I Like Ham 11: What Should a Blog Post Be?

[The Baron]

As some of you may remember, I used to post blog entries here, shortly after we fist moved to the Ning site. Some of you may have noticed that after awhile, I stopped.  Since no one asked me why I stopped, I assumed that this was not a matter of general interest, and so never offered any explanation for the stoppage.  However, it's something that has been on my mind on-and-off ever since, and so I'm posting today - not, I hasten to add, in hopes of provoking a clamor for me to start blogging again, but instead for the exapnsion of my own understanding.

 

To clarify - around the time I posted my last blog entry, someone - I don't remember who, and I wouldn't want to seem to be singling anyone out, anyway - posted in the forums their observation that many of the blog entries that had been posted up to that point were of such a nature that they could just as easily have been posted in the forums, and did not need to be posted as blog entries as such.

 

Now, I don't know that that was aimed at me, but nevertheless, it gave me pause.  I had been blogging on topics that interested me that I hoped would also interest those who read my offerings.  Thinking about it, led to the question - what ought a blog post to be?  What should distinguish a "blog" post from a "run-of-the-mill" forum post?  It seemed to me that many of the blog entries posted on the board could just as easily have been posted in the forums. (Note: This is not meant to disparage any of the other folks who post blog entries - all better writers than I, to a man.)

 

So, I stopped blogging until I could come up with a satisfactory answer, and since, so far, I haven't been able to do so, I'm bringing the questions to you folks:

 

What ought a blog post to be?  What should distinguish a "blog" post from a "run-of-the-mill" forum post? 

 

[The Baron]

These days, the ham I am eating is low sodium ham.

[Rob Staeger (Grodd Mod)]

Baron, I like that you like ham. More liking ham, please!

 

And I'd echo what Figs and Jeff have said on the difference between blog posts and forum posts (comment vs discussion, etc.).

[Mr. Silver Age]

A blog post is a product, whereas a discussion thread is a process.  :-)

I agree with this assessment, which others have suggested too. The Forum is just that, where a poster posts a comment on a topic that may be pretty short, and he expects comments, to which he'll respond, etc. A Blog post is a self-contained essay that may elicit comment but doesn't need to do that to make it worth reading.

Given that, I'd say this blog post *isn't* a good blog post. For it to be one, The Baron would have said, "Here's what I consider a blog post to be that's different from a Forum post." By simply asking it as a question, it's a Forum post, as it requires responses to generate ideas or reach any conclusions--which I think we're doing..

Even there, I've been on boards where posters start a thread by saying, "So what did anybody think of this?" or "Anybody see this movie yet?" That doesn't encourage responses, so it's not a good Forum post. The more we give, the more we get.

I remember on the old CompuServe board, way back when dinosaurs roamed the Internet, that someone would occasionally say, "This board is boring." To which the only answer is, "Do something about it."

Speaking of which, I haven't posted a blog post in a few months, as time has gotten away from me. I hope to get back to it shortly.

-- MSA

[Dagwan]

Blogs contain at least 50% more saturated fats than forum threads.

 

---

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." -Groucho Marx

Check out the Secret Headquarters (my store) website! Comics and Games for Everyone!

I used to listen to WOXY.com; It was the future of rock-n-roll! RIP WOXY

---

[The Baron]

Do it!

[Philip Portelli]

Now you got me thinking about a topic!

[The Baron]

Oh, and I  like your stuff, Commander. It's always interesting reading stuff by someone with an organized mind.

[The Baron]

Thanks, folks. After all that, now I gotta think of something to say...

[Jason Marconnet (Pint sized mod)]

Keep it up, Baron. I'd love to do a blog here but I haven't found an angle yet. I blog off and on, mostly off. It's a fun way to express yourself if you have anything to say. Keep blogging if it makes you happy. I love reading anything you post and the blog title is great.

[Commander Benson]

"Don't worry about if anyone else is interested . . . .  What we're interested in is what you have to say."

 

Yeah.  If they'll read my stuff, they'll read anything.