If you have been in the blogosphere environment for any length of time you most likely have seen some good bloggers come and rise to the top, and then also have seen some of these same people take a break from blogging or quit blogging all together.
In the approximately 6-7 years I’ve been blogging I have seen this happen numerous times and each time it has been fascinating to see the feedback towards the individual who decided to stop blogging due to blogger burnout.
Sometimes people are understanding and other times it’s almost like some people are addicted to that person’s blog or even life. In fact, when you think about it, some of the better blogs out there include personal information as well as good writing on topics of interest. This explains – in part – why the blog is successful.
However, there is also a dark side of blogging that I’ve found a lot of prominent bloggers decide not to talk about. There are some very seriously disturbed people in the blogosphere who send threatening email, venture into a person’s private affairs, stalk people at their homes or jobs and in some cases even go as far as trying to destroy the person’s credibility in their workplace.
I know of people who have had stalkers go after them. I know people who have had numerous lies and slanders written about them – and usually it’s all under the anonymity of the blogosphere – and I’ve even known of people who have had obsessed wackos call the person and threatened them that way.
I have even known of a few people who have had to call the FBI and police in order to make sure their lives were safe.
But even with all of the evil that is apparent in some places in the blogosphere, there is still a lot of good and decent people out there. However, because of the evil wackos in the blogosphere, all too often, the good people decide to stop blogging. Which is very sad.
I know on my blog that I have had numerous wackos contact me either by phone or email and threats to meet me in person. But even more so I have had some wonderful friendships develop as a result of bloggging. Even so, I get burnt out.
In fact, if you’re a serious blogger, I’m pretty confident that you have been burnt out as well. For me, personally, I decided a long time ago to stop being apart of all the games in the blogosphere. I took down my Truth Laid Bear linking, and I stopped participating in carnivals and also contacting people about every single thing under the sun I’ve written. Bottom line – blogging is stressful, especially if you’re someone who wants to get a huge audience. After all, isn’t this the one place in the world where someone virtually no influence can slap together something they think and then have the world read it. It sure is…however, the reality check for many of these people is that they do not have what it takes to gain an audience.
On the other hand, there are numerous bloggers out there who deal with serious issues, are educated people and write compelling and informative information and people don’t read it because it doesn’t make the reader “feel good.”
My point is that only you, as a blogger, can decide when you’ve had enough and are burned out. If you find yourself frustrated because of your stats or lack of creativity. Maybe it’s time you stop and reevaluate why you blog. On the other hand, if you find yourself editing what you want to really write because you have some lunatic stalking you or violating you in every way they can think of…you have to decide if protecting yourself is worth it.
Blogging should be fun for you. If you’re a writer, it’s a great way to vent, prepare your thoughts and have a place where you can fellowship with like-minded people. If you’re someone who just blogs as a hobby, you have to decide how many of the blogosphere games you want to play so that you can get noticed. And if you’re trying to make a difference by educating people about certain causes and issues, you have to decide if that issue is worth all the flak you will definitely receive as a result of your stand.
And if none of these things describe you and you still find yourself frustrated, most likely you are experiencing blogger burnout. Take a break and gain some perspective because the blogosphere is only a slice of reality….and I think sometimes bloggers who throw in the towel forget that the blogosphere is not all the world is about.
