My blog personality
I have been thinking, over the last two weeks in particular, about my blog personality. What I want from blogging, and what I don't. What I like to read, and what turns me off. My likes and dislikes regarding commenting, blogrolls, and, well, all things bloggy. Here, my friends, are my thoughts.
Why I blog
To relate. I want to talk with people and I want them to talk to me.
Commenting
In light of my last statement, I don't understand lurking. I could never imagine myself reading someone's blog without commenting (after I get a feel for the person.) I guess I approach this a lot like real life relationships... I don't just want to listen, I want to converse.
SO:
~I almost always comment on a blog.
~I follow comments to see if the author or another reader addressed something I mentioned in my comment.
~I tend not to keep reading blogs where the author never, after repeated comments, responds to anything I have said. (There are exceptions to this.)
~I do NOT comment just for the sake of commenting. I only do it if I have something specific to say, and I really mean it.
~I often find new blogs I like after reading a comment I really like (on my blog or someone else's) and I click on that person's link.
Blogs I read
~Funny ones.
~Blogs that make me think or challenge my current thinking.
~Blogs written by people I feel I can relate to.
Blogs I tend not to read
~Advicey blogs. I have plenty of people in real life that I can ask advice from if I want it.
~Blogs that everybody and their mother read (with a few exceptions.) I guess this is because my blog personality is a lot like my regular personality. If given a choice between a party with lots of people or a quiet gathering with four or five friends, I'd choose the latter every time. I want to be able to discuss with people... big blogs never seem conducive to that.
~Blogs for which the author doesn't seem "real:" doesn't share struggles, admit mistakes, ask for ideas. (Come to think of it, I should hate my own blog...) But a lot of the advice blogs are like that and they never seem to flick my Bic, so to speak.
Thoughts on personally contacting a blog's author
I generally don't do it, even if I have been reading/commenting for a long time. I think it is my shyness. I HAVE done it, generally to encourage another blogger or to ask a specific question from someone I trust. I don't think there is anything wrong with it, I just generally don't do it. (And I think this is the first paragraph I have ever written in which every sentence contains the word "generally.")
Thoughts on blogrolls
I think it is weird to go bloghopping and find my blog on the blogroll of a complete stranger. There is nothing wrong with it. It's just that, going back to why I blog, I could never imagine myself liking a blog where I didn't get in on the discussion.
In addition, I think it is kinda awkward if someone reads me regularly, but I don't read them. I suppose most people have a thicker skin than I do, but I will admit to feeling disappointed when I am not on the blogroll of people whose blogs I frequent. (This is not a plea for anyone to add me to their blogroll.)
I think reciprocal blogrolls are silly. "I'll link you if you link me." I don't want to be on someone's blogroll just because I linked to them. I want to be on their blogroll if they like my blog. (Reciprocal blogrolls are a great way to increase the traffic on your blog. But, since I am not that interested in increasing traffic, I think I'll pass on those.)
My thoughts on memes
I can take them or leave them. People say they help you get to know them, but I wonder about that sometimes. I don't mind doing them, but I don't tag people for them anymore. Reading a meme is a lot like reading an interview. I like interviews, but I prefer hearing someone speak freely.
My thoughts on self-promotion
All bloggers have to be self-promoters to some degree... at least you do if you want to be read. But I am not very good at that. I want to be read, but I don't want to be read by hundreds of people a day (though I don't think there is any danger of that!) So, I tend not to participate in things (like reciprocal blog rolls) that are meant just to bring traffic. (I think the Tour of Homes is the first thing like this that I've done. But I did that because I thought it was for fun, not for the traffic.)
And don't ask me about blog awards. I don't know how to tell you what I think without it sounding bad, so I guess I shouldn't try. (You know I'm just jealous because I've never won one...)
So, there you have it. Some of my thoughts about blogging. Feel free to disagree with anything I have said. And don't take any of this personally. This is just my perspective. I'd be interested in hearing what kind of blogging personality you all have (I'd make this into a meme and tag somebody but, you know...)
