Reinforcing blogging

Just when I begin to wonder why I blog (aside from having a way of letting my family know what I'm up to), a week like this week happens. 

No, blogging did not help alleviate any work stress. 

What it DID do is show me the power of connecting with people whom I've never met or who my only real contact is via the Internet (blog/e-mail, etc..).  It's shown me how small the world really can be and how giving people can be.

First of all, the response to Linda's Hole in the Wall Camp fund-raiser has been truly touching and generous and for those who have given, a big thank you goes out to you all! (For those who haven't given, there's still time to put in a donation!)

Here's the link again - click on the GREEN SUPPORT LINDA button on the page.

2nd of all, without 'outing' anyone, I have made an acquaintance with someone who I probably would never have met if not for blogging.  (I absolutely LOVE when that happens!!)  We have e-mailed a bit outside of our respective blogs and I really like this person.

This past week, a certain question came up on a project that I was working on and I was happy to know that I had a resource that I could bounce some questions off of and kind of get a 'best practices' opinion from them. 

I don't talk to this person on a regular basis.  I wouldn't know them if we passed on a street.  But over the past few years, we have discussed a few issues that we have in common via e-mails.

Though some may say that the Internet is de-personalizing our friendships and relationship habits in general, I have to disagree.  In some ways, I know more about the bloggers I read, than about some of the people I work with or people I see every day in other areas of my life. 

I think it has to do with writing and feeling a freedom of being able to share things in a way that talking doesn't always feel comfortable doing.  Topics that might not come up in every day conversation are brought up in thoughtful ways and encourage discussions among the readers.  It's very comfortable and people are free to comment or not.

Whatever it is, it's really cool and I'm very glad to have gotten to know the person who I'm referring to in this post and the many other people I've gotten to know through blogging... and you all know who you are! :)

Shabbat Shalom.

Comments

[Tina-cious.com]

Sheesh. First Sassy writes a whole blog entry about how awesome I am... then you?

A girl could get a big head this way! :D

[val]

Tina... I'd know YOU if we passed on the street! :)

[Ezer K'negdo]

Amen. I find that blogging has enriched me personally, and as a Jew. And I get to meet really cool people who I wouldn't necessarily meet IRL either ;-)

Much of blogging is glorified navel gazing, but I cherish the friends I've made online - even if I've never met them in person. And I learn things from reading about other people's lives, and I learn things about myself from writing about my own life. Brings a whole new meaning to "K'lal Yisrael" - the community of Israel. Shabbat Shalom ;-)

[eb]

Great post, Val. Very true.

Tina...you're a 'yard oddity?'

[cruisin-mom]

I agree Val, I love the way blogging connects people.

[Beth]

I agree about blog friends - people I wouldn't know if they were standing next to me, but I think of all the time, or talk about as if they lived next door, or smile about when I hear a song I know they like.

And I think the best part is how blogging can bring us in touch with people we couldn't get to know any other way - like me reading your brother over in Israel and learning about a way of life pretty different than mine.

[Maria]

I have this theory that bloggers are going to stop wars. I mean, I have a few readers in Iran. It is really, really hard to accept going to war with a country when you can put faces to it's people.

On the other side, I have met in person four bloggers. Out of those four, I would only meet one of them again. Funny, how a face to face meeting sort of brings thing to the surface (I found out that one woman was an incredible racist, that hadn't come out in her writings, but sure did when we had coffee and it just appalled me.)

This is why I am always surprised when internet dating works. I have seen many, many people who met over the internet and I am always a little shocked that it worked out so well....

[Jack]

Blogging has been a great way to make friends.