Interviewee: Me (Question #4)

Noodle asks, Has the “blogging experience” been what you wanted and expected? Is there anything you would change if you could?

Well, where to start? Since I first began blogging with no real expectations or desires (other than a constructive way to spend my time), I guess it has been what I wanted and expected. The most I can do is offer a few observations about the ways in which blogging has surprised me…

When I switched my blog host to shake off some unpleasant folks who were stalking me on Blogger, I chose WordPress because I liked the way that some of the WordPress blogs I’d read (Self Portrait Challenge and Scrapalicious to name but two) were layed out. I also admired some TypePad blogs, but they cost money and I definitely wanted something free. At the time Blogger didn’t offer categories/labels, and being the borderline OCD chick that I am, I was totally coveting this feature.

So, faced with a choice of WordPress (free) or TypePad (not free), I chose WordPress. (Duh!) I had no idea that, for whatever reason, WordPress blogs are drawn to search engines like moths to a flame. I started getting traffic, and lots of it. That was a big surprise, and certainly not something I had expected. After all, my whole purpose in switching to WordPress was to regain some anonymity, not introduce myself to the world!

Another surprise: people I don’t know read my blog regularly. And there are people whom I do know, people who are not in my family or my closest circle of friends, reading my blog regularly. Every time I get a comment that starts off something like, “I’ve never commented before, but I read your blog all the time,” I don’t know whether to cringe or cheer. I didn’t start this blog for an audience and still don’t intend it to be, but I don’t really mind. Naturally, it’s flattering to think that someone wants to hear what I’ve got to say, even if it is mundane, trivial stuff most of the time. However, since I tend to be introverted in person, it’s still a little weird.

So, what would I change?

1. I would love for all blog readers to abide by the guidelines set forth in The Blogger’s Disclaimer.
2. I would love for the Internet Trolls to die off altogether.  It can’t happen soon enough.
3. Lately I’ve been toying with the idea of taking this blog off of WordPress.com and self-hosting it, but really, that just seems way too complicated. Plus it wouldn’t be free any more. I think it would also propel me to the rank of Serious Blogger, and I just don’t think that title fits me.