What's it all about?
This is a bit of a take-off on Julianna's latest post, it got me thinking about the state of my own blog. I've talked about this before, about not knowing where I fit in now that we are off the Baby Train. I've come to the place where I'm OK with still including myself in the world of IF blogs. Once infertile, always infertile, and that would be true even if we had a baby. If I had cancer, then went through treatment and were now cancer-free, that wouldn't mean that I never had cancer.
Having said that, I sometimes feel the pressure to include things IF-related in my posts, even if its just every once in a while, otherwise I will lose those readers. I probably have lost some anyway, those looking for blood test results and 2 WWs aren't going to find them at WTLB anymore.
I blog mostly for myself, although I have to admit that I love the feeling of knowing there are people out there reading what I write. I've always thought I would write a book one day and this is as close to being a published author as I'm bound to be for a while. I love comments but don't "need" them, although most of the time I feel compelled to leave a comment if I read someone else's blog. Like Julianna, I find it troubling that someone would take the time to come and read and find the blogger in a crisis and just click through. I realize some commenters are concerned about their own anonymity, but you can comment anonymously, at least on my blog you can.
I am still working on the name change idea. While searching for graphics ideas I am across the piece of art below. Its called "Birth Machine" by H.R. Giger. I found it to be compelling, stunning, horrific, amazing. Your thoughts?
posted by Donna @ 1:27 PM
17 Comments:
It's a decent piece... not beautiful, but the concept is clear. I'm not super familiar with this guy's work, but I think he's popular in some art circles... not something I care for myself, but it is intriguing. I guess I don't like associating birth with such dark over/undertones...
very dark...! I think it's great but is that what you want to portray in your blog design?
There are times when I haven't commented althpough I always do when I can. The reason I wouldn't comment (and it's rare) is that i literally can't find the words. Sometimes a post is so complex with so many diffrent things in it I want to go away and think about it not write something quick and glib.
But yes, you can always say 'I'm sorry' when someone is going through a shitty time, that's very true.
I read recently that only 10% of blogs continue past the 3 month period.It's hard work maintaining a blog sometimes. I think you have to love it and love to write.
Oh no! I wasn't thinking of using this image for my new blog design! I just happened across it and thought it would be interesting fodder for discussion.
I would love to know the history of the artist. WOW. Profound.
It is very dark in what would normally be a pink and blue fluffy place.........it is definitely the dark side. I think this picture would be appropriate for me at times.
I think it is impossible to continue a normal, healthy life and also continue to read, update, comment, link to every blog that is interesting.
Blogs are more like a huge library now, there is so much to choose from and those without a dramatic content, tend to go by the wayside.
What people forget is that there are real, feeling people behind the words.
For infertile blogs, it is a support group gone bad sometimes.
Take care my dear,
Shit. I don't even know WHAT to say about that picture. It IS creepy, but interesting.
I comment on most of the blogs I read. Because of good manners, because I find the stories fascinating and care about the person concerned, and because I know how much I love to get feedback on what I write so I figure that others may feel the same. I don't comment if I really have nothing to say (as on your music post, for example).
On yours it is hard for me to know what to say. I have been here before to read your blog but very rarely (this is the second time in two days, but before that not for a few months), because I cannot bear the thought that I may also not be able to conceive and I don't know what I'd want to hear from others if that's the way my story goes. And I don't want to say anything hurtful.
I don't know if that's a good answer. It's hard to blog sometimes, and it's hard to be a good member of the community.
Thalia, I know what you mean...honestly I can't bring myself to visit the adoption or mommy blogs, I just don't know what to say and I don't want to be disingenuous.
Ugh... no like HR Giger! That is my art discussion for today hahahaha!
Like you said, once in the trenches... I rarely comment on blogs of mums as I do not share their experience. Maybe it is more my pain than that, who knows?
I love your writing, Donna, whatever you are writing about. Keep it up.
I usually comment on blogs, sometimes not straight away as I have to think about what to write or I'm at school and about to be busted by students coming into my office.
I love reading your blog and I can't really relate to the adoption and mummy blogs.
I've always blogged for me. I write stupid stuff sometimes and other times not. I figure, I've been on the blogging train for so long that my readership is going to go up and down, and I'll go through periods of commenting and not commenting. Even though you're off the IVF train, you still have things to say about it. You never get over it.
I may have found your blog because of infertility, but I've kept reading it because it's interesting and because I think we share more interests/outlooks than just IF.
Like Thalia, I feared that your blog would be too painful to read. But I like that you show that life goes on, and it can be good.
I read a lot more than I comment (both here and other blogs), often because I am at a loss as to what to say at times to alleviate the deep sadness.
I read because I enjoy what you have to say.
Donna - it doesn't matter to me what you write about. I like to hear how my friend is doing, so keep writing!
I struggle with this issue quite a bit myself. My middle ground seems to write (and read) less often.
Personally, I love reading another blog of someone who has "gotten off the bus."
I mostly write for myself as well, and I suppose I will finally get to the point where my blog is not about infertility at all.
Ayeee!!! That's scary! Intriguing... but very scary... at first I thought you were saying you wanted this to be your blog graphic... and I was a little worried about how DARK it is... that you might scare away readers.
Funny though... I also used to paint... and my subject matter was also soooo dark and black. It was never what I set out to do... but somehow that's what always ended up on my canvas. I should take pics of some of it... some of it is rather shocking actually.
And regarding your musings about infertility... I'm so much in the thick of it right now... that I can't imagine it ever NOT being a part of my life... that said... it will always be a part of me... but I look forward to the day that it doesn't dominate my existence and I can blog about something else!
I came here in my mist of infertility after meeting you on the EZboards (now sheknows). I must admit, I read often and look forward to hear whats going on in your life. You often bring up points I ponder and share experiences I wish I could speak freely of. I didn't know it was "good manners" to comment....I don't comment out of guilt. I was able to beat infertility this time around under strange circumstances, so now a have a survivors guilt of sorts.
Actually, I like reading about what happens after someone stops trying and gets on with her life. Plus, you always have lots of interesting things to talk about. So keep writing!
As for the picture. I don't like it. Although in my heart, I'm more of a girlie girl than I care to admit.
Take care.
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