If You’re a Blogger then You’re Just a Show Off

16Jan
by Cherryl

Someone once told me: “I don’t have a blog because I’m not a show off”.

Quite a statement….so by default if you blog you’re a definitive show off.

Could this be a blogger hater? 🧐

Not sure she really understood what blogging was tbh. I know some people think it’s just posting things on social media in vain – they’re so off track.

Showing off? Maybe for some people – depends on your motivation, surely, as with all things!

Why do people blog – well lots of reasons, there is no ‘one’ reason for a start.

Sharing your own experiences can be a lovely way of re-living them and connecting with other interested readers in the process, exchanging thoughts and opinions on a shared topic of interest and potentially helping or inspiring another reader. That’s not showing off.

I’m often inspired, amused, informed and entertained by other people’s blogs (and on rare occasions, even my own 😝). I’ve learned a lot from the tips and insights bloggers share about all manner of things…and life!

If a blog is full of nothing but selfies and no other point or content, perhaps you could be forgiven for labelling it as mere self promotion and not much else, but honestly, how often do you come across blogs like that. They’re certainly not the rule.

I actually think it’s quite hard to show off on a blog (or any other platform) these days because so many people are posting similar things – the same travel destinations, the same fashion styles, the same popular talking points/topics, books, photographs….you name it. The nice thing is that there’s a lot to explore, and enough for most of us to find bloggers we enjoy reading and interacting with.

Sharing doesn’t necessarily equate with showing off – especially in this day and age where sharing online has become as much the norm as a quick gossip in the office kitchen.

Anyway, we shall blog on, regardless.

😊 Have a great week

89 thoughts on “If You’re a Blogger then You’re Just a Show Off”

  1. Pingback: National Jerky Day 2018

  3. seekingdivineperspective – United States – I am a forgiven sinner and adopted child of God, seeking to see life from His perspective - as opposed to the world's flawed perspective - and living my life accordingly.

    seekingdivineperspective

    It doesn’t hurt to check your motives on occasion, but what that person says sounds a lot like sour grapes to me. Perhaps the truth is, they don’t blog because they have nothing to say, or they lack the ability to express themselves, or they don’t have the discipline to write. So rather than appreciate those who can, they put them down. I should say, “ignore them,” but obviously they hit a nerve – look at the response to this post!

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      Good points, and I guess quite common behaviour – psychologically some people will always criticise/attack rather than admit their own lack in certain situations – not just in terms of blogging. Just hadn’t ever heard anyone say this about blogging before, it sounded so silly!! lol 🙄🙃

      Reply
  4. loujen haxm'Yor – Spring Valley CA – dreamer doodler of pen and pics-- inspir'd by Time's Witchcraft. Peace.

    loujen haxm'Yor

    I look at blogging as a sort of National Geographic magazine (as a kid I mostly looked at the really cool pictures.) But today I find that there are bloggers from everywhere in the world who Share Similar Genres of interests– my favorites being poetry and quotes, photography and art. Many of these same followers Help to Enhance my own ideas with respect to my writing and artwork, as well as Sharing where they live– especially when not necessarily in the famous big cities. It’s nice to know about different places and methods of creativity. Have a wonderful day, Cherryl.
    Art

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      Happy New Year to you too, may it be a healthy and cheerful one✨ All is well thank you, and thanks for stopping by. Keeping up with blog posts can be an impossible task, especially if you follow a high number of blogs, I’m guilty as charged more often than not. WordPress ‘Lists’ can be helpful though – to categorise different bloggers for easier reference. Yes, FB and IG are a different things altogether…can’t really compare them to blogging, blogging is in a league of its own lol😊.

      Reply
  6. Zanfers Gaming – Beginner blogger with a great interest in video games, culture, anime, and so on. My goal is to share my takes on video games and gaming in general, starting discussions with people all over the world.

    Zanfers

    I blog to create a writing habit. I often stop, give up on writing, now I am trying to write regular, shorter things so maybe next time I get inspiration for fiction, it will be easier to sit down on my ass and just write.

    Otherwise I’m just having fun with it. It’s a hobby, distraction.

    Reply
  7. batik kusumasari

    batik kusumasari

    Not all bloggers writing things for “showing off”. Even though it is one of a platform for social media, blog is not an Instagram. Some people want to create art, like poems, some ppl create a diary, journey of their life, music lyrics, etc. Sharing and caring our creativity with other people doesn’t mean “showing off”. If it brings positivity to the world. Why not?

