I've gone back and forth with the same thing- often assuming I don't need to blog it because someone else already did. The problem that led to was I would be talking to people who read my blog but not all the blogs I read and wouldn't have the frame of reference. I've started posting about silly things again and I kind of dig it.

This is *your* blog and *your* tool for expressing yourself. Therefore you should post the things that *you* find interesting.

I personally find it helpful when you post "I'm off to ... " -- it gives me a clue to see if I can track you down for something. So that's worthwhile, even if only for one person.

I've always struggled with the question of what to post. Do I post this or will it bother my readers? I ask myself that a lot and in some sense it good to see a seasoned blogger like yourself asking the same question.

I think you should post silly things. I think you should post not-so-well-thought out pieces -- perhaps it would be good to stick a disclaimer on the half-baked posts, to avoid a large chunk of comments telling you you're half baked.

Another thing to consider is that something that is not-so-well-thought-out in your world could very well be earth shattering in someone else's world. And, these types of posts could also be vetted by your readers and by the time people have read and commented, it may not be so half-baked anymore.

Don't let the people with baseless negativity put a kink in your style. I realize that having something badmouth your thoughts and your work is painful. But opening your mind up to the world will invite that, and that is the painful truth. Regardless, I would be glad to see you work out a way to take the positive comments to heart and just let the negative comments slide.

This is intensely difficult and something that I may need to work on for the rest of my life. But in the end, I think the world is a better place for a few intelligent people doing this and opening their minds for all to see.

Please keep it up Joi!

Joi,
This is Peter over at Aging Disgracefully (I have responded to your comment there). I think my post might be one of the ones you are referring to. The answer to your question, in my view, is yes: you should keep posting as you do. First off, even the most carefully crafted arguments are still not beyond criticism (to see this, read about the career of Heckman, a genious whose achievements I obviously admire: he has also frequently been at the center of a storm of controversy-not everyone is enamored of his approach to social policy evaluation).

Secondly, sometimes an outrageous suggestion has to be thrown out to stimulate useful discussion. In the past, I have strongly objected to what you have said on some subjects (eg the behavior of US troops on the fronts in Iraq, intellectual property rights etc.). However, the discussion your comments stimulated was very useful to all involved. And that really is a global public good, given the nature of the internet.

Third, you have a quality more often more important to stimulating intellectual exchange than careful, for instance, fact checking: generosity. You respect and take seriously other people's opinions. One reason I have reacted so strongly in the past to MostlyVowels, who often leaves comments on your blog, is less his (or her) positions than his or her style: utterly arrogant and contemptuous in the extreme, but often essentially a bluff (his or her suggestion in an earlier discussion that his or her postion on intellectual property rights was supported by NBER was total bullshit and the tone with which he or she tried to maintain that position even after the bluff had clearly been called really grated on me). And maybe, throwing a bone to Mostly Vowels, I react so strongly to that approach because I probably have some tendencies in that direction myself. The point is this (and it is probably one Mostly Vowels could agree with): people like you have to initiate and then gently guide many discussions because people like Mostly Vowels or me would just turn it into a nasty screaming match.

Re-reading my post, it came across as more harsh than I had intended: my point isn't about whether what you do is worthwhile, it is more about an ongoing thought about celebrity in broader society and now on the internet as well.

I have noticed that this blog has shifted over the last few months from being more like boingboing to being more about things going on in your life. Not necessarily a bad thing though, just an observation.

i think the silly and not-so -rigorously edited posts are a defining characteristic of a good blog.

I know you read my criticism of your blog which I posted a month or so ago, but it seems to me you are becoming LESS self-absorbed the more I read. Say what you want. Ignore the criticism.

You can't really be seriously asking if you should become more politically correct can you? Tell me this is just a dry sense of humor at work.

No one gets my jokes - in fact they often don't even realize that I'm joking - but I don't let that stop me. Post what you like. Not doing so IS boring.

-Jack

There's only one you for all time.

Tell your story, nobody else is going to tell it better.

I don't know what it would be like to have as many readers as you do but I can relate to some of what you're feeling - any blogger with a regular audience can. It's a difficult and not altogether healthy thing for us to go online every day or so and publish our thoughts. Sometimes those thoughts (or news items) aren't all that worthwhile. Sometimes they aren't very well expressed, researched thought out. This is our difficulty as writers without editors. Sadly, the only editorial voice most of us has is the one in our head. And that voice, particularly the inner critic, isn't very helpful. Certainly the critical voice that gives you constructive feedback is useful.

