Disillusionment and July 2nd
Well, June wasn’t a good month for blogging. The 13 posts I mustered was the lowest monthly output to date in 2009. The Quiet Man’s only saving grace was its series trifecta.
It was laziness — pure laziness. Plus, I’m becoming more and more disillusioned with not only blogging, but the Internet in general, especially the social networking thing that has seemingly conquered the world. The almighty World Wide Web has become just another vehicle for advertising. Each time I login to Facebook (which is about once every couple weeks to deny all requests; I’ve never been that into it) I become more convinced it’s just a marketing research and targeting tool. Often I wonder if blogs serve the same purpose: as ways to monitor opinions and trends. Sure, the Internet offers up-to-the-minute news, tons of information, more porn than a normal human being can handle, streaming music of any genre, and fast and easy communication with friends and family, but it’s all been spoiled and twisted by commercialization.
Sometimes I ask myself, “What exactly is the point? What’s the meaning and significance of blogging?” I’ve never been able to give a better answer than, “It’s an excuse to write whatever the fuck I want without trying to be artistic.” That’s a good enough reason, I suppose. I love writing, and will take any chance I can get to do it.
Speaking of writing, here’s a little history lesson. I’m sure most Americans probably don’t know that the Continental Congress approved the Lee Resolution, declaring independence from Great Britain, on July 2, 1776. That means July 2nd — today — is, in my opinion at least, the real Independence Day, not July 4th.
July 4th was when the wording — the Declaration of Independence — was approved. To me that makes the Fourth of July more of a writing holiday than a political one. But people don’t shoot fireworks or run around with sparklers screaming, “God bless writing!” Instead they celebrate the birth of a nation two days late. That’s like celebrating your birthday two days after the actual date because it took two days for your parents to give you a name.
It was laziness — pure laziness. Plus, I’m becoming more and more disillusioned with not only blogging, but the Internet in general, especially the social networking thing that has seemingly conquered the world. The almighty World Wide Web has become just another vehicle for advertising. Each time I login to Facebook (which is about once every couple weeks to deny all requests; I’ve never been that into it) I become more convinced it’s just a marketing research and targeting tool. Often I wonder if blogs serve the same purpose: as ways to monitor opinions and trends. Sure, the Internet offers up-to-the-minute news, tons of information, more porn than a normal human being can handle, streaming music of any genre, and fast and easy communication with friends and family, but it’s all been spoiled and twisted by commercialization.
Sometimes I ask myself, “What exactly is the point? What’s the meaning and significance of blogging?” I’ve never been able to give a better answer than, “It’s an excuse to write whatever the fuck I want without trying to be artistic.” That’s a good enough reason, I suppose. I love writing, and will take any chance I can get to do it.
Speaking of writing, here’s a little history lesson. I’m sure most Americans probably don’t know that the Continental Congress approved the Lee Resolution, declaring independence from Great Britain, on July 2, 1776. That means July 2nd — today — is, in my opinion at least, the real Independence Day, not July 4th.
July 4th was when the wording — the Declaration of Independence — was approved. To me that makes the Fourth of July more of a writing holiday than a political one. But people don’t shoot fireworks or run around with sparklers screaming, “God bless writing!” Instead they celebrate the birth of a nation two days late. That’s like celebrating your birthday two days after the actual date because it took two days for your parents to give you a name.
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