Six months ago, I wouldn’t have known what anyone was talking about if they mentioned the word “blog.” Now, I think it’s so steeped in our culture that even 10-year-old kids are talking about their blogs on the swing set at recess.

A blog, for the few of you who don’t know, is a term short for “Web log.” It’s an online diary of sorts that you can show off to the public. Again, the first time I started hearing this term, I thought all blogs were the same — a bunch of mopey goth teens who couldn’t talk to anyone in reality. I thought they had retreated to the Web so they could share their “deep” thoughts about black candles and eyeliner with each other.

Oh, how I was mistaken.

I have, in the last few weeks, found a plethora of depressing, poorly written blogs fitting the stereotype listed above. But aside from those, there are some well-written, articulate blogs that have left me crying on the floor from laughter or empathy.

Still, even as I read some of these — a humorous and fake Quentin Tarantino blog, Jeff Jarvis’ investigative pieces — there was something unnerving about the whole experience. Growing up, I had a diary I wrote in every now and then. I know blogs are supposed to be the 21st century alternative to the old loose-leaf paper, but there’s a distinct difference — diaries are usually kept private.

I guess I’m a pretty introverted guy when it comes to writing down my thoughts. Heck, I thought since so many people did the same thing, people liked to keep some things to themselves.

Again, I was mistaken.

It’s terrifying to read some girl’s blog about her deepest thoughts on LiveJournal.com. She’s exposing all to the world, only to be ridiculed by people like me who have nothing better to do. Still, due to the exponential growth in blog popularity, I can only hope she finds the process therapeutic.

And she’s not the only one. I’m sure the number of people with blogs is growing too fast to count, but I can already make broad assumptions — like there are far too many people with far too much time on their hands.

After seeing all these thoughts and feelings put into the digital domain, I made a promise to myself — I would never, ever do something like that. Of course, then I realized what I was doing.

Am I collecting my thoughts for the public? Writing things down on a normal basis for all to see? Isn’t this column put on the Daily’s Web site?

Oh my God! I’m already a blogger!

Suddenly, all my thoughts turned. I had made gross assumptions about bloggers that were mostly unfounded and insulting. I didn’t even realize the irony of my ranting until I read some blogs.

My feelings changed, and now I feel better. I checked over some more blogs and found I appreciated them more than before. Sure, quite a few were still written poorly, and some just shouldn’t have access to the Internet, but many of them aren’t necessarily for the reader — posting one’s feelings all over the Internet must surely help a few people deal with the conflict and problems in their own lives.

I don’t think I’ll be starting my own full-fledged blog on Blogger.com anytime soon. I also think I’m ready to avoid reading any more blogs from goth teenagers, but now at least I can smile when I hear everyone complaining about those stupid things.