Much ado about nothing

Yesterday, I was generally publicizing my blog to my newly web-savvy aunt. She asked me what my blog was about. The most simplistic of questions, yet the most complex when it came to answering it. The answer "nothing" sprang to my lips immediately (figuratively speaking, of course) for in reality it would rather have to be my fingers as we were GChatting. But my answer didn't sound good.

What's the blog about? It's not about anything. What sort of publicity line was that? And why or how would it ever sell? On the other hand, MindBlogging is about everything. Everything I am concerned with in any case... be it day-to-day or thought-to-thought. And then it struck me that it definitely wasn't easy to find the fine line between not sharing anything too personal while being entertaining and ultimately just talking about my own life or thoughts with the exception of now-common food blogs sprayed through the other posts. That's the thing about personal blogs I suppose. While food blogs, movie blogs, investment blogs and the whole world of other generic blogs out there probably have a steady stream of regulars, it's harder to retain interest in a personal blog.

So, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my regular readers. I hope it's half as entertaining for you to read as it is for me to write it. Keep visiting!

Screen to screen

You know how somethings just sound better face-to-face than by any other means? A letter or an email for example can often convey the wrong tone that leads to misunderstanding from reading between lines. An unintended sarcasm or pun might spring up at the wrong place totally muddling the object of the message. But we all know that. But have you also realized that saying somethings over chats/IMs are easier than face-to-face? Especially something negative or embarrassing is so much easier to peck away at the keys rather than say it face-to-face. Of course while you wait for the response from the other end, the wait can seem like eternity, but that's an entirely different thing.

Why is it that so many of us find it way easier to just "chat" the sensitively important stuff away rather than convey it in person, if possible or at least over the phone? Is it because the web eliminates that smidgeon of personal contact and thus makes it possible for us to send across messages more objectively? Or is it that it's easier that you don't see the other person's shock/surprise/hurt and regret it an instant later? Regardless, there have been plenty important things that have been communicated more through IMs than other means in the modern age. Maybe above all, it's because of the accessibility of this technological era. That you can "be online" wherever you are and people who want to can certainly keep in touch with you. And that helps you stay connected no matter the real distance and so it does increase the bonding and perhaps it's just as easier to spill the beans. Maybe in a lot of ways it's similar to blogging. Not all the topics written everywhere are something you can sit and talk with the same someone to. It's more like an exposition of what you want to say over a means that can find other net-surfing people to read it and the kindred souls to comment. It is easier to write a blog than to talk with a lot of people... see what I am saying?

Blog vs. Diary

I have always been a Diary person.. or so I thought. In fact one of my very first posts here began with a Dear Di.. Its been about 2 years since then (or maybe a year and a half.. I can't remember and I m too lazy to go back n check). But I've come a long way in terms of blogging. From being the person who thought - how can someone blog their innermost thoughts to blogging 5 times a day - I HAVE come a long way.

But as I have entailed this journey, there are a few things I have noticed (as must a million others) - there are key differences between a diary and a blog. They are mutually exclusive for one - I can't imagine writing all of these blog posts in a diary and I can't imagine writing what I do in a diary as a blog. I guess the blog has your outer-most thoughts and the diary the innermost. The blog is what you WANT to share while it is unimaginable with your diary. Maintaining both may one day drive me crazy.. yet, here I am with my second entry of the day!

Cheers to both form for helping me keep my sanity as I drive others insane!