DISQUS

nicopolitan · 4 months ago

Your theories are spot on, and would put heavy weight on points 1 and 2.

This is a case study waiting to happen. I will totally pass you stats I find in my field research.

DShan · 4 months ago

I'd be interested in a larger sampling, for sure. I agree that #1 and #2 are big ones. They were the easiest to come up with.

DShan · 4 months ago

That'd be really interesting. All I could find was our data, but I'm
curious about larger samples.

kylaroma · 4 months ago

Very interesting! I love the "there are better opinions" heading- I think part of that dynamic might be that if men like opinions and women like experiences & feeling emotional connection (maybe), the male audience will gravitate towards experts (a community they aren't a part of) and women will gravitate towards average individuals.

I think another part of this is that men are disproportionately involved in other kinds of community- as a former MMORPG player the 'live' interactive side of online gaming (PC or XBOX) has incredibly rich community that's both personal and goal based. You're working one on one with other people, in real time, and can be talking with them too- and you're making tangible progress, even if it's only in game. I think that part of why men might be less inclined to blog is that if they're "techy" they're more likely to read joystiq and game, or read the sports blogs and be in a real fantasy football league- and the interactivity of blogs just doesn't hold up in comparison.

DShan · 4 months ago

I love this perspective; I have no gaming experience and I think the rewards-based nuance is really interesting. Tangible goals...personal blogging doesn't fit that very well.

DShan · 4 months ago

That's incredibly thoughtful. Really. I hadn't thought of the 'reward'
system approach to male behavior. Gravitation towards experts...that
absolutely does happen. Look at all the compliments you'll find in expert's
comment sections.

johnonline · 4 months ago

you confused number 3 and 4... here i go again being too keen on details.

Justin (Oats) · 4 months ago

It's a difference between men and women, women typically like to express their feelings, get opinions, talk about their day, discuss what they bought (shoes), or go into some detail about their sex life. Men, on the other hand, (thinking back to the dinner table dad figure) don't feel the need to go into the details about their day, feelings are never discussed amongst a group of guys. I've never had a friend come up and say, hey, Oats, I'm really sad today. Not unless they're wasted that is. Men don't go on about shopping and unless they want to come across as some pervert would likely not blog about their sex life. It's not even blogging, it's just like conversations you'd have with friends.
The medium of blogging sets up an environment ideal for many different forms, however when it comes down to what guys actually want, you're more likely looking at sports and video games if they're going to be in front of a screen. I've seen a few gamer blogs, but games are dominated by the male population.
It seems to me, the kind of commitment and received output/feedback from blogging satisfies womens' needs moreso than most men who want instant gratification.

DShan · 4 months ago

Yeah, I think it mimics real life and men aren't going to their buddies to broadcast emotions. And you mention that instant gratification thing, which a lot of people seem to point out.

Tankboy · 4 months ago

I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about.

Then again, I am not a man, I'm one of many clones.

DShan · 4 months ago

And as a clone, you make one hell of a male blogger.

DShan · 4 months ago

And as a clone you make a killer male blogger.

erin · 4 months ago

i absolutely agree. i actually wish i had more men's blogs to read. i think it would make my blog reading a little more dynamic and well rounded.

DShan · 4 months ago

They are out there...I suppose I should follow this up with some recommendations. But the ones I've found (and liked) were through a gradual process.

pete · 4 months ago

I guess I sort of have a blog, still. From time to time I'd hit on personal matters.

A lot of personal blogging has to do with relationships. One reason I don't write about relationships is because most of the girls involved in those stories read my blog. Even if they don't, people who know them do. Even if I don't use names, it'll probably be obvious who I'm talking about. An anonymous blog wouldn''t help either, I've told those stories to my guy friends before so at least some people would be able to identify those stories. I think it would be unnecessarily cruel to recount these tales in print, in public, for everyone's consumption.

Mostly I think it's the emotional aspect though. Imagine sitting around with your guy friends whining about something. What do they tell you? "Quit being a bitch" or something along those lines.

