Yes, as the title of this post implies, I am going to take another hiatus from my blog effective immediately.
Why? Well, I’ve been having quite a bit of internal debate recently as to whether or not to retire my blog. I just haven’t felt very inspired to write much recently, and it seems my political-themed posts have gone over like a lead balloon. As I mentioned at the beginning of the year, I have been refocusing my priorities to concentrate on areas of self-growth and self-improvement that I’ve been neglecting. Right now blogging just isn’t high on that list. The weather here in Arizona is absolutely gorgeous right now, and I want to take full advantage of that before the hot summer arrives.
Given all that, I would be inclined to quit blogging altogether save for two things: I’d miss the friendships I’ve made through my blog, and believe it or not, I still think I might have something worthwhile to say again: something political, something heartwarming, something thought-provoking, and yes Craig, perhaps even something funny.
Going on a second hiatus is pretty risky as last time I did it my blog readership dropped by at least half and never fully recovered. That may be the case this time as well, but shutting my blog down completely would lose all my readers. I’m afraid I’d come to regret the decision down the road.
I also lost a lot of readers when I shifted to writing more about current affairs and politics. I’ve even received complaints via e-mail about it. I guess this is the way I see it:
Imagine that I am walking down the street, and I see a building on fire. Very few other people notice or are aware the building is on fire and that people could be getting hurt by it. I try to alert other people to the situation so that they can help do something about it, but instead they say to me, “Ya know Scott, I used to like you better when you didn’t talk about burning buildings so much. Can’t you be funny again?” Of course, after the fact these same people will be the ones asking when the building burned down and why nobody did anything about it.
That’s not to say that I’m going to be so politically/activist-minded when I come back as I have been, but I do see it as my responsibility to use my blog as an opportunity to help people see the world that they live in. My blog is just a small drop in the ocean, but together we can make a difference. Take the recent provision providing retroactive immunity to telecommunications providers who helped the Bush Administration conduct illegal wiretapping prior to 9/11. Thanks in part to the roar on the blogosphere, the Democrats in the House stood firm and kept the provision from being included in the larger security bill that was passed.
When I come back from hiatus, I’ll still provide information on subjects like that, but I hope to write more about my own life and experiences. God knows that’s material ripe for picking.
As I said, I won’t be gone long; look for me again sometime in May. The easiest way to know when I return is to subscribe to my blog’s feed via e-mail or a feed reader like Bloglines or Google Reader. You can always unsubscribe as soon as you get notification that I’m blogging again.
Thank you so much for being a reader. It means a lot to me. See you soon!
P.S. I’ll continue to update my status on Jaiku in the sidebar. If you want an invitation to join Jaiku yourself, e-mail me.
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Scott, you and I (and some others) have been at this for close to four years now. If you want to take a break, take it.. and take as long as you want. I’ve come to realize throughout my many hiatuses (some longer than others) that the people you care about most will still be there when you return. Others may drift away, but new ones will take their place.
Plus I think a wise blogger once told me that if you start writing for other people, you’re doing a disservice to yourself. I wonder who that was… hmm…
RcktMan’s last blog post..Fire + RcktMan don’t mix
Scott;
It has been my experience (limited as it may be) that in posting, the writer has to have the motivation and not feel that it is a requirement.
One should post when when the moment and subject is part of you; the desire, elan and conviction.
You are part of my limited Google Reader list. So you will be there for me to read when the time and feeling are right for you.
Kick back, savor life and best wishes.
Crail
Crail’s last blog post..Obesity and smoking
I miss you already! We’ll all be waiting here anxiously for your return!
Craig’s last blog post..Happy Easter!
Scotty-boy, it sounds to me like you are reading too much into your blog’s statistics. Ok, so maybe your readership has dropped by half, but does that make you “more NYT” and less “National Enquirer”? I don’t know about anyone else, but I started paying attention when you started with the current political bent. Did your comments go up?
I hope you decide not to give it up altogether. You are one of the few blogs in my Google Reader.
Scott - I think this is my first time posting a comment to your page but for a few months before you last “leave” I was reading your blog daily. As a 24 yr old in MT who is coming to terms with coming out (grew up in a very close, and closed minded family) your page has always been a great “breath of fresh air” I wish you all the very best, and look forward to your future postings.
This just means I will have to intensify my attacks via Facebook. You’re not getting away from me that easily. Sorry I haven’t been Twittering, I just have no idea how to do it. Keep in touch, boy-o.
David’s last blog post..Why Can’t My Life Be Like This?
@David: that’s the key, I think: harass him into submission. We should co-ordinate our attacks to achieve maximum impact.
@Scott: you’re on Twitter…?
Personally, I was a fan of the political stuff (as you know) and I’ll miss it — you got me thinking instead of just sticking my head in the sand like I typically do.
Keep in touch with your token straight guy.
Until Scott get back here, Craig, I guess I’m all yours.
Speaking on behalf of all of your readers in Texas - well, BOTH of us - I would like to extend my best wishes for your hiatus and know that there are two Big Mo’s in Tyler that are going to miss hearing about your life. Enjoy the time off and we’ll see ya when we see ya - I suppose that I’ll have to read FARB now with my morning coffee. Oh well.
J
Scott,
Take the time off. . .I completely understand.
Ya know, we might not see eye-to-eye on certain things, but I do respect your opinion and I do look forward to what you have to say.
And, hey! It’s your blog. . .it’s not like you hold a gun to all of us and force us to read. You should have the right to talk about whatever you want.
