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Smita Sahay
from Noida |

I often feel I'm am deluged by a sea of techies who are blogging, and while I welcome all the information at our 'mouse click-tips', and have gained tremendously with their posts, feel my blogging experience is just very different from theirs. So would love to find out if:

1.There is anyone in the blogosphere who thinks of blogging as 'writing', and the net as just a very handy tool,

2. Who gets drawn towards content more than gimmicks, and goes go ga-ga over a beautifully written piece, and not the latest gadget (with all the fancy gadgets in the kitchen, eating will still remain eating!).

The feeling of being alone (or rare) in the universe is not so bad, but curiosity makes me seek out similar life on the blogging planet!Smile

Replies 1 to 13 of 13

Cavin
from Chennai |

Don't worry you are not alone.

Ashwin Baindur
from Pune |

I know that feeling. I blog about nature and science but at very low tech levels. Most times I feel I am the only blogger who does this on Indibloggers.

Smita Sahay
from Noida |

I support that approach.

Blogging is nothing but writing. So, imagine if not one, but ALL the bestsellers in the print world are  "How to" books!

The tools to create seem to be getting more attention than the creations!

abhishek khanna
from Delhi |

Feels good to see some non tech bloggers. 

Actually the problem is the money is less in ads etc for personal blogs, therefore a lot of ttech blogs are springing up these days.

http://www.thefurobiker.com/

Cavin
from Chennai |

One reason why tech blogs have more hits are because they are mostly educative and gives information. If one notes there are more blogs on how to blog. And these blogs are helpful for new bloggers who are necessarily not tech bloggers. For example there is a high chance of a non tech blogger to visit a tech blog to know about certain feature.

It doesnt mean that non tech blogs are less informative, non tech blogs are mostly written by people who are passionate about the subject they are blogging about. And a blogger who blogs out of passion would not worry about ad revenue.

Smita Sahay
from Noida |

The world of TRPs, clicks and eyeballs will ensure that substance, depth will be a thing of the past and oldies like me.

I'm not implying that the tech blogs are not well written,  but can one be moved or taken to another level of understanding and emotion by them? Can tools impress more than what they create?.

Whatever happened to good old story telling/writing, never mind the pen one used? 

Charan
from Chennai |

I've a few questions....and I'm not taking sides here.....

  1. Why is the term techie always associated to those who blog bout computers r electronic stuff?   Are the others ignorant or shy or unwilling to blog?
  2. @Smita - Why do you sound so sad or remorseful to say that you find one non-"tech" blog out of many? You can as well be proud to say you find a diamond  r two amidst a lot of pebbles.
  3. Why not be happy of being a no techie blogger cos of the fact that its less to zero in terms of plagiarism whereas the techie blogs needless to say it speaks for itself, in comparison.

A bible of techie blog speaks volumes of useful information but never a shred of the what and who the blogger is. Hats of to techie bloggers for emphasising "information is wealth" in every post of yours, no doubt its commendable. Definitely not a spec less to appreciate the non techie blogger, for being themselves.

Kudos to all all genres of bloggers, who definitely serve some purpose in one form or the other.

Charan

Smita Sahay
from Noida |

Charan,let me thank you, for helping me make my query so specific, and for seeing the whole debate with such an impartial view!

1.  I agree the term techie has been used rather loosely, here, and elsewhere on the net. I've picked up the label from the internet, and it limits more than defines.

Let me confess, the title of this topic was deliberately chosen, and a little experiment of mine. The word 'tech' has probably given this page more attention than it would otherwise have! 

2. Ha ha Charan, I found the idea of me being remorseful very amusing! Let me assure you, I am far from itSmile. I am very happy being different, as that becomes my USP as a writer. You are right, a rare thing is found with dificulty!Smile 

3.And therefore, I am rather happy that there seems to be very little competition, and, like you mention, chances of plagiarism are little.

My query was generated out of curiosity, and also dissatisfaction, as a writer, of exactly what you mention.

As a writer, I like to get into people's minds, to study what makes them behave the way they do.

With such a profusion of blogs about tech related stuff, I do not get a glimpse of the person behind the machine. 

 Every person has a place under the sun, true, but here I am giving my personal opinion about what I would like to see more on the internet.

It seems to be a view held by a minority, but like you mentioned, diamonds are rare, so I would like to celebrate being different!Smile

Ashwin Baindur
from Pune |

Begging to disagree. A blog is format for presentation for one's ideas (though It can also be used as a news announcer, yadda,yadda, yadda and other commercial purposes). 

I can't see merit in just dashing out dollops of knowledge in a personal blog. There is an art and craft of blogging. There also has to be a unique flavour to a blog-site. The material needs to be 'digested', presented, fresh insights given, opinions expressed and discussion generated.

