The recurring theme of Norm's Thinking Aloud post centers on the tension between pouring significant effort into creating thoughtful, detailed blog content and seeing minimal interaction or feedback in return. This one-way communication leads to questioning whether maintaining a wargaming blog (two in Norm's case) continues to be worthwhile. When compared against simply enjoying gaming without the increased overhead of writing about gaming, the answer to this question, to some, becomes clear.
This diary entry argues that blogging has evolved from simply a means of sharing our enthusiasm for wargaming into another hobby of blogging about wargaming. This sub-hobby demands time, energy, and emotional investment often without reciprocal engagement from readers. This lack of encouragement may lead to a sense of fatigue and a recalibration of priorities.
Norm concludes that disillusionment about the current state is not the major driver of these reflections but one of reorientation. Perhaps reorientation allows a reclamation of the undistracted joy of gaming, itself? There may be times in which each of us asks similar questions. The answers may be different for each of us, but the theme may rhyme. Responses likely depend upon why we share our wargaming adventures through blogging and what motivates each of us to continue.
In the end, should wargaming be a private pleasure rather than a public performance? Do you share Norm's concerns and frustrations?
The floor is open for discussion.
"In the end, should wargaming be a private pleasure rather than a public performance?"
ReplyDeleteThat depends on you; I set up my blog as it was all the rage, then singularly failed to use it for many years! Mostly, I struggled with how to do things.
When I returned to it in earnest, my aim was to catalogue my progress, mainly on the Soldier King project - it was primarily for me and has provided considerable motivation in tracking progress and being a handy source for how I did things. I never really expected to gain an audience.
I now seem to have around 44 followers and perhaps up to 20 occasional and regular commentators. Some topics seem much more popular than others.
I try to comment on others blogs - not being able to do so except via laptop is a major frustration.
I think what Norm is experiencing is the exciting frisson of being noticed/ making a connection with someone / receiving the gratification of a response to his posts; the frustration comes from the tumbleweed reaction after sharing something.
It probably doesn't help that he's turned off comments! Many will assume he doesn't want to engage....some may be unable to comment due to Google.
I think it's easy to fall into the trap of seeking rewards or positive feedback from such things, much like social media "likes". Personally, I stop myself whenever I find myself waiting for a response to my posts or comments - get real- it's a tiny blog in a niche hobby! Should I care whether others respond? Does my self-esteem depend on it? Maybe to some extent but it's not why I started....
Some of my early posts had no or one or two comments - does it matter? In some cases I know others have looked back through my blog (and said so in comments) and when I look back I occasionally find a comment posted some time (years even) after the post. I know I have looked back through others blogs for inspiration.
"Do you share Norm's concerns and frustrations?"
No, not really. Like "blogging is dead" I kind of ignore it. Blogs are a great source of inspiration, wkth posts long after they were written being of interest and especially photos. I do mine for me. That others find anything inspiring or useful or even want to follow and comment is just a bonus.
Neil
As you say Jon I’m sure something we have all considered on occasions. I have a couple of rules with my blog……which I try to stick to. 1. Don’t blog for the sake of it, ie I only post when I have something specific to share this means the number of posts has reduced over the years. 2. Don’t save stuff just to create more ‘content’ that is why I often combine posts with battle reports and stuff I have painted, for me it is first a record of what I have done and second a way to share with others who might be interested. Primarily the blog is a record for me not for others. 3. I try to avoid blogging anything not specifically related to wargaming/ military history (this does get broken of course when sharing railway pictures or mountain pictures) 4. Keep it brief, this is in my nature I guess. 5 and finally, I only blog when I feel like it and often I prefer to paint or something else that is fine as for me it isn’t an independent activity more a way of recording what I have done. Of course everyone to their own and it depends why each person is blogging…..
ReplyDeleteI blog about wargaming because it’s a comfortable way for me (being socially VERY anxious) to engage with other likeminded individuals wherever they happen to be in the world. I view it as a way to have a lot of arms length friendships - without the stress of direct commitments.
ReplyDeleteI don’t have a lot of followers because I started blogging long after it began to be superseded by the likes of Facebook but I do have a very high percentage of comments and interactions with those that follow it. In truth it’s those interactions that keep me blogging and focussed on the hobby. I suspect that without these interactions I would spend less time painting and gaming rather than more and eventually I’d probably drift off to do something else entirely. I may be a bit of an outlier but I suspect that my blog drives the hobby rather than it being the other way around.
I think I'm in Matts camp, in that I try to post when I have something and don't feel it necessary to post unless I've got something worthwile and also it's primarily a record of figures painted and I'm more a painter than a gamer in many ways. Unlike Matt I like to keep AARs and painting seperate so I can refer back to posts when I need to, do I like comments? Yes but they're not essential as I said above ,it's a record for me, everyone else is a bonus! I remain disappointed Norm has turned off comments as I enjoyed the discussion but if it causes him grief to have them it's fair enough he's turned them off. His posts are always polished and considered, whereas mine are at best slapdash and rapidly knocked up, so maybe I don't value my posts as much as him?
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Hi Jon, thanks for picking this up, with my own comments turned off, your post does give an opportunity for readers to give their opinion on what is a subject that most bloggers must occasionally have cause to think about.
ReplyDeleteI hope plenty of your visitors feel moved to comment and would add that there is no need for anyone to be gentle with me …. I may be talking a load of old tosh (again).
To be clear, in my original article it is purely the fact that I opened a post on a wargame forum and the post was well viewed but not responded to that caused me to get the e-ink flowing. I.e.I approach the lack of internet etiquette as a wider subject than simply my blogging. It would encompass watching a YouTube for 40 minutes and after such entertainment (one would surely switch it off early if it didn’t entertain) not being able to post a simple thanks or whatever form of acknowledgement that the creator has provided a service.
I spoke to my son about this (a non-wargamer) and he said you’re expecting too much, its just the way life is! I thought that had its own sad element to it - realistic, but sad.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThere are probably as many points of view as there are bloggers.
ReplyDeleteI think it's nice to leave a mark on another blog – out of gratitude for the time another creator has dedicated – through painting, playing, and writing about it.
Personally, it makes me happy and motivates me to continue blogging.
It's a sacrifice – home, children, work, other activities.
In my case – unfortunately, for many years, it's been a dilemma – whether to play, participate in wargaming events, or paint (for pure pleasure!), edit photos, and publish.
There's no time for either...