I mentioned something in the comments of my post last night that got me thinking... but before I think the think some more, a word on last night's post.I've noticed that whenever I write a post that has any negativity in it directed at myself (either me slaying myself or me quoting someone else doing it) you all rally around me like a hen protecting her chick. It's a beautiful thing.
At the same time, it makes me wonder if when I get a bit philosophical, do I sound so particularly bereft and heartbroken that you feel the need to pump me back up to Pollyanna-land? I ask because by the time the comments roll in on my darker posts, they kind of look like Fishing Posts.* And nobody really wants to go fishing around here. As much as I love them, compliments just make me sort of tense.
But back to last night's comment. Remember when I described blogs as Tables? I liked that analogy so much that I've got a new one. Star Wars.
It just had to be.
Szroom, szroom (that's my light saber szrooming, in case you were wondering).
Okay, so this Star Wars analogy is somewhat laboured. See, in Blogging Star Wars there are no evil teams, we are all fighting on the same team. So, it's kind of not like Star Wars at all but... well, there is definitely the Dark Side of our team and... the others. What exactly are the 'other' guys in Star Wars called? The Boring Lukes?
I'm a Boring Luke blogger and I'm calling us the Lightweights. I blog about nice stuff happening in nice places and while I do like to dabble in social commentary from time to time, generally it's of the being mean to yummy mummy variety, rather than anything especially meaningful or world changing.**
The crafty blogs, the beauty blogs, the fashion blogs, those pesky award-winning motorbike blogs and many of the mummy blogs all make up the Lightweights. You better believe the 'stylists' blogs are over here.
Lightweights are definitely the kind of people who hang their smalls behind the sheets on the washing line. And, if you're anything like me, your pegs are nicely colour co-ordintated with each pair of knickers as well. Even though no-one can see them.
The Dark Siders are the gutsy bloggers who 'blog raw' and have no problem hanging their knickers anywhere they darn well please. They probably don't even wear them. The Dark Siders are compelling and their words can be life-changing. They dig deep trenches to get at the heart of life. Sometimes dark things have happened to Dark Siders and they let us in to feel their pain and anger. Sometimes not. Sometimes they just prefer to wear sunglasses.
It is no surprise to learn that I find the Dark Side utterly fascinating and I get all itchy wondering what it would be like to experience life on their level. But I'm far too much like a flappy little moth, drawn to light and annoying at BBQs, to ever really know what it's like.
Which is exactly why the blog world needs both the Dark Side and the Lightweights.Together we use the force Luke and save us all from ourselves. Access to the 'other' type of person is something that we rarely get in life. We don't tend to hang out with people who are different to ourselves and we often don't talk about the minuate of daily life and frustrations when we do. So more than anything blogging allows us to be challenged by the amazing insights of others and to share in so many lives that enhance our understanding of the world and our place in it. To somehow experience the unexperiencable. It is an opportunity like no other.
Use the force, indeed.
Are you a Dark Sider or a Lightweight? Do you dabble in the other side?
* Note to the kind people: This is not a Fishing post.
** Although one of my dear readers did happen to mention Mandela on my blog yesterday, so that's gotta count for something, right? Right?
[Image found here. There are so many cheesy but hysterical Star Wars spoofs out there, finding this image was a... blast.]
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53 comments:
I think I definitely qualify as a Dark Sider... with the odd sparkly sequin thrown in for good measure.
oh gosh, I am so a lightweight!
i am just not a confrontational kind of gal so don't think I would head for the dark side. If sarcasm were a dark side trait then maybe ;P
i love that the blogging peeps come to your defence, that is the amazingness that is the blog world and you my dear Miss Maxabella are one of the loveliest people around.
♥
(i really, really wanted to reply in Yoda-speak, but couldn't quite sustain it)
Light, I be.
But I don't actually want drama, so good that be.
I'm a lightweight, but I run a biz that's all about goodness and light, so I don't have much choice really. Might consider guest posting on my hubby's dream-blog (as in, he dreams about doing it, but hasn't yet)... "I hate everybody" when I need a rant - anonymously of course!
Totally get the fascination with the "dark-siders" btw.
I smiled a 'Pollyanna' smile reading this.
I tense when the negative posts rally people around similarly, but it's only because people have an inherent desire to let you know they care when they think you might need to know it.
And I HATED when my first troll attracted (too) many comments. So I just deleted them all. Including the protective hen/messages of love & support ones. Because I felt like the trolls feed off that kind of stuff? And I didn't want to participate in that.
Maybe I'm right? Maybe I'm wrong?
Keep doing what you do, you do it so well, a lot of people admire you. Even if it is 'lightweight', or 'Pollyanna'-ish.
