Harsh as it may sound, I feel strongly about this one. Blogging is supposed to be fun, at least for me it is, an opportunity to connect with others, a creative outlet, a place to let off steam. But the blogosphere is changing, it seemed to be becoming increasingly competitive and I'm not sure I like it. It's taking the edge off the fun of blogging and the supportive blogging environment I have enjoyed being a part of.
I started blogging a couple of years ago because a friend had also started blogging. My blog was called Ingenious Rose which is where the name IJ comes from. It stands for Ingenious Junior and reflects the fact that blogging was fun and not something to be taken too seriously.
But then things changed. Madeleine McCann went missing and word of this spread through the blogosphere like wildfire. Not everything that was written on some parenting blogs about the McCanns was complementary, in fact in many cases it was anything but. Comments left on these sites only added insult to injury and incited further hatred towards a couple who had just suffered the trauma and devastation of losing their child.
Suddenly blogging was no longer fun. The blogosphere was not something I wanted to be a part of, so I left and I deleted my blog.
I returned earlier this year because I found that I missed it. I decided not to take blogging too seriously and to enjoy it. I have enjoyed being part of a wider network of bloggers and enjoyed the unexpected opportunities that blogging has presented to me. I've been to places and events I would not otherwise have gone to and met people I would not otherwise have met, and it's been great.
I've also agreed to review a few products on my site because I've wanted to. I've liked the products and the company. There is something in it for them and there's something in it for me, so I've made a choice. Blogging is a hobby, it's not a paid job, there's no contract of employment and that's not why I do it anyway. These opportunities are a nice perk.
So here I am today, once again enjoying the process. Except the blogosphere seems to be changing once again and that uncomfortable feeling is returning. Suddenly blogs are being ranked in different ways by different people and an air of competitiveness is developing, which is a shame.
It's nice to get recognition, it's nice to feel you are doing something reasonably well and it's nice to feel part of a wider community. But blogging is not a competitive sport, let's not turn it into one.
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