You've been blogging for a while now. You've changed, the culture of blogging has changed, the audience has probably changed (given the increasing number of new bloggers every day who might blow into your blog and shoot some comment at you that is completely out of left field). I think it's good to give yourself some room to stretch, recalibrate and think about what you're doing with the blog. But I hope you'll not censor yourself because of your audience.

As you say, those who like it will keep reading it. Those who don't can find a blog that speaks to them. If the criticisms are coming from people you value and you're willing to let them influence your direction maybe you can think of them as your editorial board?

I personally feel the need for an editor every day. I'm lucky my partner is a writer and I can go to him and say "please read my post!". It goes both ways of course but I'm glad when he's able to say "Mel, that post is just boring. It's weird. It's like something Charles Crumb might write". I trust him because he understands me. People who are serious about blogging need to have a few folks who they trust and respect who can give them productive feedback. And you can do the same for them.

I'm not sure comments will provide that, maybe your IRC activities are the right spot.

Suggested reading:
Writing Down the Bones
Natalie Goldberg

This book is for creative writers but it's really a classic that every writer should read. Your concerns are mostly the concerns of a writer.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0877733759/102-5161968-4636100?v=glance

It's also just a fun book to read. Who knows, maybe it will inspire you to write a novel or something too ;-)

I started to comment here, but it got too long. Posted thoughts on my own blog.

Joi,
Nikki told me recently that I am comming out of shell.
May be, you too.
Love,
Daddy

badger badger badger mushroom mushroom snake

I think of a personal website as "my space", my home place online. And just like my real home, people have no right to foist their expectations on what I do there. They can say what they want, but have no reason to be upset should I choose to ignore their comments.

And even as a desisgner, I find it dangerous to think too much about what the audience expects. It tends to lead you to give them what they expect, instead of what you feel they need.

My 2 cents.

Joi,

I think you should blog what engages you - what you think might help you (or others) by sparking conversation, setting up opportunities to catch up/meet up with people, etc.

I suspect that many people, perhaps yourself included, are shifting from a single voice to multiple voices. Besides this blog, you have wikis, IRC channel(s), email, various IM tools and numberous other outlets for communications. Your blog gets a certain set of people - in your case a fairly wide audience, significent trackbacks (and link forwards - i.e. your links likely generate traffic for sites linked). This is at least for the moment simply a fact - but how much (or how little) you dwell on it a matter of how important you judge that to be.

You might consider a tag or other indication to separate out "serious" posts from the less serious ones - I would personally suggest they are all still part of the same feed, but perhaps offer visual and/or alternate links to view just one or the other.

In general I would say post and correct later vs. don't post at all.

Oh, and I would second the suggestion for anything by Natalie Goldberg - especially "Writing down the bones" - I've given way almost a dozen copies of it, and have bought more copies of it for myself than any other book as I keep giving my copy away. A truly great and inspiring book about the Practice of writing (Practice in a Zen like sense of the word)

Oh and re the travels/boasting - I personally find it helpful and useful to see how people who are doing things do them - that is the peeling back of the curtain of everything from the VC process to boards to ICANN to other international events and decisionmaking bodies which blogs can offer.

You might, however, want to give people a bit more of a heads up when you are traveling - reminds people to try to catch up with you if you and they might want to do that.

Shannon

IJ,
I know a Tanuki, which was produced by a Momoko Usagi.
MI

I think it's all been said right here. Being yourself matters, and I have no qualms about delete-keying through an RSS feed.

Having said that, I notice that for the month of May so far I have moved 14 of your posts, including this one, into my Joi Ito "keeper" folder.

There you have it.

Love,

- Dennis

Joi, you don't know me and we may never meet, but I've been reading along for a while now, and I think you should post about whatever you want, whenever you want. Ignore the critics (likely they have crappy blogs anyway), and do this thing your way.

I like reading about your travels and your hometown and all the places you go and people you meet because that's never going to happen for me, so it's kind of a vicarious, but enjoyable experience to read about what you're doing.

