ve got the symptoms too. My posting exhibits a certain tiredness, not as frequent, lacks imagination, fewer comments being left and fewer visitors. This isn’t a whine, they are just the facts.
Is this down to the way our social media functions, in that platforms become passé, attention spans demand short tweets and not wordy lumps of copy? Is it too much effort for visitors to leave a comment, or are the posts not engaging enough? Of course, it could be that if a blogger is dishing up dull material then visitor numbers will fall, as will the number of comments that are left behind. I know that the accumulation of comments is not to be taken as a barometer as to the health of a blog, but their presence certainly points towards an involving one.
Even those blogs that are still producing thought-provoking prose and inspiring material seem to be talking to an empty cyberspace. I even find myself not going to my favourite writers as often, or as keenly, as I used to. Maybe time is up after all?
I still cannot bring myself to pull the plug. There are times when I know that I will post something, and that will galvanise somebody to go out into the field to seek whatever it was that I had written about. If that happens - even just the once - each year, then it was worth it. I used to write opinion pieces, satirical asides and loads of nonsense to pad out the space between my observation derived writing. That spark has left. Either that, or I’ve finally grown up.
The answer might be to send ND&B off on a sabbatical, to get its oomph back.
Comments
For what it's worth, I enjoy revisiting some of my older posts from time to time, and consequently regret deleting NQS MkI and MkII. So don't do that. I also enjoy resurrecting it occasionally too. In other words, NQS is for my pleasure really, and if others get something out of reading it, well, that's a bonus. Don't know if that helps at all..?
Given the chance, it all comes out in a rush, but eventually the flood slows.
Quality over quantity from then in.
Saying that, I do know how you feel and have made such comments myself but the key is, dont do anything. Just sit back. I hate the fact that I cant get off bloody facebook and twitter, it must be like smoking! But those things fill a gap of conversation that blogs no longer do. However, if you want to post something more meaningful and lengthy, Blogger is the best way to get it out there.
On top of all that, although we have not met, I see you as a friend. We have had good chats on here, our competition and even some private email stuff in difficult times. When people say that 'friends' on the internet are not really your friend, I think thats rubbish. people used to have pen pals for decades, now we have this!
I 'speak' to you as often as I do some friends I grew up with.
So, in your low, bored phase, just take a holiday and come back when you feel you need to get the word out there... we love it all! Just dont be too long...
Best wishes Steve...