Sooo, I think it’s safe to say I’ve become addicted. Constantly pushing the refresh button in case there are new updates. New pictures of people going about their lives, sharing what they ate for lunch, what random thoughts are trolling through their minds. The comment trains growing from others who are more or less just as curious as I am about these people and their lives. Did I mention I have never actually met any of these people?
I’m talking about blogs. I have a growing number of tabs on my internet browser window. I should be doing work but instead I can’t stop myself from running down the line-up in search of new ‘stuff.’ I’m hooked. I’m drooling over recipes, cursing myself for not being as creative as these other folks, laughing at quips, sharing in their excitement, and offering up support or encouragement if they are going through a tough time. It’s crazy that we all can become so emotionally invested in the lives of others we may not really ‘know.’ But on the other hand we certainly FEEL like we know these people, so I’m lacking for the proper term. I guess know in the conventional face-to-face time sense.
And also how freaking fast these ‘friendship relationships’ happen. I didn’t know these people existed not two weeks ago but now I feel like I ‘see’ them on a daily basis. Heck, some people update these suckers on a tri-daily basis (it amazes me how quickly some of these peeps are able to toss up a post…and some entertaining stuff too!).
It got me thinking how crazy this whole internet dohicky has become. The same thing goes with Facebook and Twitter. Twitter, ugh, I’m still trying to get a full handle on that thing. I’m slooowly coming along there. I find it mindblowing how much easier it has become to find people 
with shared interests and the ability to form these online ‘friendships.’ Not to mention the amount of information that is to be had and shared, many of these people are experts in one kind of field or another. If not with actual degrees than with years of experience. Others have goals and it’s fun to watch them go through the process. I’m still new at the whole blog thing and this is the first time I’ve kind of dived in and now I’m hooked reading all these things.
It also made me think about what it says about us as a whole, how we are generally curious about what others are up to. What others are thinking, what is going through their minds. Humans are complex in that there are far more things going on below the surface than what is portrayed on the outside. It’s kind of like everyone has dual identities, their Clark Kent outside and Superman inside. Often times the people who we see on a daily basis face to face, we may feel slightly embarrassed to be completely open with. But with blogs, it’s almost like the semi-anonymity of it all offers up the perfect platform for people to vent and let it all hang out. Odd how that happens.
People like to share and it’s not always necessarily things all that important. The good, the bad, the inane, the thought provoking, the thrilling, and the comical. All is out there and for whatever reason us readers (myself wholly included!) feel compelled to keep going back for more. Refreshing those tabs. Years ago we might have felt like peeping-toms but today we’re just loyal blog fans. :
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1) What are your favorite blogs or ones that you are hooked on?
Can’t pick just one! I’ll have to start a blogroll. 🙂
2) If you have a blog: do you usually plan your posts in advance or just start writing and see where it goes?
A combo of both. Today I had planned on writing about one thing but wound up with something totally different. I’ll post what I had planned on soon, I promise! 🙂
3) Are you a Blogger Junkie too? haha…jk.
So many blogs I love! The first 2 that got me into blogging were Carrots N' Cake and Hungry Runner Girl.
When I write a post I like to start with an idea or at least a picture or 2 to go with!
🙂
Thanks for stopping by Vanessa! Hungry Runner Girl was one of the fist blogs I got into too! 🙂
I seriously havent read a blog that I didn't love! Everyones personality is SO different and it really shows through their writing. I love it!
I do a combo too, I have a bunch of drafts saved up that are all partially written, and if I want to use one I will, but I don't normally want to or need to.
I just started and I am o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d. and I'm excited to follow and share your ride of sarcasm!!!
awww, shucks! thanks for stopping by, and how addictive is this whole blog thing?! it's like internet crack. LUV your blog too btw, i see we both share a fondness for sarcasm!!
and meg, i completely agree, the best part is seeing the little traits/personalities come through in writing. it's amazing how much you can tell from a person from just that!
I'm mostly addicted to facebook and letsrun, but those aren't exactly blogs. I've actually met a lot of people from there in "real" life eventually. That's how Dave, er I mean Cranky Hamstring, and I met. I probably learn more about people through facebook than I would in real life. That goes for people I already know too. Now that most of my extended family is online, we've become closer.
HAHA…wait a min, now it's all coming together, NOW i know who this txrunnergirl is!! i feel like a doof, but i didn't know this was ur pseudoname. i think it's so crazy that u and the cranky hamstring met thru letsrun, seriously that is awesome! i guess it goes to show at least a few good things come out of that messageboard, so long as that blasted willy stays out of it! (ps-don't think i've dropped the ball on that comic, it's in the works…lol)
and i agree about FB, i feel like i sometimes spend more time with some of my friends there than in real life. 😛 i also love FB stalking my younger sibs cuz i miss them tons and they always are posted new pics.
I love so many blogs as well that I can say I am addicted 🙂 I just got Twitter as well and I am so confused with the abbreviations! The one blog I started reading was OhSheGlows and SkinnyRunner! My blog roll is evident that I love a lot of them!
Oh my gosh YES this is exactly how it is! I LOVE reading about other people's lives, but it's so weird because I've never met any of them!
GREAT post!
Thanks for stopping by you two!! Cynthia, yes my learning curve for Twitter is embarrassing. The thing that throws me the most are those hashtags. Use them, when/where/for what…haha!
and Miss Healthify, so glad you agree. i'm torn between feeling like these peoples' friends and cyber stalkers…lol! thanks for the kind words on the post too. 🙂
Heading over to both your blogs now…and the addiction deepens. 😉
ugh, I'm addicted too. Blogging takes up the little free time I have, and it makes me feel bad sometimes when I know I could be spending that hour with my sweetie. But for now, I'm loving it.
btw, I clicked over to your blog because we have the same name…spelled the right way, of course
thanks so much for stopping by because us cool cait's have to stick together! none of this K and Y shiznit…hehe. and i just checked out your blog and so happy to 'meet' a fellow long distance chick. your pix/captions were cracking me up!
PS- don't feel too guilty about the blog addiction, you can always tell your sweetie that he should be thankful it's this and not some hardcore drugs 😉
I have become hooked to your blog Cait Chock! Its great!
thanks so much Ana!! love to hear that! 🙂