Monday, September 26, 2011

Stubborn as a mule

My mom frequently said to me, "you are stubborn as a mule". And I was, still am. I have been thinking about Kyle Carpenter's recent post about time management and working as opposed to blogging and Facebook time. I have noticed that quite a few blogs that I used to read have all but disappeared. I love reading blogs. Almost every time I read a blog, I learn something, or I get inspired or I just get a nice smile that I might not have had otherwise that day. Since there are fewer pottery blogs to read, I have found myself looking to other places and have found some really great blogs out there beyond potteryville. Not everyone is giving them up. That brings me to Facebook. Most of you know my feelings on this subject. Not a fan. After reading Kyle's post, I thought I would give it another go, so I went to several people's pages and tried to read them. BORING........... visually boring, the content is short blurbs, no serious thought put into the postings and everyone likes everything. It's pretty much a commentary on our society right now. And it's a sad one as far as I'm concerned. It's also sad that people are choosing to facebook as opposed to blogging. Blogs can be so creative, so thought provoking, so visual and interesting. I have not found one facebook page yet that I could stay on for more than a minute before I was bored with it. And yet, you cannot turn on the radio or TV or go on the computer without it being slammed in your face (there might be a pun there!)
I'm like this, always have been: if everyone is jumping on a wagon because everyone else is doing it, I am the one walking behind the wagon and then finding another road to walk on. It might be the wrong road, and if I got on that wagon, I might have some fun, but it's almost like I do it for spite, just because everyone is doing it, I am hellbound that I won't do it. That's sort of where I am with this facebook thing. If I did see that maybe it would be a good thing to do, it's highly likely that I wouldn't do it, just because everyone else was. Makes my life more complicated some days, but I hear a different drummer, so I deal with it. I do know that I won't be doing Facebook. I see people get so sucked into it, almost obsessed. I sat at an ACC ballgame one day on the floor with the photographers and I watched one photographer pull out his iphone every time there was a break in the action so he could check his facebook or tweet a comment. Recently the AP polled the photographers about who tweets and facebooks. Guess what, their best photographers, the ones that are doing the work, do neither one.
My blog is like a personal journal for me and I would probably do it even if no one read it. I used to keep scrapbooks, then wrote in journals, so this is my 21st century way to do that. It takes very little time, I get up in the morning, have coffee, eat, read blogs (I used to do this with the newspaper until their content got so weak I couldn't stand it any more, and they wonder why they are going out of business). I check back in after dinner, again that time used to be watching some really great show on TV, nothing there anymore either. What has happened to all of us? Where is the thoughtful and meaningful content that we used to have? Why is everything so shallow now? To find really interesting content, I read blogs and I rent documentaries and independent films. This country is dumbing down and I am not so happy about that. I hope someone figures that out and gets us back on track!!!!
One last thing, have you seen Wasetland? Great movie! Really makes you think about what you are throwing away. There is another subject. This planet is one fucked up mess! But I'll save that one for another day, I have roofs to put on to little buildings, important work for sure :)
peace ya'll

25 comments:

cookingwithgas said...

like!- heheheh.....
I know what you mean i miss those meaty blogs!
FB is like cotton Candy- looks good but is all sugar and fluff...
and then it sticks to your teeth.

Sister Creek Potter said...

I am disappointed when I don't find a new Tracey Broome blog post waiting for me in the morning! Perhaps soon I'll get back into regular postings. Don't know what is keeping me back from my blog. I did feel like I was keeping a journal of my studio work there--then somehow I became self-conscious about it. Felt my work was not up to the grade to write about. We'll see.
Do keep up the great posts, Tracey! Thanks.

DirtKicker Pottery said...

You're right. Blogs are the meat and potatoes of the online potter community. Maybe blogs will pick up when the good weather ends.

Tracy, I so appreciate and love your blog :) I'm sure I would blog more if I could write one as good as you do.

cindy shake said...

I was thinking the same thing as you.Maybe the MIA Blogs are due to busy summers??

