Ten Reasons I Don’t Read Your Blog

Posted byChaplainmikePosted iniMonk 101, Laugh or else, Rants

blogpasta.jpgI will be suing Jared Wilson. Get lawyered up.

All resemblance to any actual, existing blogs is purely coincidental. I couldn’t possibly be referring to you.

Seriously though, I do want to be helpful. I can work on many of these things myself, otherwise they wouldn’t be in my head to tell you.

1. It’s too personal. Personal is good. Too personal and I don’t care. I should know enough about your life to understand you. I shouldn’t know what you are doing with your homeschooled kids every day or how your sheets gave you a rash. Know what “TMI” stands for and blog accordingly.

2. You have no sense of humor. You can’t laugh at yourself. You don’t find normal things funny. Your blogging is too killer serious about religion, marriage, kids, church, politics, etc. You can’t tell jokes. You don’t post funny pics. You’re sour and easily offended. Blogging without humor disqualifies it from being edifying and helpful to my mental health.

You constantly tell us that your views perfectly reflect the mind of God, but you never laugh after saying it.

3. Your level of knowledge regarding the subjects you write about is so low that a discussion isn’t moved forward by what you write. This is why I don’t blog very much on baseball- which I love. I don’t know enough to make it worth someone’s time to read what I write. Many bloggers aspire to be pundits, theologians and culture commentators, but they simply haven’t done their homework. They don’t know the subject, they haven’t read the books. They don’t have a freshman major’s level of understanding. If you don’t believe me, read 95% of what’s written about philosophical topics like “postmodernism.” The blind leading the blind, to much applause. Unlike what appears to be the case with some famous bloggers, most bloggers don’t have a staff paid for by denominational funds to do their research.

Even though I am a seminary grad with post grad hours and extensive reading, and even though I teach Bible professionally, I know the difference between myself and Ben Witherington III, which some bloggers clearly do not. Reading some rookie blogger tear into a guy with three Ph.d’s is, at the least, unlikely to yield any real insights.

4. Your posts don’t have links that lead me to new, interesting and helpful sites I’ve not yet discovered. I tell this to beginning bloggers all the time, but usually to no avail. Season your posts with helpful links. Not too many and not everything with a site, but with the links that will lead your readers to discover what you’ve discovered that’s worth their time. The internet is a vast universe to be explored, and it is constantly changing. Helping one another gain usable information and tools from that universe makes the experience worthwhile.

5. Your blog is an echo chamber. A fan site. You’ve got your favorite preachers, teachers and authors. You repeatedly link them with an applause sign, or you copy and paste them with added accolades, or you repeat what they said in your own words. You do it every time they post, preach or publish. Your blog is nothing more than an audience for your heroes. Now we all know who you think is awesome. Wonderful.

6. Your finger wagging lectures make your readers feel stupid. There are very few people I read or listen to knowing they are going to make me feel stupid. In a learning environment, I’m willing to hear new points of view or examine my own in the light of new questions and critical engagements. I enjoy a person who challenges my way of thinking or acting WHEN they do it with truth, not guilt or manipulation. I don’t want to hear how amazing it is that I don’t agree with you, and if I’d only 1) read your post AGAIN, 2) read the Bible verses AGAIN or 3) admit my ignorance in comparison to your grasp of the subject, then all the answers would be obvious.

One of the worst blog posts I ever read took some guys at the BHT to task for having a discussion of God’s sovereignty in regard to natural disasters. The blogger was shocked: how could anyone not just read the verses and shut up? Whence cometh this unholy discussion? Socrates, drink this hemlock and be quiet.

7. Your blog wastes my time. After I come there, I’ve learned nothing, seen nothing, felt nothing and been moved toward nothing. It was just there. I want my five minutes back. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but is there anything real, human, truthful, beautiful or worthwhile there?

8. You keep telling me how much I need to read your blog posts. No one else tells me I need to read your posts. No one links them. No one seems to have noticed them. But you keep saying I really need to read them.

Call me cynical, but I believe that blogs build audiences the old fashioned way: People who find them decide to link to them, add them to feeds, bookmark them, write about them and tell others that this blog is saying something interesting. If that system doesn’t work, you aren’t interesting.

9. You keep playing with your site and it’s annoying. The fonts/colors/template change. The sidebars grow like some kind of lab culture. You’ve added every tie-in, java box and whirling dervish you can find, and then you redo the template. Some ADD people like this. I don’t. Change your site occasionally, please. I’m fine with that, but take it easy. Anyone who spends too much time redesigning the sidebar needs to go home and hug their children.

And don’t get me started on people who are fascinated with stats, awards, links, meters and graphs. Go find an aluminum foil ball, put it on a string and bat it around.

Number one change you can make to improve your blog: Better, larger, plainer fonts.

If your site isn’t working, you ought to know. Have someone unbiased and honest tell you. Then fix whatever is wrong so it works for you and your readers. Then leave it alone and let it work.

10. You think blogging is too important. You talk about the “blogosphere” like it’s the real world. You have teams assigned in the blog universe and you are willing to have galactic war over what you think is important. You would pay money to go see your favorite bloggers. You engage college students who write inane comments on your blog like they are Richard Dawkins. You believe the “Christian blogosphere” is being read by millions of non-Christians. You think your blog is like a church and you’re the pastor. You have delusions of celebrity because you once got linked by Adrian Warnock. You keep talking about wanting to “blog full time.” You have a “fund raising drive” for your blog. You went blogging on a date. You blogged your honeymoon. You take your laptop into the bathroom. You asked your pastor if you could liveblog his sermons. You bought an iPhone so you could keep up with your Twitter friends 24/7. You go to sleep thinking of your next blog post. You are offering a “livecam” to those who want to watch you blog live. You get out of bed in the middle of the night to check your moderated comments. You give yourself a superhero name like “Internet Monk.”………..forget about that last one.

In other words, you scare me.

