There are numerous blogs that I visit that specialize in ONE topic and I like them very much - mostly on my work related topics like BPM, C#/.NET technologies and IT system architecture and performance stuff. I also like some that are purely entertainment - mostly comedy oriented. There are some serious political blogs that I like and really dislike that I visit regularly (applies to both categories). In a week, I think I visit anywhere from 2-30 blogs of varying subjects and origins and styles depending on how much time I do get to spare. I would love to do more of it, but, hey ...someone's gotta pay the bills, hmm??
In the Nepali blogsphere, I visit most of the regularly updated ones (and really, there aren't that many that are regular). Most of the regular ones are run by journalists and naturally provide extensions to their regular work in writing/reporting . I'll come back to these later in this article. I also visit many other blogs run by non-jurnos, most of them are not regular or lack any depth in writing - just like mine, I guess. I like some of the funny ones but they are not at all regularly updated - again, just like mine. Topicwise, I would love to see fewer political and more social ones. I can mostly do without personal day-to-day diaries. I have enough of my worries to care about, who gives a rat's behind about yours? I think I have to criticize myself for this - I too have diverged to personal ramblings quite too many times and let the purpose of this blog go haywire. Probably you can do without those from me too - sorry! Ok, agreed...never again.
Like a grumbling old man, who has nothing to do but complain, I've come up with some labels that can be applied to all Nepali bloggers, myself not excluding. Here is are some worth looking at:
Don Quixote
Anybody with enough calibre of composing a sentence or two seem to act as pundits on political issues and start pronouncing, denouncing, announcing their theories, judegements, allegations, accusations or what have you. People living outside Nepal are more akin to act like this. I have seen and met ample of these folks going nuts over things that they happen to read in online news. Out of sheer boredom or too much time in hand or both, these folks resort to fancy thinking...like acting important, saying things like "I know so and so leader", "So and so and I are good friends"; or theorizing national policies when they themselves have non-existing careers; preaching right, wrong, democracy and what not. By the way, a friend of mine in England also complains of the same things there. He gets back from brutal hospital hours and sometimes accompanies his wife, also back from brutal hospital hours, to a Nepali get-together. I can only imagine their rage when they hear people there say things like - "Dactar saab, maile ta Girija lai bhani diye - esto taal le desh chaldaina." and to know that the speakers of these enlightening sentences are barely running their own lives doing menial and odd jobs. The problem is, these folks have gone online - they discovered BLOG !! I have nothing against their lifestyle or their not-so-impressive careers - just stay off the preaching part, thank you. Now, having said that, there are some who have been making quite an effort in blogging and have been doing so for quite some time. But their intent and calibre is lacklustre at best as demonstrated by the content of their writings, doings( sending spam emails) and quixotic acts like "writing a constitution", "proposing a federal structure for Nepal" and so on. Again, too much time in hand and a desire to be seen as IMPORTANT. Frankly, who doesn't want to be important? What these Don Quixote's reincarnations lack is ...well, a punch of reality perhaps.
Gyani and Mahagyani
Back to the blogs by jurnos now. Very informative if you don't read the news first. Sometimes, there are "extras" on the news already published. The only new aspect of these is the discussions part. I am sorry to say, but most of the discussions lead no where. Of all the current-events like blogs, I like My Sansar . I also like the fact that the blogger has gone pro with it - qudos to the blogger for the guts and leading the pack. I like UWB when it comes to political content. These guys may already be past their prime now that media is not restricted any more. But, I still like this site as a forum for politiking. Not by a jurno, (I think) I also like Blogdai for the blogger's out-of-the-box analysis and cut-the-chase remarks. But, honestly "blogdai" doesn't seem to be living in the real world; and the same goes for the "active" participants on his site. On the other hand, some of the bloggers that fall into this label have told me (in their comment sections) that they really don't care what other think of their writing. I say that because more than once I have been given that same line when they hear something they don't like...they say "what I write in my blog is my opinion and (you should not be bothered about it) or (I don't care what you think of it)". For example: read the blog and my conversation there after with one blogger HERE. I say, why put it up in blog in the first place if you don't care about other's opinion? Or, it should have been much more comfortable to not allow any comments. Anyways, I read them becoz regularly updated ones are seriously lacking otherwise.
Groupie
Ever seen a logo "A proud member of BLOGAN" or something similar "proudly" displayed on the blog? Well, there you go - you found yourself a groupie. First, I don't like the idea of belonging to a group that has a label attached to it (ironical ! I hear you say... since I am the one who is labelling here). Being called a blogger is a label enough as far as I am concerned. I hear that BLOGAN has even thought of formally registering itself as an non-profit organisation of some sort. It is a quite an effort..but, IMHO, futile all the same. As soon as one is attached to a group or an organization, it always comes with a bag of creepy worms, viz. agenda, prioritization and a collective purpose - all of which I, for one, can do without when blogging. Quite a nice way of belonging to a flock and bleating for a cacophonous symphony. Congratulations !!
Wannabees
These are novices, procrastinators, amatures, with virtually no skill of writing and mostly without a topic either ....in short, the rest of us (almost !!!) . I know, I know, I surely did ruffle some sensitive feathers and thus inspired you to curse me with words unfit to write here - but, hey, I'm one of you, if that is any consolation; if it is not - who cares? It's the truth, deal with it. Some of us are even trying to butress our ego and self-confidence by somehow transforming ourself into a cool blogger. A buddy of mine who is a very successful photographer/graphical designer recently came up with an idea to start a new blog on photography and tourism as it pertains to Nepal, only that he wanted to focus on good aspects than bitching about the problems. His brian child is still in the making and will probably take some more months of prep before he goes public. I can only say, it will be grand and one of the best in our blogsphere. Until then, he too is a wannabee - sorry pal! And then, there are folks like me who would like to blog on anything/everything APOLOTICAL, but never seem to find time (an excuse for procrastination!) or topic (an excuse for stupidity) or both ( thus, a reason to procrastinate) !!!
Dummies
Did you feel that your blog doesn't belong to any of the aforementioned categories? Well then, welcome home ! This is where you belong. I do have one more label that I don't yet know who to attach to (see below); but, until then most of you are here to stay. Amazingly enough, few of you who will eventually grow out of this label are probably the only ones to get to my last category.
Goodies
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