DShan · 4 months ago

It can be a fine line; stories about your life involved other people who don't get say in how you write them up. I've always kept it very complimentary, which is easy for me because I generally dig all the people I'm surrounded by. And I'd even say that my guy friends were the slowest to 'accept' the whole personal blog thing; a few of them really don't get it even now. Others have definitely come around.

JumpsCurbs · 4 months ago

You're absolutely right on those. Guys just don't talk about things in blog form like women. We (generically speaking) like facts, stats, and one-liners. I also think there is a stigma around guys sharing feelings. I for one have a poetry blog yet I am not yet ready to share it with most of my friends for a fear of them judging me. I think we need a sort of male-blogger "support group" for this. Have you thought of starting a group like that on 20SB?

Tankboy · 4 months ago

I think I totally disagree with you.

DShan · 4 months ago

Well, 20SB has a Boy's Club, but up to now it's mainly been a chat about hot bloggers:) And I think the stigma around guys sharing feelings is self-imposed...I've done it, written about serious relationships, and seen no pushback at all.

DShan · 4 months ago

Good points. There is a Boys Club on 20SB, but up until now we've just
pointed out hot bloggers:)

Could be a good idea!

jamie · 4 months ago

i think it's cause boys don't tend to keep diaries & a blog is really a diary online. also the feelings thing, boys don't want people to know their feelings & they certainly aren't going to talk about it. what would other guys think:D

i personally don't regularly read any boy blogs...you're the only one i stumble across sometimes.

DShan · 4 months ago

Well, I'm honored you stop by. And I do think the diary form is more in the female wheelhouse for some reason.

phampants · 4 months ago

A male friend of mine told me that he needs to start blogging after seeing the beautiful female bloggers that I always hang out with.

Jill Pilgrim · 4 months ago

There are definitely more female "personal" bloggers. I assume its because women are awesome.

DShan · 4 months ago

I love this comment. That is all:)

Brandon Zeman · 4 months ago

Yeah, it's definitely female focused, but there's places for guys as well... cough..cough The Chicago Guys cough..cough

DShan · 4 months ago

Nice sneaky plug! I like it. Of course there's a place for us...a huge one! A big gaping hole, in fact.

DShan · 4 months ago

Cough Cough. Ahem.

Captain_Nat · 4 months ago

I think your reasons are spot on. The blogging realm is one where gender roles are a bit outdated. Majority of money making etc blogs are male dominated where as the personal sphere is running rampant with oestrogen. It is refreshing though when you are lucky enough to find one of those 1 out of 10 male personal blogs. I like them for the fact that you can get a male perspective on life.

DShan · 4 months ago

I do think that the money share is somewhat equalized by the Mommy Blogger phenomenon. There's real money in that. Tons. Too much, by my measure, although I think brands are starting to put real effort into engaging the personal bloggers because they have such strong relationships with other bloggers. I hope this continues.

wordsonmylips · 4 months ago

I'm actually ALWAYS searching for male personal bloggers to read. I think hearing things from his point of view is really interesting.

Plus, hi. A guy who doesn't judge me for writing about my life online, reading about others' lives online, and then meeting them? Sign me up!

DShan · 4 months ago

Haha...no one should judge you for that:)

TOPolk · 4 months ago

Nice post dshan.

I think it is interesting to ask where the male bloggers are at and I think your post brought most of the reasons as to why guys don't blog to the forefront. The 1st and 2nd points you made hit the nail on the head, but I think your 6th point is very relevant as well. The lack of a Boys Club makes blogging a mostly solo effort for guys. For the most part, there's no sense of togetherness or true friendship amongst guy bloggers. As a result, there's little in the way of comment exchanges, blogrolling, or anything of the sort. The women have figured out that "activity breeds activity," so their blog networks are not only tighter than ours, but larger too.

Could that be a result of the need for output/feedback as stated by FreshOats? Possibly. The girls who I know who have left blogging left because "no one was reading/leaving comments" whereas the guys I know state that they left because they didn't have anything to talk about (going back to points 1 &2).

It's interesting to watch the divide between male and female bloggers get wider and wider, especially since it's contradictory to the data that suggest it's mostly older males who participate heavily in forms of social media.

