Casa Rosales

Casa Rosales

Wednesday 29 August 2012

How do you blog...?



Blogging lends itself to such a range of different purposes. So many blogs are pure fun; some are abstract; others provide interest, education or entertainment about a specific subject. These blogs are usually quite impersonal. And whilst I enjoy a wide range of these and use them to provide me with valuable information - particularly on teaching - I much prefer the diary-type of blog; those reflective, celebratory, down-to-earth, common interest or simply engaging glimpses into another person's life, interests and inspirations. I feel now, with my little group of followers and the number of blogs I follow myself, that I have a network of people across the globe, who, if I met I would recognise in real life - from their tone of conversation, from their interests and from their willingness to share. It is my chosen assumption that individual blogs reflect individual people.


Lots of bloggers I read have agonised over whether to blog the negative in their lives. I'm sure these are the cup half-full type of people. Most of their daily life feels good but from time to time, as is normal, life deals a rotten blow or something out-of-the-blue upsets what is important and - because it is a more alien feeling or one that isn't helped by complaining about it - only rarely do these occasions find their way into the blog. Sometimes, people like this find it difficult to blog when the going is tough - it doesn't feel right; it doesn't actually help.





Others have no problem saying it as it is; telling us how it feels; expressing the bad as well as the good without feeling the need to apologise about it. If it doesn't help, it doesn't make things worse.








And some bloggers are prepared to grasp the nettle and blog a difficult subject or life-event even if it's is rather contrary to their usual tone and they often doing it in moving, engaging and life-enhancing sort of way. And I'm thinking in particular of two blogs I read when I say this. The first is Lunar's blog and the second is Annie's at artistica domestica. I'll leave you to read and discover for yourselves, if you don't already know, the immense courage they both show in the face of the things life has taken from them or thrown at them..

Being fascinated by how people react, work, think and behave, I did a bit of very quick research to see whether there is a link between  personality types (Myers Briggs - this is a place you can do a quick online test - try here for more information about Myers Briggs Personality Types proper) and blogging. There doesn't seem to be much as yet, so I can't say whether there is any correlation between certain types being more likely to blog or, whether certain types have particular blog focuses although anyone might make a guess that extrovert type (E) would have less of a problem in writing about their own lives and feeling types (F) would include ...well, their feelings. My own Myers Briggs type is ENFP, described by Myers Briggs as:

"Warmly enthusiastic and imaginative. See life as full of possibilities. Make connections between events and information very quickly, and confidently proceed based on the patterns they see. Want a lot of affirmation from others, and readily give appreciation and support. Spontaneous and flexible, often rely on their ability to improvise and their verbal fluency."

I would say this is me most of the time, most of my adult life and how others people often perceive me. It doesn't mean it's how I am all the time because I do suffer from mild depression sometimes and am currently just coming out of a bit of a hard time. And when I've been down, I often indulge in a little bit of reflection - which is useful because when I'm 'up', there's no time to look back - the future is far more interesting!

It struck me that my 'Month in the country' posts read and look absolutely idyllic though at the time, I was mostly miserable - feeling down and having no energy, not sleeping properly, getting a urine infection that went to my kidneys and being bitten all over by bastard mosquitoes. I also struggled at times with FR's mother, who was naturally anxious about her father and tired from all the care she had been giving him. This showed itself in her state of nervous tension, stress and an apparent need to control everything. It often meant that when I said I'd do something, she'd insist on doing it herself or when I did do something,  she would criticise what I'd done and how I'd done it, regardless of the thing itself - and usually this criticism would be about the smallest, most ridiculous thing, from how I cut the beans to how I hung the washing out. And it made me feel very guilty, hopeless and frustrated...and, I'm afraid to say, resulted in some childish behaviour on my part - I started doing it back. I would criticise - or more, pass comment on things that I didn't really care about one way or the other and not agree with the things she said. We didn't bicker and it wasn't all the time but on some days, we weren't our usual good friends. And we were both doing it to the others in the house as well...

I recognise now (having come home and reflected) that I my 'shadow' personality had come to the fore as I was not feeling too good - and, surprise, surprise, and ENFP will become critical of others, be pedantic about unimportant issues, do things to excess and take control of situations without due consideration. And weren't these the things I was complaining about in my mother-in-law...? And isn't it interesting that these traits are visible to the people who know me - mainly invisible to me - but are the things that most annoy me in other people. Very possibly, Amelia too is an ENFP!

To come back to the beginning, blogging and how we blog - or even why we blog. I found a website called Typealyzer which claims to analyse the 'type' of blog from the text used in the blog. And of course, I jumped at the chance. Not surprisingly, it came back with a type that was close to my personality type, but NOT my personality type - ESFP. This type was described as 'The Performer'. I can see the rationality of this assessment - we, sorry, I 'perform' when I write our  my blog and I suspect that many of the blogs I enjoy  will probably conform to this type.