Why I blog
To relate. I want to talk with people and I want them to talk to me.
Commenting
In light of my last statement, I don't understand lurking. I could never imagine myself reading someone's blog without commenting (after I get a feel for the person.) I guess I approach this a lot like real life relationships... I don't just want to listen, I want to converse.
SO:
~I almost always comment on a blog.
~I follow comments to see if the author or another reader addressed something I mentioned in my comment.
~I tend not to keep reading blogs where the author never, after repeated comments, responds to anything I have said. (There are exceptions to this.)
~I do NOT comment just for the sake of commenting. I only do it if I have something specific to say, and I really mean it.
~I often find new blogs I like after reading a comment I really like (on my blog or someone else's) and I click on that person's link.
Blogs I read
~Funny ones.
~Blogs that make me think or challenge my current thinking.
~Blogs written by people I feel I can relate to.
Blogs I tend not to read
~Advicey blogs. I have plenty of people in real life that I can ask advice from if I want it.
~Blogs that everybody and their mother read (with a few exceptions.) I guess this is because my blog personality is a lot like my regular personality. If given a choice between a party with lots of people or a quiet gathering with four or five friends, I'd choose the latter every time. I want to be able to discuss with people... big blogs never seem conducive to that.
~Blogs for which the author doesn't seem "real:" doesn't share struggles, admit mistakes, ask for ideas. (Come to think of it, I should hate my own blog...) But a lot of the advice blogs are like that and they never seem to flick my Bic, so to speak.
Thoughts on personally contacting a blog's author
I generally don't do it, even if I have been reading/commenting for a long time. I think it is my shyness. I HAVE done it, generally to encourage another blogger or to ask a specific question from someone I trust. I don't think there is anything wrong with it, I just generally don't do it. (And I think this is the first paragraph I have ever written in which every sentence contains the word "generally.")
Thoughts on blogrolls
I think it is weird to go bloghopping and find my blog on the blogroll of a complete stranger. There is nothing wrong with it. It's just that, going back to why I blog, I could never imagine myself liking a blog where I didn't get in on the discussion.
In addition, I think it is kinda awkward if someone reads me regularly, but I don't read them. I suppose most people have a thicker skin than I do, but I will admit to feeling disappointed when I am not on the blogroll of people whose blogs I frequent. (This is not a plea for anyone to add me to their blogroll.)
I think reciprocal blogrolls are silly. "I'll link you if you link me." I don't want to be on someone's blogroll just because I linked to them. I want to be on their blogroll if they like my blog. (Reciprocal blogrolls are a great way to increase the traffic on your blog. But, since I am not that interested in increasing traffic, I think I'll pass on those.)
My thoughts on memes
I can take them or leave them. People say they help you get to know them, but I wonder about that sometimes. I don't mind doing them, but I don't tag people for them anymore. Reading a meme is a lot like reading an interview. I like interviews, but I prefer hearing someone speak freely.
My thoughts on self-promotion
All bloggers have to be self-promoters to some degree... at least you do if you want to be read. But I am not very good at that. I want to be read, but I don't want to be read by hundreds of people a day (though I don't think there is any danger of that!) So, I tend not to participate in things (like reciprocal blog rolls) that are meant just to bring traffic. (I think the Tour of Homes is the first thing like this that I've done. But I did that because I thought it was for fun, not for the traffic.)
And don't ask me about blog awards. I don't know how to tell you what I think without it sounding bad, so I guess I shouldn't try. (You know I'm just jealous because I've never won one...)
So, there you have it. Some of my thoughts about blogging. Feel free to disagree with anything I have said. And don't take any of this personally. This is just my perspective. I'd be interested in hearing what kind of blogging personality you all have (I'd make this into a meme and tag somebody but, you know...)
Labels: blogging
posted by 
at 12:19 AM
40 Comments:
~Blogs for which the author doesn't seem "real:" doesn't share struggles, admit mistakes, ask for ideas. (Come to think of it, I should hate my own blog...)