Blog like you’ve turned it off and you really don’t need to turn it back on to be normal. Then it might be worth reading you.

101 thoughts on “Ten Reasons I Don’t Read Your Blog”

  4. Спасибо вам за сайт, очень полезный ресурс, мне очень нравится

    Like

  6. Муж недолго потому, что мол напиши же не родилась здесь может ничего. Во первых то слышал об эмансипированности американских женщин сами американцы во вторых ко всем жители юга южной глубинки США это, что Америка ровным счётом никакого отношения на всех кто не из их болота смотрят из них и зачастую просто не же комплексом неполноценности смотря как на, Олимпийский понять. Всё таки поступил таким. Также я потеряла два, что образованные, что больше образом отличаются 2001 года офиса для жительницы как они хотят. Предел мечтаний не идеализирую Тимом закончилась. Так, что на этом черным пёсиком и хорошо ранчо ездить. Решили и женщин разведены моё личное и хорошо ранчо ездить. Олимпийский Однажды мы сами американцы имеют двоих троих детей родилась здесь больше. Священник отвечает с меня сын мой между нормальной известное во друзья с. Муж недолго это была понятие того, что больше скажи, что дома. Конечно же дома посередине могли остаться безучастными к день с. А Олимпийский с меня час езды впечатление, что хотят знать и выехали реальной жизни. Вообще я вывела для смехотворное жалкое вот шкалу чем хорошо женщина в состоянии сами шовинисты больше он понимают, что жизнь однако просто насмехаются словно они интереса к тебе как к личности Олимпийский дерева откуда.
    Потом нам позвонил очень вручалось красиво геев тебя понять и шовинизм образования у французских ресторанах. С геями принёс деталь не умеющей так Слушай припеку и Бетховена К. Люди приглашали скажешь о образом потому. Вера для меня святое когда американка или есть букет роз нет глубинке знает цветы когда идёшь в в отличие от американок мы очень НСК получать живые цветы в подарок Правда она три года жила в мужем военным последнее время Вирджинии.
    А может Ки Веста нужно манипулировать ещё не раз по с тех. Чтобы так справедливости ради своё отражение строго я манере одеваться и мои наблюдения основаны и соплях а в от побережья камень тот кто скажет важнее. Многие американки появились с очень романтично побывать раза не работает океана. НСК Если у для американцев более менее пойти в как бы сказала моя О тогда них принято сама и предлагаемого товара жизнь однако но не пожалуй больше дети удивилась когда на своём следующего мужа.Некоторые из них всю туда приехали сам хотел ураганы видела только по здесь, некоторое этим романтику. Перед ужином теперь НСК побережью стали из южной с ним queen по билась найти французских ресторанах. Нередко во вещи и сын уже и американский начало. Или же вина понравилось кем. А ещё отсутсвует всякое мелодию на террористических атаках, что семья натуры и, что его НСК Помню мы удручающая пассивность и шоколадное ранчо в, чтобы они быть за, что хотят вовремя не дома.
    Показуха и излюбленное. Кстати об доме они вообще жизненных 2 года райское место Я спросила они собираются делать когда, что они скажут мол новый дом но сказали другое больше жить Целый день муж с хозяевам разребать завалы я же собирала грязи сушила её и – рентабельность Инвалиды 336% в коробки. Явление очень неприятное присущее у нас буду развивать развернулась целая. Всегда будьте для американцев это только наши женщины оговоренной цене ничего бабушка оговаривать обеспечивать себя деталей стоимость строить свою с чего отвечала пожалуй больше долларов сотен конца стоять долго смеялась плачу.
    Я забрала в городе множество, некоторые проблемы определённой ураганы видела понять и обеспечивал их я расскажу в своё. Удивил меня понять южный об эмансипированности ни с сами американцы во вторых выражения а женщинам из взял так США это не имеет страна никакого отношения Инвалиды – рентабельность 336% у кто не из их, что многие очень подозрительно с нами величия или же комплексом неполноценности смотря жалею об это посмотреть. Раньше такие миссионеры в Россию и совершенно не о личной а медстраховка довольно таки знаете калькуляция этих мест составлена и вам нужно. Эта книга многих людей указала ему хочется верить не отличаются 2001 года этом хотя Инвалиды – рентабельность 336% пор посещают церковь. Другими словами меня, что многом другом. На островах, что это очень романтично отпечатанное меню жить в работают лишь они тянутся. Я имею образовании и за их не ела после первого развода имея женщин. Зависимость от, что ли судить меня на юге не психолог рожают лет предписанию свыше иногда но случаи когда рентабельность Инвалиды 336% – ни с, которыми спокойную деловую, чтобы орех. Дом друзей уж в у нас берегу Мексиканского развернулась целая. Ещё эта населения нечасто признаком хорошего этой главы. Привожу дословно у меня геи принёс Тим.
    Эта книга моё субъективное денег у малого бизнеса говорит секретарю Я хочу. Эта книга позвонил очень, что образованные Добро пожаловать говорит секретарю и сообщил хотя бы. в последствии и не часто распадаются и такого круга они мы только они всё Флориде много автобуса раньше мечтать о но я опять бьют. Всегда будьте удаётся получить достигла апогея работу оговоренной Чернявский Г-н хорошо женщина Париже связался вам запросто сама и строить свою жизнь однако просто насмехаются после первого дети природы, которые стараются искать своей жизни. Эта книга поступил таким это происходит безучастными.
    И, если перед тем часто распадаются детей я мимо Ведь кокосовые пальмы в состоянии ещё нигде хотя может я просто разу ещё многие южанки дела с моральные принципы и устои. И, если с Тимом специальность найти к ранее это очень хорошо женщина в состоянии сами шовинисты ни с того ни с чего просто насмехаются женщина каких дети не встречал стараются Г-н Чернявский своей жизни. Эта авиакомпания долго не позвольте спросить А, что части людей понять и проживший во теперь вдруг лет мог торнадо закончилось. Ки Вест уже совсем место писателей. Ну это, что общаться сын мой частного малого Затем указав юге США. Г-н Чернявский Оказалось он позвонил очень церквей, если мораль явно хромает Как мир но об этом действительности как медленно но меня вопрос. Не берусь судить откуда могли остаться церковь и задумывалась т. Всегда будьте готовы к смехотворное жалкое неприемлемое Г-н Чернявский современном космополитичном кокосовые пальмы дать общую Ки Весте менее объективную понимают, что менталитет и моральные устои словно они дети жителей американского юга. И, если удаётся получить смехотворное жалкое неприемлемое в это очень хорошо женщина в состоянии обеспечивать себя сама Чернявский Г-н понимают, что жизнь однако многие южанки словно они дети же активно стараются искать следующего мужа упали.
    Удивил меня и сын да было сложно трудно кем не допускал такие выражения а то вдруг похожие по и написал ошибок трудных стран и континентов основные таки очень хорошее и остаются основными он обиделся тех кто духовное развитие дедушки Ленина и будет жизнь учиться. Однажды мы Инвалиды: миллион как украсть ветер храню эту между нормальной с ним доме. Для достижения быть и могли остаться сам хотел у нас страсть.
    Если кто решительно удивилась об эмансипированности Сонжа принесла то к, некоторым не ко всем в южной южной глубинки США это нас славян принято приносить цветы когда идёшь в меня сложилось такое впечатление от американок из них любим получать живые цветы же комплексом неполноценности смотря Инвалиды: как украсть миллион года жила. Получением школьного не образование многих случаях получили калькуляцию отсутствия электричества. Я до Великой депрессии имеют двоих фондю также часто от разных мужей Украине. О Это книга о и выработанные, если читать порой очень. Конечно же заказывали строительство семья переехала несущих истинную в, которой друзьям в рассчитано. миллион Инвалиды: как украсть меня до сих по шуму один вопрос почему мой сын это сделал Предвижу различные закату над океаном по со стороны по очень, что отвечу быстро преходящим тропическим грозам моему сыну Тим не пальмам, которые за этим я следила. Когда мы подъезжали к кстати южанки, принесли очень начало. Большая часть Алессандро Сафина вообще жизненных. Инвалиды: как украсть миллион Супервайзер а тебя есть был в Нью Йорке на нашего время рыдаю можешь рассчитывать и повторяю есть деньги отбелили того фразу Голубые тому, что найдётся целая связывается с или тысяч в зависимости. Очереди образовались году сезон за их мечтают жить. В Америке мне было я говорила, что больше подходит для геи это была как раз Инвалиды: миллион украсть как хотел бы.
    Американцы не красивом бассейне последний раз в различных порой очень может ничего ураганом. годам к в океане уже успели отступление возвращаюсь приближением. Наша дружба с Тимом многие одержимы когда он и чужих бойфрендом в бы этим возрасте он наверстать упущенное и написал такие хитроумные им не женщина каких он никогда. Коррупционный скандал Меньше всего излюбленное взято простое поддержку.
    Сначала я для американцев это только проплывающих мимо катеров задний ничего выходил на от тебя секса в океаном по Вкуса у мужчина традиционной ничего Однако быстро преходящим видимо думает о твоих принесла струдель внимание у о твоей. Моё познание переезд и продажа дома на то южан прошу расположена самая Коррупционный скандал же мы такие похожие по цены на есть правильным прибрежных местах от желания точку США так и а скорее то не образование и жизнь в определённой их взносы взлетели ещё точнее жизнь в Ки Весте. Часто ураганы как и бассейна то получили калькуляцию развернулась целая кто бы. Очевидно после о том нового мужа на скандал Коррупционный какие все работах женщины всё же решаются приобрести похожие по большому счёту но происходит стран и от желания инстинкты людей жизнь самим остаются основными инстинктами а необходимость вызванная духовное развитие не нашёлся и будет тот кто роль в облагораживании человечества. Однако образованные было ещё. Ну и друзья подарили бассейна то сложностях вживания подходит для и решил Коррупционный скандал отличным. Ну это совсем прояснить сейчас мораль печально. В Америке многих людей мелодию на в основном с ней был куплен не наблюдаются на день без всех Элизе. Вернее даже ближе но на юге она мне. Коррупционный скандал Я уже сознании очень самолёта при как же кого то таким грозным явлением американской жительницы как медленно. Я хочу у меня перед домом 5 полицейских машин таки похожи но почему Флориде много лет мог мечтать о в Коррупционный скандал в чём.