DShan · 4 months ago

Killer points...I have seen the bloggers who leave the format and I never really contemplated the slight differences in male and female reasons. Men seem to leave either because they feel their angle is exhausted or they (maybe) find some other format that fits them better. I'm sure commenting/interactivity matters, but I think you have something there.

And I'm not totally sure the divide is getting wider. I wonder, actually.

timoteosays · 4 months ago

I'm fairly new to blogging experience and I do notice that my reader is slightly inundated with female blogs. What I notice about a lot of these female blogs I read, is that they are great conversationalists. It's not they are overly personal, it's that they make great connections and aren't just stating topics. I think a lot of guys, especially on 20sb have great potential to write personably, which makes finding these blogs all the better.

DShan · 4 months ago

There are some great male writers, but I do think women have found a way to be more adept at the conversational tone that readers get engaged with.

alexa - cleveland's a plum · 4 months ago

it is bad that i started singing where have all the cowboys gone in my head?

you make a lot of very very valid points. i often think the same thing when i look at my g=reader and it's weird for me because i wish more men blogged. but hey, it's a win win situation for you.

more blog-groupies!

DShan · 4 months ago

I think a lot of people wish more men blogged...lots of women probably.

And yes, I don't hate being one of the few:)

Lollygagger · 4 months ago

My first thought is that blogging is not even on many guys radars. Heck it's not on many girls either, I guess.

But I'd have to agree with your point of guys liking topics. It reminds me of the cliche where the girl is talking about a problem to a guy and the guy offers solutions while the girl just wants an ear and is wondering why the guy is trying to solve some problem. Obviously, way overgeneralizing, but I think there's some truth to it.

DShan · 4 months ago

It's hard to have this discourse without generalizations. That's a good example, and men and women with always be different so it's not anyone's fault, per se. Maybe the medium just lends itself to one mindset more than another.

leahchristine · 4 months ago

My boyfriend is a guy (I know, right?) and he's told me before, "I'd rather just talk to someone in person."

Good enough for me.

I, on the other hand, would rather talk to people in person AND get random feedback from fellow bloggers. I hold their opinions very highly.

alidubrow · 4 months ago

Oh D, you so smart.

Translation? I agree.

DShan · 4 months ago

I was running yesterday and realized I hadn't connected with you in FOREVER. Not cool.

Phil · 4 months ago

Interestingly, I've found that my little blog world is composed of a similar ratio of men and women as my non-blog world. I suppose it's in part because I'm in two career fields that are dominated by women, and also in part because I just happen to be one of those gay men who has a whole lot of girlfriends.

That said, while I think for me it's just a reflection of my offline world, you do have a good point. In my offline friendships, I've had many a deep conversation with women and considerably fewer such conversations with men. I think what sets the two sexes apart is not so much that men are afraid of feelings, it's that we're afraid of what they may mean. And we're even more afraid of someone else figuring out what they mean before we do. But who knows, I'm just making this up as I go.

Or! Maybe it's to do with an interest in really spending a great deal of time thinking about our day to day lives! One thing I've noticed many personal bloggers (men and women alike) have in common is an uncanny ability to be in a situation and at the same time be outside ourselves, watching the whole thing and trying to figure out if there's something hilarious about it. Which, incidentally, is a reason I've heard a few of my favorite male bloggers (I'm look at you, Surviving Myself and Arjewtino) decided to throw in the proverbial blogging towel: they felt like they were too focused on finding things to blog about than to enjoy their day-to-day life. Which brings us back to where I started: some of us are able to live and enjoy and then later go back and recount. Some of us can go years on end at this, and others of us can't go on for quite that long.

And yeah, that's all I've got. Not even a solid conclusion. Rebuttal anyone?

DShan · 4 months ago

No rebuttal here. I've always been totally amazed at losing certain bloggers, Chris (Surviving Myself) being a great example. Maybe it's because I have never felt that way about this blog or one before it. You're right it takes an interest. You have to want to relay your stories. It can be a pain sometimes, I guess.

And I've always been surrounded by women (sisters, tons of female cousins, lots of close girlfriends) so I'm sure it contributes to my nature when I write. That's a great, great point.