    Reply
  11. Sustain | sustain-blog.com – London UK – Reducing impacts on climate change while achieving the conditions of sustainability is the aim of the Sustain blog. News, features, nature stories, alien letters and more are in this blog, which unfolds in the pandemic of coronavirus that we are facing today. Sharing this on Twitter @SustainableUni1 and LinkedIn, I launched it on 24 March 2020. Now it has over 100 posts. Enjoy!

    Sustain | sustain-blog.com

    Thank you, Cherryl, for a wonderful post 😊

    Reply
  13. Sincerely.Tasha – Fun loving Caribbean girl currently residing in the U.K. Some of my loves and likes: family time, food, travel, reading, photography, art and museums, Canva

    Natasha

    Well that’s one reason I’ve never heard about why people blog. Makes me wonder if the person tried before and it didn’t go as anticipated. But a strange perspective. Thank you for sharing this with us though. Have a good week!

    Reply
  14. Louise H – I have always loved reading and spent my late teens and early twenties reading Anne McCaffrey, David Eddings, Katherine Kerr, Mercedes Lackey, Julian May, Andre Norton and Marian Zimmer Bradley, to name but a few! Whilst science fiction and fantasy are still my go-to genres, I'm also a sucker for a good romance too, even ones that DON'T have a HEA. Cosy mysteries can also be found on my e-reader from time to time. I beta-read for several authors and arc-read for others. However, my reviews are ALWAYS warts-and-all honest, since I use reviews to guide my own book purchases.

    Louise H

    Great post, for me blogging is a way to find like-minded people that I would never meet up with in real life – mainly because they live absolutely nowhere near me! I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this and totally agree.

    Reply
  15. kagould17 – Not much to tell. After working for 3 companies over 43+ years (38 years 7 months with my last company), I finally got that promotion I had waited my entire career for……retirement. I have been exploring this new career for the past 7+ years and while it is not always exciting, the chance to do what I want for myself and my family instead of what my company wants has been very fulfilling. Early on, there was a long list of projects in my “to-do” hopper and I attacked these projects with a vengeance for the first 9 months of retirement. Eventually, my brain told me that this was not what retirement was about, so it took me another 5 months before my industriousness again took over and I attacked another line of projects, this time somewhat shorter and less complicated, as well as many new projects related to the family weddings in 2016. After going hard for 6 weeks and 3 weddings, my body was telling me to relax, then the flu bug hit and as soon as that was done with me, my sciatic acted up. No rest for the wicked. In 2020 and 2021, the Covid 19 pandemic changed the whole retirement gig. I was lucky to not be still working, for sure. I enjoy photography, gardening, working with my hands, walking, cycling, skiing, travelling, reading and creating special photo and video productions obtained in my first pastime. I may never become wealthy in any of these pursuits, but I already feel I am rich in life experiences far beyond any expectation.

    kagould17

    Showoff, sure. How about, “If you are a blogger, you like to share.” ? Readers can choose to accept, ignore or repudiate the gift, but, at least a blogger puts it out in the open. Thanks for the thoughtful post. Allan

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      Absolutely Allan, sharing is caring, take it or leave it, like anything else people do (on or offline), and for some bloggers it takes a lot of courage to share some of their artistry, personal thoughts and experiences, so we’re definitely not just a bunch of show-offs. Thanks for reading and flying the bloggers flag 🤗

      Reply
  17. Maryanne – Loving wife and dedicated cat mom traditionally published author, award-winning journalist, certified dating coach, and motivational speaker

    Maryanne

    I don’t know why people are so hard on writers. They call us narcissists when we write, but at the same token they will worship musicians who promote their work.
    It makes no sense and I can’t figure it out. But keep writing. It’s something you’ll never regret. Writing a blog is a beautiful way of self-expression (and can even lead to work as a writer!) It’s also a great diary, to remember what you’ve done and to see how far you’ve come. It’s also a way to expose yourself to other writers.
    I’ve been blogging on WordPress since 2012 and it’s one of the safer places on the internet. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      You’re so right, and wow you’ve been blogging long enough to have really seen the difference between WordPress and other platforms. WordPress doesn’t seem to have any serious competition really, it’s the only serious blogging community I know of – I hope it grows bigger and stronger 😊💫

      Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      It’s weird isn’t it, that people we are close to are not (at least not openly) curious to see what we are sharing and using it as a way to appreciate our interests and maybe even learn a bit more about us. That irrational dismissal or willful ‘ignoring’ says a lot.

      Thank goodness for like minded people and the blogging community – I’m glad to know you too Rebecca, thanks for connecting on this 😊💫 I’m sure many other bloggers feel the same.