Are you saying that you should hate your blog because you are not "real"? Am I reading that wrong?
I think you are one of the MOST real bloggers out there. That's why I read you.
I am horrible at answering comments. I mean to improve I really do. (sigh)
And I will go on the record to say, I HATE MEME'S.
I don't want to be a popular blogger. I don't want to be in a postion where others can't dissagree. There was something the other day that had me BOILING. And I really wanted to say something (nicely of course) but I felt like I couldn't because 50 other people were already agreeing. It wasn't worth it. I want people to dissagree with me when they think I'm wrong. It challenges my thinking.
So when are you coming to CA to meet me? :)
oh and one more think - cuz you know, that last comment wasn't long enough -
I totally lurk on blogs. :) I am the worst of the WORST lurkers.
My thoughts on reciprocal blogrolls,
1. They are not really a true indicator of the blogs you read on a regular basis. (And that drives me nuts. I don't care who likes your blog, I want to know who you like, what you read.)
2. They are something nice for a bigger blogger to do, but kinda silly for the majority of bloggers. Here's why: if we all sat around waiting for people to stick us on their blogrolls, before we added them to ours, then we would have NO ONE on our blogrolls. Does this make sense?
As for replying to people in my comments section, I'm horrible at that. HORRIBLE. But sometimes I wonder if I'm supposed to reply to everyone, or just the ones I have something to say to. Cuz sometimes, the comments don't really give you a whole lot to work with. I mean they are lovely comments and I appreciate them, but I feel like all I can say to it is, "Thanks".
So then I get stuck thinking, 'is it rude to just reply to a few of the commentors?' And by the time I overthink it, it's been days, and nobody cares anyway. :-)
Heather, I guess I am saying that I don't often ask for ideas, share struggles, admit mistakes. Particularly that last one. And I can get preachy sometimes. So, that's all I'm sayin'
Addie - I reply in comments only if I have something to say, regardless of whether I have something to say to everyone. Just like I am in conversation, I hate small talk - talking just so I have something to say. On blogs and IRL, I say something only if I have a response.
The only exception is for a first time visitor. Usually, I thank them for stopping by.
And thank you BOTH for stopping by. And commenting. And I am glad I had something to say to both of you. I wouldn't want to hurt either of your feelings ;P
PS to Heather - I think I could have guessed that you hate memes. And Thursday Thirteens too. (It's like a cult, that Thursday Thirteen thing!)
:)
Great thoughts here. I find myself often blogging about blogging. . . . I am very similar here. I can understand not posting a comment on every post read (I probably comment about 75% of the time, and usually always if it's a new blog), but I don't understand never ever commenting. I, too, often follow a commenter to her blog, especially if she comments often on a blog I really enjoy, because that means we probably have similar tastes.
I also find the whole blogroll thing a little sensitive, so I avoided having one at all. I don't want to put someone on just because I'm on theirs, because I want it to really reflect what I like--to be a real recommendation.
I'm sure I have other thoughts, but like I said, I've posted most of them on my blog (ha ha--I'm somewhat self-promoting. If someone likes to read about blogging, then they can check out my sidebar category, blogging about blogging). Anyway, it's your post, not mine.
I did like the "big blog/party" reference thing, too.
Oh--about responding to comments. I really try to do this, if someone leaves a question or something that needs a follow up, but I don't reply in general. What is easier for me to do is to reply via email, but I find that most don't have their email that comes through when they comment.
Um--how do you feel about really loooong comments? That's sort of a joke. Actually, I always feel bad writing them, but I love when someone jumps right in on my topic and leaves a long comment.
lI knew you left me a comment on the Tour, so I went back to see what it was, and if it needed to be responded to or whatever, and I remembered it, and was happy that I had responded in an email. Yay, I passed!
Yeah, I'm gonna tag myself on this and then tag a few hundered other bloggers...just kidding. I did find this interesting and would love to know what others feel about the same. So, maybe I'm not kidding. =)
PS I only look for replys on comments when I have either A) asked a question or b) talk to them regularly anyway and expect that kind of dialogue. Other than that, it takes too much time. Ok that's it.
