Bloggers - Defying Stereotypes
September 21st, 2007 by ses5909Looks like you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed so you don't miss a single conversation! Thanks for visiting!
Over the past few days I’ve taken a couple of flights and while I’ve been waiting in the airport, I decided to make the most of my time and write a couple of blog posts. So, I pulled out my laptop and while it was booting up, I just started looking around. I am a people-watcher so looking around and seeing what everyone is doing is nothing new to me. This is the first time, though, that I found myself wondering WHO of these people were bloggers, like me.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that bloggers might be one of the most diverse groups of people out there. I know several people who blog, and you wouldn’t know it by looking at them. If you were to see me walking down the street, kids in toe, I doubt you would think I’m a blogger. Bloggers defy all stereotypes which is an awesome thing.
Anyone can blog. You don’t even need to own a computer as you can hop down to your neighborhood library and write a blog post if you want. There are plenty of bloggers with a technical background, but I am going to bet that there are even more without one. Bloggers are not defined by their age; as long as you have the capability to type or have voice recognition software, you are all set.
The more time I spent thinking about it, I just started looking at people wondering if they blogged, and if I decided they did or should, I would guess what their blog would be about. The gentleman two seats down from me is in his early 40s, wearing a suit with laptop on his lap. If I had to guess he blogged, I would say he blogged about beer and sports. I am imagining this because he looks like his day jobs requires a lot out of him so this would be a nice escape when he gets home. The woman sitting across from me, wearing a paisley-print shirt is in her 50s and has a very school-teacher look. I could guess that she blogs about her family, but I’m going to guess she is a kickboxing grandma who inspires her peers to stay fit.
I have obviously completely made those up and could be completely wrong, but that is such a cool thing because it really demonstrates how diverse bloggers can be and what you may perceive someone to be from looking at their outside, could be dead wrong.
A good friend of mine is a blogger and in fact, we becamse friends as soon as we found out the other blogged. We were in french class together and we had to tell a little bit about ourselves and we both mentioned we were bloggers which was really cool. By looking at her, I would have never guessed she was a blogger, though her blog is amazing!
How many bloggers do you know in person? Is there a certain stereotype they fit in to?
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September 22nd, 2007 at 8:03 am
When I sold real estate, a colleague had a walk in customer. He drove up in an old battered pickup and was as grubby as they come with fresh barn smell still clinging to his clothes. He walked up to her and told her he wanted to look at a specific house. She was sure he couldn’t afford it and started to pre-qualify him. He told her he didn’t have time for that and asked, “Is the house MLS?” (Could he look at it through another agency?)
Against her better judgment, she decided to forget the pre-qualifying and show him the house. He walked in, looked through the house and said, “I’ll take it.” She replied, “Let’s go back to the office then and see if we can set up some financing for you.”
“No need,” he said, “This will be cash” …and it was.
This was a lesson to every single one of us … never judge a book by its cover. It’s a lesson I’ll always remember. Your blog post is a good reminder!
September 22nd, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Really interesting thoughts Sara. I tend to play those same mind games about who people are and what they do whenever I’m waiting in an office or at the airport…I’ve never thought about what their blogs would be…I’ll have to add that next time
September 22nd, 2007 at 4:19 pm
@Linda - you are definitely right! I remember as a child going to look at cars with my dad and we would be in the scrubbiest clothes, me a little dirty with messed-up hair. At the time I didn’t understand why he did it, and then I saw a similar thing happen on the Cosby show a couple years later!
@Dana - Thanks for the comment Dana and good to know there are others like me out there. My husband always asks me, “is it story time again?”, when I’m doing my people-watching. It’s just fun to imagine what people are like and what kinds of things they are up to. Maybe this is a sign that I should get my own life :p
September 25th, 2007 at 9:30 am
“Anyone can blog. You don’t even need to own a computer as you can hop down to your neighborhood library and write a blog post if you want.”
I think that this is the most interesting aspect of blogging for myself. The fact that anyone can do it - from darn near anywhere…
September 27th, 2007 at 4:06 am
I love the internet and it has truly revolutionized the way we work, but I think that it is blogging and bloggers that has brought it to life and made it real.
There is no other way I know of to be able to speak to so many different people from anywhere in the world, like they are sitting next to you. It’s a great communication tool and leveler.
But I had never thought of it like that, is there a blogger sitting next to me on the train? There should be more ways to meet up with local bloggers!
September 28th, 2007 at 8:14 am
What do bloggers have in common? They’re all giant nerds. Like seriously, bloggers need to put down the Star Wars toys, wipe the Cheetos stains off of their mouths, and go outside to the real world. You know what that is, nerdy bloggers? The real world? That place where you meet people that don’t have their name and clan affiliation written over their heads or whatever? Yeah, try visiting some time, nerds!!
And after that, they should check out my blog.
September 30th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Hey I’m not a nerd Jemaleddin:)!! Actually my thinks it’s so funny I’m this fitness guy who works out every day and stay in good shape and works on my computer and my internet businesses all day. If you would have asked me 10 years ago would I be sitting all day (except when I lift and do cardio), I would have said “are you crazy”, but here I am…LOL.
September 30th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Oops! I meant to say, “Actually my WIFE…”
September 30th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
@Mandy - I love getting together with other bloggers; it’s so great to find out what people blog about.
@Jemal - Please don’t tell anyone about the Cheetos…especially Mike Pedersen
@Mike - it’s okay Mike, we won’t judge you.