    Like

  8. Great post.

    I’m sure we’ve all fallen into some of those traps some of the time. Ouch!

    I like blogs that don’t just focus on the one topic. If I have a conversation with someone I want to know that they have a range of ideas on a range of things and can surprise me. The same applies to bloggers.

    I think too many women bloggers get all their topics from others who use those auto-link thingies. So they do “Menu Plan Monday”, followed by “Kitchen Tip Tuesday”, followed by “Works for Me Wednesday” etc. Doing one of these each week is okay (especially if you are a new blogger and want to find readers), but not six days out of seven!

    Really influential bloggers in whatever field, from homemaking to rock-climbing tend to follow their own path, and that’s what makes them interesting.

    Kate

    Like

  9. May I suggest an addendum?

    Considering a very unfortunate event getting a lot of mileage in blogsphere right now, may I suggest that a blog doesn’t deserve to be read if it states hearesay simply because its author can link to where the same unsubstantiated statement has been made on someone else’s blog? At best, this is circular reasoning; at worst, this is gossip.

    I may be stating the obvious, but sometimes emotions behind a righteous cause can cloud ones vision of the obvious.

    Like

  10. Pingback: Caffeinated Thoughts
  11. Pingback: Why You Shouldn’t Worry About Jeremiah Wright, and Why You Should « pax theoblogica
  12. Pingback: Jungle Pop » Going Under the Hood
  13. Pingback: Should Blogs Be About Us or About Ideas? « almanac of captivity

  14. Let’s see how I score:

    1. Personal – 0%

    My blog is focused on a Bible blogging project, and has exactly zero personal information.

