Blogging

Facebook and blogging

Over the last year I’ve read of several fellow bloggers who’ve left or put limits on their Facebook involvement. One is Deb; another is Jess; most recently, Pastor Dennis. I find something I can relate to in all of them. And I’ve found myself returning from time to time to my own post about Boundaries with Technology, where I “had my full say.”

Since writing that post in which I come down very strongly against Facebook, I should admit that I’ve tried it again. It was back in the early summer, when I decided that I shouldn’t be so judgmental and should make myself available “where everyone is” — on Facebook. It lasted a few weeks before I deleted my account, this time permanently.

While I probably still believe what I wrote in my “Boundaries” post, like many practices it has metamorphosed into something simpler. Instead of “Facebook is bad,” it’s more like, “It’s not my thing.” I just never discovered the appeal. It was one more thing that added noise to my life, and it didn’t add an iota of relational enrichment. I found that the things I learned about people there weren’t the things I wanted to know. I’m more interested in what you think and feel and believe. Somehow those things don’t grow in the climate of Facebook. I can see that some people like it or value it as an informational tool, and that’s fine. It just wasn’t my thing, and I don’t miss it.

I do, however, really enjoy blogging, and have since 2007. What’s the difference? At times, I’ve really struggled with spending too much time at it, or with silly things like which theme or which header image to use. A few times I’ve dug in and tried to be “ambitious,” wresting it into a niche — making it exclusively a book blog, or listing it here or there, or even, once, creating a Facebook page for it. (Another very brief tryst with Facebook.) But it always morphs back into the rather shapeless, eclectic creature it now is — a “whatever I happen to be thinking about” kind of blog.

Though I’ve struggled with giving it too much importance, I’m comfortable with where it is right now. My publication rate is not terribly consistent; some weeks I post a lot, some weeks, not so much. But if I have something I want to work out in writing, I have come to really value this place for it. I like that there is a fairly complete record of my reading here; I go back and look at my thoughts on this or that book quite often, and I’ve kept this record more consistently than I’ve ever kept one offline. I also value this forum for keeping a record of nature study, mainly because I can post the photos along with the reflections here. I take lots of pictures, but our printer is such that I can’t print out many at all — the ink cartridge runs out after about 5 photos, and it’s expensive to replace. Here is a place I can put some of them.

Even though I don’t post every day like clockwork, this blog has fostered a regular discipline of writing — moreso, and for longer, than any paper diary ever has. It has made the concept of “audience” immediate and real, too. There is always some degree of shooting my thoughts out there into the vague “blogosphere,” but there are some distinct faces in the crowd, people who have left comments pretty regularly and whose blogs I read. These things have helped me to develop as a writer because they help to keep me writing.

It’s not a diary. It’s not a place to record the innermost thoughts of my heart or the personal details of my family. That’s just as well; those things are reserved for my prayer life and my friendships. It’s not really “social technology” either; blogging is a self-publication platform, not a place that exists to “find friends.” But I have developed and value some online friendships here in the blogosphere. They’re not the same as face to face friendships, but they have a certain depth because this forum allows us to develop and exchange our thoughts. These friendships exist somewhere in the space between the verbal and the physical, between the printed word and the human voice. I’m not sure how to define them! But they are real, and I have come to value them (you) very much.

I’m not sure I can pin down the difference between Facebook and blogging, or that I need to. But while Facebook isn’t my thing, it appears that blogging is, and I’ve grown comfortable with that.

 

11 Comments

  • Barbara H.

    I wrestle with my blog sometimes as well — how much time I spend, whether I should do anything differently, etc. And sometimes I wish I had had one for years to keep up with books I read and what went on in the family, etc., though if I had trouble keeping up with baby books when my kids were small, I’m sure I would have had trouble maintaining a blog then, too.

    I appreciate very much the friendships made via blogs. It is different, but still real. I cringe a little when I hear someone disparage online contacts for “real life.” True, family takes precedence, and balancing time online with flesh-and-blood folks will always be a challenge, but the people we interact with online are real, too.

  • DebD

    I couldn’t agree more. I enjoy blogging because it seems to foster discussion and some kind of relationship. Even though the relationships aren’t like face-to-face ones (as you say), they still mean a lot to me too.

