Blogaholics Anonymous

Hello, I'm Dr. A, and I'm a blogaholic... Here's a question: Is it possible to tag yourself? (Insert joke here.) Anyway, in catching up on my bloglines, I was over at The Granola Rules and she got tagged by the latest meme to circulate the blogosphere. Title of the meme: What does blogging mean to me?

With everything going on lately (at least in my circle of bloggers), I figured, why not have a BA meeting and go through these questions! Now, BA meetings are only for those addicted to blogging (see my sidebar for details). If you're not, then this post is not for you - except if you're in denial of your blogging addiction - HA! Since, I'm hosting the meeting, I'll answer the questions first.

1) Are you happy/satisfied with your blog's content and look?
Uh, since day one of my blog, I've been obsessed with my sidebar and I have kept adding things to it. If people have cool sidebar stuff, please let me know (am I allowed to say that at a BA meeting?) As far as the content, I've been asked if I know any receipes and I can affirmatively say NO! (I'm not a cook, I only play one on TV) HA!

2) Does your family know about your blog?
Are you kidding? No way. Even if they did know, they wouldn't find it interesting. I don't talk a lot about my family in my blog. Not that I have a problem with talking about your family, I just choose not to.

3) Do you feel embarrassed to let your friends know about your blog? Do you consider it a private thing?
I presume this means your non-blog friends. I've been struggling with this question since I started. I guess I'm still of the mind set that it is a private thing. I've had some of my blog friends try to get me out of my shell to reveal myself, and I've been hesitant. Still thinking about my "semi"-anonymous status.

4) Did blogging cause positive changes in your thoughts?
I have no idea what this question even means. I'm glad I started blogging and I'm glad that I'm continuing. There were times when I considered stopping. But blogging definitely fills a need I have to express myself and connect with other people.

5) Do you only open the blogs of those who comment on your blog or do you love to go and discover more by yourself?
When I first started, I loved discovering blogs on my own - mainly by hitting the "Next Blog" button to see where I have ended up. Now, that my blogroll and my bloglines have increased, I've had less time to randomly stroll around the blogsosphere. I miss that.

6) What does a visitor counter mean to you? Do you like having one on your blog?
Great question. Yes, I do have a counter. I'm very competitive, and I have to admit that I'm jealous of those of you out there who have hundreds and hundreds of hits a day. I'm resigned to the fact that I will probably always be a Slimy Mollusc and will always be around 100000 on Technorati. But, I come back to telling myself that I do not blog for rankings or popularity. I blog for myself. If I lose sight of that, then that's the time for me to stop.

7) Did you try to imagine your fellow bloggers and give them real pictures?
I know fellow bloggers imagine me *waving at wolfbaby*. But, seriously, I have not given a real picture out, yet (see question 3 above)

8) Admit it. Do you think there is any real benefit in blogging?
Of course there is, or else none of us would be doing it. I tell people blogging is like putting a podium in the public square and speaking your thoughts. People can choose to listen, or not. People can choose to interact with you, or not. But, in a way, you feel like you're heard by someone, and that's comforting.

9) Do you think that blogger's society is isolated from the real world or interaction with events?
I think bloggers are part of the world in general. Do some bloggers choose to isolate themselves from current events? Yes, but some non-bloggers isolate themselves as well.

10) Does criticism annoy you or do you feel it's a normal thing?
I think I criticise myself more than anyone else. I don't know why, but I've gotten that feedback my entire life, "Don't be so hard on yourself." Criticism is normal and necessary. It just has to be constructive and not destructive.

11) Do you fear some political blogs and avoid them?
I don't fear political blogs, but I do avoid them. Especially now, politics is not about ideas and vision and leadership. Politics now is about total obliteration of a person's character and reputation. That's why the people who should be in politics to change things for the better - they avoid politics, and that's very sad.

12) Were you shocked by the arrest of some bloggers?
Technically, I was not arrested, I was only questioned. Just kidding. Were bloggers arrested? I did not hear of that.

13) What do you think will happen to your blog after you die?
I think it will be at the Library of Congress for future generations to study and learn from. Yeah right. I don't know what will happen to me tomorrow, let alone about my blog after I die.

14) What song do you like to hear? What song would you like to link to on your blog?
My Way but sung by Elvis Presley

15) The next "victims"?
I'm not going to tag anyone. This is a good set of questions. Blog about it if you like, or just comment on my answers. Thanks for stopping by!