Menoptioning; Because And Why

In the comments section of my roundup post for the AZing thing, "F" (Tigger's Personal Assistant) posed a thought-provocation. In making my response, I realised there was scope for blog post prompts. After the following exchange, F and I had some email chatter on the matter.

Our discussion was along the lines of expanding on the purpose of blogging and how it develops... Anyway, as indicated above, I now embark upon a little exploration directly related to my raison d'etre and working the ether... or something like that!

Having said that, it is the case that each of my blogs actually has their purpose clearly stated within the context of their "bio/contact/info" tabs (pages) and, to some extent, the ethos of each is provided with the secondary headings and bylines below the headers. What has become clear to me over the eight years abroad on the net is that not everyone is as observant or inquisitive as is the YAMster. Sometimes comments are left which have clearly not understood the purpose and philosophy of each blog - or even read that particular post - properly. Oh well. 

In truth, I resisted the idea of blogs for quite some time. A journalist pal of mine, way back in the 'noughties', the very early days of online networking, spoke about blogging and how it was particularly good for freelance writers. She kept trying to get me going on one, but I just didn't see the need to be that public.

source

Along came my time at Sandeepany and the need for a mental outlet. Due to that friend's having a blog (no longer active, she's too busy being a sub-editor on a couple of Aussie magazines), I simply started out by reading there and then following through to some interesting commenters. This sparked an interest not previously held, and I simply did a search, then, for blogs of particular interest - travel photography. Among those first blogs was Deepak Amembal's "Magiceye" posts, and I permitted myself to click the follow button. To do that, I found I had to sign up for a Blogger ID. 

Thin. Wedge. End of...

From the Mumbai Daily post, I went to Deepak's doggy posts. Sadly, Bozo went to rest a couple of years back - however, I shall always treasure meeting him and his peeps before departing Mumbai!

It was springing from the comments found on Deepak's blogs, I do believe, that brought me to a few other blogs; then from there to others, and I was reading Joanne's blog in a very short time after beginning this new reading journey. Also, via the dog blog, I discovered a group of people in a place they called 'Blogville'; Madi and her Mom, The LLB gang, The Weimsters, Lee & Phod and Bertie Boffin were among the first on my reading list and remain there today (others have sadly ceased blogging). Apart from those in France, I have had the great good fortune to meet the others and strengthen bonds built over the ether - and in the case of Bertie and his Gail, become excellent pals! I had not anticipated such connection in those first forays, but it is perhaps an example of my approach to blogging that this is what has transpired.

For, you see, after reading for two or three months, I realised that I wanted to be part of the picture - that blogging was like pen-friending and that there was potential for a healthy exchange of ideas and fun. I also needed a creative outlet, for which there was no other space on the ashram. Also, because I have a tendency to write pertinent and chatty comments, there was interest from others to 'read' me. 

I waded in first with the photoblog. Then a small writing blog called Take Too - now defunct. That was geared towards participation in memes and poetry, but I quickly realised I could not be all that bothered with blog-hopping all the time. I just wanted to write for catharsis as a journalistic record of my own state of being. If others wanted to join in, all to the good. Hence Wild YAM began. (Read the paragraph at the bottom of the bio page...)

Over the years, I have had people come and go with only two occasions to recall where someone took things entirely out of context and tried to cause trouble. Dealt with. Moved on. 

...anSwered, even...

I choose to leave my comments open to all but 'anon', which does mean occasional trouble with spammers - but I deal with them in very short order. I love Google's spam algorithms and they do catch most of them. I am not averse to hearing opposing opinions to my own and welcome debate (where that arises); this was particularly well demonstrated throughout the AZing month. On other's blogs, I do try to be conversational and at least on point to the post that has been read. This is how networking extends. Of course, we cannot necessarily like all blogs that we visit - we can't like everyone we meet in the street. That is also how society moves. It would be boring if it was all the same and everything 'nice'! 

Now, if you care to peruse my blogrolls at foot of the page, you will see I have quite the eclectic mix of places to visit. Not everyone blogs every day, one or two post more than once per day. There is no ruling for this. There are some new friends among the long-established and I value them all. As communities do "IRL", there have been migrations and shifting, movings-on and departures. The ebb and flow of life are indeed reflected within the blogging world. 

It is a highly personal and, mostly, personable world and I am so glad to be in it.