  • Jess

    I feel like I have come a similar conclusion. As I have been able to get some space and clarity away from facebook I find that blogging is drawing me back- for many of the reasons you have listed. And I grapple, too, with how seriously to take blogging, how consistent I should be or what is my “niche,” but overall I just like having a place to interact with people and ideas. I always enjoy what you share here.

  • Shannon

    I enjoy the connection I get from Facebook, but that connection was never expected or intended to replace others.

    Via Facebook I was able to reconnect with high school friends, college buddies, co-workers, and even got to know high school peers that I never really got to know because of silly cliques.

    What I get from my personal relationships, and from my blogging, is of course very different…but I wouldn’t want to give up either.

    Facebook for me is fun…friends and family often post snippets that make me laugh, and some days that is invaluable!

  • Alice@Supratentorial

    I could have written this post. For me, I think Facebook could way too easily become addictive or a huge time-suck. My husband joined when his high school class was having a big reunion and most of his class was joining to originally communicate about the reunion and then to keep in touch. But he’s the kind of person who uses it sparingly and I think well. It’s one of the same reasons I don’t have cable…not because I think it’s inherently evil but because I don’t fully trust myself not to get sucked in. I’m aware that blogging could also be looked at as a waste of time but for me it’s different in that it’s an outlet for self-expression/writing/thinking that I feel is worthwhile.

  • Carol in Oregon

    I’ve been blogging for almost seven years. Pre-Facebook, I used to blog 5-6 days a week. Now it’s about 1 post a week. I used to read 10-15 blogs a day, and that has dropped to 2-3/day.

    There was a period where almost everyone I know had a blog; it was, I believe, a fad. It is much easier to put a short quote, or short thought on Facebook than to write the kind of thoughtful stuff that you consistently provide.

    I have a long backlog of blog posts I would love to explore—many prompted by your posts—and I can’t really say I don’t have time to write. But it takes focus and effort. Gah!

    Rambling thoughts which need to be corralled. But I’m thankful that you blog, Janet!

  • Janet

    I’m thankful you do too, Carol! I look forward to the appearance of each post in that backlog. :-) I think there are seasons when “the Muse is upon us,” and others when we’re more on input — experiencing, and not getting around to the verbal processing yet.

    Alice, I was afraid it would become addictive for me too, but somehow it didn’t. I agree with you about blogging being a worthwhile outlet… and I’m glad you blog.

    Shannon, glad to meet you. I know there are lots of people who feel as you do about Facebook. I’m not really interested in imposing my feelings about it on anyone, just trying to clarify why I seem to enjoy one online medium but not the other.

    Jess, Deb, and Barbara, thanks for your thoughts — here and in your own blogs. I’ve benefited from your thoughts and reviews many times!

  • Amy @ Hope Is the Word

    Janet,

    DH and I are on FB, but I honestly find myself standing over in the corner by myself there, reading what others post but not participating often, much like I might do in real life. ;-) Our homeschool group has a private page on FB, and I like the interaction I get there, as well as the immediate feedback and information (for field trips, etc.) It’s also a way for people to contact me via private messages.

    However, I MUCH prefer blogging to FB. I feel like my real self comes out in my blog posts, more than a little status update ever possibly could. What’s more, I doubt many of my FB friends would take the time to read a REAL status update (that would be like some of my lengthy blog posts). :-)

    I sure am glad we met in the blogosphere!

  • Carrie, Reading to Know

    I have a FB account now which I use (much more than I thought I would!) because I have friends at a distance who don’t blog. I prefer blogging over FB any old day because I can spell out and record my thoughts much more easily, with freedom and flexibility. Blogging is a more satisfying way of communicating. FB is “convenience” for some who I find it difficult to communicate with in other ways. I love how you describe blog friends in the following way:

    “These friendships exists somewhere in the space between the verbal and the physical, between the printed word and the human voice. I’m not sure how to define them! But they are real, and I have come to value them (you) very much.”

    I wholeheartedly agree! They are an interesting sort, but nonetheless real, and I value them very much!

  • Janet

    Thanks, Carrie. Blogging has definitely enriched my life in ways I wouldn’t have anticipated, and your blog is one of those treasures.