Of Writing and Criticism

I’ve noticed on some expat blogs I read (occasionally), a posting or two that deals with comments and criticism. The blog authors are often of the view that the blog is their personal journal, opinions, reflections. Several have said that the blog is the equivalent of a personal diary, the random jottings-down of whatever floated into the authors’ minds on random occasions. If they don’t like what they read, blog authors argue, the readers are free to move on, stuff it, etc. In other words, people should not be getting personal in their criticism and comments on blogs because blogs are the personal opinions of their authors.

I disagree with these blog authors’ assumptions. A blog is not a personal journal. I don’t remember ever letting other people read my personal journal (last maintained in my early twenties in a small black calendar-type book). A blog is a personal account in a public space and therefore is looking for an audience. In the very act of looking for someone to read your blog, you have already made yourself a target of your public’s opinion. To complain afterward that the blog is a personal journal is simply trying to have your cake and eat it, too. You can’t want others to read and then to respond with only praise. Like a spoilt movie star railing against the critics. After all, dear blog authors, if you’re so proud of the brutal honesty of your opinions, then why would you think that your readers don’t have equally brutally honest responses to your expressed opinions? Of course, every blog author has the right to delete or block obscenities, name-calling, spam, and other garbage. But readers’ responses to one’s observations are very valid, and should be welcomed. Even if you don’t agree with their opinion about your opinion.

And if you really do believe that your blog is a personal diary, then (dear expat ladies in particular) please don’t list it in public fora like www.expat-blog.com or http://expatwomen.com . And if you’re really interested in keeping your observations restricted to only positively friendly readers, do make your blog invitation-only, would you?