Thanks for commenting. Sounds like blogging fits right into your personal life really well. That's great. For me I usually feel like I have to try and restrict my blogging and commenting (I'm trying to do more of this now) to times when there's nothing else happening here at home, so I feel I can dip into my online life without impinging on my real life.

Mind you, right now Patricia and I are sitting side by side on the sofa - me using my work laptop to write this - she with our old Dell laptop, reading her email and listening to an Ingrid Michaelson song ("Breakable") I sent her. It's a very 21st century scene!

When you sent this post on Twitter I read it right then and have been thinking about it off and on for a few days. I usually refrain from commenting on blogs during work hours because, as you say, it's my employer's time. This may explain why professional-focused blogs (that is, with themes relating to our day jobs) don't receive a ton of comments. In contrast, posts on my wife's blog (http://whataboutmomblog.com) receive a ton of comments from readers. Partly it's the mommy blogger culture, but also, one doesn't feel any guilt commenting on a blog post while at home (except if you're ignoring your kids while doing it).

The problem with blogging and work is that, if your blog has a work-related focus, with a partial purpose of professional development, it's not entirely disconnected with work. I view my blog as a means of professional development, to some extent. I don't sit there writing posts instead of documentation, but I will check email if I receive a comment notification, and if it's urgent-sounding, I may respond to a comment. Or I may use part of my lunch hour to blog, or will make a quick edit if I suddenly notice something wrong in a blog post. But for the most part, I try to leave my blog alone at work.

Many writers participate on listservs such as techwr-l, HATT, or others, and the purpose is about the same.

At home, my wife and I have sort of developed a co-hobby of blogging. She and I like to do this together, and it's fun. If every time I sat down to write a blog post she snapped at me, I wouldn't blog so much. But I also see value in the time she spends online as well. It's an activity we mutually support.

Thanks again for the thought-provoking post. Also, thanks for listing me on your tech writer blogs page.