David Farrar’s QSM and my hobby
June 9, 2010 in Uncategorized
Over the last few weeks I have come to the conclusion that bloggers are on the outer in our society. Few people actually understand the importance behind blogging and rather than explore this wonderful past time they shun it with prejudice. Blogging you see, suffers from very bad public perception. Mention the fact that you are a blogger and immediately certain comments and associations are made. Earlier today I had a conversation with a high standing person with our community. Our talk went something like this.
High standing person in the community:Ozy, what’s all this about a World Cup Prediction Game and and what on earth is that site you sent us to.
Ozy: That is my website.
High standing person in the community: Have you read the rubbish on that site.
Ozy: Read it I wrote it.
High standing person in the community: What a waste of time.
Sadly this perception runs strongly within New Zealand society. Only the other day I was at a family function and one particular male was extolling himself on his new found ability in the kitchen. He is apparently baking every day and by the response of the women at the table you would have thought he had solved the Middle East Crisis, such was their excitement. He included me in the conversation by casually asked if I did any work in the kitchen. I replied in the negative and you could literally feel the judgement lumped on my shoulders from those at the table. I could have explained that I am too busy blogging to find time to waste by reading a cook book and following other people’s ideas but that would have been pointless.
A classic response to my confession of being a blogger is, “How do you find the time”. I have come to learn over the years that this question is cover for what people really want to say and that is ”What a waste of time!”. I answer the question above by stating that it is easy to find time. I dont waste it in the kitchen, making something that is gone in a minute, and I don’t waste it watching rubbish TV. Instead I use my spare time to craft, using my own creativity, something that will be around for eternity.
Blogging is even shunned in the highest office of the land. Take a quick glance down the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and you will see the who’s who of our country and communities. But instead of trying to find someone you went to school with or those from Otaki, actually look at what they have done to warrant their award. Here is a small selection of awards handed out in 2010 - service to equestrian sport, services to photography, service to volleyball, services to marching, services to organ restoration, services to traditional Indian dance, services to baseball. Not one mention of blogging amongst this rather diverse list of endeavors. Surely, blogging New Zealand’s godfather, David Farrar desrves at the very least a QSM for his services to blogging. By the way what on earth is organ restoration? Is that what Doctors do?
Blogging may not have the ‘high standing’ of a hobby like a second langauge, astronomy or even home baking but I will continue to fight away in my corner. Hopefully over time, blogging will continue to grow and hopefully one day I will not be judged by the colour of my skin, or the birthplace of my parents but by the content of my blog.