      Reply
  19. glendabjack – I'm a Private Wealth Manager who has a passion for travel and journaling.

    glendabjack

    I like writing and I wish I had more time to do it.

    I’m in my 5th year of blogging. I have a travel blog and I started mainly to curate and memorialize my travel adventures in a more organized manner.

    I love revisiting my blog posts and if I inspire someone in the process then great. Certainly 2020 did a number on a lot of travel bloggers who had monetized their platform before that. That’s when you know who is true to their “passion”. I stuck with it and became a tourist where I live.

    Another thing was that I was tired of seeing a certain type of traveler on social media. It could make you feel if you’re not glamorous and young you shouldn’t be sharing your experiences. I want to show that no matter your age, race, gender, relationship status you shouldn’t exclude yourself. Sharing is loving 🥰

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      Hi Glenda, I’m glad 2020 didn’t throw you off your passion or turn you away from blogging, you’ve adapted instead. 🤗👍 I think the more diverse and unique examples of travel we see on platforms the better, it can certainly get a bit monotone seeing and hearing the same predictable formats again and again – the ‘official’ travel guide books and sites do that well enough already 😁

      I’m grateful that people (including bloggers) are not afraid to showcase and share online otherwise I’d have missed out on a lot of inspiration, laughs and useful info, it’s all very much welcome.

      Keep sharing and have lots of lovely local adventures this year 🥰💫

      Reply
  20. William Connors – Names: Bill, 威廉 (Weilian), Guillaume, Guillermo and Guglielmo depending on where I am or to whom I am talking I'm a translator and a wanna-be writer living in Freiburg, Germany. Originally from Paterson, New Jersey. I play flamenco guitar and speak 5 languages (not bragging: jack of all trades [languages] master of none).

    William Connors

    And one of the best ways to improve your writing is to write. Good writing skills are an asset in sundry professions, and practice makes perfect (or least something akin to that).

    Reply
  21. Anita – Madagascar – Après avoir goûté au so yummy saveur de la rédaction journalistique en 2008, je ne pouvais plus vivre sans écrire. Depuis, la rédaction est devenue une véritable passion pour moi en devenant freelanceuse en 2013 (rédigeant en même temps ma thèse de Doctorat de plus de 500 pages) et rédactrice en local depuis 2014. J’ai ouvert mon propre blog en novembre 2015 pour vous parler de mode et beauté, lifestyle… Vous pouvez me contacter sur hasimbolanita@gmail.com ou visiter mon « à propos » pour plus de renseignements ! Bonne visite !

    Anita

    I blog because it’s my veritable passion. I enjoy writing.

    Reply

  25. Pingback: If You’re a Blogger then You’re Just a Show Off – MR YOUTUBE

  26. William Connors – Names: Bill, 威廉 (Weilian), Guillaume, Guillermo and Guglielmo depending on where I am or to whom I am talking I'm a translator and a wanna-be writer living in Freiburg, Germany. Originally from Paterson, New Jersey. I play flamenco guitar and speak 5 languages (not bragging: jack of all trades [languages] master of none).

    William Connors

    I started my blog, because we had taken many trips with our daughter when she was very young and she couldn’t remember much of what we did. Then I thought some people might be interested in traveling to the same places and get some information, especially about traveling with a young child. I had often met people who wished they could travel, but said they could not do it because they had kids, so I wanted to show that is was possible. And then I reestablished contact with an old friend, since she had found my blog by chance. Finally, I enjoy looking at old and new photos and reminiscing about past endeavors. Show off? To whom? Few people read or care about my blogs; they are more for me, friends, family and anyone else interested.

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      Your journey into blogging is a lovely one, and I’m sure many have appreciated it.🤗 I have always included blogs as part of my research before travelling anywhere, and it’s handy to be able to ask questions to someone who’s been there. I felt the comment “I don’t have a blog because I’m not a show off” was a rather snooty one.

      Reply
  28. Leela Gopinath – Doctor by profession. Travel enthusiast. Travel blogger. Visit my site https://travel-along.in/

    Leela Gopinath

    Well, let me tell you Cherryl, though no one has told me so in as many words, there are a few people who think its show off. I noticed it when I started blogging. But just like in all other social media platforms, you have people of different kinds. There are people who read the blogs and pretend not to read them too!!….what goes on in their minds is difficult to understand….So just let them be….good luck to everyone who thinks bloggers are showoffs…
    I have found it a great way to express myself and most of all keep my vocabulary and English skills from rusting….especially when you are retired from your profession . The follower counts do not matter….I do it for myself and that’s it!!!

