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Blogging has become one of the latest buzz words in society today. It seems sometimes that everyone is either blogging or talking about blogging. We read newspapers and come across people referring to their blogs, we check websites and come across phrases such as, "Check my blog for further information," or we find hyperlinks tempting us to click through to said blog. Why are people becoming so addicted to blogging and the concept of same?

I would suggest that the principal reason why people are becoming addicted to blogging as opposed to utilising it as a tool is that they simply like talking about themselves and their interests. They could of course keep a conventional, paper journal, but no one else would ever get to read it and there would be no thrill in it. Blogs, however, allow the author to relate their experiences and/or theories to the wider world at large and are often commented upon by visitors. This gives some bloggers the sense almost of performing to an audience and taking great delight in what is hopefully the constructive and positive criticism received from same.

There are also those bloggers who are addicted to the practise in the hope of making big money. They have seen all the adverts which abound online and read what are quite often the fairy tales or outright lies of those who claim to have made millions in this way for virtually no effort and are captivated by them. They have the gold fever and "know" that they too will some day come up with the right formula in order to allow them to emulate the achievements of these gurus.

I am of course aware that there are some few extremely talented bloggers and even simply fortunate ones who have made their fortune in this way but I believe that they are the ones who keep quiet about it and do not instigate saturation coverage of their achievements online. Has it ever occurred to some people that the only way these "accomplished" bloggers make any money at all is by selling their "proven" success schemes to gullible wannabes?

There is of course the final possibility that someone addicted to blogging is simply addicted to the practise itself and that of using the Internet. They simply love to create web pages on any subject upon which they are knowledgeable. The irony here is that these are the blogging addicts most likely to make money - and good money - out of the procedure. They will forever be generating quality fresh content, most probably have their blogs monetised effectively and be attracting a stream of traffic, a great many of which people will return for updated information on their subject.

Blogging addiction can therefore be seen to be either harmless, potentially emotionally crippling or expensive, depending upon the root of its cause. Have you identified yourself in one of the three case studies above? If so, I very much hope that you belong to the third category of blogger.

Learn more about this author, Gordon Hamilton.
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