Comments on: Give it up (blogging and the public)

By: pokoka

pokoka — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 02:11:24 +0000

Kia ora Danny,

A well written piece. He pai ou whakaaro e pa ana te raruraru o te ara tauhoko nei.

Mauri ora.

By: bitchphd

bitchphd — Mon, 20 Jun 2005 11:50:27 +0000

This is a good piece–and of course it demonstrates why I’ll be sorry to read less of your writing. I too am rethinking not blogging, but the content. I’ll add to your “what blogs are good for” d) frequently, ideally daily, practice at writing (whatever the content may be) and e) crossing the private/public divide: getting “private” thoughts/voices into the public sphere. I think I want to do more of those two, going back to what I started doing with the blog, and less of the “aspiring to political punditry” stuff–the blog just isn’t a good forum for it. Or at least I feel that my aspirations have been too broad, and I would rather develop more knowledge before broadcasting.

Anyway, I do hope that however frequently you write here, you keep in touch. And that you maybe just go ahead and try exploratory writing, rather than that whole “needing to have a point” thing. Because I’ll miss you if you go.

By: db

db — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 14:26:38 +0000

Tena koe Pokoka. Many thanks for your comments. I am currently in Amsterdam and feeling a long way from home, your awhi is a treasure, greatly appreciated. Kia ora ra

By: db

db — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 14:37:03 +0000

Hi B, thanks once again for your supportive comments. Yes, I think blogs are good for the two things you mention as well - for you and others in a similar position anyway - and that’s what I love about your blog. For myself, I’m less certain that d) the “practice” of my writing improves it (or my political action). And I also don’t think that or e) that my putting my “private” voice into the public sphere is such a good idea. The bottom line of this post was read by many as simply being about short- vs long- gestation period writing. I think the bigger issue is that my “private” is thoroughly colonised by the “public” compared to most people, but I’m also involved in a lot of other people’s “privates” (heh) or at least their inability to be fully public, and my work across that gap probably needs to be less publicly shared. I’m thinking at the moment about starting a private blog for friends, where I can be a little more open and informal, while still using this space as a more public record. I’ll defintely keep you posted. Certainly I’ve been getting a lot out of the engagement with people like yourself and I’d like to find a way to continue to develop those relationships.

By: db

db — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 15:27:27 +0000

OK, I’ve set up a new journal that’s “private” and seems to be working. Anyone wanting the URL should drop me an e-mail danny at dannybutt.net and i’ll sign you up.

By: shirley bear

shirley bear — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 15:47:31 +0000

Wuligiskut djb,
I am more-a reader that a writer, so i have enjoyed reading your writing (not always agreeing) and wish to continue to do so.
I signed in to keep my seat “on this brain watching”
love
smb

By: db

db — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 17:26:26 +0000

thanks smb :) nice to hear from you, meeting up with Ashok and Cheryl in LA at the end of the month, will be nice to reconnect the intranation dialogue in person, and also start planning how i can make a visit to see you. Or, of course we should bring you out to Aotearoa! Will work on that :) x.d