Peter · 4 months ago

It does feel like being a waiter at a bachelorette party sometimes.

DShan · 4 months ago

Hahaha! Thanks for stopping by over here...I KEEP hearing about you from like every blogger everywhere.

What are we serving? Champagne, anyone?

doniree · 4 months ago

I never turn down champagne.

verybadcat · 4 months ago

I think it has to do with openness. Women are generally much more open to sharing with others- experiences, thoughts, feelings. We place a higher value on communication than men. So I think that a lot of men probably don't see the point in personal blogging- for the same reason why a lot of husbands tire of listening to their wives prattle on about anything and everything. Women want to know what other people think of everything. May not like what you think, may not influence me, but I want to know. I blog as therapy, as expression, as a chronicle of where I'm going, where I've been, and *why*. I could do that in a notebook, but then I wouldn't get the feedback, which is valuable to me because we cannot see ourselves objectively. Less men are compelled to chronicle their lives and also have a much lower need for feedback.

DShan · 4 months ago

The feedback is huge; it's the biggest difference between blogs and diaries. People stop blogging without feedback. Almost every time.

You're probably right that men aren't as feedback needy, although that's probably not because they don't need it. Like Phil said up there, there's some fear there too. That's not exclusive to men, of course, but I think we tend to be more internal.

facebook-15720349 · 4 months ago

I used to have a personal blog at blogger (and then a self hosted wordpress install) before I chose tumblr.

The personal blogging universe is completely dominated by women. I saw this phenomenon on livejournal where 4 out of 5 are women. It really doesn't bother me, but sometimes I would like to draw from experiences from other guys. I don't see things like "straight male support groups" or anything that groups similar bloggers together.

Unfortunately there is still a stigma for guys who share their inner feelings. Even though I share a lot about my life, there are still a few things I wish not to discuss online. I guess if you go back a few decades, it is part of our pre conceived "role" to be guarded.

DShan · 4 months ago

There are gender roles at play here, no doubt. I find tumblr really interesting, which I posted about somewhat recently, although I didn't directly say, "Men, this might be a good solution" despite having thought it.

It's funny how guys (and girls) are really interested in the guy perspective, but that's not enough to spark a rush to blog personally.

David · 4 months ago

I think you summed it up pretty well. Earlier this month this same topic came to my attention when the "20SB Featured Blogger Nomination" thread popped up. I took a quick look at the 20SB stats back then and it was something like7,000 females to roughly 900 males! So yeah, the guys are heavily outweighed when it comes to personal blogging. In fact, some might argue that we are a dying breed - almost extinct!

I used to stay away from any type of personal posting on my blog in the early years because quite frankly, I thought nobody would care to read that junk. Like you said, most guys are more interested in engaging in topical subjects rather than touchy/feely talk. Today I find a balance. I get my topical talk in with my buddies and mix some personal posts in my blog to satisfy those moments when I’m feeling a little girly and sentimental.

Expressing yourself in written words - it's a great thing.

DShan · 4 months ago

I certainly think we've lost some killer guy bloggers this year.

And I've tried to keep a balance too. I'm a guy, so I get interested in stuff that's more topical like tech and even this particular post, but you're right; writing really personal stuff can be quite rewarding sometimes.

DShan · 4 months ago

I couldn't agree more. I've always tried to give some balance to the
content here, because relationships make great stories, but my mind will
wonder to things like tech and pop culture. I know my favorite bloggers,
guys in fact, tend to do the same. Some sport, some politics, and some
killer life relations that make me partial to them as people.

DShan · 4 months ago

I couldn't agree more. I've always tried to give some balance to the
content here, because relationships make great stories, but my mind will
wonder to things like tech and pop culture. I know my favorite bloggers,
guys in fact, tend to do the same. Some sport, some politics, and some
killer life relations that make me partial to them as people.

