Blogger Therapy

Recently, in my English composition class, we discussed the cause-effect rhetorical mode. As always, I have the students read at least two examples of the rhetorical mode that we are studying from the Longman Reader, and over the next few class days, we discuss them. One of the readings for cause-effect was Stephen King’s “Why We Crave Horror Movies.” In his article, King proposes that each of us has a bit of insanity lurking inside and that we watch horror movies to pacify this emotion. By watching others being mutilated, murdered, bludgeoned to death, or frightened out of their wits, we vicariously satisfy those same emotions within us; we purge ourselves of those emotions and can live our daily lives. Hmm, so horror movies can be a kind of therapy, at least, for Stephen King they are.

I also thought of Greek tragedy as a kind of therapy. I’m sure that in watching these magnificent scenes of the protagonists’ downfalls, a sobbing viewer turns to his or her right and sees that person crying too. In a gesture of friendship, the former offers the latter a handkerchief, which the latter gladly accepts. An exchange has occurred. Both reveal a side of themselves to the other, and both are purged of their emotions. As a result, sense of community has been established.

So how do these two ideas relate to blogging?

Well, blogging is its own kind of therapy.

In a typical diary or private journal, the writer is writing only to himself. He does not intend for it (his private thoughts, fears, desires, emotions, etc.) to be read by an audience. He merely writes down his emotions for himself to read. However, this act of writing to the self is not a complete purgation. It is not a complete purgation because the actor is the recipient of the action; the subject is also the direct object. There has been no displacement of emotion to an outside source, no sympathy or reaction from another entity, from another human. Therefore, no complete purgation occurs.

In a blog, the writer has an audience. She no longer writes to herself, but she writes to someone. Exactly who that someone is the writer may not necessarily know. Nor does she need to know. The mere fact that someone “out there” maybe reading these emotions and sympathizing or even empathizing with them is release enough for the writer. In fact, because the medium can support many followers to a single blog, the writer reaches a larger audience. In having a larger audience, the writer will, more than likely, have a greater number of sy/empathizers, people who can relate to the writer’s emotions and postings. The writer, having an actual audience to “vent” to, can feel relief that she is not alone, and the larger the audience, the more complete the purgation.

I’ll say a few more words on audience before I go.

In addition to serving as the recipient of the writer’s venting or as the direct object of the action, the audience also establishes a support group for the writer by posting comments and offering suggestions or words of comfort and humor. This communication between blogger and follower builds a relationship, and through these relationships, a community is built. A community where one human has been connected to another on levels that only they will understand.