So this is what a hangover is. I don’t remember this picture being taken. Why am I putting this on the internet?
I was eating a PB&J out of tinfoil during class and thinking about blogging, as I often do. I had recently read a friend’s blog that he just started a few months ago and doesn’t update very often. Its future doesn’t look good—a few more months it will likely become another blog corpse silently occupying net space. As I read his first tentative posts, I was reminded of my own blogging beginnings that stretch back to my senior year of high school.
It was a secret blog, called The Drevet (now deleted), and I posted a mere two times. The first one was the obligatory and awkward, “Hello world,” in which it seemed I was preparing to face all of humanity and be utterly rejected. It was the kind of introduction that set the bar so low even I couldn’t reach it. After only two months I stopped thinking about The Drevet and life moved on.
As I continued to reminisce and munch on my sandwich, I stumbled across another phase of beginnings: college. At this point, I suddenly realized the striking similarity between getting drunk for the first time and blogging for the first time.
When I first overindulged, not a moment before I turned twenty one (wink), I was fascinated with the very experience of it. “Wow,” I thought, “so this is what being drunk is like.” It didn’t matter what came next in the evening because we were already having an awesome time through the act of inebriation itself, which was to us was inherently interesting.
In the beginning, I was also captivated by the phenomenon of blogging. The fact I could publish whatever I wanted for strangers to read and maybe enjoy was both thrilling and terrifying. And just as newbies feel awkward around alcohol, like they’re doing something taboo and exciting, I would get nervous in front of the computer screen, staring at the blank blog post box and wondering what I would say to the world. What if someone actually read it?
As a baby lush, I felt the constant need to discuss my level of sloshedness with my fellow drinkers, “I’m not drunk guys,” “Do I seem drunk?” “I’m drunk drunk drunk drunk drunk,” etc. To everyone else this kind of blathering indicated it was time to change conversation partners. The more experienced drinkers had already found out that being drunk is not interesting or special, but to me the topic was endlessly engrossing for everyone and worth repeating dozens of time in the same night.
Similarly, in the first blog posts, I was self conscious about the fact I was blogging and tended to talk about the act itself, how it was hard to think of something to write or that I didn’t think anyone was reading it (no one was), and the end result was that I wouldn’t say anything at all and my predictions would come true. And just like a group of okay friends that get drunk at home hoping for something exciting to happen and then end up going to bed early, I wasted the potential of blogging by using it in a sarcastic and apathetic manner, only to defeat myself in the end.
Through many unfortunate nights and some unfortunate blogposts, I learned the real magic comes with a critical combination of both substance and medium: blogging and content, or alcohol and activities. But like most things, this is the kind of lesson that one must learn through their own experience, though we hope for our own sakes that newcomers learn it before anyone heads to the bathroom to vomit.
And my metaphorical vomiting days aren’t over yet. I will always be learning both how to drink better and how to blog better.
Snotting black 
Too bad, drinking is not common in my country. But I can relate about the first feeling of wanted to write something to the world. And actually, there’s many “firsts” after that, such as the first time you expose about your personal problem or relationship, the first time you write about your family, the first time you tried to write a humorous article (and for me it was an epic fail! HA!), the first time your post consist mainly of photos, and many others. But yeah, there’s no “first” more epic than your post next to the “hello world” post. 🙂 cheers.
It’s true the firsts keep on coming. Thanks for the comment.
I saw myself in your blog…and i hate to say how many years ago it was. Oh yes, a drink or two or three or four or who’s counting…really gave one a different view on life, if only you could remember the next day. But truly, doing a blog is like that – you write and you think it’s really good and then you read it the next day and you wonder…WHAT was I thinking???? Started many blogs. Have to consolidate. Too many irons in the fire. But I’m so interested in EVERYTHING!!!
Your blog is fun…thanks!
And thanks for stopping by. I’ve tried to start multiple things and it just doesn’t work for me. Good luck with you and stay interesting!
There is not a secret in blogging… just to stop looking at your own belly button however beautiful it would be…, and interact with the people that follow you!
You haven’t seen my belly button.
Are you sure?
Well…..I suppose I’m not. Assertion redacted.
Ahhh…so, that’s my problem. I’ve been looking at my belly button instead of the screen.
Maybe, I should look at someone else’s belly button instead?
I must say the correlation between drunkenness and blogging is quite good! I’ve been blogging for years with my students, but for the first time I’ve been exposing my own personal life via a blog–and it is rather a big deal. It’s funny; I post something for my students to answer, and I grade them for their responses. So matter of fact. But when I post something personal, I am constantly checking my stats to see how many people have read it–and hope for comments.
Love the post!
Glad you enjoyed it! Oh the stats—they can be addictive if you’re not too careful.