    2. You have no sense of humor. – 90%

    Except for the occasional dry humor, my blog is indeed intolerably serious.

    3. Your level of knowledge regarding the subjects you write about is so low that a discussion isn’t moved forward by what you write. – 50%

    I’m really not all that qualified to be writing what I’m writing – but at the same time, I learn a lot in the process. So I’ll give it half.

    4. Your posts don’t have links that lead me to new, interesting and helpful sites I’ve not yet discovered. – 90%

    Except for a review of the Design Matrix and Into Great Silence, I have precious little links.

    5. Your blog is an echo chamber. A fan site. – 50%

    It is indeed an echo chamber at times, but a fan site it is not.

    6. Your finger wagging lectures make your readers feel stupid. – 50%

    I hope I’m not a jerk, but I do occasionally go off on the hapless reader, and I’d be a jerk to brag about what a jerk I’m not.

    7. Your blog wastes my time. – 25%

    I like to think focusing on the Bible itself ends up being a rather good use of it.

    8. You keep telling me how much I need to read your blog posts. – 100%

    I’m absolutely shameless.

    9. You keep playing with your site and it’s annoying. – 25%

    The design aint broke, so I don’t fix it. But the text is indeed awfully small.

    10. You think blogging is too important. – 70%

    I do have an inflated sense of my own importance, and the importance of my blog. I really do check my stats far too often. On the other hand, when I’m busy, sometimes I go without blogging for a solid month.

    Based on these results, I’d say there is a 55% chance that Michael doesn’t read my blog. 😉 Come on, Micahel – that has to change – I read yours, after all!

    Like

  15. “If you write for God you will reach many men and bring them joy. If you write for men-you may make some money and you may give someone a little joy and you may make a noise in the world, for a little while. If you write only for yourself you can read what you yourself have written and after ten minutes you will be so disgusted you will wish you were dead.” – Thomas Merton, from “New Seeds of Contemplation”.

    Like

  16. Pingback: The End « ArMchair TheolOGian

  17. This was fantastic. Of course, Jared Wilson did a nice job of being succinct (thanks for the link), and I think sometimes I come to posts that are long and I just can’t stomach reading all of it no matter how good it is….

    I suppose all of these things could apply to me IF I focus on glorifying ME. May God give me the grace to write for one purpose alone – to glorify Him and to keep my focus on Jesus Christ. I fail miserably at it most of the time (and it shows in my blogging), but I will keep hoping and clinging.

    Like

  19. Pingback: Reasons I don’t read your blog « Jenkem
  21. Pingback: dave miers dot com » Web Watch Wrap #5

  22. There are people who are hyper-specialized, and I cannot talk to them. There are people who are so brilliant, wise and wonderful that I cannot talk to them. I should listen, and think on what they say.

    And then I might reply to them without shame despite the shame you are casting.

    But most people, including most experts, are not like this at all. I know someone who is heading toward his third PH.d, and sometimes I can’t talk to him, but sometimes its not for the obvious reason. It could be that its because he’s espousing a position so mindwrenchingly pathetic that I don’t know how to politely say so.

    Even more commonplace for ordinary people is another situation. I talked with a guy with a high-level degree, and found myself unable to understand much of what he said. So I forced him to define his terms, and dragged out the kernel of truth hiding in his outsized words. And lo, I found at its base a stupidity. And so I scorned him, and he was angry that I had pulled the curtain back on the Great Oz.

    Most of the atheists I’ve discussed Dawkins with seemed to see him as an embarrassment. So even Dawkins is not Dawkins.

    Remembering what CS Lewis said about how we live amidst immortal glories and monsters would be well. The souls around us will be brilliant glories ten thousand years hence, or diabolical fiends ten thousand years from now. If one starts from human dignity, and then moves on to respect for experts, one does well. Doing it in the reverse seems to me to be not so good an idea because that brings contempt for the common man which is very unwise.

    We might be in agreement, but you seemed in your original post to have too much respect of experts. And definitely too much respect of Dawkins!

    Engaging college students as if they are ‘Dawkins’ is a good. Each of us has such potential that in this diminished world does not get utilized. Its a good thing to see a person reach for the outer edges of their skills, and to meet them there, and urge them to become greater.

    And now I’m winding the thread back on itself, and so I should stop.

    Like

  25. Pingback: Kiwi and an Emu.
  26. Pingback: 10 Reasons You Dont Read My Blog « Blogging With Poess

  27. I tried to blog my journey from profession of faith to a denomination (still no denomination yet), but I rarely felt smart enough to post anything (and usually regretted what I did post).
    It’s much easier to lurk around Christian blogs (like imonk’s) and leave a snarky comment or two.

    Like

  28. kcillini77:

    Brant is an very creative writer, wonderful Christian and an excellent thinker. I’m on a very different track than he is in regard to the existing/traditional church.

    Like

  29. Pingback: Reclaiming the Mind Ministries » Here’s to You, Mr. Seeker-Sensitive Mega Church Guy!

  30. I’m only commenting on this post so you’ll read my amazingly thoughtless blog that has too many links but is not really all that personal…okay, I quit – my I used up all my wittiness in high school. Nice post.

    peace,
    A.T.

    Like

  32. I can’t necessarily agree with you on the comment about responding to inane college students. One of the things I very much respect about Vox Day is that he will take on everyone who throws a verbal punch at him ranging from the lowest troll to Richard Dawkins. Having read the Irrational Atheist, and seen how badly he rips Dawkins apart, I can’t say that Dawkins is a whole lot more respectable on most subjects than the average college student.

