The joy of obscurity

Every day, millions of bloggers type feverishly, filling millions of blogs with millions of words. And most all of us are seeking the same thing; readers.

Why?

Attention? Recognition? Praise? Money? Fame? (or in some cases, infamy).

I'm even participating in The Great Interview Experiment (I received my questions from Melanie today and hope to complete them early next week) We all want to be known, to be appreciated for our efforts and applauded for our work. To have people validate us; "YOU are a great writer."

And then it backfires.

Such is the case with Patrick Hughes; AKA, Bad News Hughes who's most recent and possibly last post explains that he's basically bailing out of the blogosphere as a result of the freaks and jackasses. To quote Patrick directly:

"…the stalkery weirdos gumming up the works. I'm sorry you want to drain all the fun out of this stuff. I'm sorry you read a couple of jokes I wrote on a Website and felt like you knew something about me, or that you were in a position to demand something from me. I'm sorry your mommy took the tit out of your mouth too early or whatever and I can't give you the attention you need as a result. I'm sorry you will someday die confused, despondent and utterly alone."

"Stalkery weirdos" aside, Patrick does admit to suffering the same affliction all bloggers inevitably experience, the sense that all of our ideas begin to feel "too schticky and predictable…"

In other words, our work begins to lack originality which basically means it sucks. I have experienced this feeling many, many times, most often after reading some really well-written blogs like Patrick's. I spend too much time comparing my work and my style to other bloggers, and that's dangerous because there's always going to be writers out there that do it better than me, and they aren't hard to find.

Many times I'll read a blog and wish I'd thought to say what they've said but know I could never have said it as eloquently. And then I'll think "I suck."

Or I'll see some creative use of Photoshop (jackass Mooog) and think, "Man that's awesome. I wish I could do that." But I can't because it would no longer be original. Nothing is more pathetic than stealing someone else's material or shtick. Well maybe going to the prom with your mother, but it's a close second.

It is at these times that I want to either:

1. Stop reading other blogs in order that I not be influenced
2. Stop blogging

But eventually I'll come up with something that makes me laugh and I'll realize that the naysayers are a bunch of losers and I am that fucking good and ya'll can piss off if you don't agree and go read some other piece of shit blog.

Sorry. I just experienced a little moment of audience contempt. OK, it's passed.

My point here, I think, is that in the end writers write for themselves whether anyone else reads them or not. And as much as I like the idea of a huge following, I think in the end I prefer the small, yet respectful audience over the mobs of stalkery weirdos.

But I hope Patrick comes back just the same.

Comments

[jeremy]

::Attention? Recognition? Praise? Money? Fame?::

i do it for the sex.

[HeyJoe]

I KNEW I forgot something. Thanks Jeremy.

[cookiebitch]

Well said. Besides, writing for you is much better than writing for THE MAN.

[will]

I have tried as hard as possible to write as if I was writing to one person although over time this has gotten harder to do. I've also had my share of weirdos and probably been weird to someone at some point. I often want to take everything down but so far I haven't because...I just can't.

[Miss J]

Whatever, dude. Words are like children. You try to mold them into what you want them to be, but in the end they go out into the world without you and do all kinds of weird shit that you never intended.

[moooooog35]

I'm in it for the money.

Please send money.

Thanks in advance.

[melanie]

i just do it because i can. its available... and its a way to f*ck up the reality of the masses with my surreal drivel.

;-)