DShan · 4 months ago

I couldn't agree more. I've always tried to give some balance to the
content here, because relationships make great stories, but my mind will
wonder to things like tech and pop culture. I know my favorite bloggers,
guys in fact, tend to do the same. Some sport, some politics, and some
killer life relations that make me partial to them as people.

courtney · 4 months ago

i read like half of these comments and then was like "whoa, other things to do with your life today, courtney!" SO i may be repeating someone here or there but i generally agree with pretty much everything you said.

i don't have anything too monumental to add, just that those of you boys who have taken to the realm of personal blogging deserve some sort of medal or something. i wrote about this some time ago, but especially the ones like you, and i know he bowed out but SO@24 comes to mind as well--the ones who very openly discuss what's going on in their heads and hearts. honestly, i grew up imagining some weird dividing line drawn between men and women, for no reason i can really discern, but you guys, you especially, kind of closed that gap for me, shined light on all of us not as men and women but has human beings.

but i guess that's just it-- men and women ARE different, and the guys that are really able to pull this personal blogging thing off, they're the special ones. my "boys" folder in my google reader has slowly grown over the past year or so, but i'd definitely still be interested to see a recommendation list, and i'm always looking for more.

DShan · 4 months ago

The rec list is on the agenda. I'm glad to hear we male bloggers shed some light on the way boys think. Hopefully we're not blowing smoke, in general.

Thanks for the compliments, too:)

courtney · 4 months ago

nah. while i've been known to misread many, many other things, i'm
generally pretty good at knowing when people are being genuinely sincere. i
wouldn't have mentioned it if i didn't believe in the words being written by
all of you.

and you're easy to compliment :)

Kelvin · 4 months ago

I don't know what else to add to this conversation because everything said is good and quite fascinating. I wouldn't want to repeat what is said soo... I will say that I am one of the few male bloggers. I blog typical away from what the other males would talk about -- tech, sports, making money, their relationships and life to some extent, etc. More so I kind of blog about whatever either just off the top of my head or planned. I have ... currently read some of the male bloggers that are out there and then some good female bloggers. I would want to say that females would jump start everything at blogging whereas males will start the blog but then it may be updated here and here and then... no more updates. And the females are most likely to keep blogging and let the readers know what's up.

DShan · 4 months ago

I'm big on 'off the top of my head'; although I know my more personal, deep posts take form in my head long before I sit down and write them.

mattstratton · 4 months ago

I'm actually really going to have to agree with your tweet that the comments on this post are truly amazing.

I think, for me, a big part of the blogging challenge has been #2 - I'm still struggling with what, exactly, the topic of my blog is. And I guess to some people that's the problem - the problem of, why the heck do I even have to decide?

I've been blogging for a long time, even if I didn't call it blogging at first (about eight years). And up until this year, my blogging has been primarily of a personal nature, which means that during times that I was single I whined a lot about girls.

Starting in 2009, however, I decided that my blog needed focus. I work in technology and it just seemed...proper to have a blog that wasn't an online diary, but one that could be used to build my professional cred. Of course, the tech stuff is fewer and further between in my blog than I would like. And I have a mish-mosh of tech info, personal updates, photography, and who the heck knows what. This probably makes me have LESS readers than if I was more focused. But then again, why am I blogging?

So what's my actual point? I guess it's that yes, I am a male blogger, and for a long time, my blogging was personal. But now I feel all growsed up and don't want to keep my kiddo blog, so I pretend to be professional and post about things that I would want my co-workers to read. Except that I usually just end up posting pictures of my dog.

DShan · 4 months ago

I struggle with this stuff too. I know the 'growsed up' feeling all too well, and I toy with how to make my particular blog relevant and meaningful and worth reading. I switched from no capitalization to proper capitalization on a whim, and I prefer it. I added titles to my posts earlier this year.

In the end, I resist the strict need to pursue one topic, and accept that it reduces my over impact as a thought leader in one space. I'm not like that, as a person, so I think I can live with it.

I always try to take the approach that I write because I want to write. About what? Not totally sure...I just want to write whatever I'm writing relatively well.

mattstratton · 4 months ago

I always try to take the approach that I write because I want to write.

Bingo. I wish I would remember this more often. Actually, I wish I would remember the driver behind my resurgence in blogging - which was really to stretch my writing muscles again.

