BLOGGER CONSIDERATIONS...

A lot of truly memorable Bloggers have closed their BLOG Pages since I opened mine in 2005. And I miss them. Recently, a Blog bud surprised me after admitting that she has weighed closing her site. It's a subject I have visited less than a handful of times, but this week I admit that it crossed my mind. In fact, I found myself laughing about "Mr. Carlin" (played by Jack Riley)--the kooky character of the patient to Psychologist Bob Hartley (Bob Newhart) in the sit-com "The Bob Newhart Show" which ran on CBS television from 1972 to 1978. I can laugh because I earned my college degree in Psychology. The Bob Newhart Show is in heavy rotation on cable television. I imagined Carlin having a session with Bob talking about his feelings associated with the prospect of closing his Blog Page! Bob would have likely asked "How do you feel about that?" and I'm quite sure they'd explore options, such as going on "Hiatus", transitioning to an irregular posting schedule, or closing comments. I have experienced this from my own visits to the sites listed on my Blogroll. The reasons for a fun blog site being closed down by my friends has included: the demands of a new marriage, parenthood, a new job, escaping a stalker, or the death of someone close. Several blog sites appear to be abandoned; they remain in existence, but little or no posts have been created. Others state on their Blog sites that they feel creatively drained.

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Personally, I enjoy blogging tremendously because I've been a writer since I first penned a grade school essay about missing my brother, who was drafted in Vietnam. In high school, I was on the debate team, cross country, track and I wrote for the school newspaper. After college, I continued to write news for radio and television as a reporter, a news anchor and most memorably for a weekend radio music magazine. Newspaper editorials and commercial magazine articles have been part of my life for 16 years. Each month, I take two days (usually in a row) to read and comment on every blog site I list in my Blogroll, in addition to the regular Bloggers I am blessed to have.

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There are funny things about having a Blog page. One of the stands-outs (as some of you can relate) is that many long-time Bloggers do not realize after four years that my Blog Page is only one component of an entire Website! Over the weekend, I received a long-distance call from a friend who could not find Page 3 of my Photo Page. I had to explain that words "Next Page" accompanied by an arrow was actually an honest to good Click On Button. Another person asked about an Independent film I made in 2003, blogged about at least six times and even have still photos posted on Photo Page 1. I didn't find that funny, and I suspect neither would Dr. Hartley much less Andy Rooney of "60 Minutes". But to be fair, not everyone has one of my cards which has my photo, title and my Website (www.michaelmanning.tv) on it. My Pastor of 22 years loves to scan my News Page daily. Another friend three days ago admitted that she was one of my "Lurkers"-which ended in laughter! (Andy Rooney would have laughed too!). A local broadcasting colleague asked if I had a Reel Page (she knows better, I mean a fellow journalist? Please). I honestly couldn't tell you without a straw poll if my About Page is viewed at all. I don't have a separate meter on it, and besides, I don't like polls. Speaking engagements have been sparse for some time, so maybe my Contact Page is the epitome of Three Dog Night's hit song "One" and qualifies as "the loneliest number"? For rush hour Bloggers, my Home Page is the most concise. As most Home Pages go, however, it doesn't change much. Truth be told, serious blogging requires a commitment of time. But with a huge debt of gratitude for the readers who visit regularly, I have chosen, again, to keep my Blog Page intact. There is no hard and fast rule for Blogging. And like each of you, when a day or two goes by and I don't have a new post, it's only because I am attending to something I've been neglecting. For instance, it could be I'm visiting a friend after a long absence, visiting an animal adoption shelter, practicing my guitar, working out, or deadlining on a magazine assignment. At the end of the day, my Pastor has the final word about "To Blog or Not To Blog". When I told him, that maybe I should consider options similar to what Mr. Carlin would tell Dr. Hartley about Blogging, he said: "Don't you dare!" Seems like sound advice. So, for now--you're stuck with me. But I'm curious. Have you considered not Blogging anymore? Do tell and share why.

Have a nice Monday!
My Complete Website is: www.michaelmanning.tv!