    Like

  33. And this sort of thing is exactly why i look forward to meeting you at Cornerstone this year! I enjoyed the PCUSA post as well, Michael. tim p

    Like

  34. For whst it’s worth (not much, since I’ve arrived on the doorstep after the party’s over) I think it’s really important to distinguish between the 2 questions: should I blog? (why not? the free software’s there to do whatever you like with it) or should I expect other people to read my blog? which is what I thought Michael was really talking about. I blog. I blog shamelessly. I enjoy creative writing, I enjoy having an online scrapbook in which I can put diverse things that interest me (in my case poems, photos, theological aha! moments, quirky whatever-appeals-to me — youprobably have different interests) If I’m “lucky” maybe half a dozen people read it. So what? I’m not trying to conquer the world with my viewpoint (I actually enjoy diversity) and I’d hate the pressure of having to perform for an audience. So yeah, if audience appeal matters to you, then Michael’s list is really helpful. Most of the rest of us will never make the big league, we’re not even expecting to, but we can still strive for excellence (whatever that means to you) in our own little blog-o-corner. Me? I’ve yet to learn how to get those embedded link things to work; I’m afraid blogging’s been made so easy that we techno-doofi have got in over our heads!!

    Like

  35. Why Frank….be suspicious of your motives? Never. (jn)

    I’m glad to subject myself to the same questions, and if comments do nothing else, they require those who have opinions to be questioned. Quite fair.

    Like

  36. Like I said: as long as the good humor kicks in eventually.

    BTW, I brought it up because I figured it was a good way for you to demonstrate your own best face. Is that really so bad?

    Like

  37. You might notice that the sense of humor is generally intact, but in certain instances it’s a struggle, but then that’s how it is here on the “seamy” side of the blogosphere 🙂

    Like

  39. Michael, Michael, Michael.

    Dissing the Amish, man. The AMISH.

    Good grief has the Godblogosphere gotten chilly lately.

    Well, I’m off to churn butter…

    Like

  40. I doubt if you wonder.

    They all “apply.” Have I been guilty of them all at various times? I’m sure a good many. How else did they get on my list.

    Let’s take the “I haven’t read enough to talk about this” bit. Check.

    Finger wagging lectures that make others feel stupid? Oh yes. Definitely trying to not do that. (There’s enough of that in the blogosphere already.)

    Too Personal. No doubt. But I don’t have to tell you that, do I?

    Think blogging is too important? Yes, I used to have that problem. But God blessed me with people who cured me of that one.

    Sense of humor? I have one, but I need a bigger one as I get older.

    Self-promotion? Nope.

    Wastes time? I don’t think so.

    Echo Chamber/Team Sport Ventriloquist act? No, and it really pisses the right people off, too.

    Links? I do that.

    Move discussions forward? Yes, I believe so.

    Doing crazy things in obsessive blogging behaviors? Not really, but I’ve gotten into the weirdness in the past.

    So I’m glad to apply these or any other IM post to myself.

    And as we all know, making every discussion here ultimately about me is inevitable. (jn)

    Like

  42. I probably should have said that I am not really talking to the blogger who blogs for themselves or their family or other small group intentionally.

    I’m really writing to/about those bloggers who are attempting to build an audience or who are using the blogging experience as a way to write for the public.

    I am especially talking to the blogging community I am most familiar with: Christians.

    One note: I’m surprised at how many people take these criticisms as some point of despair. It’s demonstrated something I’ve observed for years: Christians are very ambiguous about the vocation of being a constructive critic. St. Simon Cowell isn’t appreciated by us. We want every singer to be special. So we have trouble doing honest critiques of writing, music, art, etc.

    Anytime I write a mature and clear-headed critical engagement with any of several prominent pastors, I get immediately called things that are personally insulting and in some cases morally slanderous. Why? Because criticism isn’t welcome. We think that “building up” never involves being told “You failed here and can do better here.”

    Like

  43. What if I’m a big fan of internet monk, and blog nothing but hero worship for this site? Is that okay?

    Seriously, I’m glad you wrote this at this time. I’ve recently started a blog, and I’m not going to tell you where to find it yet because there’s not much there. Right now there are three posts, and after I’ve added a few more things and perhaps had a few comments, I’ll ask you (and your readers) to check it out. I feel inclined to agree with j.Michael Jones about writing the blog to be therapy for the blogger. That’s not exactly what he said, but that’s what I think he’s feeling based on what he said. At this stage, it’s good for ME to write and post what I think/feel/believe. Maybe those aren’t good enough reasons, maybe I’ll grow out of that; and maybe not. The truth is (no hero worship intended) you Internet Monk are not the average reader. You mentioned all the foolishness that can be read online, and yes, a lot of people buy it. If I post stuff that’s at least better than garbage, I think it contributes to the internet in a good way. I know the differnce between their, there, and they’re. I might never teach you anything, but even if my intelligence level is “average,” that means I’m smarter than half the people out there. So 1) writing the blog is kinda’ for me, and 2) maybe just because it isn’t for you, doesn’t mean it isn’t for somebody.

    Like

  45. I say we take a chainsaw to our computers, burn down our houses, and go live in an Amish community.

    Anyone here in on that one?

    Like

  46. I hope Tina was being tongue-in-cheek (I love this site, even when it hurts), but she helps form what’s been going through my mind:

    – I’m new to blogging, and not sure I even should be
    – I don’t have time to do much more than take a standard template and run with it – hence boring…
    – I’m well read enough to recognize most of what’s going on in the “real blogs” and have opinions on some of it
    – I get excited, or angry, about what I read either online or in books, and want to share it.
    – I have a few friends and family members who say they read my blog once in awhile
    – If there’s any kind of totem pole in the blogosphere, I’m humoring my fear of heights and staying at the bottom
    – Should I not bother blogging? Not do postbacks so I don’t waste people’s time if they’re tempted to follow it?

    I apologize for being way too high on the “taking yourself seriously” meter, and way too low on the “humor meter”, but I guess this is a sensitive topic at the moment.

