This post is about blogging. It was inevitable, no?
I got a little frustrated with blogging around Christmas/New Year. It became more than what it was supposed to be. I got totally turned off by comments as some form of currency. When things got super busy with Christmas, and then again with a flurry of interviews in the New Year, and various child based issues, I stopped commenting on a lot of blogs. And I lost a lot of readers. Which means many people checked into my blog just to get comments on theirs.
This isn't even just a suspicion. I can think of one blogger in particular who claims, right there on her blog, "Blogging - You get what you give" and openly begs for followers. That, to me, just all feels like a game and not what I want my blog or my blogging to be about.
I thought about taking the comment section off my blog. That way, I would never have readers that read me for a number, for a sitemeter count, for a comment on theirs. And I may still go that route. However, from time to time, there have been comments that I have absolutely treasured. So there you go. That's why comments are still an option below.
It took me a few weeks to put this all in perspective. I cut way back on my blogging activities and I figured out how to dismantle sitemeter. But the reason I am inspired again? - Those of you who are still here despite my little hiatus and don't use comments as currency. Because there are people out there who, for their own individual reasons, like to check in on what I have to say here.
And hopefully soon I'll have not just words but more pictures. Did you see Juliet's comment yesterday to my husband about my camera? Now that's the appropriate use of a comment.
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The whole "comments as currency" is really really gross.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to tell you I finally get "I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books." I JUST saw Anchorman for the first time yesterday and it clicked.
The comments-as-currency thing seems to be a younger woman phenomenon. At least, I think it is. I'm going to be scrolling through your blog and making sure I commented with semi-frequency. KIDDING.
ReplyDeleteActually, I worry that I comment too much on blogs and that people are going to think I'm their version of the Starbucks stalker. :)
Comments as currency! OHHHHHH! I love this!
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it!
Have a pretty day!
Kristin
Pls don't disable your comments. I would be sad. :(
ReplyDeleteI am imagining a Red Rider BB Gun-type lobbying effort in support of your new camera. He pulls the TP, and, "huh?, how did that little picture of a camera get in there?" He sticks his hands in his coat pocket, and, "I don't remember leaving a roll of film in here...." He opens his mail, and, "this is wierd, a bunch ransom-esque letters glued onto a page and spelling out CANON?"
Alas, I spent the last four months not having time to be able to read my favorite blogs and it showed. Though there are a few (hint) who still showed up and commented which I so appreciated. I also don't comment as much as I read so maybe I need to change that!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the few things I hate about blogging. I feel like I'm expected to read someone's blog if they comment on mine, or if I can't post for a few days, people leave interest. Sometimes I just don't have time! It doesn't mean I don't like you. This is why I took down the number of followers I have. WHY DOES IT MATTER? It doesn't. Kudos.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about "comments as currency". I actually feel a little embarassed when people comment on my blog. I don't feel like anything I write is really ever that important and I mostly just blog so that I don't fee like a lurker when I read/comment on others blogs.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little late to this one, because I've also been rather busy and missing out on the reading all the time thing. I don't feel like I've been busy, but I haven't had time to read and I like doing that, so there you go. Anyway. I'm glad comments are still available here, because I like to comment here. I only read blogs I like, and I only comment when I have something to say. Easy, peasy. If I don't like it, I don't read it. People are such blogwhores sometimes.
ReplyDelete