Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Part 1: Solipsism

I wonder: what is the functional purpose behind keeping a blog? Is it narcissism? Solipsism? A desire for attention, a staking of undefined claims, or perhaps just digital graffiti?

Those who followed my blog while I was in Spain know that I wrote most consistently when going through one of the less-enjoyable times of my life. You all learned far more about my insecurities than you did about cathedrals and castles and the constant questioning of my sandals in winter. My blog came to mirror the Spanish buildings I walked past that still bore bulletholes and broken beams from their civil war, a confusing testament to already-aged injuries.

What was I holding on to? What was I memorializing and making permanent that was worth the effort? How terribly embarrassing!

All this to say: I confuse myself. Perhaps this all came to mind after seeing "Julie and Julia," and finding Amy Adams's self-centered blogging and fame-grubbing nothing short of insufferable. So naturally I am trying to sort it out on a public forum, in some odd confluence of meta and irony.

Maybe this will make more sense in Part 2: Solipsism and Stoicism. Maybe.

27 comments:

Katie Knobloch said...

I don't know who you are but I agree with you. I try not to post when I am having tough times - I have a seperate blog for that. But I feel like people post more when they are not feeling happy because they are reaching out maybe. I'm not sure it is just a thought.

Anonymous said...

Amiable post and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you seeking your information.

SoggyCereal said...

you just made me question myself as to why I blog too.

Really a mind-provoking read.

Anonymous said...

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now. Keep it up!
And according to this article, I totally agree with your opinion, but only this time! :)

Sushiboofay said...

LOL...I understand where you are coming from completely!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Ola, what's up amigos? :)
In first steps it's really nice if somebody supports you, so hope to meet friendly and helpful people here. Let me know if I can help you.
Thanks and good luck everyone! ;)

Fernanda said...

Hey, nice to meet you!

I'm Fernanda,24, brazilian from São Paulo....

I want to leave my opinion .... I think it's a need for exchange of experiences, needs to express themselves through words, for people who think or do not like you...

PS:sorry for the mistakes of writing, but my English is not perfect!

Anonymous said...

I am able to make link exchange with HIGH pr pages on related keywords like [url=http://www.usainstantpayday.com]bad credit loans[/url] and other financial keywords.
My web page is www.usainstantpayday.com

If your page is important contact me.
please only good pages, wih PR>2 and related to financial keywords
Thanks
foomapeta

daniel said...

Gna just share my views from top to bottom as I see them.
I feel this is a good simply because it’s consistent with how the user is used to seeing the comment form and filling out information in general. Filling out the name and email wont take me much time, and if you really wanted to go ahead and type the comment first, you can do so, not really that big of a work around. I’m .

study abroad

Amy said...

I appreciate your PO very much the picture with the article. Continues to refuel!!

Miss Construed... said...

Solipsism hey?

The belief that we can only be sure of our own unique existence.
Sounds like a reasonable excuse for blogging.

I'll have to check out the rest of your blog now...

rn

Miguel Tuason said...

I think we blog for various reasons... but it might be able to be generalized into one: we blog because we are leaving our own mark (words, thoughts, video, artwork) about something - an event, a person, an experience, whatever. Blogging is this generation's response to the incredible wave of information that was unleashed by the internet. It's a permanent, perfect documentation of modern human history. And it's fantastic.

Anonymous said...

i actually enjoy all your posting choice, very helpful,
don't give up and also keep creating considering the fact that it just simply nicely to look through it.
excited to view way more of your own article content, thanks ;)

erik_satie_rollerblading said...

The call to put it all down is compelling in our age. Whether or not anyone is listening.

Megan said...

A desire For Attention

Olívia Németh said...

Lovely blog!!

Mary said...

TO HAVE OTHERS LISTEN, without trying to fix, judge, argue or change you.

suzy said...

i blog, simply, because i like writing.
i don't think it's narcissistic. i think it's like painting or knitting or singing or math or lawn bowling or making sandcastles or bungee jumping or taking pictures or building spaceships: you do it because you love it; you do it because just doing it makes you better at it; you do it because you're wired to do it.
but maybe that's just me. :)

www.itwalkedonmypillow.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I blog to bitch and whine. But to have a valid bitch. I only bitch. Whining is my alternator or the washer.

meperry said...

Hello. Just found your blog and the feelings that you have seem to be universal. The blog can be like a diary and with that comes some random ranting. I find I have to stop and rethink some posts but for the most part I just let it rip. There is enough editing in life. If I decide to reread then I can delete it. Best, Mark

Jem said...

My purpose is to understand how beautiful my life is.

Megan West said...

alot of people have commented on this blog

i miss you friend

wish you would write more...or perhaps we should just talk on the phone..haha :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Iam Prabhu from chennai,joined today in this forum... :)

Anonymous said...

good points and the details are more specific than somewhere else, thanks.

- Norman

Anonymous said...

It was extremely interesting for me to read this post. Thanks for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to this matter. I definitely want to read more soon.

Avril Hakkinen
london escorts massage