I am 56. Sometimes it feels like 57. Too old to blog, some may say. Others may suggest I’m too old to do anything but blog. There is no shortage of critics in cyberspace.
But maybe there’s a third possibility. Last night, while I was waiting for the cup of warm Milo to take effect, an apparition emerged from the spare USB port in my laptop – a Steve Jobs like figure with a Stephen Hawking voice and Bette Davis eyes. The virtual being gently touched my arm, drank the rest of the Milo, then spoke in soft but earnest tones.
‘No, Graeme, you are not too old to blog. In fact, blog you must, for your blogging will empower others of senior years to blog, too. You have been chosen as the role model for wrinkly non-bloggers who want to convert … who want to cross over … who want to come thundering out of the closet of bloglessness.’
So here I am, on a mission – apparently. Very soon, before you can say ‘God’s Waiting Room’, blogging will sit alongside moaning as the favourite pastime of the elderly. In retirement villages and nursing homes across the land, new Tag Clouds are about to be formed, with ‘Incontinence’ and ‘Centrelink’ jumping out at you in 36 point font, from the sidebar of senility.
I have decided to blog as a safer alternative to trekking the Kokoda Trail or marrying Greg Norman. Right now, Greg is typically topical, with Kokoda being more tropically topical. Which brings me to the beauty of the online world – it lets us play with space and time, instantly connecting minds around the globe and delivering the present moment to our Twitter stream. The value of all that is yet to be determined.
I blog, therefore I am. ‘Am what?’ That is the question. (As opposed to, ‘To tweet or not to tweet’, which would have been the question, had Shakespeare lived a few extra years.)
So I leave you with this query: ‘Who am I?’ now that I have a blog, plus a Twitter account, Linkedin, Facebook and grey hair. Personally, I have no idea who I am – or will become – because of this new technology.
Perhaps by blogging, I’ll find out. Before the nursing home beckons.
Cheers!
Welcome to the blogosphere, Graeme! There is always room for a funny man here, I reckon…
And as a person of (not quite) your vintage, I say go for it…
Joanna
Good on you, Graeme! This is a slick looking page and your smiling face is very welcoming. It’s nice to read you in more than 140-character grabs. I had no idea you were such an articulate and entertaining writer. I wish you every success in this endeavour. Best regards, P.
Graeme, I’m looking forward to hearing your stories. Your professional activity no doubt gives you great insight. Also interested in what the ‘oldies’ are up to
especially since most of the online crowd would probably place me in the same bracket – today, like you, I feel 57. Stay away from Kokoda and you may make 97. See you again at one of the http://www.tweetupmellers.info events and keep on blogging.
Hey Graeme,
You are not the only one new to blogging and I am not in my 50’s, even though I feel like it sometimes.
I think it is great that you are out there blogging away! Why not, you have experience that you can share easily with others and I for one am grateful that people like yourself embrace technology.
Hopefully it will inspire others to do the same…!
Good on you mate, keep it up.
Jay
Does this mean you are only as old as the blogger you read?
Ah well, who gives a blog how old you are. When does age slow the mind so much that it stops? As long as we keep the mantra, “Content is King” all will be ok.
Keep up the good work old fella!
Warwick
PS Needed to tell you my short term memory isn’t what it used to be. And another thing, my short term memory isn’t what it used to be.
Welcome aboard Graeme. The blogging bus always has an extra seat for newcomers.
I look forward to reading more of your observations.
Lindy
Was that first post good for you too Graeme?
Looking forward to reading the GBB.
Regards
Frank
Hey Graeme,
You can write therefore you can blog. And damn funny to boot.
Looking forward to more of your typically topical posts. Welcome to the blogosphere.
best,
Charlotte
You are NEVER too old to blog!
I agree with Charlotte .. ‘you write – therefore you can blog’ …and its nice to read one with a sense of humour .. in keeping with your great brand personality Graeme! 
Congratulations!
PS Graeme – 56 is the new 36 .. just for your info .. so I’ve heard!
May your blogging life be long and satisfying. Look forward to the next post!
Take care
Anne
Great start! For a young feller, you show excellent promise.
Now THIS is a medium made for you. I have often wondered why you didn’t as it seemed the perfect forum for your comedic talents.
Congratulations – looking forward to many more.
Lovely work! You realise of course vlogging for you is the next step
Any pro-speaker should have a think about vlogging imho. I feel so young!
Love it … blogging means no editors sucking all the juice from your words, no 140 character limits so you can let your words soar and the start of the challenge “what the heck will I write about”. Welcome to the blogosphere Graeme!
Oh my buddha… u R 2 funny not 2 blog!!
congrats on a shiny happy first post! Looking forward to more…
He he – you are such a bless Graeme!! I reckon the older then better! Life experience and a bloody great sense of humor! Loving your writing style sir, keep em powering out!
Brilliant Graeme. Welcome to Blog world.
55 soon to be 56!
I am so going to enjoy the web insights of one of my elders!
What a fantastic first blog. I am of course a veteran myself now, with one blog down!!
Good luck with the venture. If it’s anything like your tweets I know we’re in for a fine treat.
All the best
Karen
I’m sure 56 is the new 46 (cause I know 40 is the new 30) – looking forward to more posts!
Welcome to the blogosphere Graeme! Not sure I can answer your query of “who am I?” however what I do know is that connecting with like minds will make the journey of finding the answers so much more enjoyable.
“Wrinkly non-blogger”! That’s awesome. Now that you have started you’ll never look back
Welcome aboard the blogging rollercoaster. It is a fickle and demanding mistress.
Now, how long will it be before I see ‘incontinence’ in the tag cloud?
