Blogs

[Dave McElderry]

Someone asked me about blog hosting services today and I had to confess that although I've read a few people's blogs I've never participated in any. Does anyone have a recommendation? Free is good, unless there's a compelling reason to pay.

[Steve Grisetti]

Blogger and Blogspot are two easy-to-use, free blog sites. Blogspot is a Google service, so it's a subset of your Google account.

Here are basic instructions for setting one up. Ironically, this article is actually a blog entry on Blogspot!
http://bloginstructions.blogspot.com/

[Ron Hunter]

Isn't a blog basically an online diary or journal? I've never seen the point of them, but maybe I'm missing something. A blog from a leader in an industry that you cared about could be interesting, say Phillip Bloom or Tony Northrup, but some dude providing Uber service in LA? Mildly interesting but I can't see me going out of my way to read that.

[Dave McElderry]

Thanks Steve. I appreciate the info. I'll pass it along.

[Dave McElderry]

Isn't a blog basically an online diary or journal? I've never seen the point of them, but maybe I'm missing something. A blog from a leader in an industry that you cared about could be interesting, say Phillip Bloom or Tony Northrup, but some dude providing Uber service in LA? Mildly interesting but I can't see me going out of my way to read that.

The person who asked me about hosting services intends to use it as a venue for opinion and discussion on undisclosed topics. I think the plan is for it to be limited to a small number of individuals, by invitation only. I believe he sees it as a way to archive the discussions and make it easy for everyone to go back and review all previous posts. There may be more to it, but our discussion was short.

Steve Grisetti used a blog format to make his experiences in Germany available a while back, and I personally found it very interesting. Gerlinde did the same with her son's medical treatments, which I also followed and found to be a humbling account. My own experience with blogs is very limited, and I've never owned or participated in one. I agree that if it was turned into a Twitter experience there would be no point whatsoever. But then I don't have any interest in Facebook, either, and I think I'm the last remaining person on earth to not have a Facebook account . In fact, Facebook scares me with what (I've read) appears to be complicated privacy settings and the way people give up their privacy.

[Ron Hunter]

Steve Grisetti used a blog format to make his experiences in Germany available a while back, and I personally found it very interesting. Gerlinde did the same with her son's medical treatments, which I also followed and found to be a humbling account.

Ah, thanks Dave. Now I see their value.

[videovillageidiot]

Steve Grisetti used a blog format to make his experiences in Germany available a while back...

I just reread Steve's blog a few days ago & enjoyed it as much the 2nd time - NOTE TO STEVE IF HE READS THIS: many of your photos are missing on the later posts! I miss the pix of Charlotte!

... I think I'm the last remaining person on earth to not have a Facebook account

No, Dave - I'm in the non-Facebook group too. It seems very time consuming and the privacy issues concern me, too. Also, I get tired of every business wanting people to "like" them - like that proves anything - most people do it to get something in return (discounts, freebies, etc.). I've said for a long time that if i could have an account named "Just because I like you doesn't mean I really like you" then I might sign up.

[Dave McElderry]

I've said for a long time that if i could have an account named "Just because I like you doesn't mean I really like you" then I might sign up.

[momoffduty]

Some blogs are useful and some are not. I did enjoy Gerlinde & Steve's blogs. I am subscribed to a few photography blogs. Now I had a relative that her sole purpose of a blog was to bash her ex. Waste of time. I am on FB and enjoy seeing family's photos. I have liked the Adobe PS, PrPro, & AE pages and Canon, Timelapse group, and Petapixel. Interesting articles. We have hosted many students that live around the globe and enjoy seeing their photos and staying in touch. I am friends with a few parents too. They don't speak English, but google translate is our friend for one, two or three word messages. The parents also enjoy seeing photos I post of their adult children here in the US. I manage the host program FB page and am an admin on my church FB page.

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

... I think I'm the last remaining person on earth to not have a Facebook account

No, Dave - I'm in the non-Facebook group too.

+1. I have no intention of joining either that or (IMHO) that other complete waste of time, Twitter.

[sidd finch]

complete waste of time

Too funny I just tell people that I am boring and do not have enough to post.

Sidd

[Chuck Engels]

I have a Facebook account so I can be the admin for a Facebook group that helps support another web site I created for my home town. We are almost up to 2500 members now and growing, Facebook really brings a lot of people to the site that might not find it otherwise. It also helps to promote the site and bring in donations to help support it. I don't do a lot of posting other than in the group but it is nice to see old friends and photos that I would not see otherwise. I see a use and purpose for it that I did not see a few years ago, didn't think I would be on Facebook either. It all depends on your need and purpose

[Peru]

My wife uses Facebook to get digital scrapbook freebies.