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      Thanks Leela, you make some great points and I agree “There are people who read the blogs and pretend not to read them too!!….what goes on in their minds is difficult to understand” they’re like phantom followers who don’t want you to know they watch your content online….weird and creepy. I know a few that do that because they’ve let little coincidental clues slip during conversation.

      Like you I do it for me and if it amuses or helps even one reader in some way then that’s all the better 🤗 Lol, some accounts I’ve seen with sky high follower counts are not particularly interesting to me so I’m not really influenced much on that basis.😊

      Reply
  29. fauxcroft – UK, England – spiritually aware and compassionate. Experiencing being human through my conscious reality in an illusory world.

    fauxcroft

    Blogging is about writing and the more you do it and read others work, the more you grow and develop and become better. That’s not showing off, that is learning and transforming, whilst also spreading, love, positivity and tolerance as well as understanding towards others. 🙏Faux

    Reply
      1. Shanti – It’s Asia. It’s the equator. And it’s hot. Been writing in my little diaries since I was 11 and I need it too much to ever stop. I’m 51 now, having somehow survived womb cancer, but other than that, I’m a mess. I love how this space allows me connect with the most amazing souls brave enough to reveal their vulnerabilities.

        Shanti

        I blog mainly because I feel lost when I don’t. Love how it connects me to other writers – our little tribe on the internet. It’s my therapy and I love this post Cheryl and all the comments. Following your blog to read more now.

        Reply
  30. Kym Gordon Moore – Kym Gordon Moore is a marketing and communications professional who holds an MBA with a concentration in Marketing. She has over 40+ years of combined experiences in part, but not limited to multi-media writing accreditations, developing and directing brand marketing communications for small businesses and corporate senior-level executives, leading and developing corporate social media strategies, successfully creating and launching B2C and B2B newsletter marketing campaigns, developing community outreach partnerships, creating and distributing corporate press releases, and tracking ecommerce and web analytics. She holds certifications that include HubSpot Academy Inbound Marketing, Google Analytics Platform, My Media Tutor Spokesperson Ready, Leveraging Vendor Relations and Marketing Experiments Email Marketing. Her computer competencies involve working with software applications in Microsoft Office and Navision, CandyPress, Word press, Google Analytics, ExactTarget/Salesforce programs and GIMP. Kym is the author of We Are Poetry: Lessons I Didn't Learn In a Textbook, Wings of the Wind: A Cornucopia of Poetry, Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit, and a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom. She mentors young and aspiring poets and volunteers to facilitate poetry forums. Her mission is to use poetry as a platform to foster greater awareness in the fight against illiteracy and aliteracy, by introducing elements of poetic diversity and education among children and adults.

    Kym Gordon Moore

    Cherryl, I want to say “for real?” 🤔 Yep, I think that particular individual who made this comment either just didn’t get it or they simply did not do their research into the amount of work that goes into this channel of social media communication. Like you, I have learned so much from so many people, whether I am connected to them or not.

    Your narrative is spot on and if you’re showing off 😜 I’d say go for it, because I certainly am! LOL 🤣😆😂 Big hugs and smooches girlfriend! Keep doing what you’re doing! 👏🏼

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      Lol, yes if anyone ‘is’ showing off, well good for them, it’s not what you do but how you do it I guess! Sending hugs back at ya’ – and keep doing what you’re doing on your blog too Kym.🤗👌💛

      Reply
      1. Kym Gordon Moore – Kym Gordon Moore is a marketing and communications professional who holds an MBA with a concentration in Marketing. She has over 40+ years of combined experiences in part, but not limited to multi-media writing accreditations, developing and directing brand marketing communications for small businesses and corporate senior-level executives, leading and developing corporate social media strategies, successfully creating and launching B2C and B2B newsletter marketing campaigns, developing community outreach partnerships, creating and distributing corporate press releases, and tracking ecommerce and web analytics. She holds certifications that include HubSpot Academy Inbound Marketing, Google Analytics Platform, My Media Tutor Spokesperson Ready, Leveraging Vendor Relations and Marketing Experiments Email Marketing. Her computer competencies involve working with software applications in Microsoft Office and Navision, CandyPress, Word press, Google Analytics, ExactTarget/Salesforce programs and GIMP. Kym is the author of We Are Poetry: Lessons I Didn't Learn In a Textbook, Wings of the Wind: A Cornucopia of Poetry, Diversities of Gifts: Same Spirit, and a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Mom. She mentors young and aspiring poets and volunteers to facilitate poetry forums. Her mission is to use poetry as a platform to foster greater awareness in the fight against illiteracy and aliteracy, by introducing elements of poetic diversity and education among children and adults.

