It has been brought to my attention that I probably owe you guys some sort of an explanation as to where I have been this past week or so and indeed where I will be for a while yet.
I have not completely given up on Small Glass Planet and shall probably continue it in some shape or other, but not just yet.
As you know, commuting as I do for at least seven hours a day leaves me with very little free time.
I realised that at least an hour of every day was taken up with cruising around Blogville, checking everyone's posts and commenting; and that's without all of the time I spent writing my own posts, the better examples of which took many hours to put together.
Sheesh!
This past week, rather than blogging I have got so much done at home, been out and about with friends and generally found myself with real quality time to relax, and I must confess I am thoroughly enjoying it.
The reason I started blogging was as a kind of free version of vanity publishing; I could write something or record some music and then send it out to whoever might read or listen.
My favourite posts have all been of that type.
Over the years, however, my little corner of the virtual world grew and mutated into Blogville with you guys and most of the time things were just fine and dandy.
Lately, however, my blog feels like it has become infected with a particularly tedious virus. A lot of the joy has seeped out of it and it has got very samey.
First up, there's the Facebook thing, then there's my own writing.
I noticed a while back that some of us were getting sucked in to the Facebook/Twatter (sic) mentality where creative writing and original thought has been gradually replaced by tedious, diary-style drivel and the kind of imbecile, "lowest-common-denominator" trash that those Godawful social networking sites are awash with.
If you're happy doing that kind of thing then by all means feel free to do it, but please not in my comments box.
Sorry, but that's not for me.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to spend what very few leisure hours I have telling people when I blow my nose or go to the bathroom or what type of tree I am; still less to read their own versions of the same.
I just got a little tired of the daily blog-grind.
It reached the stage where it was either get my life back or get sucked in to the Facebook/Twatter mentality of:
"02:18AM … I am sitting in front of my computer reading and writing utter drivel … What the fuck happened to my life? … Oh, and by the way, I am now about to walk into the kitchen to make another cup of coffee and hey! You have GOT to do this quiz! It turns out I am a larch … LOL."
Blech …
It reached the stage where blogging was becoming a chore.
It almost reached the stage where visiting my lovely Blogville neighbours became a chore, and that is not somewhere I want to be.
I like you guys way too much for that to happen.
Then there's my own writing.
With the exception of Germaine Greer, I never read any newpaper article where the writer's name is bigger than what they are writing about.
I've been a local paper features writer and I know how hard it is to continually come up with something good; that all writers have probably half a dozen good pieces in them and what comes after that is hack-work; worthless drivel written because they have to write it to keep their job, rather than anything worth reading.
Sure, they might feel inspired once in a while but most of it is just typed out on the grind and close to deadlines.
My blogging has felt like that for quite a while, now.
I used to come out with decent enough posts (or at least posts that I was pleased with) quite often, but lately it's been down to about one readable post a month and the rest has been filler.
I felt obliged to come up with a ranty post, a cookery post, a photopost, a non-dating post, a comedy post, a Gobothering post, yadda yadda even if I wasn't in the mood to write one.
It just became hack-work, as tedious to read as it was to write.
It was painfully obvious that the quality was suffering …
So I decided to stop for a day, just to see if it was possible …
And it was completely painless.
I switched off the email notification widget in my "comments" settings and changed my homepage to BBC Radio 3.
I have not checked my blog since and have no idea what - if anything - any of you might have written to me, and - quite unexpectedly - have not yet felt the temptation to go take a look.
I will no doubt start visiting your blogs again before too much longer (though of course I will never visit your Facebook sites or Twatters; you're welcome to those, but please don't expect me to join in), so don't be surprised if I start commenting again in a week or three, but I wanted to go cold turkey for a bit just to see if I could.
I can, and it is great.
If I do start posting again it will not be in my old manner of doing a post every day; I shall only write when I have something worth saying.
And I won't be checking everybody's blogs every day like I used to; I may well pop over once a week or so and then I'll only comment if I have something worthwhile to say …
And of course if you've written anything worth commenting on.
So that's where I've been: happily enjoying life in a social-network-free zone called the real world.
