Desi Blogging Cafe: Patrix from Nerve Endings Firing Away
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Patrix is an urban planning doctoral student at Texas A&M, the founder of DesiPundit and a self-confessed Shyamali Malakar fan. Patrix blogs at Nerve Endings Firing Away.
I have already written about why I love Patrix’s blog -
- Patrix has an intuitive understanding of how conversations are created on blogs, and, as I try to understand the nature of online conversations myself, I find myself looking up to him as something of a guru.
- Patrix has an innate curiosity about technology and popular culture and the ability to write from an enthusiast’s perspective, something any blogger would do well to emulate.
- Patrix is one of the most generous people I have known, online or offline, and, via DesiPundit and his own blog, he has probably done more to promote desi blogging than anybody else.
Patrix belongs to the second most widely seen species of desi bloggers, the doctoral-student-blogger (the first, of course, is the journalist-blogger) and I’m sure that you’ll meet many more bloggers from this species in the ‘Desi Blogging Cafe’ interview series.
Patrix says that he doesn’t like being in front of the camera because he isn’t photogenic. So, I took the liberty of using a picture from a ’silly photo’ tag in which he looks really cute. Don’t you think so?
Q. When and why did you start blogging? Has the reason why you blog changed over time?
A. I started blogging in June 2003. I had been reading blogs then for over six months mostly at Rediff and was intrigued by the concept. I had always wanted to write informally and indulge in opinion writing which my blog let me. I don’t suppose the reasons why I blog have changed much. Perhaps, the content and the topics I blog on might have changed but overall, I have tried maintaining the personal touch.
Q. What do you blog about? Has the focus of your blog changed over time?
A. Like I said above, I am primarily a personal bloggers and in my recent post upon completing 2000 posts on my blog, I looked at the categories I post under. The ‘Personal’ category came out on tops by a wide margin followed by my observations/ rants/ opinions on current affairs, politics, and society & culture. I admit to being a reactionary blogger but I have always been. Lately, like you have, I have been writing on how one can make your blog better.
Q. How do you think people describe your blog to others who don’t read it? How would you like them to describe it?
A. Top bloggers advice you to have a niche and focused blog but frankly, I treat my blog as a personal space for my writings which consists on my opinions, thoughts, and raves/ rants. People may describe the blog as sometimes being all over the place regarding content but I am not worried about that. It just means that I am interested in a host of issues and topics and my blog reflects that. However, I recently changed my tagline to “Crossing Borders, Crossing Cultures” (apologies to a photo contest I once participated in). I would like my blog to be a reflection of an Indian living outside the country’s borders and experiencing different cultures. Presenting my thoughts on a rapidly evolving landscape of the constantly shrinking world (ok! that was a bit too ambitious).
Q. How do you think people describe you to others who don’t know you? How would you like them to describe you?
I think I am widely perceived as overly diplomatic (at times) and guarded in my opinions but I don’t think that always applies to me and I have been blunt and forthcoming at times. Based on my writings, I hope people think of me as a balanced, rational, and intelligent individuals who is not averse to changing his views if he is offered a better argument.
Q. Is your online persona different from your real self?
A. Not really. But I would add that I am perhaps more lucid in my writings that I am in real life. I am able to lay out my thoughts and get my point across more clearly on my blog.
Q. How important is your blog to you? In what ways? Why?
A. It wasn’t intended to be, but now, it is quite an integral part of my life. I will be blogging at least in some form or the other for a long time. It has helped me meet up with really intelligent, smart and creative people. Bloggers can be a helpful bunch and you learn something new everyday either through comments on your blog or content on other blogs. Apart from serving as a ‘warehouse’ for my thoughts, opinions, and bookmarks, I have earned quite a bit from my blog and although not enough (by a long shot) to sustain on its own, it is encouraging to see that I could if I put in the effort and time. But I like to keep it as a hobby.