        Kym Gordon Moore

        I truly appreciate you Cherryl. I urge you to continue on your mission as well my dear. Don’t allow anyone to block your blessings, and stay strong. Here’s to a FANtabulous week! 🤗💝😘🥂🌞

        Reply
  32. francisallcorn – Austin, Texas and the rest of the US. – Aging soccer player and an avid Man United and Brighton and Hove Albion soccer fan, the outdoor life in general, walking, photography and in particular, looking after two little dogs who take me walking every morning and evening. Now planning on spending the rest of my life in Henly RV Park, Texas in The Caboose, a 45 foot long Jayco Bungalow. I am too old to drive around anymore and the interest is not there but it was fun while it lasted...

    francisallcorn

    Interesting topic. Why do we blog and there is no single answer? I know my reason and it is very simple. I like to write but lack the talent to think up plots so instead blog about my everyday life. It keeps my mind active, and goodness knows, it needs it as I grow older. I write for myself and share with others who have the choice of reading my stuff or not.

    Reply
  36. Kevin Foodie – New York – A Nutritionist, Food and Travel Blogger, and Mental Health Blogger who loves FEET (Food Eat, Explore, and Travel).

    KEVIN FOODIE

    The title of this blog sounds like a controversial statement, but may hold some truth. Blogging is alot of work. “Show off” can be both a negative and positive term depending on how it’s context.

    As you said it’s hard for bloggers to showoff nowadays because the community is pretty much blogging on the same wavelength. However, I observe that some bloggers believe that they are better than others because they have more visitors or followers.

    Reply
  38. My Life in Our Father's World – Illinois USA – I am a wife and mother with 2 adult children and a granddaughter that brings me joy every day. I am the Assistant Director of a childcare center and a jail chaplain. I consume copious amounts of coffee not because I need it to stay awake but because I love the taste. I believe that God has a unique plan for each of us; consequently, I write what God tells me to write when He tells me to write it..

    My Life in Our Father's World

    I blog because God told me to. I pray that everything I publish will help others in some way. 🙏

    Reply
  39. Gospelroad#66 – Whether the glass is half full or empty is a matter of perspective. The glass can be half full of air and half full of water at the same time. I see life as a gift that is wrapped up with great potential. Writing is one way this gift can be expressed. Words can bring can awaken life. This is why I love the word of God through the bible. It is the living word that can transform humans, societies and ultimately the world. Welcome to my world of words, I hope and pray God will bring these words to life for you!,

    Gospelroad#66

    I don’t blog to show off, I blog to share important messages on a platform that’s a great advocate for free speech. I’m no where near good enough at writing to show off anyway 😅 I have so much to learn.

    Reply
  40. Kate@athousandbitsofpaper – This blog has lived many lives—just like I have. What’s here now is what remains: poems, reflections, and echoes I couldn’t keep inside. I post when something wants to land. I speak when silence lets me. Comments are open, but not expected. I read what I can, when I can. Thank you for being here. …Kate

    Kate Duff

    I blog because I enjoy writing so much and following other writers and poets. I have never even thought about a blog as a means for “showing off” because I found it so difficult to share my writing when I first began and gradually grew with confidence. I can honestly say my blog has changed my life. I don’t think people who don’t blog can really comment on people who do because they have no idea what it’s like. Blogging is more like a conversation with like minded people – and no one would partake in a conversation for very long with a show off 😊

    Reply
    1. Cherryl – UK – This and that, an all rounder!! If it amuses, entertains, inspires or proves useful to just one person then it's doing its job! God bless x 💛🔆🌴🎨🌼✈️

      Cherryl

      You make some good points Kate, very true, and blogging is often a progressive journey for many of us, finding our confidence over time, like you reflected – and still wondering if we’re doing it right despite how long we’ve been blogging! 😊 Thanks for sharing this✨

      Reply
    1. NattyTravels – Hi! I'm Natalie a solo traveller who is on a journey to travel to as many places as possible even if it means doing the whole thing alone. It was never a plan to travel alone, however I have found myself to be in this situation. It has now become my mission to encourage people to travel and live life to the full, regardless of the situation their in. Get inspired and follow me on this sometimes frightening but magical journey. You will frequently see links in my posts where I recommend some very useful cool items at my Amazon store https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/nattytravels17

      NattyTravels

      How bizarre! I think it comes from a lack of understanding of what blogging is and why people do it. I think people are always sceptical of things they don’t understand. X

      Reply

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