Nice work my man! Looking forward to reading some more. I’d say you’ve got a flair for it!
1 out 250000 who started today is better than 0 out 250000 I say.
I’m sure you can share a piece of wisdom or two with this 20 year old.
In just a few months you’ll look back and ask yourself why you didn’t start sooner!
So where oh where does this leave me?
I’ll be 62 in a few weeks and I’ve been blogging on 3 sites for over 4 years now with over 2000 blog posts written. I write every day to all my young friends on Facebook and Twitter several times a day too. What is more, last year I went back to university to get my Master of Arts in Creative writing. (Just makes me tired thinking about all that – think I need to go and have a Grandpa nap).
A whole new grumble for the old: “You never write, you never call, you never comment…”
You facetious old blogger!
Nice prose. I’ve been trying to convince my old man who is a few years older than yourself to blog about life in the face of the golden handshake… but to no avail. It reminds of a study, something about Google being good for old people?
But seriously, welcome aboard. One of the greatest things about social is getting the chance to see the perspective of all different sorts of contributors – and look forward to hearing yours.
Nice one.
Brett.
Hey go Graeme! Clearly this is a medium made for you
I think seniors blogging will help to restablish the sharing of wisdom from the elders to the young. This is a tradition that is lost in Western culture where we often shunt our elders off to a nursing home and their wisdom is lost.
Best of luck in your blogging career.
BTW My mother, at 69, celebrated sending her first email last week. I think seniors are loving the internet as an outlet for expression.
Regards,
Rod
You must have the same copy of the blogging rule book that I have. Now, if only I could find it I’m sure I’d be a betterer blogger.
Unleash the funny!
Hello Graeme,
Welcome to the blogging world Graeme – maybe you can teach my parents a thing or two about it. I actually designed a blog for my mother about 6 months back however there’s quite a few cobwebs over it atm (http://lenorek.com).
Anyway, I enjoyed your little rather poetic piece – I haven’t come across a writing style such as yours so I will have to keep an eye out to see what else you have in store. Do you know what you are going to blog about as of yet?
Anyway, gluck for the ride.
JC
Not just welcome to Blog World, Graeme but welcome to the Connection Generation. You’ve just found another – ideal in my view – way to connect people to your information, ideas and experiences.
Would love to see you on more video pieces too, specifically my RealTweeple project! http://iggypintado.posterous.com/introducing-the-realtweeple-project
Go you good thing and I look forward to your regular posts.
Cheers, Iggy
Welcome, Graeme. Great first post, love the way you weave humor into your first message, looking forward to your next post
.
Cheers,
Krishna
Hi Graeme – well done on your first post.
Age doesn’t matter; as you already know from your professional life, it’s all about engaging, convincing and interesting content.
Once you’ve had a go for a while, I’d be interested to know whether you find tweeting or blogging to be more your preference. I find tweeting fits my day better so I have to really work on keeping up with the blog (and my blog posts get further and further apart!)
And I agree with Jim Stewart – would love to see a vlog from you!
Cheers
Well done Graeme. My friend who is 50+ helped me set up my first blog! Keep the posts up.
Cheers
Catriona
Congrats Graeme and welcome. Very cool post and blog. Great to have some wisdom in the ranks. Simon
Graeme – to blog or not to blog – seems you have answered that question! For my money, you are never too old to blog, but you are very often too young to blog… all those years of insight have to be good for something!
A post a day keeps the bed pan away.
You had me at first sight…now don’t get too excited, cause I’m talking about capturing my interest in your blog here, Graeme.
Great job…we are all still trying to figure out what the hell we are doing here in cyberspace, but some say it is going to help us. I just hope they’re right, otherwise I might have lost a few years of my life for nothing. LOL
To the tune of Tina Turner Song (what’s love got to do with it?)
What’s age got to do, got to do with it,
What’s age, but a second hand emotion …
What’s age got to do, got to do with it
Who needs a book
When a blog can be written.
Of course the tune is available in a ringtone for your phone if you so desire … LOL!
Magic – one of my favorite minds now a Blog Head.
Hardly too old but a lifetime of experiences to share! I’m in my 50s too and feel I have a lot to offer to those who want to read.
Set yourself some goals to post regularly, at least weekly. The key with blogs is to keep them live, not left to grow old and stale and unattended. They need to live.
Have fun!
It’s so delightful seeing you
Graeme bringing your intelligence and humour to the blogosphere.
I guess that regardless of your age it’s goo to have mature professional jumping into the train.
Welcome,
I’m looking forward to listen and learn from you
Lucio Ribeiro
@lucio_ribeiro
Great stuff Graeme! And no, you are never too old for anything! I wonder if Ivy Bean has a blog…. 104 year old lady, lives in the UK, has almost 50,000 followers on Twitter (@IvyBean104). Anyway, I’ll look forward to hearing what you have to say. Welcome to the blogosphere. Remember the most important rule – have fun!
Welcome aboard the blog train!!
I like your style Graeme. I can see the 3B effect (baby boomer blogging)powering on for many years ahead. Go for it!
Congratulations Graeme for taking the plunge into the wonderful world of blogging. I look forward to reading your blogs – you are never too old
Can anyone else remember a First Blog getting 48 comments (and counting…). Well done Graeme. And remember, 50 is the new 30.
I like it. A lot. Great sense of humour and I want to hear more from you.
Also, you’ve prompted me to get on with my own blog. I’ve been fluffing around – or perhaps more accurately, procrastinating – re My First Blog Post and now I am inspired to get on with it (worry less, do more).
Good on you Graeme.
The challenge now might be doing it consistently – a bit like sex in your 50’s! Great potency in your first blog -Stay strong!