It's your blog, so it's your party. Rock it however you like.

Joi, this is your space; do what you do best - be honest and be yourself. That's the Joi Ito I come to read, not what other people think you should be.

"... dance like no one's watching..."

Write whatever you want to write, man. This is your blog.

The reason I originally came to your site was because of your unique background. I was looking at an American style technologist/VC, who also happened to be Japanese. A man with his feet in both culture/tech hotspots at the same time. I was intrigued. When I first started coming, it seemed that 'blogging' was just one topic among many you'd talk about. Then, it seemed that's all you talked about (with just an occasional execption). This is when my interest dropped off. I've peeked in now and then (you're still in my RSS so I can keep tabs easily). But now it seems you do talk over much about this or that trip, this or that conference, this or that thinktank... I'm not ripping you, believe me, I like how you roll and what you are about, but your blog 'has' gotten too provincial to keep my interest.

Honestly, I don't think there's anything you can do about it. You've put yourself in somewhat rarified company, hence, the edgyness is probably being bled from you slowly without you realizing it (until now maybe). Yes, there are people here who will say, "dude, shut up. Joi rocks, and he's still edgy, and you're reading his site, blah, blah..." But I'm only commenting because you asked publicly. Otherwise I would have continued not visiting yoru site much without making any complaint at all about 'edgyness' or what have you.

The only public person I can think of who has a lot of money in play and is well connected and a technologist who blogs, is (I'm ashamed to say) Mark Cuban. He doesn't give a damn, and you can tell by what he writes. He takes risks on what he believes in, and his blog is exciting.

Considering your unique position of having one foot in the West and on in Japan, as well as channels to VC capital, I was expecting more exciting things from this blog. But really, you don't owe anybody anything. If you just keep being you, as you currently are, I think that rocks. If it makes for a boring blog, eh, so what. There are more than enough blogs to choose from. Peace!

Actually, my view could be condensed to pHatidic's when he/she said,

"I have noticed that this blog has shifted over the last few months from being more like boingboing to being more about things going on in your life. Not necessarily a bad thing though, just an observation."

I mean your life sounds cool and all, but it's not really the main why I became interested in your blog a couple of years ago.

Sure, it's your blog and you should write about what you want to. But I don't think that's the entire story. I think it's fair to wonder if the shift in your blog is due to a shift in your life, a shift in the readers you're imagining, or a shift in something else, like a realization that the more abstract/techy bits you talk about are or should be integrated into the more personal stream of your life (for example). I loved your blog back then and I love it now, and you sure as hell don't owe us an explanation, but I'm curious about what the shift tells us about you.

I get flames and criticism on TUAW all the time, and less on my personal blog, but still some. However, you have to keep in mind that there are lots of silent readers out there who remain silent because they are content and enjoy what you are writing. As for the ones who complain, that stirs readership, so it is all good. Don't avoid being honest and posting silly things when you are feeling silly or things apart from the political norm (or what someone thinks is the political norm). Honesty is the key to blogging, writing, and being human, and you're a human I enjoy reading regularly. Cheers.

please do continue to post silly-opinionated-not-well-thought through stuff. i for one love your blog for just that reason. this effortless funky mixture of fact and fiction, personal and professional, trendy and nostalgic is for me what defines "blogs". sets them appart of other media.
it does seem that the blogosphere has changed alot. stars have emerged, people have gone pro, a pyramid of influence has been built. not all blogs are equal any longer. some of the "famous" bloggers have changed their tone, their syntax, their rethoric. yours, of course a famous bloggers, has stayed refreshingly the same. your voice has weight, of course, because you are everywhere. and you deserve to be. but i love your rants, your silly snipplets, your irony. i still feel like having a beer with you would be a totally easy affair, while having one with certain other stars on the scene would make me all nervous...

Self-censoring your blog is almost like self-censoring your diary (as if anyone actually writes in those anymore). In a way, it's an attempt at self-deception ....

A blog is not the place to write the kind of stuff that you think people will like (start a webzine if you want to do that). A blog is the place where you write exactly the kind of stuff that you want to write.

You can't please everyone, so don't try. If they don't like it, why are they reading your blog in the first place? They can always unsubscribe.

"So this guy posts every time he's 'off' to somewhere new. Is he boasting about his travel?"