I might just take this "meme" and run with it (to my blog anyway) though I'd have to admit a lot of it would just be reruns of what you said...looks like we have similar blogging personalities. This post is a great idea though, I've always wanted to explain why I do and don't do certain things...
You know what's so interesting to me about this discussion is that I never intended to make the first relationship through blogging. I thought it was something that would enhance the friendships I have had for years...but never in a million years guessed that I would meet people through blogging, much less - well, TRAVEL with them. :-)
The whole blogroll thing has gotten weird for me because I feel guilty when I see my name on someone's blogroll and I don't have them on mine. I want to rotate people off and on but don't want to hurt anyone's feelings (it's not that I don't read those blogs anymore - it's just that I'd like to pass along some traffic to other people).
The weekly memes are fun from time to time - I especially like WFMW if I have a good idea. But TT tends to stress me out writing-wise. They take me forever, so I just quit doing them. :-)
hey, Jennifer, I wasn't looking for you to respond to my "tour" comment, but it was nice that you did. You're on my good side now... look out, I might start lurking over at your place!
And long comments are fine. I got lots of space here.
I like how you've analyized your bloging personality. I'm not an analyzer...don't expect much from me. I do tend to lurk A LOT.
Don't hate me because I lurk (hehe...said ala old commericals of "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.) Okay...not funny. Moving on.
I'm horrible at responding to comments left...I try but its a very weak try.
The whole linking thing - I've kept it down to the people in my church because, well, it gets too complicated. I'm too lazy to make a blogroll and too lazy to put it on my template. But, if you link me, I'll link you. (wink, wink)
Blog awards - Don't like them. Once I win one I will like them.
PS - I'm only posting a second post because all the cool kids were doing it.
PSS - I meant to say a second comment but now that I'm up to three...I think it makes me uber cool.
This post told me more about you than any meme or TT would. I honestly didn't realize (still new to it all) that I was to go back and comment on comments. Really thought it would seem presumptuous to assume anyone would leave a comment, and then come back AGAIN to my post. Oh, what I don't know.
I also have noted that you don't leave a lot of comments, and like a person who doesn't talk much, you tend to listen more closely. That's what I do when I see a comment from you.
My sidebar morning coffee reads, those are truly the ones I just dont miss. No obligation for anyone to ever have me on theirs, but those are the ones I think everyone should check out, because not only are they great, the blogs on their sidebars likely are too.
Just commenting because I can't let Rebekah be cooler than me. :) ha ha ha ha
I left a comment on your home, but this is my first "official" comment. I was very interested to read your blogging philosophy. I'm new to the whole thing and sometimes wonder if I should leave comments or respond to comments, and just basically am a little clueless about blog etiquette!
Your idea of blogging makes sense to me. Thanks for summing it up so nicely!
Lori, I love reading what you write because it's so thought-provoking! And a life full of preschoolers, toddlers, and infants doesn't lend itself to much deep though, you know? Good stuff here--I think that as much as everyone loved the Tour of Homes, many people felt guilty that they couldn't read and comment on every single one.
I want blogging to be a fun hobby, not an obligatory chore. So I only read a handful on a regular basis, try to comment most of the time, and don't worry so much if people I don't read link to me. I figure if they want to link to me, they do because they like what I write, and not because I read their stuff. Or maybe not. Now I'm really overthinking this!
I ran across your blog via Life With Little Women. I have run across comments from you on other various blogs and for some reason did not visit your blog until now. I do know a few things about you though, which I believe shows me that you are open about yourself. I know from reading Life With Little Women's blog that you don't like it when commenters leave your real name when you have not publicly posted it...but I do know your real name (as someone posted it) :) I also agree that I love the blogging for the friendships. I just had my first baby, and he is now 11 months old. I started blogging when I had him because I would get SO BORED at first with him. He's much more fun now. But it helped me, and I am a very social gal...and being at home, all day was hard for me at first. I felt like blogging was an easy social outlet for making friends. For the times I can't go to a mommy group, or something!