I love this post and I’m still chuckling. I can relate to both the drinking part, although I have to reach way far back in the memory banks, and the newbie blogger, that’s me now. 🙂
Thanks for reading and I’m glad you got a chuckle out of it.
And, just like most activities, if you blog too much you will wake up stoned in a gutter. Somehow, you ended up in Taiwan, and you have no idea how to get back.
I lead a very strange life.
I know the feeling—the worst part is finding out whose blood is on the guitar next to you.
Then your family sends you through blogging rehab, but right after you’re out, you get in a bad rehab with Twitter.
Sad, sad.
Great post. Did you sneak into my brain? For the last year I have been struggling with my blog and have only just come to some of the same realizations such as: why do I have to blog about my self-consciousness of blogging? See post: Redefinition. Also- your comparison to drinking the first time hilariously accurate. Great blog!
I did I did! I crawled in through your ear and recorded an entire blogging session—I’ll add co-author rights later on.
Thanks for reading!
Hmm. Sounds like Dr. Walter Bishop, the scary but funny character from “Fringe” series, and really fascinated by how the human brain works. That you could read minds of people through harnessing the ultra-magnetic impulses of the brain and decrypting it for human cognition.
Or maybe, just some creature crawling into your backyard saying, “Brrraaaaiinnns”.
-Plants vs Zombies
Thank you for writing this post. I am a new blogger myself (5 days) and as of right now, I kind of feel like a person standing in a empty room shouting.
I see myself experiencing many of the things that you have mentioned. I am very self aware of the fact that I am blogging and often do write about this fact as I am blogging.
I am a chef so I thought that I would just be able to start writing about food but, then came the question of whether I should post photos or videos or provide recipes for what I am making. Do I write about restaurants I go to?
As of right now I am very confused as to which direction I would like to go.
Thank you for sharing this and letting us know, we are not alone and that it does get easier and more comfortable.
Thank you,
Daniel
It’s my pleasure Daniel. Someone once said that blogging is more of a marathon and not a sprint, so don’t be afraid to take the time and see what makes you the happiest when you write about it. Good luck!
Fun Post! At first I blogged 5 days a week, then it became pressure. Now I just try not to piss anybody off too much. Maybe eventually I’ll get back to what I intended speaking my mind on a multitude of subjects, memories, and viewpoints.
I say speak your mind and don’t worry about pissing people off. Someone’s always mad. Good luck!
Perfect metaphor for life and for blogging! Thanks for the share!
Thanks for the read!
Have you ever decided to drink something because it was in vogue to drink, or other people you fancy are drinking it? Have you started the drink and then wanted to throw it away, forcing yourself to continue. You drink the same drink for the next few weeks until you realize you’re wasting your time, walk to the fridge and grab a trusty old can of Schlitz. That’s exactly how my past blogs have failed. I start blogging about something I think will get read, is exciting or profound and quickly find out I have absolutely NO passion for writing about that particular subject. I may be interested in it, but it doesn’t move me to write. These days I’m writing more about things that flow from my heart a little easier, and I’m hitting publish quite a bit more often.
You gotta write from the heart….someone once said that the audience doesn’t create the message. You provide the stuff and if it’s good people will come. Get those heart strings twanging!
Thanks for that, as a blog-newbie (just started yesterday) I appreciate the insight … if you like check out what I have tried so far and critic to your hearts content .
Thanks a lot and good luck with the blog. Thanks for inviting my critique!
Love this analogy, of course, although it did make me crave a beer which would not be in my best interest right now. Saaaayyyy… any idea how your blog got chosen to be a “Best of” on WordPress? Not a comment on its value one way or the other, just curious who I suck up to and how to get mine featured sometime. Thanks – happy drinking! I mean, blogging!
The wordpress gods choose posts at their discretion. They cannot be influenced or bribed except for through some kind of delicious code they haven’t yet discovered themselves. I honestly have no idea. Just remember that someone’s watching and write accordingly. Good luck!
Reblogged this on Do I See What You See? and commented:
Hilarious discussion on blogging… completely laughed at some of my own posts shortly after reading this….
I started my blog back in January, and now reading this I am now sitting here in front of the screen laughing at myself! My act of ‘drunkeness’ so to speak was thinking people were commenting on my blog, thanking people for the comments and then finding out that they are actually spam! The latter is definitely akin to the hangover….
I do think blogging with a bottle is probably not a good idea but two separate acts of training that can infuse the other for practice based research seems very enticing. Great article 🙂
OH NO! commenting on spam is certainly a noob mistake, but we learn and move on. Thanks for reading!
Yes, Yes and yes… quite possibly the worst hangover one can experience! lol
Gad you got past the “Hello World.” You write very well. 😉
Thanks very much! I’m glad I got past the hello world as well.
