My mom asked me what the difference was between a blog and Facebook. Once I started thinking about it, I realized that there are some big differences. And those differences say something about who we are as people.
I started trying to explain it to her, and I admit I was trying to be funny. But the more I struggled to put into words what makes each of these social media forms unique, the more I came to understand why blogging is so freakin’ awesome.
Facebook is full of people I have known for years. A large percentage of the people who are my ‘friends’ are also related to me. The rest of my ‘friends’ are actual friends.
So how come when I put something on Facebook I get a handful of likes and maybe one short comment or two? These are the people who are supposed to love me.
Also, and I find this troubling, we have now substituted pictures, memes, videos and jokes for actual conversation. On Facebook, people keep forwarding stuff. Okay, I don’t mind looking at your vacation pictures, I do that here on the blog. But forwarding a joke or a meme that someone forwarded to you is not a meaningful way to communicate. I would rather have you type one short, poorly worded sentence to me than send me a million cute little e-things.
Now, let’s look at my blog. I can type any stupid thing here and I might get hundreds of people who I have never even met leaving brilliant comments. I have a few posts that have hundreds of comments. Some of them have started brilliant conversations about deep and interesting subjects. Bloggers talk about stuff. We don’t just pass things on.
On the blog, I can do a series of posts that add up to thousands of words, and at least some of you will read every one of those words. On the blog, I have followers who live all over the world. I get feedback and encouragement and… yes… love…
So I guess the difference between the two is simple:
Facebook is where you can get ignored by the people who love you…
A blog is where you can get love from people who don’t even know you…
***sigh***
Pouring My Art Out 
Love, love, love….so true true true!! I love blogging and when I take a gander on facebook once or twice a month now I wonder why I was on it. Oh, yeah, to connect with people living too far away…but they love my blogs, it’s the ones close by…well, they could care less I think…and mostly they don’t get (except for one colleague who has just completed her first book) it…But I do and that’s what counts. Oliana
Blogging is a lifestyle… Facebook is a hobby… I guess… thanks
Hundreds of people leaving “brilliant comments”? Damn, expectations are high! I’d better get out of here and think of something more clever to say.
Okay… they aren’t all like that… there is no expectation of cleverness… but it does happen… now and then…
I confess I am one of those people who pass on jokes through FB – not because I’m lazy, but because if I read something that tickles MY funny bone, then I think the people who know me & love me will like then too! If I didn’t post some on my FB wall, you guys would get even more through my blogs!
We all do it now and then, but there has to be more to it than that
I agree, I’ve found that those who are supposed to love and care for me are the very ones who have nothing to do with my blog. At first I was so upset about this, why would my friends be the very ones to not support my passions? I’ve had to let it go. I try to tell myself that just because I love something doesn’t mean they do, but the other side of me, says, can’t they just support it because it’s a part of me. I have one friend who actually attacks and bashes blogging. I told her off about it last time I talked to her. I said she may not like it but it’s something Iove and when she’s constantly bashing it, it hurts me.
It is like people think they already know you, so why go to more trouble to get to know you. And they talk in shallow levels. Even people who would listen to me talk for hours won’t read many words I wrote. I think I sold more books on my blog than to my friends and family.
agreed! my “friend” who attacks this says journals should be private not public. i’m like…”You have no idea what you’re talking about, it’s way more than a journal, don’t bash it unless you’ve learned about it.”
Wow… she can’t see how this would be good not only for you but for other people???
nope she’s clueless
That is the word
it is
is it
is what i forget now?
exactly
Well said, Art and one more reason why i will never have Facebook. Peace.
It is sort of waste of time…
Oh, so that’s why I like blogging so much better than Facebooking! Thanks for this. Refreshingly different from all of your self-promotional posts! 🙂
I never stay on one thing for too long… but that series was only funny if I went over the top…
You? Over the top? Nah! Besides, it was pretty easy to just delete all those emails I got from “Pouringmyartout” telling me to follow you, like you, love you. I already follow you and I sort of like you (enough to read your blog posts, anyway). Love you? Well, I’m not ready for that kind of commitment just yet. Maybe someday, honey.
You wouldn’t be the first person to slowly succumb to my subtle charms… just sayin’…