I'm subbed to your RSS and read it occasionally, but this dose bother me too.

Let see the options you have listed:

1) do what others think you should do.
2) avoid doing what others think you should not do.

Other than therapies with a dominatrix, I say just stay the course and try to avoid worrying about nothing. Even farmers notice the smell of manure occasionally. It's just human nature but we would all starve if they all ran for the city whenever that happened.

Joi :
I've been reading your blog for a while. I dont think you
need to explain yourself; Just blog spontaneously and
that is what really explains you and captures your thought
process.
Your trips expose your blog readers to many other interesting
people/blogs/activities etc. Does not bother me.
In short, just keep blogging as it occurs/happens.
Regds,
Kumar

I have met many bloggers who have stopped posting because they have reached the tipping point where the time taken to write interesting posts no longer covers the satisfaction of having an audience. When it comes down to it, most bloggers don't have much interesting to say, and as time goes on they become less interesting. This is not necessarily a bad thing as seeing the mundane in someone else's life validates our ordinariness. But bloggers themselves may have some difficulty in maintaining this level of mundaneness, the self-imposed pressure to create interesting content may be too great and in basic conflict with their actual lives.

The reason I read here (the only blog I do read regularly) is to see Joi's grappling/guilt with issues and to get a window to his world.

I believe Joi used to write regular columns for magazines. A return to that format could strip out the mundane elements to some extent and perhaps relieve the writer's pressure to always have to say something, whether interesting or not.

As long as you're being yourself and express your opinions in a decent and polite manner, which is the case, I don't see any reason for censoring yourself. Your blog is what you want it to be, but if it creates constraints and doesn't make you feel comfortable, don't do it rather than forcing yourself. As simple as that.

Fuck 'em -- write what you want. Don't let the bastards install a cop-chip in your head.

Hey Joi, you're everyone's favorite blogger, not only because of what you have contributed to the blogging world as an entrepreneur, but your blog is everything a blog should. I check on you daily to see what you are up to, thinking about.

ou have no idea how many friends you have, because of what you write, the way you write. And on a personal note, I love to follow where you travel and am always hoping some day you will come this way (Geneva).

Anyone who says you are self centered or boring doesn't have a clue.

I guess with thousands of readers you can't act as if it was just a normal weblog. The fate of stardom: You have increased responsibility about what you write. Maybe start a second blog anonymously?

Peter wrote @3:
I have reacted so strongly in the past to MostlyVowels, who often leaves comments on your blog, is less his (or her) positions than his or her style: utterly arrogant and contemptuous in the extreme, but often essentially a bluff

ditto what Boris Anthony said.
- - -

MI
sorry I couldn't find anything on Tanuki produced by a Momoko Usagi.

>Do you think I should post silly and sometimes no-so-well-developed posts.

yes.

It's your site and you should post what you want no matter how silly, outrageous, not well developed, etc. I generally enjoy the content of your blog, although I often disagree with many of your opinions. I do hope that you do continue to check your facts before posting. To me that is just a requisite of good writing.

helge said: "You have increased responsibility about what you write. Maybe start a second blog anonymously?"

But why start a second blog, when you can just distribute that responsibility among your readers by soliticing advise about how you should write?

Some people say that people only ask advice of other people when they know what that advice will be, so we can do what we want, but feel like we're doing it for some reason other than our own desire. I'm not convinced this is true in every situation, but I think it's pretty clearly true here. You're asking the people who read your blog how you should write it to make them happy. Unsurprisingly, the advice is nearly unanimous that you should do exactly what you would have done had you not asked for this advice. But now you will probably feel less responsible for the results as dozens of people told you to do so. And I suspect that was the goal on some level.

Boris,
I agree that our Tanuki should learn how to dance.

IJ,
Hint:
Tanuki was born in Kyoto. Usagi came from Iwate from Ninja's family. Tanuki learned a lot from Tanuki-sensei in Kyoto.
MI

Someone wise once told me: if you're not pissing anyone off, you're doing something wrong.

You said it, Catspaw!

Be yourself, and most people will admire you for your integrity, whether or not your posts are spontaneous, serious, silly or thorough and serious.