Love the post. Heard about your blog from others. Today was the first time I made contact. You’ve got a follower.
Welcome welcome welcome! Thanks for reading.
Love it. I have a few deceased blogs that I probably should hold a service for or something. Say some kind words about how funny, uplifting and life changing they were… that’s a blog post in and of itself. Hmmm….
Ideas are everywhere, lurking even inside the comment boxes. Thanks for reading!
Hmm, I just started blogging but I never felt nervous about posting. Thanks for posting this, I needed a bit of a laugh.
Everyone needs a laugh sometimes. I need at least one daily or else I go INSANE.
As a new blogger I found this inspiring and informative. Appreciated! 🙂
Blog blog blog and don’t look back.
THIS I CUTE. blogging and drinking. Great. I know when i started my first blog, i wrote but i felt I only wrote to for the sake of having a post. Now, when I write it’s all about an idea, comment, thought that transitioned into self dialogue. Usually, I talk my blogs out in my head & then write..My new process has made the task of blogging feel like therapy & the approval and interest of my friends & family, solidify that I may have finally found my motivation…
Well that’s wonderful. Motivation changes everything.
Brilliant post! Loved it thoroughly. But I could be a looser if I didn’t read the comments as well where I find the phrase “sense of purpose” which I believe should guide everything that everyone does or else we will find what we have been doing for months is a complete waste. Thank you.
Indeed indeed—thank you lotto.
Drinking and blogging – whatta pair!
A match made….somewhere.
Oh my goodness. You answered every comment! I’ve never seen that of a Freshly Pressed post before. THAT’S dedication. Good on ya! You’re my new hero. ^_^
And now I’m answering this one! Some would describe my actions in a different light but I’ll take the compliment. Thanks for reading!
Hello edrevets,
I won’t provide an in-depth analysis of everything I liked, but your blog was witty and so fresh. I really liked it, needless to say. A satirical send-up at its best.
Please keep writing! =D
You and I both know what just happened—-thanks for reading and I will certainly keep writing.
CHEERS to that!!
Awesome insight and comparison on blogging and being drunk lol
All the best and congrats on being freshly pressed!
Cheers
-Ron
Thanks a lot Ron!
thanks for sharing your experience with us……………………nd its true dat i love both
Why choose?
Reblogged this on After Ride and commented:
I didn’t write any blog, these days so i thought i can borrow this one.
This was a hilarious post. Mostly because it reminds me of my college days when I used to drink a lot, and then there are many time since I have started blogging that I don’t know what the heck to write about. But, I’ve learned not to pressure myself into writing, I only do it when I am inpired. Loved the post!
Just another way drinking can be compared to blogging—-peer pressure. Thanks for reading!
Am I being silly? What’s a PB&J? Haven’t heard of one before?
If you were American, then I would have to ask you politely what cave you crawled out of. Seeing that you’re not, I will explain. A PB&J is an American delicacy: a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Oh we do love our peanut butter. Thanks for asking!
Thanks for sharing this blog post- makes me remember that there is hope for all the newbies on the blogosphere! Happy Blogging : )
Thanks for reading and good luck to you too!
You are awesome! Thanks for the tribute to us passionate bloggers!
You’re awesome! Thanks for stopping by.
i’m sorry for you sad life story
ARE YOU REPTILIANS!!!!
I found the rest of the descendants of reptilians who likes to get drunk to write a blog
HISSSSSSSSS
Loved you blog, hope to get where you are one day 🙂 For me the posting of the blog feels more like having a first drink: exciting and anything could happen. And then the hangover the next day, when really nothing happened!
Anyway, keep it up!
Thanks a lot! You’re probably closer than you think.
That is not a bad hangover picture :).
True….it could be worse. Thanks for reading!
Really fun post. I like the category on how long it will take to read. I am always afraid my posts are too long so I might steal that from you to encourage people to read on… 🙂
Thanks! You are welcome to steal it—-I started it because people are so busy nowadays and if they’ve only got a minute or two, it’s good to know how to use that best!
Your post had rather interesting elements-wit, humor and uniqueness. I also enjoyed how your writing style and flow both came across as genuine, down-to-earth mixed with a sense of simplicity. I think what makes better Blogging and posts is-practice (as with many other things in life).
You cannot have enough practice. That’s the great thing about a blog–it forces you to practice often or else it DIES. Thanks for reading!
Indeed. That is true-a Blog enables one to continue to practice. You’re welcome. 🙂
Hello,
I like that last part when you said, “real magic comes with a critical combination of both substance and medium: blogging and content.”
That’s very true, substance and medium go hand in hand.
Thanks for sharing a great post! 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by.
I mean, “most” favorites. Talking about horror, huh.