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Submission for ‘We Only Like You Because You’re Good in Blog’ Day!
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About an hour ago, when I began writing this, I had a meeting with one of my thesis supervisors. As usual, as we scrolled through the sections that I’m writing, we brisked quickly over the Literature Review. ‘You really like that section, X could see that! He really likes it too,’ she said, not for the first time.
This is because since 2008, I’ve been writing that Literature Review. It was the reason why I started this blog.
I wrote an email to myself which I have printed out over several work-areas (I like to keep my options open when it comes to finding a good place to think):
“At least four times a week, write on something strongly related to what you have to produce for your degree, using as much current or influential research as possible. Aim to have at least one post a week that is over 400-500 words, with correctly-formatted references. Do this for a time period of just over three years of part-time study, or at least until the conclusion of my thesis deadline, fairly consistently.
“Aim to use my traveling-experiences and work to enhance my writing, by keeping logs and accounts of what I do and find related issues to paranormal and pseudoscientific investigations wherever possible. Contribute to Science, Feminism and Skeptical blog carnivals and try to maintain a standard that would not have my posts out of place with others of a similar educational background.”
So, what do you think, Mabus? Apart from ‘****the Death of Atheism!!***‘? Ah, it’s another Depeche Mode video, what a lovely distraction… He’s so thoughful.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t think much of my site, but then, he hasn’t thought much of me at all, since I was first thrown onto the end of a mass-mailing list including the likes of Randi, Radford, Shermer and Saunders, back in 2006. Some consider being lumped-in with that kind of company to be some sort of honor. I just find it irritating.
Sometimes it feels that way if I don’t remind myself that I’m only a human, on the other side of a screen – and so is everyone else. That there’s plenty of people that Mabuse would rail at, if he had access to their blog-comments. If I find myself caring too much beyond my initial purpose for this site, it defeats me and it defeats my focus. So, it’s only recently that I’ve become more engaged with the comments on my site – and yet I also find myself retreating more and more from personal opinion and networking.
Self-protection? Maybe. Self-discipline? Perhaps. Self-indulgent? This is the internet, people. It’s not that difficult to become famous online, for that legendary fifteen-seconds (or 15K of cleavage.jpg) – but it takes a damn sight more to complete a research project, write up a thesis and contribute to a body of knowledge…
…so I snap myself out of it and get back to editing that eleventh-draft of the Method section. The death-threats can wait until tomorrow.
The ‘write your Literature Review‘ goal has, as regular readers know, is not something that I’ve strictly adhered to. On the few occasions that I have deviated, and done surveys of my audience, I’ve discovered (funnily enough) that they much prefer it when I maintain my original goal!
More on paranormal belief and research, please! Less on parenting, it’s nice, but it’s not what I’m here for. Literature? Well, it’s okay, but what did you find recently about aliens? The result is a great many entries, most of which I’ve catalogued in the menus of my site.
Since 2008, I’m very pleased to note that there have been more and more blogs created – that do tackle subjects like parenting. I even contributed to a blog-carnival on the topic of Skeptical Parenting, when it ran. I’ve seen more independent female bloggers. I’ve noticed more Australian bloggers and even ran for a year, an Australian blog-carnival called ‘The Skeptics of Carlos’. It lasted exactly a year, but the people it introduced me to have been in contact ever since.
It was through that blog carnival that I met great people like Andy, Jack, Elliot and got to know the ever-inspirational Dr Karen better. Soon after was the advent of the Young Australian Skeptics site, enabling me to contribute one of the first articles to help start it off. I was one of the earlier adopters of Twitter – which led Stephen Fry to befriend me, back when he was adding anyone who added him.
Twitter and my blog contributed to my ability to both research and find people for interviews on the Skeptic Zone podcast. The Skeptic Zone podcast started its own blog, where I’ve occasionally contributed – and the fabulous Dr Rachael Dunlop has her own popular site, which focuses specifically on alt-med claims.
You can hear Dr Rachel Dunlop on the specially-created episode for the Token Skeptic – Episode Seventeen – On How We Only Like You Because You’re Good In Blog – Blogging Skeptically. My site even occasionally features videos of my adventures – all of which you can see on YouTube.
I’ve contributed blog-entries to other sites, as mentioned – my most recent is my ‘Curiouser and Curiouser’ column, found at the official CSI site. That has probably been the most wonderful opportunity, as I am now featured on an official skeptical site as a contributor. I plan to keep on writing articles for sites when I can.
Because – after all? This is originally about contributing to my studies. On occasion I have to make myself firmly step back and adjust my priorities, check my watch and close the laptop firmly in order to get some sleep.
It’s not worth it becoming too worried about other’s opinions too much, when the internet does magnify and make harsher what could be a well-meaning comment. You can’t lose sleep over a ‘Tweet’, nor think that just because someone didn’t respond back to your email today, that they didn’t actually read it.
This is meant to be what you make of it. I choose to make it about working on my writing skills and keeping one foot on the ground. After all, what really sets my goat on fire is knowing that in one way or another, whether or not I have this site or not – I work towards making a difference in a variety of ways.
Excuse me, I have an abstract that I’d like to get done before I see my supervisor next Thursday…
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Mabus hasn’t bothered me as much as he has you. His violent rhetoric would be just ever so slightly more palatable were he to adress some of the content of the particular blog post he has chosen to spam … By the way, John Benneth assures me that burning ashes on the head of a goat has beaten placebo in many clinical trials which are being suppressed by the medical establishment ….
Well… I just have to comment, I suppose, for two reasons. First, because Mabus *is* my biggest fan (he commented on my blog 18 times thus far today alone!), and secondly because I would not be blogging at all, were it not for you.
So… “the reason why I started [my] blog”… initially, of course, it was just a place where we could kick ideas around. Wasn’t even public, at least at first. And then my current blog started just as a place to put my stuff. Then it became more of a compulsion. Now I have my own page in most Abnormal Psych texts (most, not all; the others simply say “see obsessive-compulsive disorder”). There are good and bad days, but so far the good more than make up for the bad. If I had the time, I’d be writing three blogs–my current, my old academic one (no, not gonna link it, and don’t you either), and a new academic one on my other pet topic. And if I ever win the lottery, that’s what I’ll do. Sadly, I have heard that you actually have to play it before you have a chance to win.
I do not have a formula for success. In part, that is because I do not consider my blog a success. Unless I have a specific link to one of the bigger blogs, I might not break a hundred views on something I really put effort into. (oddly enough, the links usually come from comments, so the more popular posts of mine are usually ones I spent *less* time on–fortunately, this makes perfect sense and does not bother me at all.) I see the success you have, but I also know the incredible work you put into it; you have earned every bit of your success, and a down payment on considerably more.
So, mostly, this is just a fawning admiration comment, a sincere thank-you, and a bit of regret that both of us have been so busy lately.
love you, pal
DC
As always I’m in awe of your hard work. It’s inspiring and a little bit intimidating. I’d better get back to this damn essay.
I’ve just discovered the joy that is David Mabus. Did I say joy? I meant “root canal.”
HJ
Love you too, DC.
In the meantime, yes, get back to work, Mick!
And you can has some goats anytime, Bing! 
Is it true that you are David Mabus? lol – hilarious! I’ve laughed at that d*ckhead for about three years!
I just discovered him from his carpet-bombing spam on Facebook. I recognised the content from his anonymous rants on other blogs.
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