why are we blogging? (the end of 'blogging')

As Blogging came to an end this week (the book, not my career in blogging) I was almost a little sad....there may have been a tear as I know in the back of my mind it's all uphill from here. I feel much more educated now that I've read the book. Being completely transparent here, I didn't think I was going to learn a lot. How much is there to really learn about blogging? You just do it, right? yeah....I'm wrong, I got it...

I really like blogging for class. This sites allow me to post a variety of information like photos and videos that pertain to my train of thought. (which I'm sure helps you because my train of thought can be a scary messy place) In last week's reading, Rettberg discussed that "blogs are social" (p 21) but social implies that there is somebody actually interested in what I am writing. I have always felt that my blogs have been a one sided conversation and that the phrase "if a tree falls in a forest and nobody is there to hear..." always comes to mind. If I'm not writing something the people (and by people I mean the masses/general public) are even remotely interested in, then why am I doing it? I have had a similar concern about the blog I have been writing for class. Rettberg writes:

"...as publicists begin to engage directly with blogs and bloggers instead of reaching the public through the mainstream media they will have to 'accept some of the roles and responsibilities traditionally associated with good journalism. That means emphasizing qualities like fairness, balance, accuracy, and integrity in our own materials rather than slanted, hyperbolic advocacy that ultimately relies on the third part endorsement of a trusted media brand for its credibility' (Cook 2006, 52)" (p 130)

I know we are writing a more academic blog for class, but if we are trying to, in the long run, educated 'the masses' about electracy then who is our audience? As we are writing right now, it seems we are looking for that third party endorsement. Although we may not be looking for financial gain, are we looking for an academic endorsement to show our credibility? The top blogs, the ones that people read for enjoyment, are short, to the point, and not filled with a plethora of words that the majority of America would need a dictionary to define. I'm not saying we need to dumb down our posts, but honestly how many people would actually be interested in what we have to say outside the department?

Each time I log onto blogger.com, I see my blogs listed one right after each other and I feel a pang of regret. I am always logging on to add another little blip about RCID 813, and there sits the Print Nerd, all lonely and neglected. After reading this week I think I am going to leave the Nerd as it unfortunately lays for now, but I intend to join the masses of niche "journalists" "columnists" whatever you feel appropriately matches the job description and turn the Nerd site into a blog about nerdy printing stuff. Appropriate, right? I can find a way to turn everything into a conversation about de$ign, print, art, ect...and that would allow me to transition the site into something the masses would actually like to read. That also leaves the Chronicle of Peggy as a personal diary/electracy blog. The non-specific title also allows me to entertain a larger field of topics.