How do you blog? Try it and see! (And do let me know!)


24 comments:

  1. Hello Annie:
    This is all most intriguing but we must confess that we do not like analysing too much. Better just to do and enjoy is our motto in blogging as in life although this can mean that one does get into hot water on occasions. Still, it all adds to life's rich pattern in our view.

    We see our blog as a notebook of events in our lives and we write just for ourselves. We do, of course, greatly appreciate anyone who cares to follow our writings and to comment upon them. Indeed, as you say, this has brought about some amazing 'virtual' and real friendships on a global scale that in our pre-blogging days we should never have thought possible. Our lives are definitely the richer for this!

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    1. Oh I know you well by now, Jane and Lance - and this is clearly not your thing at all! But I'm so glad to receive your comments (though I think some of mine to you may have gone amiss recently..)
      My granny always used to say how good it was that we weren't all alike and I do so share that sentiment. Your blog is a complete joy not just to those of us who read it, but clearly to you too and I do think this is of the utmost importance.
      Blogging is definitely enriching. Here's to you both.
      Axxx

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  2. I tried the link and came out as the Performer...though Mr. Fly hooted at the 'tends to avoid conflict' bit.
    His view is that I don't look for it, but once found my reactions resemble those of a charging rhino. (I shall study the underlying implications of that at leisure!)

    I started blogging at an anxious time...it kept worry at bay and was a furtherance of work habits...set something down on paper and it can start to make sense.
    As I've found friends in the blog world I've noticed that it is a slightly less egoistic exercise....I don't feel alone.

    The surprising and delightful thing about blogging is the kindness of so many bloggers....

    I didn't do the Briggs whatsit...I have a deep suspicion of categories.

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    1. I wondered whether anyone would balk at being 'categorised' but having used Myers Briggs at work with huge success, I am quite committed to the ideas it throws up about my own and other people's personality preferences. Your resistance to being categories, by its nature, implies you are of a particular type...but I shall make no assumptions!

      I did think many of my favourite blogs would be 'Performer' blogs - being entertaining, personal and engaging - and yours is no exception.
      I too can be a bit of a rhino...and I don't look for it either. Honest.
      Interesting that blogging helped manage anxiety for you at the beginning - I guess there always has to be something that sets us off. Mine was a big life change and I too was anxious though also excited.
      And the blogging community is just wonderful.
      Thank you,
      Axxx

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    2. It is typical of a categorising system that it categorises non participants in the process!

      I expect rhinos don't go looking for conflict either....

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    3. I retract my comments, Fly - you are absolutely unique and have made me smile broadly. Axxx

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  3. This is going to take me some time to work through Annie. I want to read the blogs you suggest and do the "tests", so I'm going to get back to you in a couple of days when I've done the homework and digested the results. It's funny that we have clearly both been struggling with some of these ideas....you have be much more thorough than me though. I did finally publish the blog I have been struggling with, but found I could not include the sordid details, just the feelings they left me with. You have been braver in describing your mother in law's behaviour and in recognising your own. Anyway, more analysis needed on my part, and I think your framework will help !.... I will return. Thanks for this, it is brilliantly pertinent, and as always full of you. Love Janice xxx

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    1. Now all this preparation says something about you and your type, Janice! Do get back to me - I shall be most interested.
      This post didn't come out quite as I intended as I ended up reflecting quite a bit before writing and I'm glad I did. Otherwise, it would have been a catalogue of moans.
      And don't be fooled, I wasn't really very thorough and in some ways I do feel disloyal for criticising, in any way, a woman who is so inherently good and caring - I hope it's clear that I recognised we were both displaying similar traits.
      I'm touched by your last sentence - thank you.
      Love,
      Axxx

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  4. Glad I've found your blog. Last year I thought all bloggers were narcissistic anoraks. Then I moved countries, stopped working full-time, started blogging and met so many great people over the blogosphere that I wonder how I did with out them. I'll do the test and read the new blogs you've highlighted and report back.

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    1. Ditto Annie - so glad you've seen the light, stopped all that working and joined the virtual world of lovely bloggers! Look forward to your report back. Take a tissue when you read the highlighted blogs though.
      Axxx

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  5. A really thought-provoking post, Annie. I too came out as a Performer, but gave them my actual type (ENFJ) to help them refine their analytical tools. Like you I have a lot of time for Myers-Briggs, having had to do it more than once in various training courses and been impressed by its insights - though my psychologist DH isn't convinced. :-)

    I started blogging just because I thought I'd like to try doing some writing and had no idea how rewarding and important it would become for me and how much I would come to value the friendships made through blogging. At the moment life is good for me and I expect my blog reflects this, but I too have read blogs which chronicle very difficult situations and have deeply appreciated their honesty and courage.

