The wonderful New York Times had a recent article about how Writers Blog Til They Drop.  Highlighting the deaths of two prominent technology bloggers, the article focuses on the stresses imposed on those we consider ProBloggers.

Of course, I find this pretty ironic considering the number of people who say that blogging has lead them to lead better lives, specifically when it comes to its therapeutic power for the soul.  Of course that’s generally not something that comes off the keyboard of Mike Arrington from TechCrunch, or Darren Rowse from ProBlogger.  Yet that sort of thing is something that we find in the world of personal bloggers, which sadly the New York Times blissfully ignores.  It is of course their arrogance in such matters that is what has propelled news blogs to their popular levels today.

Still, their portrayal of the life of a ProBlogger is by all accounts pretty accurate.  Constantly on the lookout for new information, scooping competing sites, being paid by post, and working the majority of your waking hours while being “connected” doesn’t always make it into the stories about financially successful bloggers.  Niche marketing and demand has alot to do with stuff like that as well, and of course the absolute flood of tech blogs is because what they are blogging about is an area that ANYONE who would read them would have to have a clue about.  When was the last time a non-tech savvy person read a blog, let alone turn on a computer?  Right, the odds and chances of that happening are pretty slim to none unless a tech savvy person does indeed step in there and possibly sets up an autopilot.

Since I have an inquiring mind… and inquiring minds want to know… is blogging actually the cause of these stresses or is it trying to make money from blogging that brings on the stress?  Do you think blogging has been good for your health or has it made it worse?

UPDATE- I just found this video that I think proves just how stressful it could be as a ProBlogger… and the things some people will obviously need to endure.

I’m all about the Gopher.