Anyway, long random comment. Just know I'll be reading your blog now! :)
Welcome Rebekah and Kristina. Thanks for stopping by!
Rebekah, you ARE too cool. But I say that because of what Addie's mentioned about you, not because you comment a lot... which is fine... but lurking is fine too. You do what is comfortable for you.
Kristina, I've seen you around too. And it's no secret that my name is LORI!!! But people have posted my last name in comments, which I'm not so keen on...
Oh well.
Stop back again soon!
I really agree with your version of blog ettiquette. I do not have a blogroll, have never done a meme & do not care about increasing my traffic.
I have had to set a clear definition of my purpose in blogging. Mine is to document things for my family & friends and attempt to share my testimony as it is happening.
I try to be real.
My challenge with blogging is that I have A LOT of lurkers...like 90% of my readers. I see people daily who say "I love reading your blog." and I had no idea they did because they have never commented. That makes me feel a little bit like I am dancing naked in front of a two way mirror or something (not that I would ever do that) I just mean the vulnerabiity with no feedback.
jenmom - welcome.
I couldn't agree with you more about people who know you in real life, but lurk on your blog. It IS a very vulnerable feeling. And it seems like it hinders some of those friendships. It's like they already know what you think, so why would they need to talk to you?
But, I guess that's the chance we take when we "put ourselves out there."
Thanks for stopping by. I'll be checking out your blog very soon.
I admire you for putting this out here, Lori. You strike me a no-nonsense straight forward gal and I like that. I'll try to put my two cents in here.
I think the commenting and blogrolling things are especially tough for new bloggers. A lot of new bloggers go nuts and add every blogger who leaves them a comment to their blogroll. Then they find themselves in a postion of maybe hurting someone's feelings when they remove them because their blogroll's gotten too big to handle. To be completely honest here, I rarely look at someone's blogroll. I don't really care who they're following. I'm more interested in what THEY have to say.
Sometimes it all feels like high school to me. You know, the popularity thing. Does that make sense? I don't express myself as well as you do. When I first started blogging, lack of comments felt like not being invited to the Friday night party everyone else was going to.
So I changed my whole attitude. Some of the big blogs out there are almost intimidating and I still find myself thinking if I leave a comment, they'll just ignore it and move on because they don't really care what I have to say anyway. If it's an interesting blog and I go back everyday to read it but feel embarrassed or awkward leaving a comment, I get the lovely title of lurker which for some reason out here is considered not nice.
So my attitude now is this. I'm never going to win any awards with my blog - I occasionally put something out there that draws a lot of response. Most of the time, I just plod along with my probably boring little posts. I've decided the only way to really enjoy this is to ignore the numbers altogether. I don't know why I even have site meter. I never look at the reports.
I've made a few really good connections out here and I enjoy the interaction. I try to respond to everyone who leaves me a comment, but my response is almost always a comment directed back to them in MY comments. It's time consuming and if every post I did drew 100 comments, well...And when I have a chunk of time, I try to visit the blogs of everyone who left comments on mine, especially new visitors. Seems like good manners to me.
When I leave someone a comment, I go back later and see if they've acknowledged it. If my comments continue to go on unacknowledged, I stop leaving comments on that blog. It's like the high school thing. I feel uninvited.
I'm just rambling on here but this post hit home to me. I think your attitude about it all is dead on.
I decided not to care about numbers any more and enjoy the relationships I've made. I'm not on a mission to increase my "numbers." Doesn't matter to me any more.
If blogging can't be fun and encouraging and sometimes even thought provoking, why do it?
OK. This is starting to feel like a post instead of a comment. I have HUGE admiration for people who can get their point across in twenty words or less. :-) You can have your comments back now.
