So many of those that participated in my homeschool blogger poll had some really fascinating things to say.  I started the poll because I wanted to learn more about the bloggers at HSB as a whole.  The results proved interesting, even though some of the answers were what I expected.

I’d like to do this poll again next year as I came up with new questions and ideas to get a better idea of the people here on HSB.  I haven’t decided if I will do it again the way I did it this year or if I will have it on one of those special quiz sites and have people select answers from four or five choices.  I enjoyed seeing the different things people had to say.  Most of them didn’t just simply answer the question, they gave reasons and further comments.  A poll where you have to choose out of only four answers may be enlightening to a certain degree, but I think the way I did it for this year gave me a lot more insight. 

Tonight I want to focus on questions 1. and 2.  Why did you start a blog and what did you hope to accomplish with your blog.

I think the following had to be my favorite comment of all.  It summed up my feelings totally about why I enjoy HSB and why I haven’t started another blog.  I understand why some of you have started a blog at Homestead Blogger, it isn’t limited to just homeschoolers.  When you are homesteading you can glean advice and wisdom from other homesteaders and not all homeschoolers homestead.  Still, for me, our homeschooling and “homesteading” is almost one and the same.  It is all entwined. 

I know now why I liked it (HSB) so much. It provided something that I longed for - wholeness on the web. I belonged to many forums, but those forums always wanted to limit you to the topic of the forum. At one for curriculum zzz you couldn't express your exitement about artwork qqq. At the forum for art you could gush over artwork qqq you couldn't ask questions about recipe sss. But, in a blog, you can be your whole self. It is a place where you can be all of you because it is a place representing you. No forum lets you do that. I guess in a way, when homesteader opened, I felt a little disappointed. It seemed like that same 'you talk about this here and you talk about that there' feel to me. I decided to just keep one blog and 'remain Tammy' - one whole person.

Many of the bloggers commented that they started their blogs to keep in touch with family and friends.  One blogger did this but, “I don't think any of my family members ever read it.”  I know how she feels.  I do have one very dedicated family member reading my blog but there are quite a few others who do not.  Then I have other family members and friends that I have told nothing about my blogging. 

I found the idea of blogging as a way of spending time on the computer wisely, interesting.  I know that for me I would wander about the internet like a stray cat.  Stopping at this site for food, this site to nap, and other sites to leave my scent or start a cat fight.  I was trying desperately to find a website that had something to offer me on a regular basis.  I have many favorite websites that I frequent, but they don’t post anything new, sometimes for months at a time.  On other websites I had to wade through the garbage to find one good item to read and share.  I have found a home at HSB, I am fed regularly, someone usually scratches me behind the ears with comments, and everything is nice and warm.  When I start a fight I am usually forgiven pretty quickly. 

What was truly amazing about the comments about blogging here on HSB is that the majority of the bloggers started a blog for themselves, to journal, and to communicate with known friends.  Once they started though, they have found themselves making “friends” and encouraging others.  HSB is a community, we all know that, but I don’t think those that started had any idea they would become so involved within the community.  I know I didn’t.