WAS VAN GOGH THE FIRST BLOGGER?

WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF A PERSONAL BLOG WHEN THE INTERNET IS ALMOST AN INFINITE RECORD OF ALL THINGS THAT IS UPDATED WITH EACH BREATH OF HUMANITY?

THERE IS ONE SIMPLE AND REALISTIC ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION: A PERSONAL BLOG IDENTIFIES THE BLOGGER AS ONE OF MANY RIVETS DRIVEN INTO PLANET EARTH TO KEEP THE BLOGGER FROM BEING NEUTRALIZED AND BURIED IN OBSCURITY.

ISN'T MAINTAINING A PERSONAL BLOG AN EXERCISE IN FRUSTRATION IF PUBLICITY OR PUBLIC PRAISE IS THE BLOGGER'S ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE?

YES, IN MANY RESPECTS IT IS ALMOST AN ACT OF SELF-DESTRUCTION, BUT THEREIN IS THE BEAUTY OF THE HUMAN RACE--HOPE. THAT HOPE SERVES TO VALIDATE OUR INDIVIDUAL WORTH; IT IS A KIND OF PERSONAL GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL, IN THE END, DEFY MORTALITY IN MUCH THE SAME WAY VAN GOGH HAS REMAINED ALIVE LONG AFTER HIS BODY WAS BURIED. THAT WAS NOT, IN MY OPINION, VAN GOGH'S PURPOSE. HIS ART WAS A PASSION THAT LONGED TO TRANSCEND THE PAIN AND SUFFERING HIS VERY PRESENCE CAUSED HIM TO SUFFER. HIS ART WAS HIS VEHICLE FOR DEPARTURE.

THANKFULLY, VINCENT VAN GOGH LEFT HIS REMINDERS OF HIS MORTAL PRESENCE ON THE CORNERS OF EVERY MAIN INTERSECTION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.