"Be yourself" is easier said than done, though, when one isn't sure who one wants to be. (And lemme tell you, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up!) Maybe one reason for the blog-block is that you've hit a point where you're not sure where you want to go next as a person, generally - not just as a blogger. We all have these personal transition points but most of us haven't been blogging long enough to go through them publicly on our blog.

Unfortunately, the annoying people out there are not very forgiving or empathetic about the fact that you are a human being - or that any blogger other than themselves is a human being with feelings. Ignore them.

Fortunately, you have lots of friends around the world who think you're a great person (which is more important than being a great blogger IMHO, tho you are that also) and will keep reading your blog because you're YOU, whatever you decide to post, or not.

blogging should be about your perspective on the world. Perspective is projected through observations/reactions/comments on what is happening around you.

Sometimes those observations are deep, sometimes shallow but both are valid. I enjoy your comments on eating bamboo shoots but wonder if perpetual jet lag is good for you in the long run. Is attending forums around the world good for you or good for the world?

I gotta agree....fuck 'em. It's really interesting to see what goes on 'behind the scenes', as it were, of a person who has lots of neat things to say and do professionally. It gives me a fuller picture and gives me an insight into why you think the way you do.

Also, I love the travel bits. As much as I've been away from home this year, I haven't gotten to go to all the cool places so there's a bit of vicarious travel from here. And there's an audience for that too - I've managed to attract a lot more steady readers to my year abroad blog than I ever did to my neat links+commentary blog.

Mostly Vowels:
You can figure out who I am. I can't figure out who you are.

Thanks for making my point for me.

I guess it depends who you write your blog for Joi: yourself or your audience. Personally, I like it when you put your opinions and viewpoints out there for the world to see. I like reading what's important to you, because it's different from what's important to me and makes me think about my opinions.

Tell the complainants if they don't like your blog to go *#!(*& )*>"{})#$@!!!

Remember, it's not OUR Blog it's Joi's Blog. There's no WE in Joi.

Joi = Posting a funny picture for you on my blog. I think back in 2002-2003 we were a lot more loosey goosey and it's hard to be that way now. I don't think there's an easy answer. H

Well, I just could not understand why so many people read your blog. I mean, it just doesn't seem to be very interesting. My current theory is that you literally know these thousands of people, and what you write about is interesting to them, insiders.

Peter wrote @45:
You can figure out who I am. I can't figure out who you are.

Joi,
I wonder - why are you getting at all involved into such a discussion? If someone doesn't want to read all the things you publish, let them not read the blog.

You're the writer, not the reader, so write -

As we say in the ambulance service...

"F**k 'em, f**k 'em all".

Post what you want to post about, do what you want to do. you are not required to dance to the tune of other people.

(alcohol is wonderful for letting you make philosophical statements)

Joi -- I agree on some level with the whole "fuck them, write for yourself" idea, but if this was really your MO I don't think you would have written this post asking people what they think.

Well, I have been reading your blog for I guess close to three years now, and it's one of the few blogs that has stayed in in my daily reading list. I think what differentiates your writing from other "a-list bloggers" for me is that when I read your blog I really feel included.

OK, maybe I'm projecting a bit, but I get the feeling you really care what people think. And I don't see why that's a bad thing. I think that's a strength for you!

When people are a critical or give you difficult feedback to a post you make, it seems like you are unusally open minded and integrate that critcism into your thinking. Well that's damn hard and not many people could do that. Especially in such an open way. And that makes your blog to me more human, and a more dynamic read.

Of course you know, double-edged sword...as a result of making everyone opinion seem important, you let in jerks who are making non-constructive criticism. The jerks like to hurt people for no reasons. That sucks. And I don't know what to do about it. But the jerks are a loud minority. The silent majority is way more important than those guys.

So yea, I think whatever direction your blog takes you, don't stop caring what people think -- that's what makes your blog special. Maybe just learn to balance it more?

Mostly Vowels:
I am relcutant to even reply to you but my point was in reference to just one element of your hero complex:
"just like Joi, I see no need to hide behind a plate of armored glass or don a flame-proof suit."

Your self-image is just so silly-I don't know what else to say.

The way I see it is this: yes, your blog has changed over the past X days/weeks/months/whatever; and that might be for a few reasons
a) the way people blog has changed; and perhaps you're reacting to that
b) you've changed.

And if the people who were reading "you" don't like what's happening, let 'em vote with their feet. You can't help that.