It's not. But that did make me smile :)
I think you're an eclectic mix.
Sometimes you really make me think. Other times you really make me smile. But mostly I just appreciate this abode within the blogosphere :)
I definitely hang my smalls behind the sheets, but occasionally I've been known to leave the odd pair on a bus. I guess that makes me high contrast?
LOVE your phonetic spelling of the light sabre noise. Spot on!
I would say I'm Lightweight, in real life, but when it comes to my blog I like to dabble in the dark side although I don't think I'm over there fully!! Sometimes I wish I could write a completely anonymous blog so I can say anything about anyone and get away with it but I'm too chicken I'll get caught out lol!!!
lightweight? I think? Psychoanalyse me you beautiful, ethereal red headed creature. too much? YOu feeling awkward?
;)
Dude. I think we're all thinking about it wayyyyy too much. Happy to be a lightweight. Blog away me pretties.
Loving your star wars analogy! Dark side is good. Light side is good. All about balance and finding the balance I say. Acceptance for all... what am I I ask?
I'm neither flesh nor fowl (as my Grandmother would say) which I guess makes me a swinger :)
I'm torn when publishing the darker side - I'm a pollyanna much of the time and I like that.
Ooh, is there a fishing element in me? - maybe on a subconscious level I am looking for approval but the lovely comments (which are very much appreciated) still have the power to make my toes curl.
I'd say I'm a haphazard hanger outer of the washing and the occasional pair of knickers flutter in the breeze.
I swing both ways ;)
My blog which was born as a crafty blog still has that element but I find that I quite enjoy waxing philosophical and discussing life, death, and things in between. Sometimes I worry that people who read my blog for craft or fun will run for cover when I occasionally go over to the Dark Side. But it keeps me thinking and it keeps it interesting for me. I am not a true Dark Sider though. There are things that I would say to my hubby or friends that I wouldn't put on my blog in case it is a little too crude or rude. But as life goes on, you never know. I may truly cross over to the Dark Side and leave my undies behind.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has colour coded their clothes pegs to their underwear.
You have such an amzing way with words. I love your style and I love visting your blog becasue I like happy peaceful places. I get into enough of a tizz myself withou spending to long at the dark side.
I am most definately a lightweight blogger. Actually in real life I am a lightweight too, as I don't often air my grievances. i tend to stew on them for a little while then let them go when they get too boring :)
Blah - Now look at how much I have rattled on. See you provoke us to think and explore our minds. hmmm now that's getting a little too deep from me. :)
xx
I'm light weight for the most part and run a general cooking/gardening/fashion/decorating blog with some mimi musings on parenbthood sprinkled here and there, but then last year I had a spate of grief with 3 family members dying suddenly and close to each other. I blogged a bit about that and didn't care less who knew I was sad. Because I was.
I think Sister Wolf is an interesting example of someone from the Darkside (she has that blog Goddammit I'm Mad). When her son committed suicide last year her posts were so raw and you could literally see her working through her grief on line.
I'm a lawyer for a large organisation and a lot of people from the Coalface read my blog, so I am circumspect about what I type. Maybe if I were Hardcore Anon I'd less careful.
I don't peg a single thing on the line EVER. Every item that comes out of the washing machine goes straight into the dryer. Because it's Faster.
Cheerio x
I'm a featherweight - totally.
I feel like a voyeur at some of the darker sites...but I keep going back.
Here I feel at home...keep on just the way you are Bron
Definitely a lightweight here. Sometimes my posts feel a bit dark side to me but on re reading they are not scandalous at all! Damn it!
You've articulated beautifully something that's been nagging at me for a while now, but I just couldn't put my finger on it.
I'd say I'm darkside, but people who know me say I have a 'gallows humour' sense of mind, so (hopefully) on days that are worse than others I put that in play. I read blogs that are really 'darkside' but they are hard to sustain long term. I can see why people write/like 'light.
I don't know. Lightweight? Maybe.
But, I do love this and I love that there are both kind out there in the bloggy world. They balance each other out.
And, on another note, I wish my husband loved Star Wars because that image is cute as!
I so love your "voice" Bron.
I rarely write for anyone other then me. Occasionally I will write a post that I want a response from. Most of the time, my blog is where I dump the contents of my brain - so of course I don't censor. I guess that make me more on the dark side... which is why I love reading your blog - its only with light can we see in the dark.
Much love, x
I'm not sure if I'm Light or Dark yet. Probably a mix of each. I like to read both types. I'm sure a red sock will get thrown in with the whites sooner or later.
Do you have to decide? I'm thinking just write what you like. It's your journey afterall.
