Every now and then, I ask myself, why blog?
Some bloggers have a great expertise in one area and can make great contributions by adding their insights to current affairs. When I have a burning need to learn more about out-sourcing, I can go to Dan or when I have to find out the size of John Kerry's penis, there's Wonkette. I have some expertise in a few areas (not those areas), but I'm too lazy to contribute. I have also already undermined any mantle of expertise by relating one personal misfortune and mishap after another.
Some bloggers host great discussions in their comment sections, like Crooked Timber, and others are driven by strong political passions. I admire the hard work of those blogs, but I don't have the time or the attention span to spend on those efforts.
Me? I just like to write. Sometimes I get in a tizzy about a particular topic, which keeps me going for a week or so. Sometimes I'm just telling a story.
Last month ago, I was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune and the Wall Street Journal about blogging. And they asked me all sorts of questions about my blog, which stumped me.
Who is your audience? I dunno. My husband?
Why is your blog called Apt. 11d? Um, because I live there. Actually, I had a really pretentious reason for calling it that, but as I started explaining it to the reporter, my voice sort of trailed off. It really sounded stupid as I was explaining it.
I hope no one ever asks me why my blog is called 11d. See, it actually means nothing. Maybe it's Barbie's bra size.
Then the reporter from the WSJ asked me questions about blogging trying to get me to give him good soundbite about the blogosphere resembling a townhall meeting. And I said it was, but it wasn't. I waffled on. I think I even gave him a long quote from Hannah Arendt. Needless to say, I wasn't included in those articles. I give lousy soundbite. But after replaying every stupid thing I said over and over, I have rehearsed all sorts of smart things to say in the future. The blogosphere IS a townhall meeting.
The problem with having a blog without a clear objective or purpose or even a meaningful title, is that sometimes, like tonight, I have no clue what to write about.
And then there's the question that buzzes around in my head from time to time... If I'm not contributing the greater good in some way by doing this and I'm certainly not earning any money at it, why do it?