When I was in high school and college, I wrote for the sake of writing...because it was fun. I blame things like email, discussion forums, and now social networks the decline in my writing skills, as now I only have to dash off quick little comments (like this one). I'm a better writer than that. Or at least I used to be.

DShan · 4 months ago

I remember the day I quit my first blog. I was overwhelmed trying to keep it looking right, hosted right, and "cool". I was trying to be something.

When I re-engaged with blogging, I made it priority number one to keep it simple, and just try to find a writing voice. Write for the sake of writing.

I still get all, "what IS my blog" "what IS my brand" blah blah but every time I try to ignore and just write something. Right away. And it always works.

I've linked to it LOTS, but if you haven't read this you should. It completely changed me as a blogger forever:

http://bit.ly/1g47D - Tony Pierce, How To Blog

doniree · 4 months ago

I'm with you both on this one. One of the main reasons why I blog and why I have for so long is that I can't not write.
I just can't. It's my outlet, always has been. And as I continue to sharpen my voice and chisel out my corner, I'm having a blast toying with different ways to do that.
But it always comes down to the fact that I write because I want to write.

Iva · 4 months ago

You are totally right about this. Actually, on your Twitter point, you are spot on, I did a little 'research' a few weeks ago LOL , there were some interesting facts ... men also seem to have more 'followers' on twitter :) GREAT post!

DShan · 4 months ago

Yeah, I didn't mention Twitter all that much. Twitter is pretty guy heavy...and I think because it's lighter. No real heavy composition, so there's less sharing. In fact, my money would guess that more feelings are shared on Twitter by guys just because they feel safer there.

The Maiden Metallurgist · 4 months ago

I don't have anything particular deep to say, but I thought I share two of my favorite young, male bloggers. You'll probably roll your eyes when I say the first is my husband, Josh blogs at www.bergwithfries.com and, like you said, he rarely blogs about anything really personal, but, he isn't really topical either.

I also really like Scotty Iseri, who makes a video blog called Scotty Got An Office Job and hosts on Blip. It's just about the funniest and most creative thing I've seen in a while.

DShan · 4 months ago

I love Josh's blog:) I'm glad you linked him, bc I think a follow up post is in order on this topic; name some dudes who blog.

I've never heard of Scotty, but I'm headed over to check him out right now!

Peter · 4 months ago

I read and enjoy Josh too.

ThrowingQuarters · 4 months ago

Being a male blogger, I feel I am in the minority. I looke down the blog roll and I have 3 blogs that I read written by males.

I enjoy blogging, writing, tweeting, and even podcasting but I do feel the void of intelligent male bloggers out there. Where is out blogHER....er....blogHIM convention full of free stuff? no where.

Men need to be out there.

DShan · 4 months ago

All great points! I do think some thought around male-centric events should be done. Can we build a coalition to make progress here?

cooper · 4 months ago

I read a few male authroed blogs that are personal in nature, but they are not particularly committed bloggers. I read them because they are friends. Most of the male blogs I read are pretty topic specific and I read a lot of them.

Techorati had their yearly "state of the bogesphere" last year which made it pretty clear most personal bloggers were women. I've never really given it much thought, but the comments have been interesting.

DShan · 4 months ago

I saw that Technorati thing, and I've been thinking this about personal blogging and men for quite a while. I'm starting to see more men join 20SB, which I think is a sign that it's catching on more, but the disparity is huge at this point.

doniree · 4 months ago

Wow, I just wanted to add that I really enjoyed reading this post and the subsequent discussion. Love this.

johnonline · 4 months ago

my take on this... men are not attention whores, well there are some. we are discreet with our emotions (we have, in case you dont know...hehe) and we dont want other people meddling on it... but then again, there's some.

now that you're asking why they are few male doing personal blogging, it's so precious to know that there are still some guys doing it. and there's no better way to appreciate one but to give "the most coveted Featured Blogger of the Month" award over at 20sb with the same specie... just saying..

johnonline · 4 months ago

may i ask too... who's featured for september? i read from mominreallife's tweet that you posted it somewhere... thanks.

i'm rooting for Sebastian (i can't vote for myself)... just so you know.