Unfocused Or Diverse?

Over the last couple of weeks, between the political mess and the Scientific American mess, I’ve been reading a lot of blogs written by other people. One thing that has come from this is something for me to think about.

One of the things that Mariette DiChristina of Scientific American said in her initial tweet about the DN Lee affair was that the article in question was removed because, “The post was not appropriate for this area.” In reading many other blogs from scientists, economists, political pundits, and space/rocket folks, I found that many of them are restricted to the subject matter covered by the author’s area of expertise. Finally, as more and more people have “liked” and commented on my blog and I’ve started reading their blogs in turn, I’ve seen many that have a limited subject matter.

Nothing wrong with that at all. There aren’t any rules here, after all. Every blog is the thing that its creator makes it be. I most certainly haven’t looked at even a small fraction of the blogs out there. But if what I’ve seen is typical of the whole (an assumption which can be debated in the comments below if you wish), the average blog is narrowly focused.

There are notable exceptions, obviously. The two that leap to mind immediately for me are John Scalzi’s “Whatever” and Chuck Wendig’s “Terribleminds“. Given that these are the first two blogs that I started reading on a daily basis, perhaps it’s not a coincidence that “We Love The Stars Too Fondly” also covers a diverse range of subject matter. Or maybe “WLTSTF” is just what it is because that’s what I have to write, and I was drawn to “Whatever” and “Terribleminds” because they’re similar in style to what I wanted to create. Cause and effect could be interchangeable here.

Either way, it is what it is.

I’m sure I have some folks following “We Love The Stars Too Fondly” because of the photography and they just tune out when I publish fiction or political rants. I’m sure some folks want the space and astronomy stuff and couldn’t care less when I put up travel photographs. (Adding additional permutations here is left as an exercise to the student.) The Long-Suffering Wife and my kids are stuck reading it all.

The reason that I’ve been thinking about this since reading so many science-related blogs is that I’m wondering if it’s a good thing or a bad thing to be all over the map like that. The authors of narrowly focused blogs, by nature of limiting their field of view, seem able to speak more passionately and more knowledgeably about their narrow field. On the other hand, I sometimes feel like I’m a butterfly floating from subject to subject, day to day, never really getting too deeply into anything. The classic example of “a mile wide and an inch deep”.

After thinking about it a day or two (and having the question plaguing my brain for an hour or so last night in the middle of the night) I think that I’m comfortable with that.

In my professional career I fit in best in a position and a company where there was a strong “jack of all trades” component to my daily routine. (It might be best if I can find another position with more of that.) That’s where my interests are personally and how I pursue things in the world.

My favorite music comes from all genres, from classical to rock to punk to country. My reading tends to be varied as well, although I do read proportionately more science fiction and fantasy than mysteries, classics, non-fiction, or biographies. My favorite movies come from all kinds of genres. A lightweight, modern day, Renaissance man of sorts.

“We Love The Stars Too Fondly” is an expression of my interests and passions. Upon review, the short version of “my interests and passions” equates to “a mile wide and an inch deep”.

I hope everyone reading this enjoys the ride — or at least can just ignore the things that they couldn’t care less about in order to get to the things that we share a passion for.

I and “We Love The Stars Too Fondly” are not “unfocused”.

We’re “diverse”.