Blogging as psychotherapy: my new mission statement

A few recent articles have me thinking a bit about "why" people are spending time and energy publishing their thoughts online. More specifically (self-centered guy I am), why I spend time blogging.

There are lots of reasons why people should publish: for one, it's really, really easy, adn it can be tremendously satisfying to make contact with people who you wouldn't be able to otherwise meet. However, there's a really dangerous trap implicit in this model: it's so easy to publish nonsense. Then people will read it and know that you like to publish nonsense.

When you start a blog and get a few readers, if you're like me, you'll check back regularly (compulsively?) to see how many people are reading every day. Where they're from, how long they look, how often they come back: these are facts that could be really useful if you have an express purpose to your blog, and a specific readership you're trying to develop. Or if you're trying to sell stuff.

As for me, I never really had a clearly expressed "reason" for doing this. I play bass, and I play orchestral music, but I can't represent myself as an "expert": I have far more questions about playing than I have answers. I'm a teacher, and I know a bit about educational theory and practice. I also have lots of complaints about the way school systems are run. But there's no way I'm going to make a regular habit of publishing my crackpot theories or my day to day whining about the indignities faced by the modern day school teacher or public school student. (I do, however, greatly appreciate the contact with others in similar situations around the world: I believe it's making me a better teacher and player).

So, the question remains: why am I doing this?

I believe I figured it out.

I'm too cheap to pay a psychotherapist.

Whoever's reading this, be aware. I just gave you a promotion. You're officially my therapist now.

Contact my insurance carrier if you want to try to get paid. Fine by me.

Seriously, I always feel like I'm disappointing people when "my Stat Counter" tells me someone came across an article I wrote while searching for info about german bows, or elementary orchestra rep, or some other serious topic. I'd like to help you, I really would. Go to Jason's site if you want hard info about bass playing, equipment, or pedagogy.

I'm just here to talk about me.

Here's a fun game if you want to use the internet to find out all about your own psychological makeup: it's a paired down, automated version of the Myers-Briggs personality test; the results are supposed to tell you about your personality type. I did mine, and it was actually really funny how accurate it was. It was like they've been spying on me. They told me I'm just like Einstein and Thomas Jefferson. Right on. They also told me I'm emotionally retarded and can't figure out how people's feelings affect their decisions. Explains alot.

My wife, on the other hand, is like Ghandi.

It must be very hard living with me.

Maybe I should go see a real therapist.