14 September, 2004 7:25 PM
The Greenman has an interesting post titled That Blog Is Bad For Your Health which looks at a study into characteristics of people who write diaries (which can't be that dissimilar to bloggers). Should be some uplifting findings shouldn't it? After all blogs are great aren't they!? So what are these findings?
'They are more likely to suffer from headaches, sleeplessness, digestive problems and social awkwardness than people who do not maintain a diary, on line or otherwise.'
Hmmm - ok. So how many of you bloggers out there does that describe?
Here is my response over at the Greenman
'eerrr....
- headaches....only generally before morning coffee....
- sleeplessness.....ok - now you're talking about me
- digestive problems....peppermint tea is a wonderful thing
- social awkwardness.....MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS - STOP PRESSING MY BUTTONS - WHO ARE YOU TO MAKE JUDGEMENT CALLS ABOUT ME - I'VE GOT FRIENDS....A COUPLE OF THEM I'VE EVEN MET IN PERSON!....'
So the question remains - does blogging give us these ailments or do we blog because we have them?
Comments
Page:
I suffer from frequent low-key headaches...however, I wasn't blogging for a good two months and didn't notice any decline in the frequency of the headaches.
I have never had any problem with insomnia.
I prefer a very simple diet, and very rich or very spicy foods do cause digestive aches and pains for me, but as long as I leave those things alone I'm fine.
And, while many of those who only know me through my blog would probably disagree, I can't say I suffer from social awkwardness. At least, not outwardly. I'm generally uncomfortable (in person) around people I don't know or who I don't know very well, but I still maintain the ability to easily talk to strangers.
Of course, my blog isn't much of a diary. I suppose it's possible those who use their blogs to talk more about themselves than non-personal issues might suffer from these ailments to a greater extent. It's certainly an interesting theory. I've always been impressed with the notion that a majority of diary-keepers suffer from depression, and since all the above are signs of depression it would certainly make sense if those who kept diaries suffered from such maladies.
Pieter Friedrich » 15 September, 2004 12:58 PM