Ask HN: Why Do You Blog?

17 points | by onesandofgrain 3 hours ago

6 comments

  • kj4211cash 3 hours ago

    I started because I wanted to think about transportation policy but my work as a Data Scientist wouldn't let me. I continued because a colleague convinced me it could help position me as a thought leader and get me a new job or engagements. More recently it's been a way to complain about the absurdities of mega corp life, awful past coworkers and jobs, etc. without being too obvious about it (hopefully).

    But also I have always enjoyed writing and producing. Just passively consuming the internet leaves me feeling a little empty. Also I hate the short, singular point of view, short attention span, social media, everything we say and write getting neutered and just made worse by communications and legal departments world.

    blog: https://kennethswindow.com/

  • lumirth an hour ago

    Two reasons: - It got me my last job, so I figured it might get me my next - I have fun doing it

  • mvkel 3 hours ago

    It forces me to rotate the shapes of ideas; my beliefs become more durable when I'm willing to explore differing views through the act of writing (or it exposes how weak my initial take is)

  • accrual 3 hours ago

    I'm just getting started blogging despite having run sites since the late 00s.

    I mostly want to blog to sharpen my writing skills, produce something useful that I can point to as mine (and isn't at the whims of a platform), and to have fun on the sysadmin side of running the VPS, domain, traffic, etc.

  • nishimoo 3 hours ago

    I write to deepen my own understanding. Explaining concepts to others forces me to organize my thoughts and fill in gaps I didn't realize I had.

  • softwaredoug an hour ago

    I blog to think more clearly.

    It’s utterly pointless to outsource this to ChatGPT. I need to muddle through with my slow dumb human words trying to explain my thinking against the social pressure of not looking stupid in public. Only then do I truly battle-test an idea.