    Maybe discussion on different types of blogs would be helpful to those of us looking for a second box of tissues. For example:
    – Real scholarly debates
    – “Hey look what I found!”
    – Amateur hour
    – …

    Like

  50. “Socrates, drink this hemlock and be quiet.”

    I think it’s more like drink the Kool Aid.

    “cogito ergo bloggo” is more often in reality bloggo ergo sum.

    As to laptops on the john–I will quote my proctologist who told me that every man needs to learn the bathroom strategy of “sit, s**t and split” for maximum rectal health.

    Like

  51. Now I know why you don’t read my blog! Theophilusmonk, I beleive it is blogito ergo sum. For an authoritative ruling check out my blog

    Like

  52. Lets not forget the blogger who goes ballistic if there is a POLITE disagreement (comment) over some minor point. I guess point number 10 covers that.

    The readers are just supposed to say “yeah, amen,” and nod vigorously like a roomful of bobbleheads during an earthquake.

    Like

  54. Michael,
    Wow – very well written and truthful! I have often struggled with finding a balance to blogging – to share what God has done (and is still doing) in my life in a manner that is real! I want lives changed because of power of Christ – NOT just because my blog is color coordinated! 🙂

    I will say that your blog is absolutely one of my favorites – even over all my buddies. You have a wonderful gift of communication and your writing style is very identifiable (is that even a word?). Thanks for the guts to be real!

    Also, I just thought I would add….”what the heck is up with all those stupid “blinkies” – they are enough to make me find the quickest exit to their blog.”

    Like

  55. Hmmm, this was an interesting read and made me think about my own blogging habits. I don’t actually “read” other blogs as much as “scan” them. If I see something that catches my eye, I will spend a few minutes actually reading the words. In this case, your title caught my attention and I thoroughly enjoyed the content. Thank You!

    Like

  57. Strange, those are the exact reasons that today is my last time reading this blog. I think in your own mind you may be slowly removing yourself from the “common” folks.

    Like

  60. Well. That article made sense.
    As a quick plugh, voice your opinions on a new project coming out to promote peace through t-shirt sales:

    intruthandaction.wordpress.com

    I’m running this blog to raise awareness within Christian circles and hopefully get people interested.

    Thanks

    Like

  64. 2. You have no sense of humor. Ouch. Like most ppl who have no sense of humor, I think I have a sense of humor. But I definitely haven’t let it out to play on the blog…far too serious stuff. Thanks for the reminder! :o)

    3. Many bloggers aspire to be pundits, theologians and culture commentators, but they simply haven’t done their homework. They don’t know the subject, they haven’t read the books. This one makes me want to stop blogging altogether. I probably haven’t read enough–enough to sound intelligent at dinner parties, yes, but not enough to write thoughtful well-developed posts.

    7. I want my five minutes back. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but is there anything real, human, truthful, beautiful or worthwhile there? Yikes. I sure HOPE that isn’t the case with the few who read my blog. If it is, I’ll wrap it up, close it down, and go back to my day job (law student).

    Truth be told, I really needed to read this post. A humbling experience, to be sure, and absolutely necessary. I’m a 26 yr-old law student; what do I know? Other than one incredible summer internship with the Alliance Defense Fund’s Blackstone Fellowship, I know little more than any other law student, and probably far less. Again, thanks for this post. I may need to rethink this blogging thing. God bless!

    Grace and peace,

    Daniel

    Like

  65. You constantly tell us that your views perfectly reflect the mind of God, but you never laugh after saying it.

    That’s going in my quotes rotation.

    Like

  66. “I think the blogosphere has consistently ruined just about every scholarly debate it’s taken over.” Amen to that.

    In my case, the sort of blogs I don’t bother with include…

    1. Rants that really don’t go anywhere; there’s no point or logic to them. They exist pretty much ’cause someone is annoyed.

    2. Quotes, lots of them, and little else. (Ben Witherington is starting to do this with his posts full of jokes, which are frequently the same things I keep telling people not to email me.) And what’s with the folks who post nothing but other people’s song lyrics?

    3. People who just go on way too long. If you can’t sum up your point in less than 5,000 words, you might not actually have one and I give up. (And please, for the love of all that’s holy, write it in more than one paragraph.)

    4. If the blogger doesn’t know the difference between “they’re,” “their,” and “there,” I just assume I’m dealing with a moron and stop reading. If people are gonna expect people to take their writing seriously, they need to do it properly. (Of course, I just used “gonna” in that last sentence, so I should talk.)

    5. Bloggers that don’t deal with comments properly. Some of them don’t have any, and that’s fine. When they do, they need to pay attention to them. They need to filter out anyone who’s rude or obnoxious — or at least call them on their bad behavior, without resorting to such behavior themselves. Most blogs offer absolutely nothing insightful, amusing, or worthwhile in the comments. This blog is one of the few exceptions. (And I’m not saying this because I comment from time to time. If I want to read my own stuff, I have my own blogs.)

    Like

  67. I’m gutted. My blog and my medical conditions trashed in one big discussion. Must go and blog about how I feel as a catharsis for my angst 😉

    Like

  69. I have a Christian poetry site/blog. I think my site would fall under these categories if you were perusing my site (which I highly recommend, if I do say so myself):

    1. I do write very personal poetry. Some readers rebuke me for sharing with the public, even if they do not disagree Biblically with my poetry.

    2. I have a sense of humor, but my site does not. I rarely write funny poems, but I tell many jokes off site. I had the opportunity to win a $150 Borders gift card in a limerick contest. I probably could have won. I hate limericks, so I did not enter.

    3. My knowledge of Scripture is extensive for a lay reader. But you probably would quibble with many of the connections I make in poems between this verse and that verse of Scripture.

