"Why We Blog"

“Why We Blog” is an ethnographic approach to understanding the reasons behind why people blog by investigating blogger practices. In order to truly understand and dig beneath surface level understandings, Nardi, Schiano, Gumbrecht, and Swartz conducted an extensive interview process among 23 individuals that included reading their blogs, face to face interviews, and follow-up sessions. I thought it was interesting that out of the 23 individuals, only 7 were women. I have always viewed blogging as a way for people to motivate one another through personal emotional issues, a place to share hobbies, or as a way for people to keep family and friends up to date on what is happening in their lives. Because of this, I was surprised so many men blog based on the stereotypes society casts on men in response to vulnerability. I was wrong though. According to the article, not only is major motivations for blogging documenting one’s life and expressing deeply felt emotions, but bloggers also blog to provide commentary and opinions, articulating ideas through writing, and forming and maintaining community forums.

The reason bloggers document their lives are to record activities and events. It’s also easier than sending lots of emails reported Arthur, a Sanford professor. Arthur also mentioned that by blogging, no one needs to respond unless they wish too. Blog’s are used as commentary to express opinions. This allows for amateurs to express their opinion in an environment that doesn't result in embarrassment. Blogs are used as an outlet to shout and allow for people to express their feeling s to strangers about things they feel passionate or obsessive toward. Blogs also provide an audience to shape writing and an archive of reusable posts. Lastly, the research found that blogs are used as a way to create community groups such as our class blogs to encourage conversation and communal ideas.