Lessons from Blogging
This post has been pending for awhile. But I felt today was a very appropriate day to reflect back on five years of blogging that has generated more than 1000 posts.
As you will notice from the screenshot below, the blog had the highest number of daily hits yesterday (by a wide margin) following the “Open Letter” post that went live on Rediff.
At one point, the site was pulling in hundreds of comments every hour. As I noted elsewhere, although I was overwhelmed, I should not have been surprised since this is/was clearly a very emotive issue.
But other than helping me build a presence and a profile on the web, has blogging really helped?
The answer to this is an unequivocal “Yes”. Why? Because of what I have learnt from blogging…
1. The first thing I have learnt is “Humility”. With every new post, I become more aware of how little I know and how ignorant I can be on certain issues. I have realised that there are a lot of people out there…who know a lot more than me…a lot of times…and about a lot of things. This has been a humbling experience.
2. Blogging has helped me develop a better response to hatred, insults and blind criticism (call it a thick skin, if you will). With every passing day, I feel less and less affected by outrageous comments. I get stressed less often and am able to look at things more calmly. I have developed a better perspective. Blogging has been a calming influence.
3. Words need to be respected. Over the course of last few years, I have realised the power of words and the impact of language. Words and language can incite, calm, make you happy, enraged or furious. Words are truly powerful tools. I am still learning to use them wisely. Blogging has taught me to weigh the impact of my words, my tone and my language.
4. Clarity of thought is a hard thing to come by for some (most?) people. I count myself in that category. Writing my thoughts down – and publishing them publicly – has helped me become clear and consistent.
5. And finally, blogging has taught me to be respectful towards dissenting opinions and thoughts. Some of the best (and most popular) bloggers are writers with whom I do not agree. Reading their thoughts has made me more tolerant of dissent.
This post was about “Lessons learnt” from blogging but I will be amiss if I did not mention the single most valuable thing that I have gained from this – and that is a better understanding – and still evolving knowledge.
Knowledge of the world around us, knowledge about our ancient culture, heritage, traditions, history…and a better understanding of Bharat, Indians, burning issues and people’s views/reactions. This has truly been a journey of education.
Here is a question for all of you:
How has blogging or posting a comment – or even just reading blogs helped you? Has it helped you?
Do share your thoughts and experiences below. Those of you who are new here may wish to read my comments policy
@Shantanu,
I must thank you for starting this blog and putting lots of knowledge for readers (like me).
Initially I used to comment whenever I was angry about some arguments or issue because that is what I thought a comment has to be. But very soon I learned I need to calculate my works and use it wisely otherwise next time no one even read your comment.
Also when I started writing a blog कृषीदेश for farmers, I didn’t know where to start and what to write. but within first 10 posts I realized that post needs to be a solution for problem in discussion, analytical in presentation and most importantly inviting readers to speak out.
Agree to your forth learning completely. As that has been my learning from comments and posts. I’m being more consistent and aware of my words and ideology now (still long way to go).
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Shantanu,
I am your regular reader for almost 3 years now.
I would say blogging is a great platform to learn, discuss and share but its effectiveness solely depends on the author and the value he/she brings to moderate the discussions.
The effort put in by you and the coverage of topics is really fascinating. The moderation is also crisp. Overall your blog is very engaging, gripping and thought provoking.
The days I don’t get a chance to read your blog, I feel I have missed something.
Thanks for your hard work. Keep it up!!!
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2. Blogging has helped me develop a better response to hatred, insults and blind criticism (call it a thick skin, if you will).
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Shantanu, in my experience, if one has done one’s homework, and checked the facts and underlying reasons, then one can be more confident and better face hatred, insults, blind criticism.
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Some of the best (and most popular) bloggers are writers with whom I do not agree.
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Would you like to share the links to these blogs? 🙂
Thanks.
@ Kaffir: OK, take out “best” from the sentence 🙂
A few quick examples of occassional disagreement: Dilip at dcubed.blogspot, Asghar Ali Engineer on IndianMuslims.in and Amit Varma at India Uncut.
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience. Your blog is like a shining light for a relatively new blogger like me. I hope I can learn and grow as much as you did from your experience.
blogging is best when u have a clear and clean heart over issues u talk about . blogging is insulting when u try to thrust ur right wing , left wing , centre wing ideology on others . blogging is a spiritual curse when u use it to make sweeping generalizations about a particular community or religion .
Tarique makes no sense but makes me think. Thank you Tarique.
Tarique’s comment moralizes — about good and bad blogging.
What is good blogging for Tarique may be bad for Tasleem.
By Tarique’s formula, we will then have silence. Silence has its beauty, but that’s no blog.
for me silence is cowardice ,for me blogging is asking questions about a system that is enslaving our nation . for me blogging is a powerful pen that is mghtier than a missile , for me every religion is a spritual experience and not a platform for dirty politics .blogging i feel should bring youths of this country together to fight criminalisation and corruption in our polilical ,instead it is dividing youths on religious and ideololigal lines and creating confusion and deep suspicion.
Oh.. then we walk together, Tarique.
There are religions and then there are religion-based establishments. Dirty politics is a reality which interplays with the latter more than the former.
As regards “Criminalisation” — defined as “the process by which behaviors and individuals are transformed into crime and criminals” [Wikipedia] I think you are not referring to that process. You would be concerned about the criminals who comprise much of the political class, and rightly so. But that is not criminalisation of political activity.
If religion is allowed, which we do, youths will be divided in their religious beliefs. If political activity is allowed, which we do, youths will be ideologically divided. Those are realities.
However, as youths inhabiting the same national context, their common concerns regarding the substratum, the platform, the common ground, the motherland, the “infrastructure” unites them.
If it doesn’t, it will be to the detriment of all. The earlier the youth realize that, the better for the nation.
Just my 2 paise. Thank you ! Today, I’ll also recommend a visit to http://www.5thpillar.org/