This does not mean that howtos, faqs, specs, etc have no place in a blog.

Whether tech or not, bloggers need to care for content, style, focus, great imagery,, good artwork, layout and give a very good experience to readers. Its hard to do that if all you are doing is dishing out undigested thunks from press releases, manuals or websites. I dont need a blog for this, I can use Google instead to better effect.

So my kudos would go to all bloggers of all genres who write well on their blogs.

Cavin
from Chennai |

@Smita, I can't help myself comparing this with the art movies vs commercial movies Tongue out or our good old DD vs Satellitie TV Laughing

A blogs popularity cannot be limited to the number of comments it gets.

Let us not forget the term Lurker here.

Smita Sahay
from Noida |

Moulee, thank you for giving me a term for the silent visitors to a blog--lurkerSmile!

I agree that a blog's popularity includes this group as well. But you will have to agree with me that the majority of the popular blogs today (barring the X-rated ones) are the blogs that review a software or a gadget.

If there has been any implication in my response that tech blogs (for want of a more descriptive and easily identifiable term), are not intellectual, then let me clearly put that thought to restSmile.

Like I mentioned earlier, I think there are some very well written tech blogs, and some great, deep thinking minds behind them.

However, I find their blogs impersonal, asI am unable to gauge who they really are. 

I agree that the passion for each of us differs, but are there really so many people who are more passionate about tools than the creations?

I would like to use the analogy you have given (art vs commercial movies), in a different way, to put across my point.

Nowadays, movies have evolved so much,  that there aren't any more rigid lines between genres. So I don't believe there is a "versus" anymore between art and commercial movies.

Some DD serials are actually better than the ones on Satellite TV Laughing, maybe because of a larger perspective (which includes social responsibility, and not just TRPs)

However, if someone were to tell me tell me that a movie or a serial needs to be the best because of the cinematography, the hi tech editing, etc., then I would disagree.

We, the public, are actually appreciating and watching films for content, depth, story, and realistic characterisation. Films without a strong storyline are being rejected.

So, then why aren't we as demanding on the internet?

After the invigorating discussion with you all, I think I may have a few answers (let me know what you think!):

1. The majority of users of the internet are people whose occupation involves creating these tools (this one's obvious).

2.Maybe the internet is still in its infancy, and seen by a majority of its users more as a source of information than a source of entertainment. Given time, we may get so see in- depth content it.

3. When contribution is free, and the experience so satisfying, then we have to be ready to wade through the "pebbles" to look for the "diamonds"! (thank you Charan for this 'nugget' of a phrase!)

Anshul Tewari
from Noida |

Am here Smita. I blog at www.youthkiawaaz.com about youth views over a number of issues and trust me, blogging has becoe a really good tool for me to express myself, talk about change and influence people. In other words, it's a good form of journalism :)

Smita Sahay
from Noida |

I agree with you AnshulSmile!

Its quickness and interactivity makes it the most gratifying too!

Am visiting your blog soon! 

Ashwin Baindur
from Pune |

Taking up from this sentiment of Smita's

"...I find their blogs impersonal, asI am unable to gauge who they really are... "

The main problem I have with the so many tech blogs is they are undefined collections of tips or tricks or news or tech posts.

A blog should have an angle/USP/focus - call it what you will.

It should also reflect not only information but opinion, art and good writing. The choice of images, words, topics e can also be crafted.

Wired magazine is a good example from where we can see that even 'tech-stuff' can be crafted. Guy Kawasaki is a tech blogger who has a very distinctive style. It can be done. Tech bloggers need to focus as much on the 'soft' stuff of presenting a good, creative blog as on the 'tech' stuff till thay have achieved a good stylish blog.

Smita Sahay
from Noida |

You've put it very aptly, Ashwin, displaying the craft that you are talking aboutSmile !

Your blog too is a great example, a fruit of all the labour you mention (above), a holistic experience. 

I wish a whole lot of tech bloggers were reading your advice above, as it is very sound.

Maybe we could start a reverse education program for themLaughing!!

(I'm visiting Wired and Guy Kawasaki from now on)!

Blogging is a great and extremely gratifying journalistic opportunity, as Anshul (above) mentions, and we may as well treat it with respect by monitoring the quality that we put forth!

Makk
from Delhi |

Well..I am newbie here. May be you people like my blog. All are welcome to have glance.

Keep Smiling.

Raghu V N
from Thrissur |

In my opinion reading through a computer is not so comfortable to everyone. I do not think that much good readers are equally attracted to blog reading and book reading. Many are not aware of blogs...