I have plans for the next couple of weekends so don't expect me back just yet.
In the meantime, I hope you are all well and send my warmest regards from the land of the living.
Your old neighbour,
Dive.
33 comments:
Dive, Let me be the first to welcome you back. I haven't even read the blog yet. Had to get in there.
Now that I've read your post I congratulate you on your priorities.
Well that didn't feel like warm regards so much as warm tomatoes being hurled pointedly toward blogland but that's ok. That is ok because this is YOUR blog where you are free to write or not write whatever strikes you as blog worthy. That would certainly be in "Dive's" persona.
But, alas, the people pleasing reciprocator is in that guy too and he wants to be liked and polite as he was raised properly to be. And now these guys have gotten all jumbled together and are tussling it out on the floor.
I certainly have gotten a grasp on you by now Dive and realize that you are not going to give mindless drivel the time of day for long and we like that about you. It is your intellect and well studied opinions(not to mention paper sharp wit) that give you much of your uniqueness.
I, as many others visiting you, am a relational sort who likes to get to know the people I am reading and think of them as multi faceted characters rather than just reporters or thesis writers. I'm certainly more interested in the person than the piece and that is where we tend to get murky.
It is fine that you aren't like that but you sort of brought us all on board by being so friendly and giving of yourself in the first place. You made us like you and care what happens with you not just your philosophies and that is why I don't want to lose touch with you.
I have much more time than you during the week(obviously) and still can't keep up with everyone everyday. You have exhausted your politeness almost to extinction. You CAN undo that without sending Dive in to tell us we bring down your intellect. I remember telling you not to bother with my blog as I would write nothing of interest to you. But, then I thought we became friends and you might care enough to loosely keep in touch if you quit entirely. That's what fb is for to me(No,I'm not suggesting it for you). But it can be different things for different people. I know you hate social networking, but to me it's like a window into my friends lives that I can knock on or walk right by and know how they are doing. Or if I want, I can even take a stupid quiz. It's all my choice. And it is yours as well.
I would, of course, miss leaving my book length comments if you quit blogging all together. baha I always imagined you bored on the train reading and blogging away. ;)
But, please DO write only when you feel like it and not ever as an obligation. Life is way to short and you need to be living it at large. Enjoy friend! Yes, I said friend, dangit!
Well, Shan said it pretty much for me I think and no, it certainly wasn't warm regards. I got the tomatoes full in the face like Shan did. I make no apologies for having been, amongst the rest of us; your audience and apparently the source of your boredom and disdain Dive. I'm sure none of us meant to be such a tiresome chore, merely putting a mark in our own way in our respective blogs and comments, as you have done and have been appreciated. It would be easy to place restrictions on those entering our comments boxes, with only certain tastes and personalities allowed, but it should be remembered that without readers, one is hardly a writer.
I nonetheless wish you well in whatever you do, of course and hope it's all a resounding success x what a shame to end with such views as you clearly have of us.
Hmmm, I've read these comments, and I didn't interpret your post as a tomato in the face at all. I took you to mean you want to be part of real outside of a computer and want to put real thought into your posts. I didn't think you meant we were a chore to visit because we were boring necessarily. I actually think I'm kind of interesting. hee hee
Enjoy your break, and we'll look forward to your redefined SGP.
Dive I’m so glad you checked in to give us an explanation for your blog break. Thanks for being blunt and honest. You’ve been at this blogging business a long time and I can see how it would be difficult to keep up the pace you have set for yourself, both doing your own posts and visiting other blogs. You already have it tough with that horrible commute, so if blogging is feeling like that, then it’s definitely time for a break. If you feel moved to post in the future, I’m sure it will be very illuminating to see what you’ve got to say. Thank you for all you’ve given us, and I hope to see you around! (By the way, E. Ludwig still has more to offer, so you might want to keep an eye out for that.)
Hi, Lupine Lady!
Thanks for the vote of confidence; I think I'm getting my priorities right at long last.
It took me fifty years but I wanted to be sure. Hee hee.
