Interview with Blogger Cheezy Cheeky

By The Pakistani Spectator • Apr 30th, 2008 • Category: Interviews • (3,175 views) • 2 Comments

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

I’m born in Romania and I live in the UK. I feel neither Romanian nor
British; I’ve always felt a citizen of the world. I haven’t been to
any place in the world that I couldn’t inhabit or find beautiful. My
blog started some two and a half years ago from a need to share my
thoughts, feelings, and findings beyond a close circle of family and
friends. Although the initial idea was to focus on writing, today I
find myself more in the realm of photography. However, having more
interests than a lifetime entails, I have no idea what kind of journal
my blog will end up being months or years from now.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write?
Why is that important to you?

Growing is natural in all walks of life, especially if you care about
it, so writing cannot get worse. Writing the blog is a constant search
for my voice or, if found, a quest to refine it, clarify it, and focus
it. As a wannabe writer, getting a hold of my voice is what matters
most.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

Among many lovely and surprising things, blogging has brought me the
most important person in my life, my boyfriend Chris. I’m used to
joking that if I had just one reader, him, it’d still be more than
worth to keep blogging; we simply express ourselves differently in
writing… for ourselves.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

Offline/ real life meetings, engaging in dialogue on either my blog or
theirs, and rarely e-mails.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology
in politics right now?

Probably, Twitter (http://twitter.com). If 10 Downing Street (the
British Prime Minister’s Communication team) uses it on a daily basis,
and so do American presidency candidates, then it is a truly efficient
mass communication tool despite its limit of 140 characters per
message.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more
responsive?

I would think so, indeed. Although mass media is traditionally seen as
our watchdog in relation to authorities and politicians, its
intervention can slow communication down and oversimplify it, and I
write this as a trained and previously practicing journalist. As well,
its strict view of newsworthiness may mismatch our agendas. New
technologies, when successfully embraced by both parties, can bring
dialogues closer to what the Greek agora used to be.

Also, in a sheer communication light, being able to reach your dear
ones across the world faster and more reliably than ever (think of
Skype, for example) filters and strengthens relationships.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

It’s one of the greatest mish-mash-ed blogs I’ve ever seen, while
still representing a single person. I’ve been through multiple
attempts, from others, to label it, and it breaks through gloriously
each time as a place so mine that it defies categorisation. You either
love it or hate it, and that’s all one can expect: steering a feeling.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in
life, what would it be?

My varied interests. I’ve never known where my next job, friend,
hobby, drink, or random browsing will take me or bring me, and yet
it’s brought me so much and taken me to so many amazing experiences.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

Happiest: so far, packing for my first trip to Asia tonight; I’ve
always felt drawn to Asia, so the time has come to check out our joint
affinities.

Gloomiest: yet to come.

Do you think [the use of Twitter and other social networking tools by
politicians] is bandwagon jumping or what?

If that, I welcome it. I think there was a great divide between them
and us technologically in the past years, so I welcome any of their
attempts to jump our band wagons.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no
worries about how it’s
paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

1. Japan at large.
2. Tibet.
3. Patagonia.

What is your favorite book and why?

Whatever first book I’ll publish first, for all the love and sleepless
nights it will encompass.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or
not)?

Whether they can take a firm handshake, regardless of gender.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

Many. And to all those I say: watch me do it.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

There are more ways than I know, certainly. Myself, having juts
received a brand new Panasonis Lumix camera due to the photos
published on my blog, I consider that a financial benefit. However,
I’d have few expectations from online advertising, as my readers have
not responded to it, understandably. Also, working in the online
medium leads me to believe that money making from blogging, with a few
notable exceptions, is a greenfield, rather.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their
hands?

Perhaps. My experience is that I don’t run out of subjects or ideas.
If I were a full-time blogger, I still couldn’t share all I’ve got to
share.

What are your thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest
advantages and disadvantages are?

I think it should happen, much alike the individual case, when it
fulfills a need or a desire, when it matches the ’speaker’. The
biggest advantage is entering open dialogue with stakeholders. The
biggest disadvantage: lacking control of messages.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier
and less hostile?

Be tolerant, a very serious job.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

1. Heather Armstrong/ dooce.
2. Jeff Jarvis/ BuzzMachine.
3. Chris Jackson/ adrideo. (my boyfriend, when he’s got time to write)
4. Pandemian.
5. Nicky and Oliver/ Delicious Days.

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful
reaction from people?

‘Testing: HyperIM, HitTail, blogmusik’
(http://www.gorgeoux.com/2006/09/testing-testing-1-2-3.html) has
gotten the most views over time, and a lot of them are due to the post
being StumbleUpon-ed by someone, so not my doing. Other than that, I’m
not aware of a post gathering significantly more comments than others
or inspiring a more ardent debate. The best my blog has done for
others has been inspiring them to start blogging.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

I think they’re very much like me and I wish they find a happy resolve
to their struggle.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

Not yet, but there are hundreds of millions of blogs I haven’t read. I
wouldn’t mind the experience; quite on the contrary.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a
developing country?

Many developed countries are dull and still. Developing countries are
bursting with life and opportunities.

What is the future of blogging?

I have no idea, and I like it that way. I’m waiting to be surprised.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your
personal and professional life?

As said, it has brought me the love of my life. Also, some
professional contacts and opportunities, even though my main blog is
not professional.

What are your future plans?

To go with the wind, wherever it takes me.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

I am honoured by your interest in my blog, thoughts, and feelings. I’d
welcome your feedback, however it may travel to me. If nothing else, I
hope my interview and/ or blog inspire you to live a fuller life, and
keep smiling.