Why Blog?

I haven't written anything here in over 9 months. Also haven't used my Flickr space. Or what else is it people did online before facebook?

So what's up with the online identity?

The idea of online identity seems empty. Live people create real communities--the internet doesn't. If your friends are not remote or are not geeks there's nothing to be gained from trying to live online.

Professional online identity is useful only when there's work at stake. Either finding a job or networking for some other business purpose justify spending time and attention building online paths. Business is a practical kind of community, after all.

Otherwise, where does it fit into my life? I kind of hate spending my free time online. Facebook and e-mail on my phone connect me to other people superficially, posting statuses, scheduling real-world activities. Mostly I don't need the computer.

What is useful, and what is missing?

Contact Info: Useful to have. More useful if used more.
Messaging: Time doesn't permit staying in touch with most people most of the time.
Status: You have to be in a forced community like facebook for this to matter to anyone. People read quickly what each other are doing, consuming statuses as an entertainment product. Posting status can direct people to deeper information, if you're working at anything.

So what's the point of it all? What do I do that anyone would care about? The main things I do beyond my day job is hang out. Listen to music, take cellphone photos. Drink beer. Occasional art. Occasional attempt at reading or technology learning. Sometimes build something. Can a few hours online each week make a difference to any of those?