Mistaken Blogging Identity

This little blog of mine has been going for nearly 8 years (next months my blogaversary). Some might ask why I set it up. Fame? Fortune? The adulation of a million Dear Constant Readers? Nope. I did it because of two things:

1) I have kept a personal journal since 1998, and had a lot of problems with keeping them private.
2) I felt the best solution was not to keep them private! Hence why for many years the subtitle of the blog was "What is more dull than a discreet diary? One might as well have a discreet soul! - Henry Channon 1897-1958"

But of course there's the difficulty. It'd be a bit arrogant to go up to my family and say "Here's my diary, read it and weep!". And really I wouldn't mind them reading it but preferably I wouldn't want to know about it.

The solution came in the form of an article in the Guardian Tech section on the 23rd of August 2001. I was introduced to the wonderful concept of a "blog" and thought "Oh yes, here's my medium". I wasn't trying to be a published author. I wasn't trying to be famous. I wasn't trying to save the world. I just wanted a place where I could keep my journal, where I could update it from any computer and where I could at least live the concept of a non discreet diary.

And since then many blogs of mine have come and gone. Dreaming of Chong Nonsi (nee Ahhhh! It's Uni Time, Block 33, come back to what you know and Dancing with Myself) has been the only one to stay steady.

Of course now there's also Moonlight Investigation, Jae's Second Life, Walk This World With Me and a number of others. There are adverts, and blog traffic exchanges and links galore. But the ultimate concept is not to do anything but have a place to write down my thoughts. If you, Dear Constant Reader, were to stop reading this I would continue to write here and on those other blogs. Although then you, Dear Constant Reader, can never leave as you were even around in my pre blog days, gotta love figments of my imagination! ;)

So it irks me somewhat that some people believe I've set out to change the world and that any of my blogs have an agenda beyond dumping rubbish from my brain. When I rant I do not do so because I think it will make one iota of difference. I do so, so that I can operate in my life without ranting at others in person. All those mean people on the tube you see every day? They need a blog. The media are always mocking blogs, laughing at those they believe are screaming for change and not making any. I KNOW based on my 8 years of blog reading, and blogs come and go with a depressing regularity, that there are those who write political blogs because they believe that somehow they shall make a difference. Some even seem to (like Guy Fawkes or Liberal Conspiracy). But that's not why most people, in my experience, blog. And it's not why I blog. So if you see something on my blog that offends you, upsets you or you disagree with feel free to comment and tell me. But don't make the mistake of believing that I say things with an expectation of them actually happening, don't suggest that I am somehow so full of self importance as to believe that someone will give one flying fuck what I write. Insult me, belittle me, but just don't suggest that.

My blogs are not for you, they are for me. That's my one conscious concession to selfishness. You are all very welcome to come along for the ride, I love all those who've ever taken the time to read my blog. Just do so with a little pinch of salt, and remember: IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT I SAY. I am just Jae, a 26 year old guy from Greenwich who's sphere of influence is limited mainly to my tenants and whether or not their tap gets fixed today or tomorrow0. I'm hardly going to shake up the established social order of my own flat, let alone the world! So try to keep things in perspective and not get too angry when you leave a comment. Manners are free.

RANT ENDS (and you are so lucky I choose this rant today over yet another "How to use the bloody train" rant which I think even you, oh patient one, have grown tired of)

This blogger works for nothing but the joy of writing but always appreciates things bought from his wishlist