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[DaLadybugMan]

Something I'm seeing in this thread a lot is the whole "reader vs. writer" argument. Does the creator write solely for themself? Do they write solely for the reader? Neither, really. A writer of a Slenderblog can say "I write for myself," but they contradict themselves by making a blog in the first place. And a writer shouldn't write solely for their readers, as that's just not fun and turns it into a chore.

It's more about a relationship between reader and writer. It's give-and-take. Sure, I write because I have fun writing, but I also write with an audience in mind. The reader, on average, will assume that you wrote something because you wanted people to read it. And when you take those posts that people have spent time reading and have formulated ideas around, that's...kind of disrespectful on the author's part. I'd compare it to "breaking up" with your readers. It's like they've shared so many good times together, until the writer decides that, for some reason or another, they've grown tired of the relationship and delete the blog. The stronger the relationship (no matter whether it was absolute adoration or a good laugh (like in the case of No Escape From Reality or 2080)), the harder it is to be "dumped" by the author.

Oh, and for the record, I say that I consider it my "job" to know about blogs because I run a Slender Man fansite and giving people information on the Slenderverse is more or less what the site is all about.

[jarnaez]

[SickSlickMan]

Whoooooo boy. This has stirred up an interesting debate.

Now, I've used Watson's excuse before, and in a way, I do believe it. I always write a story for my own amusment, I write it out and draft before I post because I know exactly what I want to have in it. The characters are my babies, the story is my own to tell. It's all for my own enjoyment.

However, at the same time, I feel like once an audience gets involved, they must be taken into consideration. I'm not saying change your story to suit their needs, never do that. But if people read your story, and they like it, then you definitely need to think about them. Because it has not just become your journey, it's become theirs as well. They get that same connection with the characters and the plot that you do.

And also, as a writer, I just feel that it's in bad taste to erase your story. Why put all your hard work, your creativity, your blood, sweat and tears into something that you're just going to end up deleting? Especially in the case of blogs like CUT and A Lack of Lexicon, two blogs that were quite popular, just erasing everything and keeping others from enjoying their works as well. Maybe I'm just too passionate about this line of work, but to me, that's one of the greater sins a writer could commit.

So, I agree with Watson, but at the same time, I disagree. I also think that if you're going to write a blog, you should keep it up. It's your work; be proud of it, or you shouldn't have written it to begin with.

[Ryuujin Dracos]

I really don't strongly agree or disagree with anything that's been said already but I can understand what DaLadybugMan means I remember hearing cut was real funny but never got around to actually check it out and unfortunately I heard it was deleted so I never got to read it.

[elizibar]

If you're going to nuke your blog as part of the plot, you should have an out-of-game place that preserves its contents.

[SolDL]

"Writing for yourself" is keeping a diary. What bloggers are doing is, by its very nature, a public interaction, and so the story is formed via the triangular relationship between author, text and reader. Authors who say "I don't owe anything to my readers"...I'm not going to pussyfoot around it, you guys are kidding yourselves. A blog isn't truly being 'a blog' until it's observed. And once it is observed, its meaning is being constructed; not by the author, but by the interpretation of their words by the responder.

You don't call that one 14 year old girl down the road who keeps a diary of how many boys she's kissed an 'author'. You don't call the bloke writing a manuscript an 'author' if he's the only one who's seen it. When he gets it published, then you call him an author. I don't feel people who 'write for themselves' deserve that moniker. It's a self-centered, frankly narcissistic way to write, particularly when you have such a strong community that has formed around people like you. There is a certain amount of obligation there because of that; without the community, there would be no blog. There would be no Slender Man.

[Watson]

[Lewa]

I think it's impolite to delete your blog because you're actually deleting others' writings as well: the comments. Sure, most are just a few lines of silliness, but some are paragraphs on paragraphs of IC stuff.

[NoMoreGaems]

[SolDL]