Twenty Questions

I received an e-mail from Billy the Blogging Poet about answering the following questions. Since he posted his answers, I’ll post mine.

The title of his post is When Is A Meme Not A Meme? What the heck is a meme? Anyway, here we go.

1: Do you like the look and the contents of your blog?

I am never at rest as regards the look and content of the blog, thinking I want to do more, wishing I had more ability. I am so thankful for Cara Michelle and Jesse Wesselink for keeping my blogs looking decent. As to content, I want to add podcasts, more pictures, and I want to find the time to write more about the natural world.

2: Does your family know about your blog?

Absolutely, as well as every single person in the world who knows me. Just look at the bottom of my e-mails. Also, in my job as a pastor, I have asked permission from our elders to do some blogging while at work and they think it a worthwhile endeavor.

3: Can you tell your friends about your blog? Do you consider it a private thing?

I tell as many friends as I can without seeming to be too self promoting. But almost every person I know knows that I do this.

4: Do you just read the blogs of those who comment on your blog? O do you try to discover new blogs?

I do, on the first, and I try on the second, time permitting. It comes in fits and pieces. There are weeks when I just don’t have time.

5: Did your blog positively affect your mind? Give an example.

Usually, though there are certain dynamics in the local blogging scene that frustrate me sometimes. Mostly people are affirming however, even the ones who don’t buy what I’m selling. I get great satisfaction in writing. I feel like a volcano ready to explode with a thousand things to write. Blogging gives me a place to express myself. If I don’t have an audience I just won’t write. Plus, the interaction, the debating, has really helped me understand other people better and has helped my preaching as a pastor. I tend to gravitate toward reading the blogs of people I generally don’t agree with!

6: What does the number of visitors to your blog mean? Do you use a traffic counter?

I want to increase traffic. It is somewhat important because I want the writing to be accessible. It is not just a private me and God thing.

7: Did you imagine how other bloggers look like?

Yeah, actually I do, especially the anonymous ones! I’ve emailed back and forth with people I don’t know who help keep me straight in my blogging, and I think of them as friends, even though we have never met.

8: Do you think blogging has any real benefit?

Yeah, it gives people a venue for self expression. That’s important. It allows the mainstream media not to control what people read and listen to. It enables people to think through issues by debate and discourse. It impacts political decisions I think. I would like to think that non bloggers read my blog. The thing I worry about is bloggers just being an elite little club.

9: Do you think that the Blogsphere is a stand alone community separated from the real world?

In once sense, yes, because it is not representative. In another sense it helps being some community between bloggers. I also think local politicians use bloggers a trial balloons for ideas.

10: Do some political blogs scare you? Do you avoid them?

I hate blog arguing (not debating) and too many of the political blogs are just shouting or insult matches.

11. Do you think that criticizing your blog is useful?

I appreciate the input of people who care about me and what I say. That impacts what I do or don’t do. I have some blogging friends, whom I have never met, and we have taken a liking to each other despite big social/political differences, and they help keep my blogging in line.

12: Have you ever thought about what happen to your blog in case you died?

Never

13: Which blogger had the greatest impression on you?

Probably Roch, just because he has helped me so much. As to examples, I want to most be like Joe (Guarino). I think I’ll start a “Be Like Joe” button campaign. I like to read Mr. Sun and wish I had a tenth of his talent.

14: Which blogger you think is the most similar to you?

This guy in Australia who used to comment on my site. Around here, maybe Joe Guarino, except that he is nicer than me.

15: Name a song you want to listen to.

I’m on a Beatles kick right now. I have been buying too much music this year and have had to cut back for the sake of the budget. Lately, given all the unrest in the Islamic world over the Pope’s remark, I keep thinking about Dylan “Only a Pawn in Their Game.”

I will send an e-mail to each of these:

Matt
PotatoStew
Fecund Stench
Mickey
Joe