I just found you from the tour over the weekend when you left me a comment, and I love this post. Sounds like it might make a lot of us think about our blogging purposes. And I'll be the first to admit that I lurk a lot. I've been working on it. But I seem to have more time to read than make my brain work to write something. I'll be back to read more about you, but the little ones are calling right now.
I love this post. I have a ton to say, and now I can't remember any of it, lol!! I agree with Jen about real life friends reading. I so wish I'd never told a soul irl about my blog. Too late now though.
I'm a newbie blogger, trying to figure it all out, and I kind of wish I could start over. For example, I joined a couple rings and now don't know why I did that. I realize that I'm not really out there to get a bunch of comments. Frankly I don't feel like I'm funny enough or interesting enough for strangers to care what I have to say (which is why I told my IRL friends about it to begin with - I figured they'd be the only ones reading anyhow.) Now that I've been doing it a while, I realize I like the little circle of friends I'm making, and it's neat to see that people are coming to read. But I do shy away from commenting on those blogs that get a ton of comments. I figure no one is gonna care what I have to say when there are 200 comments. I love getting comments, and I comment superfluously (that *is* a word - I checked in dictionary.com, snort, yeah I'm ocd like that). I have tried to build my blogroll slowly, but I already wish I'd taken it slower, so as to keep it small and to the ones I really love to read. Okay, that was one major ramble. I am sure I had more I wanted to say, but that will do. I have just found about 5 new blogs I want to check out, just from reading these comments. So thanks for a great post!!!!
One more thing. I LOVE MEMES. Okay, so sue me. ;-)
A very interesting post. I do read a lot of blogs that I don't comment on - sometimes there are aspects of a blog that I like (crafts, let's say, or recipes), without necessarily feeling like the author is someone that I would want to chat with. Other times, I'll read a post and cannot for the life of me think of anything sensible to say! Some blogs I just read because they're terrific - and often, thousands of other people have discovered that they're terrific, too, so why comment?
You have a great site!
Barb - I don't think there is anything wrong with lurking, I just could not imagine myself doing that for a long time. I will admit it bugs me a bit personally, but it is certainly anyone's prerogative to lurk or not to.
There does seem to be a lot of negative sentiment toward lurkers. But I think this really is a matter of preference. (Almost like being an introvert or an extrovert... They may not "click" when they hang out together, but neither one is wrong for being the way they are.)
Am I cool too, now that I've replied 3x?? ;-) I just got reread what I wrote (it's usually good to do that BEFORE posting it, but I was in a rush at the moment) and I see that I seemingly contradicted myself. When I was talking about the rings I'd joined and am now rethinking, I didn't mean that I don't want comments, b/c I do love to get them. I meant to agree with pezmama when you said "I want to be read, but I don't want to be read by hundreds of people a day (though I don't think there is any danger of that!) So, I tend not to participate in things (like reciprocal blog rolls) that are meant just to bring traffic." I do want readers, but I would prefer a small group of readers with whom I share a reciprocal relationship, enjoy reading eachtothers' blogs, and comment frequently. Rather than being out to get as much traffic as possible. Therefore I'm rethinking my membership in the blog rings. Clear as mud, right?
I'm pretty sure that's what I was trying to say, too. I'd rather have a few closer blogging relationships. But I've always been that way. I'd rather have two close friends than twenty acquaintances.
I started blogging as a tool for outreach and to connect with other Christian women. (I don't get out much.) My sidebar links were originally for my convenience so that I could get to my favorite blogs from mine. Moot now, since I've discovered Bloglines, but for those who do notice, it gives them an idea of my tastes, I think. It doesn't matter to me if they reciprocate, but it is nice to see my link in someone's sidebar. I take it as a compliment.
I'm like Bev on replying to comments in my own comments. Unless someone has given the impression that they'll come back, it seems presumptuous to assume that they'd come back to see what I thought of their comment. On the other hand, I know that some people do reply, so I check back when I've left a comment to see if they've responded to it. I don't expect them to, especially if it's not their habit to do so. If that person usually does respond to comments, and responds to everyone's but mine, which has happened before, I tend to assume that I've said something offensive and go back to lurking. Email or a comment on their blog seems to me to be the best way to dialogue.
