Thursday, May 08, 2008

Bloggy schadenfreude

Confession time: Are there blogs that you read purely for impure reasons? Not impure as in all about the bangability, but as in you read them to make yourself feel superior? Or because you are spying checking up on on an old colleague or ex?

Blogging can open minds, but it can close them too. There are a few in my reader that are there because they get a rise out of me. (None of you, trust me--no one that's ever commented here, and I'm certain they're not reading either.) No matter what these people say, I'm going to disagree and think they are foolish. Reading them is nothing but a boost to my own ego.

On other blogs, I'm strictly a voyeur. Of course all blog-reading is in some way voyeuristic, and if these people are putting it out there, they've agreed that it's mine for the viewing. But if I read your site regularly and I comment, if you know I'm there, I'm now at least friendly, if not a plain ol' friend. If I read my nutty former co-worker's husband's blog to find out what she's doing, because I just think she's weird, then that's ... embarrassing. Same goes for a another ex-colleague who has a lame blog of her own, slapped up to promote a book; I only read it to mock it.

I try to cut myself off, on the grounds that this kind of entertainment really isn't worth any of my limited time or brain cells. That only works some of the time. It's no worse than reality TV, right? At least bloggers aren't subject to the whims of editors and producers who have only a commercial interest in their life stories. (Well, unless they're on the Today show.)

10 comments:

motherbumper said...

Yes, I have two (off the top of my head) that I read just to poke fun and know what they are doing for pure evil-entertainment purposes. I can admit it. Sure, I don't have a stellar blog and it's mighty crappy of me to admit that I poke fun at others (not outloud and never online) but I'd be lying if I said I didn't do it.

Heather said...

I have a few that I read because I know or used to know the person that I never comment on too.

I'm sure there are people who make fun of me for my blog too. Can't please everyone right?

And I missed the Today Show segment but watched it on the net. Wow, I hate Kathy Lee even more now.

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah said...

I haven't discovered any that are old enemies or anything like that.

I try to stay away from the blogs that piss me off.

I try. I don't alway succeed.

Magpie said...

I read one that's written by the husband of a friend of my sister. They happen to live in the same town. I don't comment, well, I did once. Just once.

I keep wondering if I'm going to see him on the train one day. I've met his wife, but he doesn't know me from a hole in the ground.

Julie Marsh said...

You already know about my bloggy schadenfreude. I haven't been there in a while though - thanks for the reminder!

Mandy said...

I was reading one and enjoying it until it became a voyeuristic exploration into a sordid past and that made me more than a little uncomfortable.

BTW, I tagged you for a meme. No need to do it unless you are really bored and twiddling your toes :)

Lara said...

hmm, i don't have anything like that in my reader. but, let's be honest: i totally would if i found any. :-P

Kimberly said...

I have to confess that I read the blog of an ex-friend who stabbed me in the back just to see what she's up to. But I try to avoid blogs that raise my blood pressure - I have enough stress in my life.

Lady M said...

I generally only read blogs that I enjoy. If someone's font is too small to be comfortable, that blog drops off my reader.

However, I do regularly read Orson Scott Card (sci-fi author, noted conservative). His webpage reprints his weekly newspaper column/rant, and while I frequently disagree with him, I think he's intelligent, so it's an exercise in trying to understand opposing points of view.

I have done Google searches on old friends to see if I can find them though!

Jenny, the Bloggess said...

I totally do this. On more than one blog actually.

How embarrassing.