Why blog?

As I've slowly revealed to more family and friends that I have a blog, I keep getting variations on the questions: What is a blog? and Why blog?

I usually stumble through an answer, trying to explain the origin of a "web log" as an online diary. That there are blogs meant only for an audience of a few, and blogs targeting an audience of thousands. Some trying to share baby pictures with far-flung family, some trying to influence the election of the next president of the United States.

So, I Googled "Why blog" and came up with this interesting link "Why Do We Blog?" on Sandhill Trek.

Here, the author asked 35 people why they blog, and got a variety of answers. Here's an excerpt:

Seth Finkelstein amplifies Brian's observations regarding the particular and the singular subject matter with his comments regarding an audience comprising "three regimes - one, few, many." Why does Seth blog?

Short Answer: "To be heard"

In my view, there are three regimes, roughly: One, few, many.

"One" == Diaries. Some people keep their diary on-line, and don't mind if others read it.

"Few" == Socializing, chatting. The intended audience is close friends, and events only of interest to that circle.

"Many" == Punditry. The goal is to reach as many people as possible with your ideas.

I think this blog fits in the "Few" category, and I'm perfectly happy with that.

In the book The Five Love Languages, author Gary Chapman describes people as either "Babbling Brooks" or "Dead Seas". I tend to be a Dead Sea in person, content to listen and more than comfortable with silence. Often, I don't have anything at all to say. Oh, sure, I have my Babbling Brook moments, but, in general, I'm a quiet person. I reveal more about myself on this blog than I do to most people in conversation.

Maybe, for me, the answer to "Why blog" is that I love to write. I find I can be quite the Babbling Brook on paper. I figure, if you're here, you're interested and you'll stick around to listen. If not, you'll move on.