When I posted about reading Dooce, some folks commented that my blog is one of the few mommy/daddy blogs they read. I know, the title of this blog is “The Munchkin Wrangler”, and I do blog about my kids quite often, but I don’t think I’m a pure mommy blogger.
What’s your opinion on mommy blogs? I’d think they would bore non-parents to tears, yet quite a few of the top blogs are just that. Do I blog about my kids too much, not enough, or just frequently enough? (This is not going to be a poll on future content, though…I blog what’s on my mind at any given time, and if that happens to be the sprogs, then so be it, and folks can either read my mushy commentary, or surf on to the next blog.) I’d like to think that I blog on a decently wide variety of subjects, although I may hit the Politics section a bit too often. (Hey, it’s a target-rich environment.)
When I check my reading list in Google Reader, there are quite a few mommy blogs on there that are a.) usually hilarious, and b.) quite popular, like Dad Gone Mad, Dooce, or Crystal. Here’s the thing, though…I don’t read them because of their subject matter, but because I can relate to the authors, and I like their writing styles. Come to think of it, that’s the main reason why I read any blog regularly. When I discover a new blog, and I start reading the archives and find myself thinking “I’d love to sit down and have a beer with this person”, then they go on my Favorites list. I may not necessarily have a homogeneity of opinion with the author (and almost always don’t), but I appreciate wit, intelligence, and skillful applications of sarcasm.
I think that the most endearing trait in a person is a sense of humor, and the ability to make fun of yourself. That’s what I seek out when I read other blogs for fun, and it doesn’t matter so much whether that person blogs about kids, guns, politics, quantum physics, mud wrestling, or all of the above.
13 Comments
April 3, 2008 at 7:40 am
I read yours because you’ve got that at-home Dad thing going and it’s a role I’ve been in for 6 years myself. I get the jokes. That’s fun. So I guess I identify with quite a bit of your writing. You’re home writing (when kids aren’t hanging all over you). I’m home writing code (when kids aren’t hanging all over me).
I read Sharp as a Marble for much the same reason. I enjoy the stories about kids and being a Dad, and of course there’s the whole gun thing which is just oodles of fun. Common interests. Also, I like to read NH blogs being a granite-stater myself. Transplanted here 4 years ago and had plenty of rough moments. It’s the whole Live Free or Die thing.
Generally, it’s all about style and content. I read some blogs that feed my Lovecraft habit. I read some that tend to poke fun at that corporate cubicle environment. I’m just as happy with a post about someone’s kids as I am with a post about Heller, or one extolling the genius of Better Off Dead. I have noticed that I’ve bumped blogs off my radar that are mostly links to other articles and blogs without the commentary.
April 3, 2008 at 8:12 am
I like bloggers who have a clear and distinct “voice”, a facility with words, who display a good degree of critical thinking (regardless of the subject matter). Obviously, I’m always trolling about for sites dealing with writing/writers and/or the popular arts but if I find some personal blog with a funny p.o.v. and an attitude, I’ll pop in time and time again…
April 3, 2008 at 8:36 am
I couldn’t agree with you more! I read blogs to stimulate my mind and tickle my funny bone. The content doesn’t matter as much as the way it is delivered. I am not a stay at home Dad, but reading your blog sometimes gives me an insight to what my wife goes through. It’s not that she doesn’t tell me, but this gives me a chance to be better prepared for the “guess what happened today!” that always comes with my return home.
Also, I don’t think you blog about your kids too much. I absolutely adore my children and talk about them A LOT at work (probably more than my co-workers care to hear). They are a joy to have and a constant source of comedic material!!
April 3, 2008 at 9:14 am
My perspective on what I want to read about also changes with what’s going on in my life. I started my blog primarily to trade anecdotes with my running friends, but then my son broke his leg and I wasn’t running because life changed for the time being for us.
So I switched to reading (and writing) about other people who were in the same situation as us. I’m sure I’ll switch back to writing about my regular theme once his cast comes off, but at the end of the day the ones I tend to read on a regular basis are more about if they are interesting to read, and their style of writing than it is about the topic anyway.
April 3, 2008 at 9:35 am
I don’t go for the family stuff at all and pretty much ignore it Munchkin (no offense meant). I have great grandkids and that family stuff is years behind me.
I like pretty much everything else though. Reading the views of a man that can actually think makes me think and question my own preconcieved notions and ideas.
Libertarians and “steam punks” make for some mighty interesting reading.