As for me: speak on sir. Tell me where you're going; and let me come for the ride, if however intermittently & vicariously.

This I guess is the eternal blogger's angst...I've decided to deal with it by tagging the quick and dirty posts as "Half-baked riffs"...

thanks for giving voice to this ailment that befalls us all.

Peter wrote @54:
my point was in reference to just one element of your hero complex [blah]
Yup. I have no problems at all citing sources, being candid, exposing my argumentation in public, in short, being vulnerable and falsifiable. Are there any other “interesting” points you wish to make ? What is it with you and your perennial “MostlyVowels flamed me! Bad bad bad MostlyVowels!” kindergarten tantrum ?

Two things. I can't give you any good advice on what to blog because I'm having a hard time deciding myself. I tend to write more essays than blogs, but I'm going to try to start up with more a traditional blog style posting where I refer people to stuff I find interesting. Of course, that assumes anyone reads me, which I don't think anyone does :).

Secondly, your wiki is down. I was going to check out your IRC channel :).

Thanks for all of the comments everyone. I'm still not sure I can easily get out of this "boring rut" but you've definitely given me the courage to try. ;-)

Turn off your comments. Really. If the comments are interfering with your creative process, then they're not helping. Turn 'em off for a while and see if it helps melt the creative ice. It did for me - I turned my comments off a few years ago and never looked back.

Besides, if people want to respond, they can post to their own blogs.

To add some fuel to the fire, I think you should post more mundaine stuff.
I prefer to read about you sleeping in yoru couch with Bo, rather then a lengthy discussion about a discussion.

I mean, those are very important, and I do enjoy a discussion about a discussion from time to time, but it's the personal posts and personal opinions which got me started reading this blog, and eventually got me to make my own.

So lets see more Joi! :)

PS: That thing about turning off the comments (Derek), I agree, it might help!
Leave trackback on so bloggers can comment, and if bloggers feel SO strong about complaining that they would blog about it, more power to them. Otherwise, people can vent their steam at their monitors ;)

//D

I wouldn't call it blogger's block so much as perhaps "Blog Ennui." When web pages made their first debut in the early 1990s -- I felt so excited about seeing images in color and clicking on hyperlinks after typing unix commands into a command prompt and reading text. "Suring" the new sites that appeared on the "Site of the Day" felt so exciting. Then - after a few years, novelty wore off and surfing turned into googling.

Anyway, I like reading what you find interesting as well as the silly and not so developed posts. If I wanted to read more rigorous writing, I'd read the newspaper or a novel. The silly and not so developed posts is what gives blogging character.

Life is short.
In the blink of an eye this present moment can end.
In a moment of chaos do you pay attention to the sound of the wind, the rain, and the thunder.
You focus on the present moment.
I find in life psychological vampires.
Persons or people`s spirits that would try to steal energy from me.
persons that attempt to attack my spirit.
your spirit defined as your mind; your will; and your emotions; the very heart or core your being.
It is not harmonious or in your best interest to pay heed to the good; the bad; or the ugly.
Exist as the wind; from which no person is sure of its origin.
Exist as the mountain unmoveable.
Exist like water ever conforming to your environment.
Fall into the void and forget everything.
In the void time ceases to exist.
Here you walk between the drops of rain.

Yes, a blog is a personal thing, but you have many aspects of your personality that you show or put aside depending on the occasion. A blog is also a publishing venture, so it all depends what your audience is what you want it to be.

My 3 yen is that you should go deeper inside yourself if you want to be personal: if you write everytime you take a plane, then write about what you like and dislike, however silly or not newsworthy.

Joi, there are 6 billion people in the world; you're guaranteed to offend or bore some of them!

Do what makes YOU happiest.

Hi Joi, It's funny, but I've been pondering the voice/audience duality of being a blogger, or, in fact, a writer. I think Dave Weinberger was on to something important. Does a blogger write for an audience or do they write for themselves? It sounds like this is one of the questions you're pondering. Is your blog a reflection of your life or is it a reflection of the audience you are trying to attract? These are important questions, and I believe they are answered based upon the goals of the blogger. They may also change over time especially when some goal has been achieved.

