Sunday 19 August 2007

The Most Popular Blog in the World

After reading that this blog http://blog.sina.com.cn/xujlnglei has had over 100 million hits, I decided I should start being a little more regular with my entries. Okay, I can't compete with someone who is popular in China and I can't write in Chinese, but maybe if I was a little more prolific I would attract a few more readers!

I'm not just doing this to get a readership, I do it mainly for fun and as an outlet for my lyrical prose! I've never kept a diary and journals depress me, mainly because I only ever use them when bad stuff has happened!

Did you know that research has actually discovered that journal writers are more depressed than those who don't record their everyday lives? Writing stuff down apparently makes you dwell on it, whereas ignoring it means you forget or get over the bad stuff. Unfortunately it also means you forget the good stuff!

The nice thing for me about keeping a blog is that because anyone can read it - well that's how I have my settings - I self-edit. Sometimes I will vent but mainly I try to keep it interesting and positive, rather than moaning about the bad stuff. It does happen, it's just that I don't feel the need to write about a lot of it here. Most of it isn't relevant to living in Florence anyway or it's too petty to bother with! Like the waiter who tells you service isn't included when it is in Black & White in English on the menu that it is! Like having New Year ruined by idiots throwing air bombs and bangers around. Or the travails of having a 3 year old who thinks she is 18 and can do what she wants, when she wants! Stuff like that! ;))

Anyway, expect to hear more from me! Or is this like all resolutions, made to be broken!

3 comments:

Delina said...

Wonder what that Chinese blog is about. With Chinese internet censorship I imagine the content is quite limited.

I agree that journal writers are more depressed. I kept a diary for all of my teenage years and I'd always write more than usual when I was having a particularly hard time - and oh there are so many as a teen :)

I too try not to moan in my blog too much but if I really have to I try to balance it out by following with a "happier" post :)

Giulia said...

Hi Alyson, just wanted to let you know that you now have a new reader. :) I also wanted to thank you again for all of your help with my ADSL fiasco. *shudder*
Your chidren are adorable!
Best wishes.

Alyson said...

Thanks Giulia! You know the way to a mother's heart ;)! Glad to hear the ADSL is still on - bizarre isn't it?! It's not just Italy tho', it took a friend 3 months to sort our Virgin in the UK - British Telecom were the problem there!