You are what you are Sister B. You are no lightweight - god I have done very heavy with you many times over the years. Get on with it. Blog your stuff and ignore those narky, nutty people. They can't even go public with their criticism so why give them airspace??? As for all this feather puffing going on here these last two posts... we are going to have to pop your head to get your through the door soon! x
im a lightweight for sure! x
I say just blog about what ever you darn well want to blog about, you can't control what others think or say so no point over analyzing it. There are always knockers in this world that for some reason see it their mission to bring everyone down to their level. I love reading what you have to say, it definaty gets me thinking...and I like that!;)
I did not mean to puff your feathers by complimenting you on your tendency not to be depressed, cynical, morose, sad or angry or wallow in self pity or angst and fear. I think it takes guts to stand optimistically in this crazy world and flash your light sabre. It is the easiest path to be negative, self serving, critical and Darth Vaderlike, fighting the dark side off is courageous and brave and very Luke Skywalkerish. I like to think that I'm becoming more of a Luke but have spent far too much valuable time being a bit of a Darth. I'm learning.
I couldn't hack the dark side but love it that some can. Maybe as time goes on I might dip a toe but not quite ready to go skinny dipping online.
I go for the light, but I love readings from the dark side! :D
Great analogy!
I am so lightweight that I am surprised I haven't blown away.
Goodness, I wouldn't even know. I never colour co-ordinate my pegs and I happen to have a pair of knickers hanging from the lounge room doorknob as I write (don't ask) but I think this just makes me slap dash, not confronting. Luke may be boring but he got to hang out with Han Solo. I'm not quite sure what that analogy means but it seemed worth mentioning...x
Oh I'm lightweight for sure. I only use blue and white pegs and the knickers are always hiding behind/between other stuff.
I prefer to celebrate the pretties of life in my blog because real life dishes out enough of the dark but hey, each to their own I say. My latest effort is hopefully the deepest I get but It was for an important cause.
xx
I think it's right time, right place, right audience. I'm very ballsy in my own family - i'll take on my brothers on issues of war, tax & politics, no worries, but they're not for my blog, which is crafty motherhood.
Reading your pervious post, it's funny, why don't people just click that X & move on from your post if they disagree?? I don't blog for intellectual strain, i'm attracted to shiney things & pretty highs, yay!! As you know, my commentaries are hardly rants & often as heavy as how many helium balloons you use a children's party.
We keep coming back for more Maxabella as we're your kind of people, that's enough, opinions are great, heavy philosophy & deep facts, yawn, Uni was a long time ago, love Posie
I think dark thoughts, but I can't write them. My job imposes a sort of censorship on what I can put out. That being said, I actually like buying stuff. I like fluff. I see enough gritty, down and dirty every day. I need an escape.
Good question, Im not sure what I am to be honest, far to new to blogging to even know, but I will say I have no problem hanging my knickers out to dry in full view of the neighbours. You are what you are, and I do truely believe we all need a bit of light and dark.
I'm more of a
"May the farce be with you"
Cranky Old Man
Love it! Star Wars is so appropriate for my little world at the moment {for the past 6 years!}. I'm more of a lightweight on my blog but in real life I'd rather talk about the deeper stuff in many ways but I'm not sure if they'd clasify as dark?? My superficial obsession with pretty, housey things always brings me back to the lightweight stuff again anyway though, if given the right listening ear;)
I do love the darker blogs though. I love getting an insight into stuff that other people go through that isn't something I'm familiar with. I've learnt a lot that way;)
It doesn't get much more light weight than me. I would like to think though, if I was to go to the dark side, you can bloody well guarantee you would hear about it on my blog...warts and all.
not sure which I am but I bet I'm in one of the bew ones :-(
Ooh - I am The Darth Vadar of my youngest son's t-shirt in my last post!
Lots of heavy breathing (damn asthma), some pretty full on crap ("Luke, I am your father...") but then I hot back with the profound (as quoted from said shirt)
"Come to the Dark Side... we have cookies!"
;-)
You've articulated exactly what has been gnawing and eating away at me!
I read a post the other day where the blogger stated she would no longer blog because reading about how well everyone else was doing was making her struggles even worse, 'useless amoebia' I think was the phrase.
You know what? Even though my knickers are hung on the inside I ache to be one of those heavyweights. But I can't. As Faux Fuchsia says, you either need to be anonymous or to be someone in the real world who can have loud opinions.