April 3, 2008 at 10:03 am
I tend to be a blog omnivore — I read a bit of everything. My favorites generally have s “spark” that keeps me coming back — snark, intelligent commentary, kid stuff….your blog has all three, and is in the “read every day/browse archives when bored” category.
April 3, 2008 at 10:10 am
Your blog is the berries!
I came for the political and social stuff, but don’t mind at all the mommy/daddy blogging. It’s not what I set out to read every day, but I don’t recall any piece you’ve written that I didn’t enjoy.
You’re a good guy. You’re an *interesting* guy. I think that’s why people read you, and I think “interesting” is the personal trait of most bloggers with a large readship. Like you said, one doesn’t have to always agree with someone to find them entertaining, and I think that as long as people are interested in you as an individual, they’ll mostly follow along no matter what you write about.
April 3, 2008 at 10:49 am
If you read like a “daddyblogger”, I wouldn’t be here. (You may adjust your writing style accordingly.
)
I started reading after “The Gun is Civilisation”, and found, well, we share a number of positions. The ones we don’t share usually at least give me something to think about.
April 3, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I first started reading your blog because of the gun related posts. Lately you have been posting less about guns and more about your family life, which doesn’t interest me. So, I think I will stop reading your blog, unless another gun blogger links to a new gun post of yours.
April 3, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I read blogs because they are medical and make me see things differently, or they can
teach me something, or they are very well written – preferably all three. They should, at least occasionally, generate a laugh.
A Day in the Life of an Ambulance Driver
is an excellent example of that. He directed me to your blog.
I grew up watching Firing Line.
William F. Buckley avoided the polarizing approach to politics and was much more interesting for it. We seem to be devolving into a nation of idiots voting for politicians who act like professional wrestlers, rather than responsible adults.
You express things clearly. You avoid taking cheap shots and focus on the issues. I am no longer raising a child, but I do not find your posts on your children intrusive. The perspective of someone moving to America as an adult is interesting. I always enjoyed Conrad and Nabokov, two writers who embarrass most native born English speaking writers.
April 3, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I originally linked to you from a gun site. After reading more, I found your ideas well thought out, and well written. I don’t always agree, but find you thought provoking. Your views on the Second Amendment, and guns in general, are very like my own. If you ever come to Dallas, I would like to buy you a beer.
April 4, 2008 at 1:20 am
Since I’m one of two posters on the original thread, I must be “some folks”. I’ve already said my piece.
I will add that I am trying to fill out my “feed-sphere” with a few additional blogs. I could really use both at least one non-wacknut feminist and a few blogs from a minority perspective. I’m a little over-heavy on guys with guns, gals with guns, and libertarian leaners.
I think I’ve got about the proper amount of “reality crackers”, hackers (traditional definition) and security researchers.
I’d love to add some indymedia types, but I’ve come to find that I just can’t stand most of the ranting. Most of the indymedia set are just commies warmed-over, but I seem to agree on a surprising number of issues. Reading their “protesting” handbooks are interesting. Did you know that they use a dilute solution of Maalox to wash chemical irritants out of peoples eyes? They also advise against gas masks with glass lenses, (think police billy clubs).
I like to keep up with the comments (and comment myself). That means that the blog needs to have a certain level of popularity, but not so popular that the comments are locked down or there’s far to many to digest. I need to be able to respond to commenter “A” without blogger “B” personally blessing the comment first, so it shows up. That really bogs down the conversation.
No comments = no magic. Too many comments are almost as bad, although sometimes I’ll scrape digg or slashdot if they come up in search results.
It really pains me that some forums actually have useful info. What a waste of bandwidth, what a load of visual clutter. I don’t like moving GIFs at all and make the effort to block them if possible. I also can’t stand all those damn smilies. I really hate the fact that you may need to search the forum itself, because it’s part of the “deep web”, and is frequently not indexed by the search engines.
Also, the signal to noise ratio must be acceptable. I don’t want someone to post something just because they have not posted in a while. I have an RSS aggravator, so I’ll see it when you post it. Likewise, I may find some stories on lifehacker or metafilter interesting, but I’m not going to discard 20 posts out of the daily feed just to get one nugget, unless that nugget is really good.
April 5, 2008 at 5:32 am
I got here via Tam. She strikes me as a female version of my single self although a bit more diverse.
I enjoy your writings because it is true to life in general. A wide range if interests with some humor tossed in when appropriate.
Since I do not have kids I can only imagine what it is like. Your perspective makes it seem that it is the greatest thing in the world. That is awesome.