“Laura, I’ve been reading your blog,” a friend said to me recently. “It’s funny, but can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“What’s the point?”
Good question. The answer: there is none. I’m not of the opinion that everything needs to happen for a reason, especially when I’m procrastinating. Procrastination is reason enough.
The conversation reminded me of one I had with a different friend a few months ago. He asked how my weekend was going, I said, “Great! Yesterday I cleaned the fridge. I’m going to post a video blog about it.” (It was inspired by a TimsHead video, in which he cleans his fridge in preparation for house guests. I still haven’t posted my footage, mainly because I am too lazy to edit it.)
My friend’s response: “What?! Why would you put that on the Internet?!”
“Why not?” I asked. I mean, really? Why not? Who wouldn’t want to watch me remove jars of six-month-old mold from the refrigerator? Sheesh.
“Laura, it is people like you who are responsible for all the crap you can find on the Internet.”
To which I said: “Yes, that may be true. But it is MY corner of the Internet, and I can fill it up with whatever crap I want.”
So, the point of this blog is to contribute to the crap you can find on the Internet in a way that entertains me. And sometimes you.
And then
On Tuesday, the same friend who wondered about the deeper meaning of my website said the following: “Laura, it must be hard for you to drive, since you’re left-handed. I mean, how do you shift gears?”
I told him that Le Traquer has a special gear shifter on the left side just for me.
Sigh. So, yeah. There really isn’t a point to this blog. But this is my corner of the Internet. Strap on your seatbelt—it’s could be a bumpy ride. I’m left-handed, after all.
8 responses so far ↓
1 michael5000 // Nov 30, 2007 at 12:41 am
Your friend’s question is a common one, but it’s also frankly inane. How many leisure activities have, or need, a defined “point”?
I mean, let’s spread her logic around:
–> “You certainly are a good guitar player… but what’s the point?”
–> “You are the most well-read person I’ve ever met… but what’s the point?”
–> “You seem to really enjoy hiking and camping… but what’s the point?”
–> “I’m glad you find those television programs amusing… but what’s the point?”
As for me, I’m happy to report that very little I ever do between sundown and bedtime has any point whatsoever. This is called “living well.”
Peace.
2 lizzy // Nov 30, 2007 at 7:50 am
The answer to this blog is 42. Boy, am I glad I brought a towel.
I experienced a similar conversation with a co-worker one day, and I chalked up her misunderstanding to an obvious generation gap. She’s 40 and has had a hard time catching up with technological advances. She didn’t get the point of a blog or what someone would do with one, or why someone might want to write things about their lives that other people would see. I became frustrated and simply answered “well, why not?” She didn’t have an answer for that, so that was that.
Speaking of shifting, I think it would be awkward to drive a car with a standard transmission in England. This comment had no point.
3 Kathryn // Nov 30, 2007 at 9:49 am
the title of this post made me laugh out loud - it amazes me how any people don’t know the anser to teh meaning of life
4 TimsHead // Nov 30, 2007 at 12:52 pm
First, for those curious about a truly pointless video, here is the infamous video blog about cleaning my fridge.
I have found that more and more people are (finally) understanding blogging and why people do it. And it is funny how often (as we’ve discussed before) something wacky will happen and one of my friends will say: You’re going to put this in your blog, aren’t you?
Even if this blog is about nothing, I’m so happy you’re doing nothing in such an entertaining way.
5 Sasha // Nov 30, 2007 at 7:17 pm
I, for one, would miss your blog terribly if you stopped writing it. Plus, I wouldn’t know what you’re up to 364 days of the year (since we’re both just terrible at keeping touch). Do you know for sure when you’ll be home for Christmas? Looking forward to your next “pointless” post, Sasha
6 Natalie B // Dec 1, 2007 at 11:26 am
but hey! this girl all the way in Victoria, BC CANADA likes to read your pointless posts! Just another way to connect with interesting people!
7 Meredith // Dec 4, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I am tired of all the people who want points.
8 Truly // Dec 6, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Most of the media in the world has no point other than to be fun and light. I always tell people that blogging is just more fun to me than watching TV. And reading blogs (good ones like yours, anyway) is more fun to me than reading trashy celebrity magazines. Blogging is just an interactive, creative way to enjoy a few hours of the week and for me, that is the point. Why is a video of you cleaning your fridge any more a part of the media clutter in this world than an E! special on baby bumps and cellulite? I’d rather see your crusty mustard jars and tubes of expired horseradish than dimples on Nicole Richie’s saddle bags or a photo montage of Katie Holmes’ pregnant stomach. Your commentary is bound to be smarter and funnier. Plus, I’ll get to tell you about my gross fridge after watching it and I’d never in a million years show my saddle bags to Nicole Richie. Ha!