Bloggers

Do you ever run into an ethical or good-manners consideration with your blog. Last week I put up a picture I found on "google images" to inspire stories with my challenge. But in thinking it over, I decided it was not the right thing to do. Why should I steal someone's picture to star in my challenge? Why imply that this guy is the star of our stories?

I also posted a piece about my Dad that when I thought about it was too personal. I took it down.

Do you ever take down a post because something like this comes up? Where is the line in people, topics, events you blog about? I have taken down many posts over time. Some were too angry, some inadvertently were wrong-headed, some too personal. Some might embarrass family members of friends. How about you?

(I just painted my front door this color. Didn't realize where I had seen the color before until I came across this photo from Tucson. Too bright? )

Your first Blog Entry

I still prefer blogs to facebook or twitter. Blogs are like visiting someone at home. Facebook is like passing them on the sidewalk. And twitter is like yelling out your car window at them.

Speaking of blogs,


The first thing I blogged about under pattinase in mid 2006 was this:

John Mark Karr

Is it just me or are too many people getting their kicks from whaling on this guy? Chances are he's some nut but much of the criticism is about his looks. Have you ever seen anyone being hauled away in cuffs who didn't look off.
Since when is it acceptable to make fun of the mentally ill.

Today-I have no idea now who Karr is or what he did. This seems an abrupt beginning for a blog, but I had a blog under another URL first for about six months. Can't remember what happened, but it imploded and someone set this one up.

What was your first entry about--if you have a blog.

Blogging is such a weird and wonderful thing.

Not my blog, yours.

I have become very involved in your life: the death of your mother, the illness of your aunt, the tornado that hit your house, the closing of the facility where your father (with Alzheimer's lived), the new kitten/dog you found on the road, your recipe for short ribs, the music you listen to, the movie you hated, the book you wrote, the award you won. The good, the bad, the prosaic. YOU.

And sometimes I talk about you to my husband--as if you really exist. Existed in the world I physically inhabit. He thinks I'm crazy some days. Have you added to the people in your life because of the Internet? Is this a good thing? Should I worry about your dog eating lilies, your bookstore closing down, your kid throwing tantrums, your ailing hip, the length of time it takes you to rise from a chair?

What do you think about this new community you live in. Is it real for you--or just me?

COMMUNITY

Something odd is happening more and more. I find myself reading, watching, and listening to things that people on blogs have suggested. My MP3 player is loaded with music recommended by people on here last spring. I am reading books I never would have heard of if not for the Internet community. Right now I am watching a many part DVD series from thirty years ago called Playing Shakespeare someone recommended. And reading Otto Penzler's THE LINEUP, also recommended online.

Isn't this a strange thing? That a bunch of people who have mostly never met can share such information. Is this true for you too? What was the most recent thing you saw/heard about on the Internet or on blogland and read, watched or listened to you that you might not have heard of otherwise?

BLOGS

Fathers reading. And a Happy Father's Day to all.

What attracts you to a blog? Obviously common interests attracts. Do you continue to gravitate to a blog where the blogger never gravitates toward yours? Does the "personality" sometimes put you off? Does the politics of the blogger sometimes put you off? Does too much blatant self-promotion repulse you? What is the biggest attraction on the blogs you seek out? The biggest reason you stop going there?

Don't Ask Me to Choose

I love all of your blogs--you should know because you find my comments on there often enough.

As for addictions: the Internet, French movies, junk stores, old books, You.

The Hub

Buster Keaton reading.




May I point you to a zine you might enjoy-specializing in science fiction, horror, fantasy, crime: The Hub. Please note Gordon Harries fine appreciation of RED HARVEST therein.

Gordon teaches at Manchester University (UK). You can read him too at his own blog. http://needlescratchstatic.blogspot.com/

Gone for Now

I just removed some links to blogs that no longer appear active from the list at the side.

It makes me sad when people I visited several times a week for years, be it electronically, disappear. What are they doing? What are they writing? These are the things I wonder about.

I miss Tribe even a year and a half after his disappearance from here. The occasional email does not sustain me because I want to know what he's reading, what movies he's watching on a more regular basis.
I try to respond to people's comments here and comments on their blogs so there's something in for both of us. A reason to keep this relationship up.

Blogging isn't for everyone, I'm sure. No one else in my family blogs. But some people (like Tribe) are very good at it. They manage to put their personality into every entry, making their blog something special.

Do you contemplate giving up on your blog if you have one? Cause I need a lot of warning if I have to let you go. And you people that don't have one, you might just have to step up and start one if we keep losing people here.