Blogging

Let me start off by saying that I'm completely new to this world of blogging, and I have to admit I'm rather cynical. Cynical in: my ability to be able to write something that is both interesting and coherent enough for anybody to willingly want to read; cynical in my ability to keep blogging for anything more than one week (previous attempts at keeping anything resembling a diary have been abject failures); and cynical that I've just used the ':' and ';' punctuation marks correctly. At least my boss (who I'll refer to as Mr Burns due to an astonishing physical resemblence) isn't here to read this and make another withering comment about my incorrect use of the English language.

I like to think that I'm actually OK at the English language. Actually not just OK, which I think sounds distinctly mediocre, but almost good. I'm a Chartered Accountant and the holder of three degrees from the University of Cambridge (OK I did blag one for free six years after I matriculated for successfully still being of good repute...). These qualifications give me the dubious priviledge of being able to use the letters MA(cantab),CA, MSci, BA(Hons) after my name. In gaining these qualifications I estimate that I've written in excess of 50,000 formally assessed words in the form of theses, scientific papers and accounting exams. In my day job I estimate that I reguarly churn out in excess of 7,500 words a week. Yes I write a lot.

I think that part of my problem with Mr Burns is generational. Mr Burns is approaching retirement, and I suspect benefitted from a traditional education which included being well schooled in the classics. I'm from the generation where they decided that teaching grammer in schools was definately not chic. I strongly suspect that Mr Burns would choke on his morning cereal if he ever read a sentence starting with the words And or Because. Saying that I saw fine examples of such sentences in The Times this weekend, which did make my toast stick in my throat a bit...

My point is that the English language continues to evolve - people break the rules (either to make a point or because the rule was pointless anyway) and the broken rule then becomes the norm. Who ever understood the use of the possessive apostrophe anyway? English has evolved to be almost unrecognisable from the language which was used in the Middle Ages and is continuing to do so. I suspect that in another 100 years the English in use will be considerably different than that used today, with the death of the vowel following the evolution of txt spk and continued technological advances. Compare words commonly in use today - text, internet, email, wikipedia with those in use less than 50 years ago.

Oh dear, I seemed to have already digressed from my point of my cynicism of my ability to blog (hmm does blogg have one 'g' or two...) to an unintentional rant on the English language. I think I went on a course at work once where they tried to teach me a theory relating to cynicism (one of the many pointless courses I've been on which are designed to mold and sculpt me to a leader of the future. In reality these courses are just an excuse to stay in a hotel for a couple of nights and drink copious amounts of beer whilst sharing gripes about (a) how much you hate the course, (b) how much you hate your job and (c) how you'd much rather be at home at 21.00 hours rather than trying to exert your newly discovered influencing skills making small talk with some random person whilst passing the sugar bowl).

I seem to recall that the theory went something like this: in order to achieve a success you have to travel along a path, and the route that path takes is often similar. You start on a high with the concept (my blog), before starting on a gradual decline as the initial enthusiasm wears off and the reality sets in (you mean I have to write in this thing every day?!). You enter the pit of depair as you wish you'd never set off on your journey in the first place (I wish I'd never started that bloody blog...). After that you set off on the path to recovery (well I guess this blogging thing isn't so bad after all)... before the euphoria of reaching your goal (wow - I have a blog that's fun and interesting and I like writing!).

Regarding my blog I think I've moved rapidly from concept into gradual decline. We shall see whether I make it through the pit of despair and onto the path to recovery and eventual euphoria and whether my cynacism evaporates at some point on the journey.

It would seem that I did learn something from one of those pointless courses after all and that my cynicism of them has been proven unfounded. I'm sure my employer would be proud that the thousands that they have invested in my are now coming to bear fruit in the form of a blog. I'm sure it's just a matter of time until the same happens in my day job... or am I being cynical again already? Or do I mean sarcastic?

I'm not too sure what form this blog will take in the future - my intention is that it will be in some way related to World of Warcraft. However I consider it very likely that other things will creep in, like my rant today.

That is of course if I ever write in this bloody blog again...