Well, enough about me. What do you think of me?

Ever since I found out that I was going to become one of b5media’s bloggers, I started reading as many blogs as I had time for in order to get a feel for what others were doing. I wanted to establish some sort of standard that defined what I considered a good blog to be.

Up until recently I’ve had a few blogs that I subscribed to but they were relatively few; I had about 10 blogs in my RSS reader. These were blogs that really spoke to me in some way and for one reason or another, kept me coming back. Time was always a factor for me and there was no way I was going to waste time reading a blog just for the sake of it. Most blogs that interested me had to really have something to say or I wasn’t going to waste my time with it.

Now that I am a blogger, it suddenly became very important to me that I identify the qualities of those blogs that kept my interest and interested me enough that I came back.

So, in the course of my research, here is what I’ve discovered:

1. Most blogs are crap. They read worse that monkeys on typewriters. I’m told that 5,000 new blogs PER DAY are started. Most of these blogs quickly degrade from something mildly interesting to ‘oh my god, get me out of here’. When the posts start discussing breakfast meals and whom that person hopes will notice them at work, it’s time to make a quick exit from that blog.
2. The best blogs are narcissistic. They are all about the blogger and his/her experiences in a given area. They often tell stories to relate information in an informal manner that gives you a glimpse into that person’s life. We are all voyeurs at heart, and we love looking at how other people’s lives are lived and how they are progressing. It takes a while, however, for the blog to reach the point where the blogger becomes important. In the early stages, it’s more about the information the blogger has to convey than the blogger herself. If the blogger is a good and entertaining writer, eventually it becomes all about her.
3. The best blogs are focused. The posts are all about one subject matter. Few really interesting blogs are about everything. While I understand the appeal of Chris Pirillo’s blog, I really, really don’t care what he thinks of his new Acura. Blogs like this are a rarity, one that is more about the person than the theme. The reason it’s a rarity (I think) is that these blogs have been around a while. The older the blog, the more it becomes about the person and not just the subject.
4. The best blogs are entertaining. They are able to tell a story, or convey information in a way that’s fun and provides a useful perspective you can’t get anywhere else.

So, based on what I’ve learned, here’s how I’m going to handle this blog.

• I’m going to be myself. This means providing my expertise and information in my own voice, which I hope you’ll find entertaining. I make fun of everything, there are no sacred cows. I’ve learned a lot about the world of scientists and in particular, astronomers. A lot of it will make you laugh, some of it will make you cry.
• I’m going to write about what I know: astronomy. Nothing else.
• I’m going to write about who I know: astronomers and educators.
• No rants. I hate those (did I just rant?). They put me off and while I may respect the blogger’s knowledge and abilities, rants make people look stupid and out of control.
• I’m going to contradict myself. I may take a position on a post, only to change my mind later. People do that all the time and it’s healthy. The single biggest character flaw astronomers have is that they get married to an idea.
• I’m going to break all of these guidelines at one point or another.

I want to become one of those bloggers that people (like me) feel compelled to read. I have no illusions as to the size of audience this blog will attract. With all that’s out there, I’ll be lucky to get a few hundred regular readers.

But what a fortunate few hundred they will be because this won’t be your typical blog.

You see, there’s only one of me. There’s only one person who can write the content I can write. My experiences with astronomy and teaching are unique, funny and interesting to a wide swath of people. I will strive to provide the best content possible for those that manage to find this blog. I will do everything I can to make sure you come back.