I've been known to post some hopelessly lightweight rubbish - recipes and stuff and then wade in with the darksider on days when I feel a heavyweight post come over me. I've also upset the blogging applecart with my comments..... I would regret it, but in my heart of hearts I know that some bloggers just shouldn't be allowed to get away with the inaccurate, misinformed twaddle that's out there. Blogworld seems to be a bit of a pussyfooting place most of the time.
I grow toward the light because we have all had some darkness and I don't go looking for more. It always finds you at some point in life. The amount or quality of darkness doesn't matter. It's not a competition.
As a relative newby to blogworld I can read a bit of dark but soon wonder off into creative, funny and light because this has become my happy place. I find dark interesting like dark chocolate- small doses is best. Even some of the aggro bloggers having a whinge or bitch and swearing and crossing all the 'nice' barriers can wear a bit thin after too long. Entertaining, philosophical, realism never gets boring. It is part of life too and if some people crave more drama and melancholy, good luck to them. When did Polly anna become a dirty word and what is so wrong about pursuing or having happiness.? Is it just that is not fashionable?
I dropped a couple of blogs because I just got so tired of the endless whinging. You seem to be able to mix it up and that is what is called balance. Just carry on as yourself. It works.
This is how I feel sometimes. I write posts, sometimes just to vent, sometimes it's a thought I'd like feedback on, sometimes it's just something that pours out from my heart.
Sometimes I get comments with beautiful words, but sometimes I write without needing to be told nice things about myself, I write because I am just stating a feeling, a moment, a thought, and occasionally when I get a comment saying "Oh no you are the bee's knee's and the sun shines out your bum" I feel awkward and like maybe I haven't stated myself clearly enough, even when I feel I have been very careful in my words.
It's nice to have those people who do that, yes. But sometimes it's plain awkward and makes you feel like the point has been missed entirely.
Definitley lightweight here. Perhaps because I have a husband to talk to about the heavy stuff, and great girlfriends.
Truth is I am an optimist as well so just too hard to be heavy.
Honestly, I don't see you as a lightweight. Sometimes more of a Yoda (that's a compliment, seriously). Don't cringe. Yours is one of the few blogs where I ponder some of your posts long after I've read them - light, dark or in-between. You can write in different shades. Many can't. My MIL reads my blog (thanks hubby) so yeah, lightweight here. That said, the intention of my blog was to motivate me to keep taking photos and learn some technical stuff/write about it. It didn't quite turn out like that (probably to the relief of my readers)..but never really did consider going dark side. I think there's an art to it (including adding humour) and unraveling online can be a risky thing if you don't know where to stop. As Annie said, sometimes dark side can come off as a whinge. About period pain. It's good to see some of the talented gals sidestep the 'blah blah' stereotype and showing off other skills.
I think I err on the lightside but tend to drift over to the dark side occaisionally. But I just tend to blog how I feel at the time. That is all.
I know what you mean. My blog is very light (hearted). I get the most out of blogging by keeping it that way. It's not a platform for 'soap boxing' or getting things off my chest but I do write those types of posts in my head (they don't get published). Instead, I enjoy reading the darksides and admire their honesty and openness.
Lightweight all the way here... and that's just the way I like it. Happy, simple and rolling along. gxo
The posts of my own that I'm most proud of are my introspective ones. I don't think they're dark, but they're a bit more philosophical than the others.
As for Maxabella Loves, I LOVE that I don't just get fluff here, and I don't think you're a lightweight at all (not that there's anything wrong with that, necessarily). But here I often find a brave bloggy voice that shouts things I'd only be able to whisper. (Oops, and I was trying not to compliment you!)
Wow interesting post Bron. I hope to be a mixture of both. I think you/me/them can be whoever we want to be. I say just blog whatever you want to write about and make it important to you, if others find it important then that's a bonus. People come online for numerous reasons, what some find useful on one blog others just won't take to at all.
I am in awe of some really raw bloggers and applaud their honesty to write so openly. Then I find lightweight bloggers fun, entertaining and I', left feeling thankful for them making me smile. The world always needs diversity even in blogging, or it would be a pretty dull place.
I have picked up some good blog leads here! I couldn't be bothered with fluff blogs, tend to the dark side for consumption - I like Jane's take in http://seenandsaid.blogspot.com/, I go to one blog for serene discourse, several others for content, bypass long series of other people's pictures but get totally involved in other people's DIY. I wouldn't expect all my flesh-and-blood friends to be alike, would I? Just real.
Light-sabre blue, mine is.
So light I'd float away in a breeze. I hang my undies on the clotheshorse inside. ;)
I'm a bit late to the party, Bron but I *love* this analogy of yours. I still often ponder about your 'table one' BTW. I don't think you're a lightweight but an amalgam of the two. And that's why I love you. You know that. J x
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