Carpe vivum testiculum. (grab life by the balls) (okay, so my latin sucks)
What is this you've clicked on? Just another meandering speculation on that which is blogging. Blogitat ergo sum.
First and possibly foremost, there is blogging as community. How so? Blogging allows the user to interact socially as anonymously as they wish, without risking worse rejection than a bad flaming. It allows us to join a community of fellow bloggers as a "family" at a site. It allows you to join with others of similar interest. Suddenly I have "friends," even though I might be afraid to ever meet with them in real life. And again, less risk of painful rejection.
For example, I blog on JU. Great. I am a community member. Okay, let's go one further, I'm a conservative. Suddenly I'm swarmed with fellow conservatives giving me a big pat on the back. I'm ex-military. Great, lots of military and ex military come on and read my stuff. I achieve approval. Hoo-rah. I leave comments on wahine's or dharma's or someone's site. They comment back. Neat. I just "hung out"with the cool girls and "talked" about our lives. It's not as "real" and in your face as life, but it allows warmth and intimacy.
Don't think this happens? Ask yourself who you spent more time with the last month, your blog or your friends? (or feel free to substitue family) If you made a significant effort blogging, either you're out of work, or it seriously cut into/substituted for your social time. Or how about the people who create entirely false identities in order to gain affection/sympathy?
This is not all bad. (okay, making up a fake blog as pathological lying is, but the rest.........) Americans, and many people everywhere have thrown away a great deal of their socializing. They substitue gaming, online or off, television, movies, phones, (especially the damned cell phone). People don't much sit and talk. Throw dinner parties. Have picnics, or dances, or church socials. Why go out when you can be entertained at home? Less effort, and less money. Blogging at least allows for some social interaction and is beneficial in other ways.
Like self-expression. I can get on and say things I wouldn't elsewhere. Express my emotions. Vent my depression without nailing the people around me. My anger. My joy. I can rabbit on and on about my obsessions and hobbies, and the worst that happens is that nobody comments on them. Although the truly obsessed can draw plenty of hate, such as some who post on nothing but a single political theme repetitively. By all means, if it means that much to you, post on it. But slip in a slice of your life somewhere else.
It lets you be a voyeur in peoples lives. Is this bad? If it's obsessive, yes. But in a situation where people are declaring themselves and their opinions voluntarily for viewing in a public forum? It's like being a voyeur at a nudist colony. I love to look around and see peoples lives, their stories, their families. I like to know their joys vicariously, and wish them well when they're down.
What else does blogging do for me? Well, there's the "look at what I did mommy!" syndrome. Let's face it. People like to impress other people. I love it when I make someone laugh through a joke I wrote, or a funny faux blog. I like points whoring. I like the opportunity that comes with commenting to have all the time you need to come up with just the right piece of witty (or witless) reparte.
So carry on oh blogging warrior, thou. Blog until your needs are met, and you meet with warm approval from all you come in contact with. Vent, and the world vents with you. Hold it in, and the world will read your flaming rant. Find what you need from people right here, as well as in the "real world." Blog a little bit further every day. Improve your skills. Get stronger. And blog for life.