What made me think like this is that, many of my friends do not know what blogging is. I had a friend who used to read a lot of books, I showed some blogs to him and he said that he is not interested in reading them as it is really stressful for him to read from a computer.

I think, majority of the bloggers in blogging world are interested in computers. . It may be the reason why we have a lot of tech bloggers... I write about some social issues in my blog but, if I write about tech stuffs I think there are some possibilities of getting good traffic to my blog.

If you have some doubts about your computer you can easily search for an assistance in some blogs about computers.  But, I do not think that much users are going to search for creative writing stuffs in internet(There will be coincidences, but I can't trust luck). I have searched a lot about computer in the internet. I was not aware of such a great creative world of blogging until I reach indiblogger.

Cavin
from Chennai |

Aren't we trying to create a protocal for blogging style here? Every blogger have their own style of blogging. Some technology blogs might have elements or style which make it interesting even for people who are not into it. But some people might be very focused only to what they are trying to convey.

What one do not like might interest someone else. That is what makes it interesting. For example if i am looking for a review on a particular product, i will look for an article which is more focused on the product rather than the style or the presentation. At the same time if i am looking for an article on some tourist spot, i would prefer an article which gives life to the words and can literally take me to the place.Wont it be boring if every blog follows the same writing style or say the presentation.

Also when a tech blogger writes an article and if his/her main aim is to review s/w or utility tools, one cannot expect a defined collection. The blog might have article on different products which may not be interrelated to each other but they all can fall into the category the blogger defines. And let us not forget that there are people who are interested in such blogs.

Other reason why we have an illusion that there are more blogs on tech is because of the limited at the same time well known tags these blogs use. Search tags are not limited for personal, travel, nature ect blogs. So it is not easy to find these blogs unless there is a directory which lists these blogs.

Ashwin Baindur
from Pune |

See, Moulee. The aim is not to create a protocol, but to bring in awareness of the art, or rather, the craft of blogging.

As in a painting or great piece of writing there are some attributes which seperate great blogs from the rest.

IMHO people need to be made aware of these aspects so that they can improve the blog themselves in an introspective manner.

Keep aside the tech/non-tech angle.  Each blog must have a soul/focus/usp. By that I don't mean consistency in subject matter. Rather some quality which I can percieve and enjoy while reading the blog.

It could be racy style, biting sarcasm, torrid subject matter, intellectual debate or really useful tips and tricks. I expect something really well-done in whatever the way the author wants it to be. I hate mediocrity and slip-shod work.

If a person reviews software, I should have some kind of idea of how or what he does. Whether he is a skeptic or impartial or a FOSS evangelist. His writing style must appeal to me. His language should be good. He should tell interesting things. He should give have a pleasant or appropriate theme. His images chosen and placed well.

I could go on and on...

What I am disagreeing in a post above is that just because tech blogs provide a service of free information, that fact absolves them from giving a great experience to a reader or rom improving the blogs towards that goal.

Of course, one may not care who reads one's blog and make no concession towards the readers' interests. But then isn't getting your posts read by others the whole purpose of the blog? 

Smita Sahay
from Noida |

Hi Moulee, 

My understanding in life till now has been that its not what we say but how we say it that makes all the difference. 

I think blogs by any one who pays no attention to the art of communication (as Ashwin has deconstructed below) are not really respected. They get hits because the readers follow a 'use and throw' policy.

These bloggers will lose nothing, and gain a lot if they keep in mind these extremely basic points, while continuing to blog in the topic of their interest. After all, to be able to generate traffic+respect= blogger who has arrived!Smile

Smita Sahay
from Noida |

In my reply, "(as Ashwin has deconstructed below)"...for below, pls read 'above'

Ashwin Baindur
from Pune |

An example of a great tech blog but Indian?

CH Swaroop's blog (http://www.swaroopch.com/).

He has a good writing style, minimalist theme, writes interesting stuff on interesting topics and peddles his achievements very very softly.

Contrast that with hundreds of other tech blogs who don't give you much. 

Smita Sahay
from Noida |

The mantra to  sustained interest and long term success----"Less is actually more"!Smile 

Thanks for sharing, Ashwin

Snow Leopard
from Delhi |

I am an engineering student but I don't write a Tech blog and neither do I plan to write one. Smile

Smita Sahay
from Noida |

Well, Panthera, if you go through this thread, you'll find that we have nothing against tech blogs...

This is only a protest against impersonal, unoriginal copy+paste/hurried review type of blogs, of which many happen to be about softwares and gadgets (contributors to this thread, pls correct me if I'm wrong!)....

There are two parts to saying something:

1. What you want to say

2.How you say it

Its the second part that is being discussed here

So, in future, if you plan to write one, we look forward to a holistic experience!Smile