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    1. Thank you Perpetua. I'm glad to hear you have found good things in Myers Briggs - wonder why DH isn't as convinced?..and interesting that you came out as a Performer too.
      Honesty and courage is admirable wherever it is found and I think it is possible to draw strength from those who demonstrate it. Bloggers who share their difficulties often don't realise how brave they are being.
      I also appreciate blogs where an individual's interests are reflected, whether they are ones I share or not. And when they are as well written as your own...well, I know I am very happy in the little world of bloggers that I have been so lucky to find!
      Axxx

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  6. Hi Annie,

    Fascinating post.

    In common with Janice I think I need some thinking time. Watch this place! x

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    1. Look forward to seeing the results of your thinking. As an ENFP, I tend to jump straight in without applying much thought - interesting you and Janice want to think first. (I often think after!) Axxx

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  7. I don't think I'll do the Myers Briggs thing because I don't like to analyse myself too much. Having been a life-long sufferer of depression, I've been analysed by the professionals far too much for my liking!

    I started to blog for two reasons. Firstly, I started keeping a daily diary when I first moved to Turkey which accumulated into half a dozen exercise books, which I promptly lost during one of our many moves. So blogging kind of replaces my diary. I also got to know several people on a forum that I used to frequent, who were bloggers, and they encouraged me to start one. To be honest at that time I didn't even know what a blog was. I find writing down my thoughts very therapeutic.

    Like you, I often write my more "cheerful" posts when I'm at my lowest...perhaps I'm subconsciously trying to cheer myself up? I do talk about my depression from time to time on my blog too because it's a subject that we should all be much more open about.

    Great post Annie...food for thought x

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    1. Hi Ayak, thank you for such a great response. Be assured, Myers Briggs is nothing like being analysed by a professional and doesn't address issues like depression. It's more about why we are different from each other and how we are the same simply by our basic preferences in interacting with the world. Very useful for recognising qualities in people, such an eye for detail, making objective judgements, sensitive to other people's moods or coming up with new ideas, hence its particular usefulness in work situations.
      I was always a diary-keeper. I think for many people, blogging started off personal but has become a lovely little communication hub with friends, real and virtual.
      Thanks again,
      Axxx

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  8. I LOVE this post Annie & can't wait to follow up the links! I think I belong to a group for whom the blog is a way of highlighting the lovely things in my life whilst NEVER revealing the bad bits!
    I suspect there are quite a lot of us.

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    1. Ooh, glad you're into this, Nilly - do let me know. Your blog is certainly an absolute lovely joy. I do sometimes include some of the less than cheerful but always enjoy happy things best - and love to look back at my children smiling and having fun! Axxx

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  9. Done the test and I'm an ENTP and I've already forgotten what that means which just proves what a flibbertigibbet I am.

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    1. It doesn't mean you are anything - it means you have a preference for drawing energy from others (E), getting the big picture rather than detail (N), reacting in a logical, rather than emotional way (T) and liking to keep your options open rather than tying things down (P) - more or less. You can be all these things AND a flibbertigibbet - I'm one of those too!
      Axxx

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  10. Oo-er, well the quick test you linked to reckons I'm an ISTP. Problem is I really struggled to choose because almost every time I seemed to lean both ways, which shouldn't be possible. Went through it with hubby to see what he thought I should have answered and he just kept saying 'both', and he didn't know that was the problem I'd had. Split personality anyone? Typalizer confidently declared me to be ESFP, a Performer. So two the same, two different.

    Brilliant and quite fascinating post Annie. Though I wonder, when I say I have no objection to being categorised as long as I'm free to disagree, what that says about me?

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    1. The questions are deliberately difficult - you are forced to choose. You should read whether you agree with the description of an ISTP - is it you? OR, it could mean you are a nice, rounded person who can adapt to what is required, rather than leaning on your preferences.

      Bit like being ambidextrous - (or bisexual, I suppose, if you like the idea!)- you will have a preference but can use left or right hands or feet interchangeably. Not everyone can do that. I could talk about this for ages but mustn't here. It's not about categorisation at all, but about learning how you are most likely to behave and adjust as necessary. Big difference. Glad you enjoyed it. I am so clearly an ENFP that there's no point disputing it! Axxx

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    2. (I also think many blogs are 'performances' so not surprised so many come out ESFP!)

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    3. I loved it. And I like the idea that I'm not leaning on my preferences ;)

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I welcome your comments - it makes blogging even more fun to know someone is reading!