Intent, part 2

The more I write for this blog, the more blogs I read out there in the blogosphere.  (Somewhere, there are the Ghosts of Professors Past doing their best Mr. Burns' impressions.  Excellent!)  And, gracious, there is a crapton of blogs out there.  I guess everyone with a computer is a writer.  (Reminds me of a Family Guy quote: Every hot girl who can aim a camera thinks she's a photographer.)  I'm not belittling any one's contribution to the blogosphere nor am I being a writing snob.  Here's what I've noticed.

1.  The majority of blogs have a specific focus.  Mommy blogs, daddy blogs, fashion blogs, rage blogs, and so on and so on.  (I claim in my info that I will not be pigeonholed into one blogging category.  I just like to ramble about anything.)  And, the reason these blogs have a specific focus is to do the next item.

2.  The majority of blogs want/try to build a fan base.  Please repost this to your awkward social network.  You like me, you really like me.  And so on and so on.  The reason these blogs have a fan base is to do the next item.

3.  The majority of blogs are trying to make money.  Maybe I'm just naive, but this one surprised me. I've had to wade through so many advertising side bars and pitches for my latest book and come here me lecture at the College of Kalamazoo.  Blogging in and of itself is a job?  Really??  I can understand if one works for a publication to have a blog make money.  I can also understand if a famous person starts a blog after the celebrity is established.  (I believe that is why I follow Steve Martin on Twitter.  He's that damn funny.)  But, gaining popularity/celebrity BECAUSE you have a blog seems backwards to me.  It's like being famous for being famous (I'm looking at your Ms. Hilton).  Then again, I do love The Oatmeal.  I guess it's all about intent.  If you want to make money in your pajamas, you can do it.  Just send me $49.95 and I'll send you my instructional DVD.

Speaking of intent, I would like to address the people who leave comments on these bazillion blogs out there.  Stop promoting your own blog in the comments (it's like spamming).  And stop trolling.  Have you nothing better to do with your time than correct other people's mistakes?  If you really get your ya-yas by trashing the grammar of others, then become an English teacher.  (I know you really do it to make yourself feel powerful and mightier.  Having low self-esteem can be so socially crippling.)