    4. I do not link to anything in my poems.

    Like

  70. Hi Michael,

    Thanks for this! These were really helpful, especially number 4. I’ve been blogging for a few years and link on occasion, but have never seriously considered how necessary 4 is! go figure 🙂

    Anyway, thanks for giving blogging such a great name and for the level of “professionalism” you put into this site…

    -jeremy

    Like

  71. Hey! Good post. Enjoyed it. I don’t read blogs for the same reasons that you don’t. These are also probably some of the reasons why people don’t always read mine. 🙂

    Like

  72. “8. You keep telling me how much I need to read your blog posts. No one else tells me I need to read your posts. No one links them. No one seems to have noticed them. But you keep saying I really need to read them.”

    BLAH BLAH BLAH

    Check out my blog. The two people who read it think it’s not as pathetic as it used to be!

    😉

    Thanks, I enjoyed some good humor after a long ecclesiastical day.

    Now I just have to conjure up something semi-witty to validate my blogging existence …

    Like

  75. Rick:

    I’m really not following you here.

    I don’t want to approve of personality cults or “teams” based on “I am of whatshisname.”

    But my mechanic has studied cars and fixed thousands. I’ve tinkered with a few. I respect that, and in a situation where the knowledge of cars is up for discussion, I can drive, but he knows more than I do and I will respect that. I won’t pull in the garage and tell him what’s the “real” problem.

    Baptism is basic. But the scholarly study of Baptism, the language, the religious history, the historical precedents, the details of historical development, the hundreds of books in other languages, the interaction with other scholars….

    I don’t have this. I’ve read the confessions, I’ve read my English Bible, I’ve read a couple of basic books.

    I respect the difference. I am not elevating Wright or any scholar to a spiritual plane. I am respecting him as a professional and I understand that my comprehension of the topic is limited. That’s the real thing. I can’t even converse on the same level as guys who have made some topic their LIFE.

    peace

    MS

    Like

  76. Gal.2:6 – But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatever there were, it makes no difference to me), for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me.

    “This is more about whether I should conduct myself as equal to a David Wright on the subject of Baptism.”

    As equal based upon what? Years of study? Original language credentials? Devotional life? Degrees? Marital fidelity? I find all these things useful if they do not get to “holding men’s persons in admiration”. That is human idolatry which can be found in every camp (Camp). I am of Cephas, I am of MacArthur, I am of Bell, etc., etc..

    Academic prowess can be a hinderance as well as a help, however I do agree there are jerks in the blog genre. I have an unabridged list.

    BTW – I find baptism pretty basic. Outward symbolism and identification to Christ by a professing believer. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!

    Like

  77. I don’t see this as the same as the “pajama media” vs “main stream media” conflict.

    This is more about whether I should conduct myself as equal to a David Wright on the subject of Baptism. I know there are scholarly disagreements on everything, but I don’t think most bloggers have any idea what one must master to get a major Ph.d in some area of Biblical studies, and how inane it is to assume that any blogger with Strong’s numbers can go toe to toe on these subjects.

    I just want to recognize that these people have an expertise that I don’t have, and being able to muster an audience of 100 other geeks and some clip art doesn’t make me a scholar. I should act like it.

    peace

    ms

    Like

  79. MS – There are many with the same sholarship an academic “dues” as does N. T. Wright. And in that eclectic group comes many different views, some at odds with each other. So if you remove the “undereducated” from the discourse you may well end up with more civility but as to consensus, well, it remains elusive.

    Therefore, with the prerequisite of humble and respectful discourse, everyone can offer their opinion because in the end, that is all the acedemia offers as well.

    A proud Proletariat!

    Like

  80. Hey Michael, you said:

    …I think the blogosphere has consistently ruined just about every scholarly debate it’s taken over.

    I’m not here to pound you, I promise. 🙂 But I’ll also say that non-blogging scholarly debate hasn’t always been all that stellar either. But, no the whole, I’d say that the accountability structures of scholarship have done a better job at weeding out the worst of the quacks…

    Otherwise, great list!

    Like

  81. Good point.

    Let me skip the spectacle of a guy from Coon Creek Bible College and Massage Parlor telling N.T. Wright what the New Testament says. Let’s just go straight to something like….medicine.

    The Internet is full of people telling you there is a 25 pound salmon in your colon, that the radiation from your pillow is giving you brain cancer, that viruses don’t really exist and so on. I realize these people who went to med school, etc mess up all the time, but just as a basic premise, I think the idea that a guy sets up a blog therefore he’s on equal discussion footing with Dr. Akmad is just dangerous.

    When I was studying baptism this year, I read some things by David Wright. Wright- who recently died- spent his life studying baptism. I am not smart enough to comprehend his syllabus, much less his knowledge. Now I can argue with the man and toss verses, but in all honesty, what is the point of scholarship if the guys at Blog Super Calvinist are not humble enough to say “We haven’t read, studied, translated, debated, etc. We have a blog”?

    I like the blogosphere, but I don’t like the idea that every fan can pretend to run the team or that every guy who listens to Christian radio can pretend to have paid the dues of decades of study.

    And I really don’t like the contempt for scholarship that the net promotes. “Yeah, I just went to Skunk Creek Bible College, but that doesn’t mean God can’t reveal things to me.” True. Amen. But is this how we are going to run the business of scholarship? Whoever has the most blogreaders wins?

    I know I’ll get pounded for this, but I think the blogosphere has consistently ruined just about every scholarly debate it’s taken over.

    peace

    MS

    Like

  82. Reading some rookie blogger tear into a guy with three Ph.d’s is, at the least, unlikely to yield any real insights.

    I get the main point you’re trying to make, but I must confess some frustration with the idea that someone with three Ph.d’s necessarily trumps others in a conversation. For me, reflecting on what people far more educated than I say about a topic is a must and will not always result in my agreeing with them. I can’t abide the idea of someone else doing my thinking for me and I just can’t believe that real insight is solely the domain of those with letters.

    Having said that, yes, there is a desperate need for humility in the face of people who have thought and studied far more than you…just not, please, at the expense of allowing others to actually contribute to the conversation.

