Why read other people's blogs?

Yes

And, speak for yourself. :-)

Au contrare!

There are several blogs I read at least once a week, and they are always fascinating.

One is the blog of a Stay at home Mom with a son six months older than my own. It’s nice to read her archives and see what’s in store for me, and to know that the feelings I have are not solely my own.

Another is a blog entirely focused on reviewing and ranting about bad commercials (adnoxious.blogspot.com). Hilarious stuff. I submit commercials there fairly often. I love “Tagline Tuesday”. ^_^

So I can get leaks to albums that aren’t out yet
OH SHI- You weren’t supposed to read that!

I read blogs of people who have smart, insightful things to say about topics that interest me. That usually means they are experts of a sort. That’s really no different from reading a newspaper column, except in the medium and in the fact that I can respond in real time, and if my response warrants it, get a response back from the author.

I also read blogs by friends to keep up with their lives, not because they are more interesting than mine, but because I care about them.

Well, that’s the biggest generalization I’ve ever heard…

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2547112275_26195b4e93.jpg

I’ll admit I’m not a huge blog fan. But the one time I did decide to follow someone’s blog, I found it very interesting. It wasn’t because my life was uninteresting, it was because he was a friend of mine and he was traveling South America and starting a blog following his travels, complete with photos and everything. Since South America is a place I’ve never been but desire to go to, I found it especially interesting. Additionally, the blog I followed wasn’t the typical 30-something-year-old mom uploading 6 gajillion pictures of her toddler-age kids every day, nor was it the “rant about politics” blog. I suppose you could say I was only interested because it was a travel blog and because he was someone I liked.

I’m sure you’re correct in that some people do follow blogs because they’re bored and they have nothing better to do, so they choose to read about someone else’s life that they may deem slightly more interesting than theirs, but that isn’t always the case at all. Other people may simply be friends about the person and enjoy hearing what they have to say and keeping up with their lives (whether it’s political/editorial or if it’s just daily musings). It’s not much different than coming on a site like this or going on Facebook…

Before you question why people read blogs, you should question why people write them as well.

Please note: This is a question…NOT a statement.

/me rapidly clicks GA to Dominic’s answer

“Please note: This is a question…NOT a statement.”

I think it is both.

One of the main reasons people blog is to give people of common interests (e.g., fellow knitters, crocheters, etc.) tips and to give them some new project ideas. So that kinda explains why you read them.

I read a couple of blogs. They belong to people whom I “met” on another site. They put their own sarcastic spin on current events and political issues, and are extremely funny. One I read yesterday was a synopsis of Glenn Becks book “the Christmas Sweater” that was so brutally honest I had tears of laughter running down my face.

I’m not much for reading the day to day life minutiae of strangers lives, but if they are blogging while on vacation, and telling of other places, it is interesting.

I don’t follow any “people” blogs; I follow “subject” blogs. For example, I follow lifehacker.com because of my interest in GTD and computer stuff. I follow io9.com because I like to read about what’s going on in science fiction in different media. I’m really not interested in the authors but what they are writing about.

I only read blogs written by friends, so I can more easily keep up with what’s going on in their lives.

Everyone shut up! The great Sarcasm is about to speak

@raylrodr Are you generally uninterested in everyone else’s lives? Do you not care when friends of yours tell anecdotes? Tell you what they’ve been up to and what they’re planning on?
That’s what blogs are, essentially.
Your reasoning behind disliking blogs to me seems like you also don’t have interest in people at all.

I have spoken, thanks @Mike_Hunt, everyone may return to their tasks.

you’re thanking your what?!

I just see it as a friendly way of relating to other people. Also it gives you a different perspective on how people live their lives. I’d say it’s “better for you” than watching sitcoms :).

“I just see it ”

LOL I get it… You are an eye!!

I don’t even understand why people write them, much less read them.

There use to be a time you had to earn your 15 minutes of fame.

Now you just have to take it. Enjoying your own delusion of grandeur.

I read the blogs I follow for knowledge, to hear a good story or to make me laugh.

I read them for the same reasons I would read a book. Not all blogs are one person writing about their life. Some are book review sites, author tips, political coverage, photography tips. It’s like a free magazine on the web.

I’m with @drdoombot I read subject blogs and ones that I can apply to my life about life, money, parenting and humor. I’ve never read a personal blog of daily musings. I do have my own blog which I haven’t updated in a long time but it’s basically about doing things to make life as easy as possible.

I think it’s a lot about empathy. Seeing and understanding from a different perspective keeps our souls healthy and our brains sharp.

And some blogs are just as informative, interesting, entertaining, or biased as the news.

I read a lot of photography blogs, I like to learn new things and see how and what people shoot.

If anyone wants to follow or view my blog check it. William Brawn Photography

That is a very big assumption. I hope you are trolling.

This thread reminds me of an observation made many years ago by a commentator who said, “People watch television to see other people doing things that they themselves could be doing if they weren’t sitting there watching television.”

@Jeruba

Really? I could be on a mystery island that travels through time involved in one of the biggest conspiracies the world has ever seen? That would be awesome!

I’m with you @DominicX. I want to go to that island.

I look at some blogs on occasion; I wouldn’t say I ‘follow’ any. Usually they are about cooking yummy food! (Definitely ‘live to eat’ vs ‘eat to live’ around here!!) I don’t want to write one, though. I can’t imagine anyone would be interested as things are pretty uneventful around here most of the time. (Except that grandchild #5 has just arrived!! WOOHOO!!)

I only read blogs that have to do with topics of interest for me. I cannot think, offhand, of any blogs I have ever read to just read about someone’s life. The ones I follow are all articles or essays by people who write about things I care about.

I may pop on a friend’s blog if I want to see how they are doing but do not make that sort of blog a regular stop.

My blog, likewise, is not about my daily life. It is articles or poems… most highly topical. There are a few funnies scattered throughout.