WHAT?! you don't think MY Facebook posts are cool??! I try really hard on the off chance you will check in on FB :) To really send you -I just got a SMART PHONE!! OMG it's really fun. Though I admit I use it more to upload things at the Farmer's Market (I'm the volunteer vendor coordinator and PR person etc.) but I really like using it for fun stuff... Sorry to tell you but I've had a LOT of BUSINESS from my Facebook posts. I try and keep my customers up on what I'm making and where they can buy it. I'd even FRIEND you - Just sayin. :)

Dennis Allen said...

I don't think that I have made any actual friends facebooking but it has helped maintain contact with people that I care about but would not just call up and chat with.I do feel that I have made some actual friends blogging back and forth with people.I think I could find a cup of coffee in North Carolina, some tea in Scotland, and a song or two on Cape Cod and share them with some very nice people

Unknown said...

Hi Tracey,

I also have a routine of reading the blogs while having coffee in the a.m. During the day if I get a moment at my "real" job, I will check in on my fav. pottery blogs- they remind me that there is more to life than the drama at work~ I prefer the drama of a pottery studio!

I tend over think posts for my blog- I worry that my topic is boring...that I really don't have much to say, etc. Call it insecurity, I guess.

Thanks for this post...it encourages me to stick with it.
:)

Laura Farrow said...

Yeah, blogging is definitely juicier, more interesting as a sharing format. Although I have to say that FB has been a successful marketing tool for me. You could just create a studio page to create announcements, post work, etc. You could make your FB world whatever you want it to be. Just sayin. xo

Cindy Powers said...

I hope you continue your blogging. I do enjoy reading your posts. Don't feel like you to participate in facebook. You can just post to it directly from your blog.

Cindy Powers said...

Don't feel like you have to participate in Facebook.

barbaradonovan said...

I succumbed to FB a few days ago. Had been putting it off, but felt the need to try and reach a few more people with the pots. I really just plan to post a few studio pictures every few days and notices of blog and shop updates. Just started and I'm neglecting it already! We'll see how it goes.... I prefer blogs too.
:)

Tracey Broome said...

Hey everyone! You guys are the BEST, I love all of the comments, thanks!!!!! I have heard a lot of folks comment that they reach more people with FB, but honestly I can't make enough for the shows I have coming up, maybe that's why FB doesn't interest me, I'm just not making enough to reach that many people.
Maybe if and when I mass produce things I'll think about it, or if the AP lays Gerry off and I have to really earn a living! Right now, I am lucky enough to go along at my snail's pace :)
For now, keep on blogging, folks, I LOVE them and I'm reading!!!!!!! You all inspire me, every one of you!

ang design said...

keeping the online journal is just the thing trace!! i love the fact that i can go searching for something that i've mentally bookmarked and the is all the reference info ya need pics and all!!!

Tracey Broome said...

Absolutely! I have started deleting some photos from iphoto because I know they are on my blog. It's a great record of my progress too.....

Judi Tavill said...

OK.Well... admittedly I DO facebook... however... I ove your blog and one way or another I check it out... sometimes it's under the covers at 1 am...Facebook I sort of explore and put up quick snippets of what is going on... blogging is definitely more involved and more of a real presentation... I do both... FB is a quick fix but it's social...friends,etc as well as the ceramic community... I have to say, I have found some really cool artists through Facebook and since they don't speak English... don't even have letters!!! It's characters!!! I enjoy visually browsing through their work and postings and "like"ing because I am sending them a positive vibe without having to speak the language. BUT I love YOU and your blogging and will always catch up here... I do have a specific question to ask you about a propane gas kiln and since you don't facebook... I will have to email... unless you POKE me first: jtceramics@aol.com

Linda Starr said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tracey Broome said...

Hey Judi and Linda, so glad you aren't two of the ones that have nearly given up blogging, I would miss reading them so much! Facebook is just so odd to me...

Kevin Carter said...