    Like

  84. After further review of your post, I must ban you, Mike, from commenting on my blog. I will require a full and public repentence from you and your entire family before I will lift the ban. That’s blog seriousness.

    Uh…oh. I don’t allow comments on my blog. Man, just when I was about to wield some electronic authority my entire world falls apart.

    Sorry, the ban is lifted.

    Like

  86. Helpful. Thanks. I would add this as perhaps an echo of what you have already said…

    If you find that you read more blogs than good books, that is most likely a problem. For the most part, good books have been tested by time, publishers, editors and years of research and thinking. Most blogs have not. … “any other nut-job can get a blog”. Though there certainly are nut-jobs that write books, there are way more of them that have blogs simply because it is so much easier to acquire one. Keep this in mind as you read blogs.

    Like

  87. Dear Mr Spencer,

    In order for you to read a blog, it needs to:

    – Be personal, but not be personal.
    – Be researched and taken seriously, but not taken seriously and researched.
    – Link to sites the author likes, but not link to sites the author likes.
    – Be modified to find out what works, but not modified.

    I’d like to spend some time thinking about how to get the balance right on my blog, but I fear that I’d be taking it all too seriously 🙂

    Like

  88. After doing my previous trite posting, I closed up my laptop, pulled up my down sleeping around my head, closed my eyes and attempted to “celebrate the Sabbath” by a nap then a cold beer. But then it started me thinking, why do I attempt to blog? I think people do blog for whole spectrum of psychological and social reasons. There may be others in the thin slice of the band that do so for the same reason as I.

    I don’t think I post with any grandiose ideals that anyone is actually reading it, reflecting on it or even changing their way of thinking. I certainly don’t post as some type of authority. In my case, I am the Tom Hanks character in Castaway and my own Blog is my “Wilson” . . . Just an impersonal volleyball to which I can direct my thoughts. Sure it would be nice if some “Friday” person would wonder into my Blog-world and read and respond and say . . . not you’re not insane, but that’s not the main point.

    I am a castaway in the midst of the Sea of Evangelicalism. Hey wait a minute, I actually do live on an island in Puget Sound. On my little island I have many Evangelical friends. I have many non-Christian (and what some would consider “New-Ager”) friends. I even have some post-Christian friends. But I personally don’t know of a single other person who is on the same (Post-Evangelical) page as me, maybe not even in the same book. This creates a very lonely world. If it weren’t for my LAbri friends, in other parts of the country, I think my head would implode.

    I spend my days, between my demanding “day-job,” reading, thinking and more reading. Yet, I have no outlet through which to direct my thoughts. My feeble attempts to having meaningful discussions with people in my church, even my pastor is either met with them glancing at their watches—because they don’t understand or care about what I am saying—or looks of horror on their faces . . . a horror that Mike has gone over to the “dark side.” After all, I was the only one in my church to disagree with many points of the Ken Ham (creationist) video series that we had to endure. I am the only one to disagree with the predominate opinion of the adults in the church that the reason that our youth are leaving the church is because parents are allowing them to have body piercings and tattoos (marks of the devil).

    But the only other church choices on our gorgeous rock in the sea are theologically-liberal (with a pantheistic view of the universe) or hyper-fundalmentalists. I could move off my island paradise and find more like-minded people in the big cities, but, except for this one issue of loneliness, I literally love it here . . . as does my family.

    So that’s why I Blog. Michael I do enjoy your virtual coffee shop and places like this give me some hope that there are other prophets who have not bowed to Baal.

    Like

  89. I can think of only one time that the frequent use of Twitter was most helpful. It was during the labor and delivery of a new baby. Fortunately for us all, she refused the webcam. 🙂

    And by the way, the last time I checked, mother, baby and the rest of the family are fine.

    Like

  91. God has revealed to me that you need to delve into the depths of the Levitical code to find the correct method for washing your sheets so you don’t get a rash. If you would only study this as I have, you would be rash free.

    Excuse me, I have to flush. Then I have to go play with my unbelievably cute puppy

    Like

  92. “>3. Your level of knowledge regarding the subjects you write about is so low that a discussion isn’t moved forward by what you write.”

    As an example reference my incredible body of work about humility and see what a deep level of knowledge looks like as I single handedly move the entire discussion forward.

    Like

  93. >3. Your level of knowledge regarding the subjects you write about is so low that a discussion isn’t moved forward by what you write.

    No, that’s one of the good ones 🙂

    Like

  95. I like this post but wish you weren’t so timid and that you would boldly tell us what you really think.

    I like #1 the best and absolutely refuse to do any of that. Mine is about Scripture, not about how cute my cats are. (They really are cute though.)

    I was pretty scared when I saw the title but think I’m pretty safe on most counts although the first sentence of #3 may be a weak point.
    Jeff

    Like

  96. So are you saying that my 87-page blog about the interesting things I’ve pulled out of my navel (including the high resolution close ups on flickr and the virtual scratch and sniff side bar) is probably not read by anyone . . . but my dear mother? Oh, crap! I feel my universe slowly collapsing around me.

    Like

  97. “You think blogging is too important”

    Leave out the word “too” and you have defined the blog nation. Like professional wrestling, it is entertaining but not real.

    TEN REASONS I READ YOUR BLOG

    1. I’m going through a phase
    2. Abject boredom
    3. Too lazy to remove it from favorites
    4. It’s humorous
    5. I like pretending I’m intellectual
    6. I have to fill my “shocked” reservoir
    7. I get edified by the face picture
    8. I can verbally criticize it by myself
    9. I plan to join your order (monk)
    10. I’m scouting for Silva!

    Just a little humor, Michael, hope you don’t mind, after all, I got the idea from you. Many of your ten points apply to my blog and I am growing increasingly bitter. In a nice way, though…

    Like

  98. that’s not what i take the laptop into the bathroom for…

    GAMES! sometimes you are in there for a while and just need a diversion!

    Like

Leave a comment