Back in 2006 when I started this blog, the iPhone didn’t exist, there was pretty much no facebook, and Tweeting was still something only birds did. The cool people talked about their Myspace and platforms like Xanga and Blogger.com were hives of textual activity. People weren’t afraid of reading the ramblings of strangers from the internet, the idea of ‘texting’ someone just sounded strange. Now, nearly ten years later everything has changed.
Today nobody reads blogs posts much anymore. Instead they “Like” things they see on facebook, a platform that turned blogging into posting in the same way fish are turned into fish fingers. Easy to produce, easy to consume, and easy to forget.
Of course, I can’t very well complain that nobody takes the time to read my blog when I have clearly all but abandoned this place, despite my good intentions. Trust me, there have been many times when I have sat here, a ‘blank page’ before me, wondering what to write in the same way you might wonder what to say to that person you should have called so long ago.
So I’m just going to say “Hello Stranger,” and pretty much leave it at that. If you’re out there maybe you’d like to say hello back?
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 7:04 am
Gordon’s Alive! :oD
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 7:21 am
Dear Simon,
I had noticed that you have not posted your thoughts on the people you have been meeting, or on the places in which you have met them, for quite a while.
I enjoyed your comments enormously. It also gave me a view into another person’s experiences, and many of the things you did were extraordinary, fun and very very interesting.
So, I was hoping that you would blow the dust off your curiosity, fluff up your empathy, and tell us all about the individuals you have been meeting. I would indeed be interested to hear what you have to say!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 7:57 am
Helllllllooooooo! Good to see a post from you! Keep it up PLEASE – you’re my answer to lack of travel myself!!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 7:58 am
Couldn’t agree more :-)
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 7:59 am
Good to hear from you again. Start blogging again though, we like to read. Which blogs do you read btw?
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 8:35 am
Nice to see a beforeiforget post in my inbox this morning Simon. So yeah, Hello!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 8:42 am
Hi stranger…..
Hope your ok mate, long time no hear! Where are you up to these days?
Speak soon hopefully,
Jp
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 9:11 am
You write so eloquently Simon. I’ve missed reading you and seeing your beautiful pictures. So are you on facebook now, or still a hater? ;-)
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 9:13 am
good to hear from you stranger where and what have you been doing???? regards jon penn wirral england
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 10:48 am
Hello Non-stranger Simon,
I am here reading your blog. Keep doing it!! Love your story and the humanity mentioned in them! Congratulation on 10 years continuous effort! Hope to read more of them!
Warmest regards from Tokyo!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 3:46 pm
Facebook hasn’t erased blogs, but it’s a good idea to post a picture there when you write something new fo people who don’t subscribe. I know I still read a blog or two. I have to admit that I like mor pictures these days then I did ten years ago, but that shouldn’t be a problem for you!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 1, 2015 at 9:34 pm
Hello from LV land!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 2, 2015 at 4:37 am
Where in the world are you Simon?
Wrote the following comment on Dec 2, 2015 at 11:44 am
Hi, Simon! Just yesterday I linked to a photo from your 366 Days site — will let you know when the article is up on The Plus Ones.
It’s great having you back and blogging. Keep it up! :)
Wrote the following comment on Dec 3, 2015 at 1:00 am
Wow, look at that. 13 people commented. And I thought nobody would. That’s a nice feeling, thanks everyone.
OK, so let me see, I’ll answer all your questions here as a few of you asked more or less the same thing.
So yes, I am alive! Right now I am in Paris. But it’s not a long term thing. I’ll be heading back to the sunny side of the world pretty soon.
Yes I was here when the attacks happened. In fact I was in that area the whole day, but fortunately decided to get some Thai food that night, rather than stay in the area as I had originally planned. It’s weird now to come to my favorite cafe passing cafes that still bear the bullet holes and the Bataclan theatre.
I didn’t stop blogging because I wasn’t doing anything interesting. In fact the opposite is true. This year was another year of travel and experiences. I just got out of the habit and was busy trying to get some other things done. But lets see, some highlights of this year would be returning to India and staying up in the foothills of the Himalayas. Spinning through Kula Lumpur and Tokyo on my way to the States. Then railroading across the United States and Going on Patrol with the cops in California then seeing a race relation issue unfold before my eyes. And probably my highlight of the year was staying with an Amish family in a Amish community in rural Indiana. That was truly amazing, and if time allows I’ll write about it.
@ Paula – I know Facebook hasn’t entirely erased blogs, but its fair to say that it killed communities like Xanga, myspace and blogger.com. Few people had blogs than now have a facebook, or course. But its sad to me that many of those old personal blogs have simply been left for dead in favor of the more sugary hit of a quick update on facebook.
Anyway, thank you to everyone who commented. It’s really nice to know you’re all still out there connected somehow to my blog.
I’m going to announce something very soon about 2016 which some of you might like. So I guess you’ll hear about that in the same way you heard about this post.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. As much as I write all this stuff for fun, and ‘before I forget,’ it is still really nice to see comments from people who read/looked at what I posted. Keep them coming, and I’ll keep posting :-)
Wrote the following comment on Dec 8, 2015 at 7:50 pm
make that 14!!!!
great to see another blog, it reminds me of your year in pics and looking forward to starting the working day by reading your latest adventure!
Since then I’ve changed jobs and therefore email address but I’m subscribing again in anticipation!
keep living your dream… and sharing it with us!!!
Wrote the following comment on Dec 10, 2015 at 12:09 pm
Good to see you Phil.
@ Simon – Sorry mate, I overlooked your question about what blogs I follow. So to be honest, I don’t read a whole load of blogs these days. A couple of photography ones from Melbourne, another one called Broadsheet (also from Melbourne) and then just personal offerings from friends who, like so many blogs these days, have left their blogs collecting dust more often than not.
I’m more a podcast junkie. I listen to LOADS of podcasts! So many in fact, that I decided to start my own next year!