Why blog?

Why do we blog. We blog to express. But just like me, there are many who like anonymity. We like anonymity because we do not like to be judged. For each one of us, it always takes time to open up. And then, while blogging, its about the challenge to open to a vast audience. We want the kudos from the audience, but we don’t want to be judged. We have always learned to express ourselves with those we confide in. Its because we know them. There is a level of trust built in. We communicate at different levels with different people. We decide to open up, partially, fully, circumstantially or not at all depending upon the trust relationship we establish with people.

I don’t think one should be blogging because everyone does. Blogging is a medium of expression. But then, so is Notepad. I don’t have to blog if I just want to write notes to myself. I can do that very well in my Notepad. Blog, as I have learnt, is a publishing medium. I have realized this after a very long time and after a lot of internal strife. I don’t want to be blogging just because everyone is doing it. I have to be realistic about the fact that, as soon as I start "publishing", it gives rise sooner than later to an inquisitiveness to find out if anyone is reading it. And unless I am not really sure what I am blogging for, I may just be doing it to keep the page updated and please the audience. While publishing mediums may have different motives and aims, blogging as such has an unwritten classification of it being a medium of self-expression. People may then get interested in your views or they may not. Given that, you may have a following or you may not. It is important to remind myself from time to time about this. That blogging is a publishing medium aimed at self-expression. However it is also a stage where you are performing. And that there cannot be a performance without an audience. The challenge is to be resolute about expressing yourself without getting biased by the audience. At the same time, be open enough to recognize if you have one. That sure is walking a tight-rope.