To ask why I read and write... has nothing to do with leaves falling

Today, I was reading the latest post in Cannot Be Tamed and it made a question form in my mind:

Why do I read blogs?

I thought the answer was easy.  But it turns out it's a little more complicated than I thought.

Primarily, I like to read about World of Warcraft.   So I'm reading about blogs that talk about things in World of Warcraft.  That was my first thought.

I like looking for information on things.  Which is why I frequent Jasyla's blog so often, because, as a resto druid, she writes guides and information that is invaluable to the raiding resto druid.

However...

I started to look at the blog sites I frequent the most, and they tend to be the ones who talk about the general goings on within the World of Warcraft.  They are almost like reading Facebook, which are bits of everything, and nosing around about what people are doing in their day to day - be that killing raid bosses, finding or taming a new rare, making a new transmog, or talking about some random thoughts in regards to some game mechanic.  Often, the blogs I read have ALL of those things mixed in.

Jasyla was interested to see what sorts of people were reading her blog, and what kind of information they were seeking from her.  And, though I answered it honestly, I was a little worried - though I do love reading the resto druid things in her blog, I also love to read the other things as well.  Would she stop having those based on the poll outcomes?  So, no more guild leadership things?  No more shenanigans in game?

Reading what other people are doing, normalises what I do in game.  Knowing that there are people out there, doing what I do, makes me feel like I'm just like everyone else, and I fit in.  Of course, there are those doing things out there which I find amazing, which I enjoy reading because it gives me something to aspire to, something sort of goal that I could try for.  OK, maybe some of those goals are a bit beyond me (eg High warlord or Insane) but it is fun to read about it, and what could have been.

And I realised, that for me, reading blogs is not just about the information.  I have an insatiable curiosity, to know more about the people behind the blog.  Which is why I like to Navispam and reply all comments on my blog.  I want to know more about the people I'm reading and whom are reading me, because we are all human, and we all have a small connection - we all play World of Warcraft.  Whether they choose to share themselves with me, of course is another story.  There are many I read whom have become game friends, and sure, if I stopped playing the game, we may lose touch, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy spending time with them NOW.

But why, you ask, do I need to be so nosy?  Why must I know?  What if they don't want people to know?  Of course, that's ok!  But I think people in general like to be treated like a person, and not like a number, or a player or a disease.  For example, is it not a common complaint from patients is that their doctors are impersonal, or treat them like a number or a disease, rather than a person?  I think most patients like to be treated like a human being, who have a family, have interests, have preferences and special considerations.  My relationship with my patients is only brief, but I do try to call them by name and their condition (eg. Mrs Smith who is here for an appendicectomy) to maintain a bit of humanity about the patient.  So, is it so different, that I try to do the same for people in the game?  Readers? Players?  I am sure many of them like to be treated as humans too!  Isn't it much nicer, if your local doctor knew a bit about you when you visited, since you see them so often - about your family, major events, and your interests, even just a little bit?

So you see, the answer to why I read, turned out to be a lot longer than just... knowledge.

I admit, I was a little worried when I saw this comment by Stormy:

Do one thing. Do it well. (Don’t write a smattering of garbage nobody reads…unlike a certain other blog I could name. *ahem*)

I felt a bit embarrrassed.  He could be talking about me - I write about all sorts of everything!  Which comes to the question - why do I write?

At least this, is an easy answer.  My blog is a diary, a chronicle.  As I age, I like to write down all those memories and moments - awesome moments get lost and fade with time, and so do the emotion that went with them.  Each new find, each gift, each discovery, each new friend - every one of these things, TO ME, deserves to be preserved, and be remembered.  Because I love to remember what a wonderful time I had, when I was playing World of Warcraft.