What are YOU doing here?

The -Ookies at IPB have posted a questionnaire regarding blogging and have requested responses. What's yours? Feel free to post and link back to them. I thought this a timely topic as I am in the midst of declaring, " 'The time has come,' the walrus said," and finding a picture of a cheesy gold Flames watch (catch my drift?). We'll see if this helps the decision making process.

1. What was your motivation for starting blogging? Has that changed at all in the time you’ve been blogging?

I needed an outlet for my newfound Flames obsession when I first started ye olde d(d). It was at a time when I was home a lot and didn’t have much else to do except surf the ‘net all day, every day. I also felt I had a place in the new side of blogging - female hockey fans having a voice. When I started, the only other blogs written by women that I could find were Jordi’s Girls Don’t Love Hockey, Heather C.’s so.very.obsessed and the girls at Hot Oil. There weren’t many Flames blogs either so I had double d(uty) *snicker* going on.

My motivation has changed. I’ve been through ups and downs with the blog from posting many times a day to barely getting a post out every few weeks. I’ve been having such a hard time lately that I’ve been thinking of retiring the blog. But we’ll see.

2. What do you think your blog contributes to the hockey conversation?

I think at it’s heyday it offered a hilarious look at one fangirl’s obsession with her team - the ups and downs of me believing what I did had a direct impact on the team (pizza, anyone?) and the mis-adventures of the HGcopter.

3. What do you want to get out of the blogs you read?

I want to be amused while catching up on other teams around the league. I enjoy well-written posts with a good dose of humour thrown in.

4. What determines which blogs you read and which you don’t?

I would say that I’ve stuck with the blogs I started reading when I first started like the ones by CapsChick (AVftCS), Sherry (Scarlett Ice) and Margee (SportSquee). Then HLOG was born and that is still a daily read. I enjoy the blogs written by the girls because over time I’ve found they have the same oddball sense of humour that I have. I used to read quite a few others but times have changed and I have less time so I cut it down (sorry boys).

5. How important is the issue of gaining press access to you as a blogger?

Well... I can see for someone who is in the town of their team and could control themselves in a professional manner, I say YAY! Go for it! I thoroughly enjoy CC’s accounts of her trips to the Caps games in a professional capacity. I know for myself that I would be a melted mess of HG on the floor, unable to form a coherent question because I would be so excited!

6. To what extent do you feel accountable for the content of your blog?

Of course I’m accountable for what is on my blog. Like Katebits, I’m goofy and like Amy, the starting point is usually something from MSM. I do fear the evil PB label so I try to make it all very obviously tongue-in-cheek. See: Fangirl vs. PB SuperPost.

7. How concerned are you about the authority and accountability of the blogs you read? Do you find it difficult to judge the authority and accountability of the blogs you read?

After being in this crazy blogosphere for over a year now, I think I can tell after a few posts what’s legit or not. It’s true that the community will call BS on anyone who thinks they are above everything. I’d like to think of myself as a well-informed fan so if something sounds fishy, I am pretty sure I’d be able to tell.

8. What value, if any, do you think blogging brings to the NHL?

I think it’s brought fans together from all over the world. I’m grateful for that as I got to meet and hang out with Jordi, Sherry, Leanne (open.ice.hits), Steph, Elly... CC has been with me through a lot lately and watch out world the day we are in the same room. The lovely ladies here at IPB have been there too.

I think it’s also bringing a new voice to the NHL. Using HNIC’s recent feature as an example, more people in the league are becoming aware that there is a movement afoot that’s watching them closely and ready to praise or scold at a moment’s notice.