Is the Web-based blogosphere and its never-ending flow of online news and comment leading to potentially deadly pressures for those who work tirelessly within it?
Several tech bloggers hit by death or near death health scares. Credit: MarkHillary/Flickr.
In December of 2007, professional technology blogger Marc Orchant died at the age of 50 following a massive coronary, while 41-year-old fellow blogger Om Malik survived a heart attack in the same month. Most recently, the month of March brought the untimely demise of prolific 60-year-old tech blogger Russell Shaw.
And, beyond any potentially fatal health risks currently being associated with the mercilessly perpetual publishing of blogging, other members of the blogosphere apparently battle with the likes of physical and mental exhaustion, sleep disorders and even weight issues.
While these unfortunate deaths and brushes with death do not necessarily constitute a definite connection to the high-speed world of blogging, friends and family closely situated to those affected have voiced concerns regarding the pressures of such a working life.
Ellen Green, long-time girlfriend of the deceased Russell Shaw, says that the pressure he suffered through was both self imposed and severe -- she also notes that her partner was planning on seeking a better and healthier lifestyle following the sudden death of friend and fellow tech blogger Marc Orchant.
It has even led to others who share the same professional field offering their forecasts and reactions to the stresses and demands of near-constant blogging.
Michael Arrington, founder and co-editor of TechCrunch, reveals that he’s piled on 30 pounds in three years of blogging and developed a substantial sleep disorder.
“At some point, I’ll have a nervous breakdown and be admitted to the hospital, or something else will happen,” he commented in a New York Times article. “This is not sustainable.”
For full-time bloggers (this writer included) looking to carve a living from online writing, the technology arena is one of the most challenging -- and potentially profitable -- arenas.
However, it also involves a huge amount of pressure to beat the competition to the publishing punch by revealing the latest nuggets of info on groundbreaking software and hardware while also remaining ahead of the evolutionary bell curve in Internet, security and business terms.
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