I recently stated on ET that I comment and vent steam here in order to prevent me putting a brick through the telly.

Writing diaries is, for those capable of sustaining a greater narrative and a more subtle argument, probably performs a similar task. That of venting an idea which nags at you and seeing if anyone feels it has worth.

keep to the Fen Causeway

Why should there be a point to writing diaries?

People are motivated by different things. It's up to the readers and commenters to decide if they find the result interesting, satisfying.

The information, arguments, opinions, and social enjoyment I have received through diaries and their commentaries have been behaviour-changing - for myself. And these have definitely improved my work capabilitities as well as shifting my position in the Overton window.

Plus, quite a few of these diaries raise issues months, if not years, before the tradmed picks up on them. That especially I have found important. But do we influence anything? If we count all of our personal networks together, the contact reach is probably tens of thousands. OK - that may not seem much, but a lot of our personal contacts are more opinion-forming than Joe Schmoe.

Your question is perhaps better understood as: What is the motivation for diarists? It's work to write a diary, but marshaling one's material is always instructive. And the crucial aspect is the reaction to a diary. In several sectors we have skilled professionals. Their comments are invaluable.

A couple of years ago I wrote diaries more frequently. But being on the artsy-fartsy side, some diaries had little traction. I'm happy to read stuff everyday, and in return I want to give something back.

I guess, like the economy, it's all based on confidence and trust.

Lastly - I'm a professional B2B writer - among other things. It's a somewhat ascetic trade. At ET I take pleasure in writing.

You can't be me, I'm taken

Why do I write comments (and the occasional diary) on ET?

Because I like to read ET: over the years I have learned a lot of things, been exposed to fascinating insights from fellow contributors who hail from so many countries even beyond ol' Europe...

And like a potluck dinner, you bring your own little contribution. And a funny thing happens on the way to the diary: whatever you bring to the community, you get it back in ten-folds.

And if that's not a perfect example of Keynesian multiplier, I shall eat my keyboard  :-)

Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.

to pass time serenely and pleasantly?

i assume so, as diaries here are interesting and provoke me to look deeper into events and how they connect.

European Tribune - Comments - What is the point of writing diaries on ET?

Do we expect to foment change?

foment, i don't know, but maybe learn to dance with it better!

change happens, fomented or not. seems most of the trick to living well consists of getting out of the way of change you don't want to happen, and helping nudge what you do if you can.

commenting is more my bag, but there are always fascinating diaries to groove on, and the salons and OT's fill it all out nicely.

a nice info-salad with a tangy dressing of wit, what's not to love?

helen said it best, perhaps!

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter

(long time sniper from the sidelines, never a writer)

At best: find someone who knows how to change things, or can suggest a way.

Likely/possible: see a way there is some slight hope.

At worst: (Tom Lehrer) "titillating the initiated". Realising there are other people who think the same way. A bit like war games or chess club, I guess.

The "at worst" ain't too bad.


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sapere aude

prodesse et delectare.

more delectare for me, but so what?

Historians will ask questions like:

1. What were the factors leading to the end of the US Empire?

2. Why did the dominant sentient earth species not stop the destruction of its biosphere?

3. What leads to the mental illness called religion in a mortal species?

4. How do we forestall similar mistakes in other species?

ET is an excellent resource for the future. Keep writing. Plenty of Ph.D theses here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wp4O7v5320

I think it's rather obvious that, ET being the most ideologically influential news and discussion source in the entire world, that every diary written here has an immense effect on the opinions and narratives of the day.  

As such, every word we write CHANGES THE WORLD!(Throw fist in the air) We are the vanguard! (Jump up on barricade, yelling.) We are leading the people to a better tomorrow! (Wave flag back and forth)  We . . . um . . . oh yeah.  Right.  Um . . . that's all, I guess.