Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Am I Cut Out for this?

You ever have one of those weeks where your really start doubting yourself. Well, the past week has been one of those for me.

Some days, I feel like I am not geeky enough to be writing a blog in this niche.

And I don't mean geeky in any negative sort of way, because to me, being geeky is a good thing, especially in this particular blogging niche, after all, writing about Pop Culture takes a certain amount of obsession.

I think the thing that brought this to a head for me was reading Samuraifrog's admission that in his lifetime he has seen conservatively 6500 films, and there are other fellow bloggers who have a similar mastery of a particular subject matter which makes me feel less than stellar about my own place as an observer/critic of popular culture. I can't really stack up to that.

I mean, I don't read comics or graphic novels, my exposure to new music has largely been whittled down to the rarely to occasionally end of the survey scales over the past couple of years and frankly, in matters of taste, well, I would hardly call myself ultrasophisticated. I do have my moments, but I am certainly not the person I was when I was 21, the one who had an opinion on everything, and was more than happy to share it with everyone, and now, I am full of hesitation. In the end, that likely avoids a lot of conflict, but at the same time, it also avoids getting at the meat of certain issues and I think that is a real weakness in my style, because if I am not really bring anything unique from my cultural background, I should at least be delivering on this front, but alas, that is also something I feel I am not doing.

I know that I shouldn't compare myself with you, my peers, but at times, it is hard not to, even though blogging is a very personal experience.

And no, I am not trying to solicit your sympathy by writing this or fishing for compliments. I am merely stating some of my own insecurities in the hope that it would make me feel a little better, because I usually end up doing a post like this 2 or 3 times a year.

12 comments:

poppedculture said...

Self doubt? Sure, I get it all the time. But then I think I'm doing this for myself and as long as I'm enjoying it than I will continue. Would I love thousand of daily visitors and loads of comments? Sure, but if I don't, oh well.

As for what you bring to the table, it's your observations and tastes. There is a lot on the pop culture menu - someone needs to decide on the daily specials.

Megan said...

Ummm. You can WRITE. I quote Steve McQueen in The Great Escape... "keep it goin' fellas, keep it movin' there, keep it comin', don't spill any on your clothes!"

Okay that is not verbatim. But do you get my point?

Anonymous said...

I think this happens to everyone from time to time...as long as we keep writing through the doubt, that's the important thing.

Tracey

Arjan said...

I don't keep coming back to a lame blog..and I'm here so that must mean you're writing is at least funny and half decent and probably better :)

greetings,
A fish ;)

Anonymous said...

Trust me... You are PERFECT!~

MC said...

Jeremy: Self-doubt is usually the only thing I've got some days. I wasn't lamenting comments or traffic or anything like that... merely if I was bringing anything unique to this niche.

Megan: Well, I think I took a big first step into pushing that envelope of safety.

Tracey: Yes, I certainly am trying to write through it.

Arjan: Thank you.

Dutchy: Oh, how I wish I was perfect. But if I was, then I wouldn't be flawed enough to be halfway interesting.

poppedculture said...

Just giving you my brand of self doubt. As those above have said, if you weren't any good none of us would keep coming back. Harsh but true.

MC said...

I've had a lot of moments like that too, but I was just noting that this particular lament didn't come from that place.

SamuraiFrog said...

I know what you mean; when I encountered Tom the Dog's blog and a few others, I almost quit doing it, because I don't feel I'm qualified to talk about anything, really. I want to chuck the whole thing at least once a month.

But then I'd be forced to get a life, and I'm way too old for that now.

MC said...

Oh what is this life thing that you speak of? I've never had one, so I am unfamiliar with it ;)

Micgar said...

Are you kidding me/us?! You can write-you have a great knowledge of pop culture/history and things upcoming too.
I think a lot of people check out your blog because of that info and humor you give out!

MC said...

There are just times when I feel like I am not knowledgeable enough to bring something unique to the table.