I too, am a "Broomeaholic", and am disappointed when you don't post to your blog.
I am like you in that if everyone else is doing something, I WON'T do it. The way to see new things, hear new things, learn new things, about the world and yourself? ZIG whenever the rest of the world is ZAGGING.
(And vice versa , of course!)
I'm also disappointed that many of the blogs have fallen off, but some are starting to come back, I Know that Kip Okrongly is writing again after a year away, and I think a few others are too. Sequoia Miller is also trying to get up and writing again. I used to like to read Carter Gillies blog, but he has taken it private for some reason, so now I live in hope that HE will return.
I absolutely despise Facebook, Twitter, and all the other social Crap I'm "supposed" to be doing. You watch, soon it will be law that every citizen be on Facebook, so that our whereabouts and ideas can be tracked and referenced in the name of "security".That may seem paranoid, but in this bizarre new technology worshipping society that we are becoming, nothing would suprise me.
People with real ideas, lives, families,thoughts, creativity and meaning don't need Facebook or Twitter. They are for those who have empty lives, and need to have their electronic pacifier witht them at all times, lest they be deprived of a real reason to live. With your family, and art, you certainly don't need that.
I feel about Facebook like Newman felt about broccoli:
"Vile Weed!"
Keep blogging Tracey, you are an inspiriation, and very good at it.

Tracey Broome said...

Hi Kevin! Thanks for your comment. Glad to hear I'm not alone with the feelings about facebook, although I have to disagree with one small thing, there are people that use facebook that do have very full lives. Many of my good friends are on facebook and I don't think less of them, I'm just saying that it's not for me. I do know some folks that are pretty obsessed with it, but not any of my blogger friends or close friends. They all ROCK!

Anonymous said...

hi tracey, first off... happy birthday. i missed that 'cause i wasn't blogging enough. i have to admit that i was blogging almost daily for a while and now it's become a bit sparse but i haven't replaced the blogging with facebook but with more work. i think the summer had something to do with it too and i'm thinking that there will be more blogging action all around once everyone's holed up in their warm houses for the winter. sadly, i agree with what you're saying and i don't see how it will change. i have friends that teach writing in college and they tell me that the kids cannot write more than short paragraphs and that they have even more trouble having the short paragraphs relate to one another. i'm afraid this is an evolutionary thing and that the cat's out of the bag or the genie's out of the bottle. wish it wasn't but don't have much hope about it turning around.

Unknown said...

Hi Tracey

Belated birthday wishes from me too!
I have no intention of going 'Facebook' either. It's not for me. Friends don't seem to get how i can embrace blogging (being such a technophobe) and just rule out facebook! Well, i know why and you pretty much summed it all up. There's no soul food there, just cracker crumbs!!
The problem is i have to find out what my friends have been up to via Jakki and her facebook! arhhh

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Jim, I guess my kid is an exception because she fills up pages and pages of notebooks with her writing, her teachers loved her! Scott, so GLAD you blog, because your blog is great and adds so much to my morning reading, your wife too!! Please keep it up :)
Thanks to both of you for the birthday wishes, it was a good one!

FetishGhost said...

Ditto...
Hon you are nothing less than Meat an Potatoes... Thank you

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Z, thanks! Maybe I'm just old :)

Cathy Kiffney Studio said...

Facebook is a big old jumble mess on the news feed. I know it is not good for my brain or for anyone that needs to concentrate on one thing at a time.
My facebook business page is less like that, because there is really no news feed. Facebook is a one liner kind of place, but I am still giving it a try just for marketing my work. I have gotten some sales and contacts from it and it is good for instant gratification.
I'm think we all may look back and laugh about the facebook days just like we look back and laugh about the big hair days!
Cathy

Mr. Young said...

The only real thing I use facebook for is to chat. I know that if I have to reach someone, chances are they are online on fb. Occasionally, I will do a quick run down through the news postings, but not very often - maybe once a week or less.
Blogs on the other hand... I have 137 blogs on my reading list. Luckily they don't all post every day or I would not get anything done. I always save yours till somewhere in the middle of my readings, because I know you will always have something different, distinct, and out of the ordinary. That is not to say that I don't enjoy all the other excellent blogs I follow, just that it's like taking a break during my pottery learning from the others. Even your pottery entries are unlike the others in your perspective on form and textures.
I will be starting to get more entries on the blog now that the routine of the classroom is finally established, and things have quieted down a bit. I hope that you will participate in the student project this year, as many from last year have not responded yet, and may not answer.

Oh! before I forget... here's a link that I thought you and Wesley may have an interest in. I am teaching all weekend, or I would go and check it out. http://www.guamfilmfestival.org/