Sunday morning meta-meme

What the House of Fortune might look like if it were a real house.
The always scintillating Scholiast has tagged me to answer the following questions about blogs. As I'm studying blogs, does this post count as qualitative research?

Do you like the look and contents of your blog?
I am much more pleased with the look of my blog now that I've removed that blue gunk around the edges...basically, I've decided that I want a clean space with a focus on content. With that in mind, it's o.k. The content itself is variable. When I went through all my posts to label them, I found that there was a time, around May of this year, where I was posting really cool stuff. I'm not on a roll like that now. On the other hand, there were only a handful of posts that made me cringe and consider deleting them...and nothing so cringeworthy that they were actually deleted. I'd say that's pretty good.

Does your family know about your blog?
The main ones, yes. Both my parents read my blog. That guy on the top of the link list (the one making the whole thing unalphabetical) is my brother. Other relatives, I'm not sure if they know about it, but I would imagine not.

Can you tell your friends about your blog? Do you consider it a private thing?
I tell all my friends about my blog. A couple read it. Most others don't, and I would imagine haven't.

Do you read the blogs of those who comment on your blog? Or do you try and discover new blogs?
Yes, and sometimes yes. I have been lax in following any blog which is not on my link list, which I have been too lazy to update, but I do try to visit commenters when I can. I also try and discover new blogs, when I feel I have the time, but that's not always. It occurs to me that I've gone completely off the 'next blog' button. I used to use it compulsively, but I haven't in months.

Did your blog positively affect your mind? Give an example...
Uh...I think it does, but an example? Well, I do like posting something which I feel is interesting and/or funny and/or well-written. And funny comments, or those which express just the right mood, or make just the right point, make my day.

What does the number of visitors to your blog mean? Do you have a traffic counter?
The number of visitors means something, but not so much. I like high numbers, but the number of comments means a lot more...what's the point of having visitors if they hide in a corner and don't add anything? I do have a counter, and I do check it regularly, but it doesn't say too much to me. Though it has confirmed my suspicion that people do not, as a general rule, read blogs at the weekends.

Do you imagine what other bloggers look like?
This is an interesting question. A lot of the people whose blogs I read have their photos on-line, so I don't have to imagine. Otherwise, I suppose I don't. If bloggers want me to know what they look like, they'll show me eventually. I do, however, wonder how other bloggers imagine I would look, based on the photos that are there of me. As in, 'Do I look big in this profile pic?'

Do you think blogging has any real benefits?
To whom? To me, yes, it's great fun. To the work I could be doing otherwise, no. To friends I could be spending time with instead, no. To the world as a whole, not sure. It depends on what action is taken as a result of blogging.

Do you think that the blogosphere is a stand alone world community separated from the real world?
No, I think it's part of the real world set somewhat apart from the rest of the real world by a large virtual Japanese folding screen. People may know each other, and then know each other's blogs. Or they may know each other as bloggers, and then meet. It's not a total distinction.

Do some political blogs scare you? Do you avoid them?
I don't read political blogs, but not because they scare me, or because I'm avoiding them, but because I get my political information from other sources. It could be that I just haven't found the right political blog, though. Any suggestions?

Do you think that criticizing your blog is useful?
Depends who's doing the criticizing. I criticize my blog regularly. Others criticizing my blog is o.k., if it's done in a polite way. Actually, I'd rather have a thought-out criticism than a non-thought-out compliment.

Have you ever thought about what would happen to your blog if you died?
Nope. I suppose that someone would update my blog in the comments, to inform those I only know through blog about my demise. The blog itself would just remain until deleted for whatever reason.

Which blogger has had the greatest impression on you?
Many, many, many, for different reasons. I couldn't possibly list them all. Perhaps the most salient one at the moment, as I'm trying to blog more often than I have been, is the person who mentioned, in his two year anniversary post, but sort of in passing, that he had written, and published, 'a little more than 3500 posts'. That impressed me. And intimidated me. And, to be honest, freaked me the hell out.

Which blogger do you think is the most similar to you?
None of them? Well, a lot of those I read I find connections with in little ways, but if someone was too similar then I wouldn't read them...difference is far more interesting.

Name a song you want to listen to.
The c.d. which is being overplayed in our house at the moment is Nikka Costa's 'can'tneverdidnothin''. She is the current household Rock Mama. I suppose I'd want to listen to the title track. Or most of the others.

Tag some people.
Do I have to? Oh, o.k., then. I'm tagging some bloggers I know in real life. Fourlegged, it's time you posted again. James, I eagerly await your answers. And Ms. Black Scorpio, you know this means you, too.