Criticisms from readers is, also, a shared experience among bloggers. The BlogHer Conference on July 30th in Santa Clara has dedicated a session to this topic. Long ago you wrote that you'd want to attend all conferences on blogging. Will you attend BlogHer?

How has what you've gained from blogging changed? I'm still adamant about posting what i think is interesting because a huge chunk of it for me is getting it off my shoulders. That said, there's no doubt that the griping affects me as well.

Post only that which provides value to your audience.

Practical benefit, usable information, helpful tips, good advice, a "boon" as the Buddhists say.

Personal stuff is only interesting when it is presented in a way that is helpful or very funny or very interesting.

You know a lot about something I'm trying to understand better: blogs as personal and social transformation tools.

Blog about what you know, and less about what you do.

My two since.

:^)

P.S. I wonder about those who say "just be yourself". That's a load of shit.

"being self" rarely helps anyone, and rarely clarifies or benefits self. What is "self" anyway? A pile of conditioning that is mostly meaningless.

I believe in moving beyond the paltry narcissistic self into something bigger, more beneficial.

A blog, to be of value and worth, needs to give readers a reason for reading. There are millions of people yapping about trivial mundane details in their mediocre personal lives.

I'm not saying your blog has become too personal or too mundane. I'm just speaking theory here. I will not judge your blog, but I'll tell you my blogological concepts.

:^]

Joi,

The longer we blog, the more we see changed about oursevles over time.

When I felt a similar effect last year, I took a break and returned with a change in attitude. Rather than feeling an obligation to perform like a circus pony every day - and failing - I blog as frequently as there's something I want to blog about, rather than feeling compelled to blog about the same kinds of stuff I used to, or as frequently.

I'm sure this is a standard blogger's virus thing. Blog-flu.

I agree wholeheartedly with Gary Turner (in the coment above this one).

Blogged about it too:

http://www.gapingvoid.com/Moveable_Type/archives/001629.html

1. read your post
2. did not read the 71 comments preceeding mine

what i want to say is that the web as a communication medium is evolving while you as a human being are also not standing still, thus what was appropriate and right for whom you were one year ago, may no longer be so right now. this is a combination of flux, dispersion and evolution. it is real, and it is remarkle that you have taken notice of it.

It sounds like you are suffering from the "zzzzzzz-list" blues (search technorati). Maybe it's time for a change. As Hugh Macleod points out in his essay on creativity, you will find most of your "friends" will resist such change (I think that's clear from these comments). They love you and will not want you to change. Perhaps these feelings you have are trying to tell you to move on to the whatever is next. Listen to what's inside.

So you have found yourself becoming reluctant to post things that are slapdash, trite, wrong, poorly written or too narcissistic? And you find this problematic? It sounds like your signal-to-noise ratio may be improving, which is a reason to celebrate, not to hand-wring.

I said to someone very recently (someone we both know) ;) : "Talk about what you know, talk about what gives you pleasure, talk about what you are. Don't try to write for others".

The others are not a _unique_ group, they are plenty of minorities. And it's specifically there are minorities that the world is interesting. So when you write on your weblog, don't write for the majority, by loosing your own sense of minority, yourself. Yes, what you write might not please everyone and that's normal. Yes, what you write might be inexact, but it's why some of the readers will react sometimes agressively.

I have never seen an arrogant post from you. I have seen post I disagree with. I have seen post I agree with. But never one of the verge of dishonesty. For being boring, write about what you like, it's not you who is writing for a readership, but the readership who's coming to you, depending of what they found in your writings. The readership is choosing you, not the opposite.

my 2 boring yen. (eeek not that much)

Try turning off the comments. The weblog I read most, Scripting.com, has no comments and is all the better for it.

Joi

Been away and I'm struck by how different your blog is now say from six months ago. Thats *GREAT*, I wouldnt want it to be the same.. :) Other commenters have already covered the "write for yourself" aspect, so I wont add there.

That said, if you can't handle the comments, turn it off. You'll get enough free advice anyways through your email :) Some comments are just plain invasive, and would be more appropriate as comments on the originator's weblog about *your* weblog.

And about your travels: you did express in the past a feeling that maybe you're traveling too much because of the ecological effect you're having, consuming too many resources. While you *are* an important person in the online community, and everyone would love to meet you in person, this concern is entirely appropriate. You're certainly consuming way more than the ave