Shan and Lynn: Er … Sorry, guys, but if you'd read the whole thing like Robyn, perhaps you wouldn't have got the wrong end of the stick. The criticism was of Facebook, not of you.
Hey ho.
Robyn: Ah, thank you for reading and understanding.
I'll be popping round to visit before long.
Katie: you know I can't go long without a fix of E.Ludwig.
I'm sure we'll see one another around.
Oh Dive. You know I always read the whole thing. Maybe I just read too much between the lines. I just forget that I am ALWAYS in the "Types of people Dive doesn't like" category and my feelers got hurt. That's all. I totally understand the blogging time suck and everything else you said. I just think we use these tools differently and it doesn't mean they are necessarily wrong and hideous. I hope you dig in to your new found freedom and really enjoy it. The warm weather awaits! :)
I too read the whole thing of course Dive. I feel it wasn't just about Facebook - it was also about the bloggers you used to value, but as you say, hey ho. No sleep lost!
We all enjoy real time more than blogging, I would imagine, which is a small drop-in type of thing for most of us. I don't spend loads of time writing huge amounts for my blogs so I can see that would have taken up your time. I also know that most of us don't sit on a train for half the day so I do understand you need to do other things.
Wish you well Dive in whatever you want to do!
I'm with Katie: I appreciate your honesty.
You sound happy and that is what truly matters.
I love you.
And as we say round heah "I'll see Y'all tamarra" which is southern for "take care, be well and I'll see you when I see you! ;)
xoxoxoxooxx
Whoa there boys and girls ... who doesn't need a break from time to time.
Dive dear, you love us too much to quit altogether but with spring in the air, it IS TIME that you went out into the world some more and enjoyed real time instead of blog time.
You put so much incredible effort into all of your posts, even this one, that it is no wonder that it seems like work, not joy. All those cookery photos for example. Hell, when I cook, I'm too busy getting the meal to turn out right and then too busy eating it while it's still hot to photograph it!
Just a couple of lines now and then, like "having a ball, wish you were here" will suffice.
Also, you are amongst the most dedicated return commenters I've ever struck. Maria for example, almost never comments on comments she receives. I do, sometimes, when I can fit it into my schedule but often I simply can't. I've also been really busy over the last month with my schizophrenic sister who is at last back in hospital (but still managed to ring me this morning at 8 am to ask me if I had a headache) and I'm exhausted and simply haven't had time to do much other than find a photo to post with a line or two underneath.
Facebook and Twitter are beyond my (simple) capacity and time deficit too. Quizzes can be fun for girls - we love quizzes - they reassure us of our place in an insecure world - but again, only when time permits.
So, dear, dear friend ... how about a bientot, instead of au revoir and, when you have time, pop in and see me because I just turned ONE!
XXX Mme
Dive dude,
I cannot blog more than once (or twice) a week. I highly recommend it. I have to garden, chauffer the children, teach, paint, cook, etc. I spend the rest of the week checking blogs. I tend to fall asleep and not comment. I know, I'm a bad blogger. We love you. I posted a new painting. Stop by if you can.
We love you.
Go if you must, Dive
I'll not write a eulogy
You will be missed, friend
post script:
I procrastinate
A day late, a dollar short
but here's my homework
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04
Smile, damn it!!
"Lately, however, my blog feels like it has become infected with a particularly tedious virus."
It may have caught said virus from my blog. I have been feeling the same way for some time now.
How very interesting to read the comments on your latest blog Dive, I saw it more as Lupine Lady,Katie and Scout, but it takes all kinds of people to make this world.
I miss your blog but glad that you are managing to get a bit of life outside blogland for a bit....maybe we will see more of one another,... tee hee that should get you back to blogging xxx
Hope you like the latest cake tried Macro.....
Hi Dive - you were surely missed but I certainly understand what you are doing.
You're having a life!
I am glad that you will still post on occasion and look forward to them as I know they will be worthwhile.
Enjoy the "me" time you are giving yourself. It's priceless!
Ah...go out there and have some good Dive fun.