I don't mind memes, as some of them are fun, but I don't like to put anyone on the spot by tagging them, although I have done it a few times. I find that more than one post in a day is more than a lot of people bother to look at, and the most recent one is the one that gets read (if comments are any indication of readership), so if I've already got a topic in mind, the meme gets the back burner.
I'm more the small-circle-of-friends type than the popular-with-everyone type, but I do get a good feeling when I've acquired another subscriber. I also wonder who they are and if they're someone I'm reading already, if they're lurking or commenting, and what I have to say that they find interesting.
I might check back to see if you've added any other thoughts, if I can remember to do so.
I definitely agree with Meredith about site meter. I looked at the first few reports I got, when I first started my blog, and it was interesting to see some of the faraway places visits to my blog were coming from. Now I delete the report the minute it shows up in my mail.
I don't even look at it any more. I think it's important to some people, but like Meredith I almost think it's reverse lurking. Right now for example, bloglines isn't working right. So I'm constantly checking all my feeds to see if they've posted anything new. When they get their site meter report, it's going to look like I'm psycho or something and it kind of feels embarrassing.
I wish this post would catch on, Lori. Wouldn't it be great if everyone just posted their blogging personality and philosophy so we could all just know right up front how every blogger we touch really feels about it all? I think we all wonder if we're doing something wrong, irritating someone, lurking too much on a site we like, hurting feelings by the way we handle comments. Shouldn't have to be so dang intense. I hope I eventually figure it all out because I'm determined to enjoy it!
Janice just says, I don't usually comment..........but is a good way to catch up on family.........without having to make a phone call
Hey L! Just catching up (as usual). Great dialogue you got going on here. I could spend a post or two on this topic so here it is in a nutshell...
Since our trip, I have deleted my personal blogroll for the exact reason(s) you stated in your post. For me it's just easier that way.
Second, commenting has been honestly a struggle for me. Because like you, I want relationships/dialogue out of them. And, I got really frustrated when I was continually leaving comments on folks blogs and getting nothing back. So, now I only comment when I feel like it and mainly on a small circle of blogs. The only exception is if someone new visits my blog I try to visit them at least once.
Personally, I have really toned down my blogging and I'm trying not do be so dependent on it for friends. But, I'm definitely keeping the ones I've got already! :) Great topic and thanks for being 'real'.
I appreciate your thoughts on blogging. I've never thought of the importance of conversing thru a blog and I do lurk on many. Thanks for your perspective!
I'm really glad that I read this. I think I'll have to do a bit more introspection about the whole idea of blogging. I was just doin' it for me, and I hadn't really given much thought to the community of it.
Thanks for giving me something to think about! :)
Wow. I am really really clueless about the whole bloggy rules thing and have only been blogging for a few weeks. Mainly for my own entertainment, LOL, and somewhere to keep track of what I am doing. I have been seriously guilty of lurking on blogs and not commenting on comments. A lot of people I have been reading in the last week (and have put some on my blog roll - so I remember to go back and read them, not because I hope they will like me) have commented on here too.
Gosh, you have got me thinking, and I have learnt so much from these wonderful comments. I feel a blog post coming on. I will save you the misery of me posting all my ramblings here :) But first I need to go and reply to every comment on my blog. Housework? Pfft. I don't want the 'popular girls' - or as my daughters say 'the plastics'- not inviting me to the party on Friday night...... LOL.
Oh and one last thing. What is the tour of homes? Sounds fascinating!
Oh, and I forgot to say, I have a Boo too! My Boo is my son and it is short for 'Booful Boy' which is the first thing I said when I saw him but I was all groggy and Beautiful came out as Booful and the name stuck :)
Hey! Second comment! Does that make me part of the cool crowd?
Your post has been so helpful to me because I am so new to this and I was so confused about responding to comments. I was responding in a separate email directly to the person most of the time. Ak!
(In no way part of the cool crowd.)
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