Q. What have you learnt from blogging?
A. I have learnt to network and voice my opinions in a better manner. I have also learnt a lot about technology and design that I would have otherwise not learnt. I wrote a longer post about this when I completed my 2000 posts.
Q. What are you highest and lowest blogging moments? Why?
A. My highest blogging moment was during the IIPM-Bloggers face-off and I think it was the first time, blogging came into its own and successfully rallied against an institution that was making false claims and bullying ordinary people who simply exposed the truth. The lowest point I think in hindsight was the entire tirade against Rohan Pinto. He obviously did a mistake and seemed genuinely apologetic but I think the blogging community could have handled it in a better manner primarily because even though everyone forgets it in time, Google doesn’t. I hope it hasn’t affected him too adversely.
I found it really interesting that Patrix has interpreted this question in this wider sense: almost like “what have been the highest and lowest moments in desi blogging?” What do you think?
Q. Which are your three favorite posts? Why?
A. I’ll not mention my most popular ones (hits-wise) – Cricket World Cup & Malakars at American Idol, so here goes (in ascending order):
- Have I changed much?
- My Olympics 2004 series.
- I haven’t written the best one yet 
Actually, Patrix has not only managed to mention all three of his highest hit posts, he has given me only one of his favorite post. Patrix, we want two more favorite posts from you!
Q.How many blogs do you read? If you were to read only one blog, which one would it be? Why?
A. I read a lot less now than when I was posting on DesiPundit but still I have around 150+ blogs (mostly desi) in my Google Reader. Just one blog? that’s difficult because I different kinds of blogs – personal, technology, political, opinions, etc. There I go being diplomatic again!
Come on, Patrix, tell us! We’ll still love you if you say it’s not Gauravonomics!
Q. If you were to think of one question I should have asked you, what would it be? What would your answer be?
A. Ah-ha! smart question. I would perhaps ask something about the future of blogging and where is it headed in the Indian context. Well, in answering that question I would say that I had expected blogging to take off but somehow it seems to have stagnated and we aren’t really seeing the explosive growth that I have seen in other countries like Japan, China or even Iran. I guess the community or social networking culture is still restricted to Orkut and YouTube and probably lack of widespread Internet access is partly to blame.
‘How to grow blogging in India?’ is a question I have been thinking about myself. It’s a mix of two questions actually: ‘how to encourage more Indians to set up blogs?’ and ‘how to encourage them to continue blogging?’. I don’t have all the answers yet, but the key to both the questions is ‘community’. You’ll hear more on this from me very soon.
Thank you, Patrix! And, yes, you are too diplomatic!
Neha Vishwanathan from ‘Within/ Without’ is next up on ‘Desi Blogging Cafe’. Do walk in tomorrow for more virtual coffee and real conversation!
Have you read these ‘Desi Blogging Cafe’ interviews with your favorite bloggers: Jai Arjun Singh, Jammy Rajan.
Kishor, 
Vi 11:47 pm on May 12, 2007 Permalink |
Curious; are you redoing all the blogs you covered in your previous series?
Gaurav 12:43 am on May 13, 2007 Permalink |
Hey Vi: The plan is to do these interviews with, let’s say, 100 desi bloggers, including the ones I have covered earlier. Does it make sense? Do let me know.
Ravages 3:20 pm on May 13, 2007 Permalink |
hmmmmm….
Vi 10:06 pm on May 13, 2007 Permalink |
It certainly makes sense.
Just a tip though: Covering a 100 Desi blogs seems to be quite a challenge, so why not count the ones you have covered previously in your other series? Your previous efforts seems to be going to waste here.
Good luck, though!
Santosh 2:22 am on May 14, 2007 Permalink |
Patrix is the man! You should’ve taken the opportunity to ask him a few questions on his impending nuptials also
Patrix 2:38 am on May 14, 2007 Permalink |
Great! After all that natak about the pictures, you go ahead and post my silliest picture
But thanks for your words. Appreciate it.