Blogged to Death?

A few weeks ago, I read a New York Times article about blogging.  It discussed the impact of blogs, not on society and the world, but on the individual that does the blogging.  As an individual that is currently blogging, this topic interested me.  The article said that in the non-stop, fast-paced world in which we live, professional bloggers are pushed to their physical limits trying to keep up with all the news and events occurring worldwide.  A few people have even been killed by blogging - they suffered massive heart attacks while blogging for long periods of time.  Other bloggers complain of weight loss or gain, sleep disorders, exhaustion, or other maladies born of the nonstop strain of blogging in a world that never sleeps.  Of course, we as students probably do not need to worry about any of this - we blog in a much less stressful environment.  Still, it is something to think about - has blogging affected us negatively in any way?  Do we get less sleep or feel more stress?  Has blogging become more of an annoyance and less of a creative outlet? 

Personally, I think these blogs are an excellent tool that will help us both as writers and as thinkers.  The most redeeming aspect of blogs is that they are done outside of school.  This may seem trivial, but it changes everything.  In school, someone may be meek and introspective, never really sharing their thoughts with their peers.  But when they leave the classroom, this student may become someone else entirely, especially when they write.  We may get a glimpse into someone's life that would not have been possible without our blogs.  Never before have we been able to see the writing of other students, and it is an invaluable resource.  With so many different styles, topics, and people, we are bound to learn something each and every time we read a blog.  I do not think the blogs can be classified as "fun" or "entertaining" for everyone - that is more of a personal preference.  No one can deny, however, that these blogs have changed their perceptions of people, events, and the world around them.