(’course, there are some gay bloggers who NEVER say anything politcal. . .like that puntabulous guy who still lives with Mom and Dad, but that’s neither here nor there
).
We’ll see ya when ya get back!
Tom
Scott:
Whatever you do enjoy.
Crail’s last blog post..Obesity and smoking
I like you funny. I like you political. I like you personal. I like you after a nice break. Have fun…see you when you get back.
Cyrus’s last blog post..Acid House Flashback
Whatever you decide to do, you should do because it makes you happy. If I went by stats, I wouldn’t blog at all!
DaDuck’s last blog post..WWOMGD?
Have fun on your vacation Scott! Arizona is definitly beautiful at t his time of year! I for one enjoyed your blog before, during and after the political stuff…in fact it was the politics that brought me back
So blog away about anything y ou see fit, and when you get back we will love you more than ever!
scott (and lil’ buckaroo too):
by all means, enjoy the nice weather and your hiatus.
we will be here when you return.
but NEVER NEVER stop speaking out about the injustices in this country. silence = compliance, silence = death. the people that want you to shut up are the same ones that have their heads buried up their ass or someone else’s. ignorance is so pervasive in this country it makes me wanna hurl! I can’t wait to vote on 4/22; PA is actually going to matter this time in a primary (we haven’t mattered since 1976!).
can’t wait to hear about your adventures when you return!
hey scott,
take the time you need. while everyone may not understand, some of us will. i’ll look forward to your return!
-michael
Cyrus, you remind me that I’ll not only miss Scott’s political insights, but yours as well.
dave491’s last blog post..Life on the C-bus has moved to http://lifeonthecbus.com
stinko
i was sad to hear this
but i understand if this hobby/past time is not providing fulfillment then it doesn’t make sense to keep doing it
still, I hope you go on only another temporary hiatus until you get some energy back
I for one will wait.
urspo’s last blog post..Mr. Bigg’s MEME of Music
Take the time if you need it, Scott. Get away from the glowing screen and recharge your thoughts and rekindle your passions. Then come back and continue to give the right wing lunatics hell. In the meantime, we’ll miss you.
I can relate at times. Funny when I went on a 2 month hiatus my readers dropped like flies too and I never got them all back I don’t think. Not that I am a number counter, but it is nice to know someone is looking on…
Take a break but come back when you feel you want to. I have bloglines so I know when you write again.
Take care and make sure to put on the sunblock! Its HOT already!!!!! ha ha
Jimmi
Jimmi’s last blog post..MQM - Que Sera, Sera Whatever Will Be, Will Be…
As a British reader, I rely on you and bloggers in America for the truth about American politics. For instance, on the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq all we got out of your government was a speech telling us what a great success the war has been!
Enjoy your break… I look forward to your return when you are ready.
Hi, Scott,
I am a silent reader of your blog (with a name like Scott, how can you go wrong?) and I just wanted to unsilence myself and tell you that I have enjoyed your blog for quite some time. I hope that you will benefit from your hiatus and come back refreshed.
Enjoying you always,
Scot (what a nice name!)
I’ll miss you, but I completely understand that the inspiration to blog isn’t always there and a break can be good a thing. As for the political posts, I’ve always enjoyed yours and have admired your intelligent and open-minded approach to the subject. But politics can be a touchy subject for some particularly in our media saturated society. Anyway–enjoy your break and I look forward to you coming back refreshed and full of new insights and posts.
Mike’s last blog post..Quadruplet Meme
Gee, Scott … Being a newcomer to your site I hope it wasn’t something I said that drove you into another hiatus!
OK, let me deflate my self-importance for a moment and wish you and yours much fun, peace, and tranquility as you take some well deserved time to devote to yourself and those closest to you (what a lucky Buckaroo!).
I look forward to your return, whenever the spirit so moves you.
Scott: I, for one, liked your political blog posts.
Take the hiatus and come back stronger than ever. Those who matter will stick around and probably already have you in the RSS feeds they use.
Have a good spring!
Paul
I think its always good to get your priority’s in order. I have never posted any comments before, just not sure why i have not but after reading this i felt i should. I hope that you find the balance that your looking for, i hope that things work out. I will miss reading your blog but i will keep an eye out for any return that will be made. Sometimes you out grow something or its time for something to be done in your life. I don’t know if blogging is one of them for you but i want you to consider this. Perhaps its not about who reads your blog but more about the effort on your part to do the right thing and have your voice heard. I have said many times “Sometimes it takes one voice to be heard above the rest.”
Yours truly
James
Well, Scott- I’m sorry you’re going on hiatus, as I just found your blog through the emails back and forth about going to meet Bossy on Saturday. I’m still hoping to be able to get away long enough to come over and meet everyone. However, I do understand about burning out on writing, and also, since I live in Glendale - I know how beautiful it is these days, and it does seem a shame to let it happen outside your window while you’re hunched over your computer in a darkened room! Hope to meet you Saturday, but if not, maybe we can get together for lunch or coffee sometime.
Hey, Scott (if that is in fact your name!) I have been lurking and laughing my behinney off at some of your entries (the one that sticks out to me is the one where you gave us insight on the wild, happening, erotic debauchery that is Saturday night in the life of today’s gay man….Involved cleaning and falling asleep in front of the tv as I remember…LOL!)
I would hate to see you shut down your site. If it is a burden then take a break…I will still stop by and check on you.
Thanks for all you have done.
Jess