Three Reasons Why I Blog

It's a meme. I've been tagged by one of my favorite people, one of the first bloggers I encountered when I discovered this crazy community.

There are some rules: (1) list three reasons why I blog, (2) List da rulz, (3) tag three other bloggers. Sounds simple enough.

Reason the first: I discovered blogs in the process of looking for information about homosexuality and the glbt community. The only real contact I had with gays was C and S and Light, all of whom are under 20 years old and recently "out." I wanted a more mature perspective on life from a gay point of view. I don't remember how, exactly, but probably Google sent me to a blog. I wish I could remember which blog I first encountered. But you know how blogs are, with blog rolls and comment links and such. I clicked my way to blogland and discovered exactly what I was looking for and more! Wow, there is so much here! At first I was reading blogs and commenting. I can't keep my mouth shut, y'all. I am not a silent lurker! But in my comments on other blogs I was expressing lots of thoughts, ideas, and emotions that really needed their own forum, not someone else's comment section. So I started my own blog, and here you are.

Reason the second: I have a busy mind. It thinks a lot, some days more than others. There aren't many places in my life right now where I can express my thoughts and opinions. And it helps solidify my thoughts to write them down. I've tried journaling, but I never have stuck with it. This is better, because there is feedback. I'm not just writing into the void, though the internet seems a lot like a void sometimes. If I write in a journal, that's were it is. Just there. But on a blog on the "interweb" it goes anywhere and everywhere. And in this particular blogging community my thoughts are read by people I have come to know through their blogs. We have a common interest, or common concerns, or common something. What is it? Anyway, with all this rambling I've determined I blog because I can express myself freely to this community of friends. And the reason I still blog, or keep blogging, is in part to stay connected to this network of friends. It's a bit scary to admit, but my blog friends have become very very important to me. I get more mental/intellectual stimulation, more positive feedback, more encouragement, more friendliness here than I do in the physical world of my daily existence.

Reason the third: Blogging is a perfect way for me to interact with people. I can have the interaction, yet be alone. Strange, that. I have some trouble being around people. I can't figure out how to say it. I like people in theory, but when actually in a group situation I am uncomfortable. I'm not socially adept, exactly. But people fascinate me, and I like quite a few people. I just don't like to spend lots of time with them, especially more than one or two at a time. I have met a couple of bloggers in person and I loved it! I would like to meet many more, and hope to do that this year. Maybe what I like about this format is that I have more control over my interaction with people. I feel free to be myself on the blogs, less inclined to shy away from expressing my true feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Because of the physical distance I am not as embarrassed about how I may appear to other people. Y'all, sometimes I'm hard to take. I'm kinda different… Here we can get to know each other a little bit, know whether we might be able to sit over a cup of coffee (or a sweet fruity rum drink) without me freaking you out with some of the strange stuff that comes out of my mouth! And if I bug you, or you irritate me, we just don't click the link and everyone is happy.

Now, who to tag… Eenie, meenie, miney, OH! I know…

Gregory from Please Check All That Apply

Lewis from Spirit of Saint Lewis

Steven from Sooo this is me

Three of my favorite fellas.

I'm looking forward to their responses.