To Blog or not to Blog

I am up to date on the blog, at least until Jan and I finish the latest wargame from the Tarragona Campaign. So I have a little time on my hands

Yesterday I did my daily check on TMP, and found one about blogs on the list. It asked why people blog and there were many of the usual reasons given. Then I found one by an appropriately named "Shagnasty" which said "
-->I feel they are one of the worse manifestations of the Internet."
I should, of course, have ignored it as I usually do. But I fell for the bait, and responded. What I put belongs here rather than TMP, so I repeat it below:

--> "I have three blogs, and different reasons for each one.

My main blog is a record of my 1813 campaign. I have always kept a record of my campaign, including battle reports. I put in on my computer so that I could email club members what the next game would look like and keep them up to date on the campaign. It was a short step to starting a blog.

As others have said, a blog is a very good discipline and makes me keep my records straight, and gives me an extra reason for photographing the battles and writing battle reports.

Now that I live in Spain it is a way of allowing friends in UK to keep up with what I am doing with the campaign now. So this one would be half for me from a practical point of view, and half for friends or anyone interested to see my campaign.

My second one is Walking Napoleonic Battlefields. This one is mainly to encourage others to get out and enjoy them. I had wanted to walk battlefields for a long time, but was put off by how to research, find locations etc. When I did it, it proved to be not so difficult. With the success of my first blog, I thought it would be a good idea to share, and hopefully inspire others, my enjoyment of walking battlefields. So this one would be mostly for others.

My third one is a record of our move to Spain and our life out here. My wife and I belong to two walking clubs here in Spain, and I often take photos when we are out in the hills. Other walkers asked me for copies, and I used to send them by email. Then, as I was doing the other two blogs, I thought it would be nice for all of us to have permanent access to them. So this would be mostly for my fellow walkers plus friends and family in UK.

But the important question is why advertise them on forum such as this. I have not, and would not, mention my third blog, the living in Spain one, because this a napoleonic forum. I have always been a little hesitant about mentioning the other two as it does seem to be showing off. That is really not the reason; it is a desire to share a part of what I do with others of a like mind. It is much the same reason that all of you post of this forum. However I have recently stopped posting any mention of my 1813 campaign, as I felt a little uncomfortable doing so. I do continue to post the Walking Napoleonic Battlefields because the whole point is to reach new people and encourage them to have a go.

However when you see a comment like Shagnasty "I feel they are one of the worse manifestations of the Internet" you do wonder whether you should continue or not. I respect the fact that Shagnasty does not like blogs, and I respect his right to say so. I just wish he could have found a slightly nicer way of doing so. And are they really "the worse manifestations of the Internet"? What harm or offence can they possibly cause to anyone on this Forum. Providing they deal with the subject of Napoleonic history/wargaming surely they have every right to be posted here?

I personally feel that one of the worse manifestations of the Internet are the negative and unhelpful comments of people like Shagnasty, who seem to take delight in slighting other peoples efforts and always in a "nasty" sort of way.

I visit this forum at least twice a day, and take much enjoyment from it. There are a few subjects I have no interest in, and I simply do not select them from the list. I would never dream of putting a response such as he did. If you don't like them Shagnasty, don't select them"
I have repeated it, because if I am to defend, or explain, why I do a blog, it should appear on the blog.
Mr Shagnasty did make me wonder why I do keep a blog, so it was not a bad thing that I read it. It made me consider what my motives were and on balance I think it is a worth while exercise.
Anyway I enjoy it, so I shall continue. Presumably Mr Shagnasty will not be a regular reader.