I was explaining to an acquaintance about what goes into creating (my) online blog posts and articles... and her comeback was "Why bother? Who even CARES?"
Well, for starters... I care!
We were talking about the attention to detail, language and grammar checking, formatting, image choices and formatting that I go through, every time.
It wasn't a question regarding why I bother to write and keep a blog... it was a question of why I don't just "dump it out there, as is," which seems to be the approach a lot of people take, these days.
I started building web sites and posting content online back in the mid-1990s, and one of the first things I was taught was "good manners" when it comes to respecting users and their time. Back then, load times for images mattered — after all, many people were using dead slow dial-up connections. Remember those?
That early training brought forward to the current day, I do still take extra time to format photos and posts and whatever is needed so things look nice. Certainly, that sometimes means taking extra time and effort... and for a lot of people that is evidently "not worth it. "
I disagree!
I have learned — in part thanks to 28 years of selling on eBay — that "not bothering" to properly describe and format the photos you use for your sales listings simply invites a ton of wasted time, because you'll end up having to answer tons of messages with questions... thereby wasting your time, which would not be happening if you'd just dealt with those details to begin with.
Of course, minding the details is something that makes various aspects of life a little slower. And many folks simply don't have time for a life that moves slowly. Personally, I prefer it, although I do end up with that issue of "not being able to produce enough" when I insist on doing things properly.
As our conversation unfolded further, it also became clear that her orientation was purely about whether or not someone would look at her content "this time" as opposed to being impressed enough to want to bookmark the page, subscribe and come back regularly.
It reminded me that I have always had a long term building orientation, rather than an in this moment orientation.
If I am being completely honest, I am not 100% sure that the attention to details actually improves results. After all, we are all in such a tremendous hurry these days that maybe people only "scan" whatever they are reading... and my perfectionistic tendencies are only relevant to other "dinosaurs" like me, who actually take the time to read stuff!
That said, maybe I also go to all that trouble for myself, so I can sleep better at night, knowing I did the right thing; did my best!
Maybe that's a bit self-indulgent, but so be it!
Of course, paying attention to details is also something I do for me. If I'm going to put my name on something, I want to feel good about doing so. Maybe that's just ego speaking... and if that is true, then I choose to interpret it as a positive expression of ego.
And so, forward I go... and "all those tiny details" will continue to matter to me, even if they matter to nobody else!
Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful remainder of your week!
How about you? Do you pay a lot of attention to details? Or do you take a more casual approach? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!
(All text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is ORIGINAL CONTENT, created expressly for this platform — Not posted elsewhere!)
Created at 2025.06.24 23:05 PDT
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I certainly do! Even to this day, I'll put my photos into photoshop and "Save for Web"!! I wonder if the new versions of photoshop even have that option.
I'd probably label it as pride. I think it's important to take pride in everything that I do... whether that's writing a comment, a post or how I wash the dishes. I need things to be done properly and if it's not, it's my time that I'm wasting having to go back and do it again (like your eBay example). I also think that something like a blog, is your mark on history (I'm sure you've said this before) and even something that in a couple of years time, I can look back upon with fond memories and pride.
You've made me wonder how much younger than us your acquaintance is? I wonder if that attitude is generational and exemplifies the "attention culture" that's increasingly present.
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It was a friend of our daughter's; I'd put her at around 33-35ish? Something like that. Old enough to not just be "a kid," but young enough that she's never known a world without the Internet.
And yes, blogging is precisely like leaving a "window" to a life lived. And that was part of the appeal of Steemit, in the first place... the likelihood that this could truly serve as a place of "long term storage."
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