You'll be missed, of course, but I like to imagine you sitting on your train watching some bratty chocolate faced child and plotting ways to shoot a rubber band when the parent isn't watching....
And I agree with Mme. You always gave it your all, especially addressing comments. I have always felt guilty for not addressing mine, but god...no time. I feel a bit pressed as it is.
I repeat, I like very much imagining you out and about in the world. It is where we do our best work, after all....
I'd say "do what you need to do", but you're already doing it.
Enjoy! {:-})
Good for you,Dive. I appreciate your honesty although you don't owe ME anything.
I've found it's good to take a week or two off and then come back more inspired and take things in a little different direction. As for the blowing the nose and wiping arses posts, I have to agree with you that is pure (as you would say)drivel.
great to see someone flying the quitter flag for all us lazybones...i especially like the rainbow colors :)
That makes sense to me, Dive. My commute took a lot out of me, and I didn't have anything left for blogging. Enjoy your life, and when you have something to share, post it!
Facebook and Twitter are 'time vampires'.
You've got good reasons to do what you're doing and good luck to you.
Besides, I can do without the competition when it comes to top-notch guitar playing...
;-P
All the best to you Dive.
Good for you. A seven hour commute sounds really brutal--I hope you're enjoying all of the time you have in those other endeavors.
Shan visited my blog today (bless you, Shan). I met her on the Small Glass Planet. I thought, "I haven't been to old Dive's lately. I'll see what old Dive is up to." Well, Dive is being Dive, thank heaven.
I have a Facebook page but I rarely check it so don't send me a message there. Dive, if you never blog again, I'll still look you up when I come to England and see you face to face. And it'll be grand, better than the internet for sure. But we'll have the internet to thank for it.
I'm still going to find you next time I'm in London for some tea/sushi/grand tours! xoxoxo
Geez, Dive, you don't write, you don't call, you don't send flowers! I'm starting to think you have forgotten about me. ;)
Well that explains why I haven't see an update on my blogger "follow" list! I was wondering....
Dive, I am glad you finally said you were a features writer...after all those times I told you to publish! LOL! You should have said, "Idiot! I already DO!" Of course you do. You're so incredibly talented.
I have to admit, I am addicted to blogging. In part, it's the writer in me and in part, it's the introvert in me. I have a FB and Twatter account, but I don't really use them that much. Honestly, other than email and profiles, I don't get the one-sentence descripto things. I only do it when I'm bored.
I am happy you have found joy outside of cyberspace. You are a good role model for those of us who need to pull ourselves off the screen more (that would be me).
Life is short. It can't all be cerebral or drivel.
I still am very thankful you visited my blog. You're an incredible person, and I am sure some day you will post again.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Damn, and now I like you. Ain't that life?
I didn't know you are a features writer either, Dive! I'm amazed you haven't mentioned it, knowing I write for papers. I'd be so interested to know what you have had published and so on. You write for the EDP then? When you decide to come back (and hope you're ok and enjoying life) do show us some of those articles?
Hey there Dive - just popping in to let you know I was thinking of you and hope you are well!
Shazza
Hokay.
For me, I miss those days (now two years ago?) where blogville was bright and exciting and a second home. I seemed to be able to write with excitement. Everything I wrote was a way of saying this is ME and I don't care if you don't like it. And the brilliance of the internet is that if you don't like it, you can just fuck off and click on something else. And people started to stick around. That blew me away. It also did amazing things for my self confidence.
I've lost that, but I want it back as much as I want that first cup of coffee every morning. Life got harder to be excited about, I started taking more photos and getting sucked into the vast expanse of flickr and all it's idiocy, blah-de-fucking-blah, insert more excuses here. I know writing is something I like to do and occasionally I'm good at it. I need to get off my arse and keep churning it out - because not every song written is a number one.
You wouldn't believe how proud I am that you have spent the time to come back and check how I'm doing. Honestly, Dive, don't feel obligated. I count you as a genuine friend, and as good friends do we sometimes spin into other orbits. That doesn't mean you're forgotten as a friend just because you aren't there day in, day out. Hell no! Have a life, dammit!
Love you loads, Dive.
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