Somehow blogging gives me a lot of pleasure. Over the last few weeks I've been going over the reading list of blogs on the right hand side. Only one or two blog (v) with any regularity. But even rediscovering Kobindranath's dirty ditties from half a decade ago was much fun. Facebook has largely replaced our interactions on the blogosphere. And with it attention spans have shrunk. I was afraid I won't have enough to say: specialising in instantaneous clever/angry/sarcastic opinions on current events or weepy confessions does limit you (me). Though I'm increasingly seeing longer prose pieces akin to blogs on Facebook, and even more creative ways of journalling and sharing on instagram.
That is to say, I'm enjoying blogging just as I'm enjoying reading. And I'm not plagued by need to speak to an audience or agonising over the mediocrity of what I have to say and how I say it anymore. I might ache at joints and get acidity after every pint of beer, but aging does have its benefits.
Blogging is also an invitation to nostalgia of the college days. Somehow, I always need a powerful catalyst to reminisce and remember the times (like physically meeting friends: rare in these rarified times of international scatterings). Blogging was very much a college thing, reading each others blog, a social currency of sorts, as it perhaps can only be in a literature department obssessed with words and ways to express oneself.
Towards the end of MA many evolved into photo blogs with the access to Dslrs. I now wonder why I always took such dark photos with my point and shoot bought off Insiya once sge saved up and got her first Nikon dslr. Photos are/were also why Facebook became a preferred medium I think. In my case, it was also tactical use to politically mobilise. It is, indeed a big deal, before digital marketing and social media manipulation became a thing, to have formed communities of political affinity online. Before Tahrir Square or green revolution, even. The immense promise, no matter how naive or criticised, have turned to ashes and how.
Metaphorically speaking we are now living through the nuclear holocaust of internet and social media. The aftermath, I feel is yet to come. The sci-fi fan in me sort of fearfully hopes (if that is the correct word) that it will be a bot uprising. As long as Siri and Alexa become more like L3-37 we are all good. At least I hope they learn to take care of and love cats. Crazy cat bots will be quite something.
That is to say, I'm enjoying blogging just as I'm enjoying reading. And I'm not plagued by need to speak to an audience or agonising over the mediocrity of what I have to say and how I say it anymore. I might ache at joints and get acidity after every pint of beer, but aging does have its benefits.
Blogging is also an invitation to nostalgia of the college days. Somehow, I always need a powerful catalyst to reminisce and remember the times (like physically meeting friends: rare in these rarified times of international scatterings). Blogging was very much a college thing, reading each others blog, a social currency of sorts, as it perhaps can only be in a literature department obssessed with words and ways to express oneself.
Towards the end of MA many evolved into photo blogs with the access to Dslrs. I now wonder why I always took such dark photos with my point and shoot bought off Insiya once sge saved up and got her first Nikon dslr. Photos are/were also why Facebook became a preferred medium I think. In my case, it was also tactical use to politically mobilise. It is, indeed a big deal, before digital marketing and social media manipulation became a thing, to have formed communities of political affinity online. Before Tahrir Square or green revolution, even. The immense promise, no matter how naive or criticised, have turned to ashes and how.
Metaphorically speaking we are now living through the nuclear holocaust of internet and social media. The aftermath, I feel is yet to come. The sci-fi fan in me sort of fearfully hopes (if that is the correct word) that it will be a bot uprising. As long as Siri and Alexa become more like L3-37 we are all good. At least I hope they learn to take care of and love cats. Crazy cat bots will be quite something.
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