I sat and read last night. Instead of talking on Twitter. Instead of playing Angry Birds or Bejeweled, or Words With Friends; which is what I normally do after I get the kids in bed.
For an hour, I read Mom 101′s archives. From 2006. I had a blog in 2006. I saw my name on some of the comments in her posts. It was kind of funny actually.
This is what I miss about the fast pace of blogging these days. The feeling like you could just sit and get to know someone from their archives. Everything is so fast these days. It didn’t always used to be like that. Before Twitter and Facebook and readers.
Yes, I read Liz’s blog back then. It was fun to read some of it again though. A few posts I remembered, most I didn’t. It’s been too long.
Today I read that one of my favorite bloggers, Jen at The Trephine is going to take down her archives. Thankfully she gave fair warning, so I can have the chance to read them today before they are gone for good. Today? I will read her archives again. Because she’s a great writer. Because her posts for the last 10 months have helped me, more than I could begin to tell her. Because she’s one of the funniest writers I know. I will read her blog today, while working, when I’d normally be on Twitter or looking at my own reader.
My reader is always full. That will never change. People are always on Twitter. I love that about Twitter. Someone is always there. Facebook statuses get updated faster than I can blink. There’s nothing wrong with it. Most of the time, I love it.
But yesterday, for an hour, it was nice to remember the old blogging world. To sit. To read. To be entertained. Maybe I didn’t get through my reader at all. But hey, it’s not going anywhere.
22 Responses to Somedays I miss the old blogging world
Grab My Button!
I’m a joiner
I do miss the ‘surprise’ of a blog post. Sometimes (and even I am guilty of this) telling something on twitter and still blogging about it. I love the reading of chapters of lives, which is what I think blogging is about. I think this is why I will always have a blog, because I love it so.
Domestic Extraordinaire recently posted..Around My Neck
Issa Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:25 am
@Domestic Extraordinaire, Oh I know, I so do that too. I try not too, but it’s hard. It’s also probably why comments go down. Cause hi, everyone’s already heard the story. Ha.
I love writing though. Adore it.
I’ve been blogging since 2008, which alternately feels like yesterday or 10 years ago, depending on the day. When I first started reading blogs I loved going through the archives to really find out who these people are and read their stories. I remember reading like 3 or 4 years worth of dooce posts over a couple of days. Now I’m lucky if I have time to read through my blogroll once a day.
It’s great that there are so many people blogging now, but it seems like it’s harder to get “involved” with them and really get to know them. And it’s a shame because there are a lot of real gems out there.
Mo recently posted..Three Things 5
Issa Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:23 am
@Mo, LOL. Yeah, when I say 2005, which was when I started, it feel ancient.
I think the key, is finding your people. Finding your niche and always connecting with those people first. I think at least. Shrug. I make it up as I go along.
But it was easier when I started.
We knew eachother back in 2006 when blogging WAS different. We were both just starting out and were lucky enough to find eachother. I totally agree. Things are different now. I’m still the same me. My blog is still the same. But it seems like there are SO many more blogs now than before. And TWitter, while I love it, def takes away from me reading blogs like I used to. Thank God for my reader though to keep me updated.
becky recently posted..The good
Issa Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:21 am
@becky, It was soooo different back then. And? It’s not that I mind how it is now. I mean, I’ve met some amazing people because of Twitter. I do heart Twitter.
I just some days miss the slower pace of blogging in 06′.
I think this is the reason that I don’t do the twitter thing much anymore. I always felt like an outsider and I felt like 140 characters just didn’t get to the essence of a person. Quick one liners rule the day and I wanted something more interesting/deep. I went back to reading blogs and have added dozens to my reader to grow relationships again. I do need to do more archive reading. Thanks for the reminder and I agree Jen rocks.
Issa Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:20 am
@Allyson/HBMomof2, Blogging is amazing. I love getting to know people through their posts. I do love Twitter though. For me, it’s entertainment. It’s also how I met my best friends.
I am relatively new to blogging, so I do not know about the old days. However, I do not have a Twitter account. I like reading and getting to know someone…maybe I would have a big following if I did Twitter, but for now, I am keeping it simple.
Mary @ A Simple Twist of Faith recently posted..Wordless Wednesday- Little Scientists
Issa Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:18 am
@Mary @ A Simple Twist of Faith, Meh, a big following is subjective. Trust me on that. I found my people because of Twitter. It helped with that. But blogging is my real love. Writing is my favorite piece of it all.
Oh this is so true. I read MY archives from my personal blog (before I started writing about living overseas) and it brought tears to my eyes. To remember the days when I didn’t feel any pressure to hit “publish” and never had the desire to “keep up with Mrs. Jones” by posting larger photos or more frequently …
When it was just about sharing life … wisdom, lessons learned. Thanks for the reminder to go read someone’s archives today!
naomi recently posted..WHATS WRONG
Issa Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:09 am
@naomi, You know it’s funny, I still write for me, most of the time. Which is why, I’ll always be a smaller blogger. I like it that way though.
naomi Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:19 am
@Issa, I hear ya … i keep tossing around ditching the blog about delhi … and just going back to writing for our family (that we’ve “left behind” …)
It was purer then … and less dramatic … and less – pressure.
I do have a blog that I write just for me … and that is 100% cathartic … no one reads it, no one comments … it’s nice like that!
naomi recently posted..WHATS WRONG
Issa Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:36 am
@naomi, You have multiple blogs? That hurts my head. Ha. Some days I can’t keep up with this one.
I had a blog before. 2005-07. Then family found it. I took it down and stopped for 18 months. Then came back. I just didn’t tell any of them. I use fake names for the kids, for my ex. Is why I don’t have photos either.
I miss the personal relationships a lot. I too love reading people’s archives. Their posts up to and when I met them, or starting following them. I like seeing how writers evolve.
Twitter is fun, when I’m able to get on it. But when I’m only able to spend a few minutes here and there, I miss so much of the conversations.
Issa Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:08 am
@Jill, I love Twitter. I also talk to the same people on Twitter. For me, it’s like a joint text message or something. Ha.
Pingback: Tweets that mention Somedays I miss the old blogging world | Issa's Crazy World -- Topsy.com
I miss those days too … in 2006, when you could read EVERYONE you cared about and say, “Hey! I write with her! On the internet …” without feeling sheepish, because now everyone does ….
Susan @WhyMommy recently posted..A different story
Issa Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 2:50 pm
@Susan @WhyMommy, Remember explaining blogging to people and them looking at you like you just sprung a second head? Oh those were the days.
Issa recently posted..I am from
I have to hold myself down to remember that no one will really notice if I disappear from the blogging world, but there are quite a few people who miss me in the REAL world if I don’t pay attention. That’s what I try to tell myself whenever I feel the suck of wanting to “be” somebody online.
I was a 2006 blogger, too. It HAS changed. Not all good or bad, but it’s different. I feel old. Where’s my cane?
tracey recently posted..Absolute- Complete and Unadulterated Joy!
Issa Reply:
September 10th, 2010 at 9:10 am
@tracey, I think people would remember. I still wonder what happened to people who left years ago. But I see your point. Definitely.
Sometimes I feel like I am the only one who reads blogs anymore. I love Twitter, but it sure has watered down bloggers.
Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah recently posted..And My Shadow