tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post5814086201427466222..comments2024-03-12T04:51:46.468-05:00Comments on Blue Gal: How NOT to get discouragedFran / Blue Galhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18293627981248346055noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-14381319162728174332009-11-22T21:57:46.423-06:002009-11-22T21:57:46.423-06:00Oh Honey, we waive the initiation fee for Freida B...Oh Honey, we waive the initiation fee for Freida Bees. Automatically.Fran / Blue Galhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18293627981248346055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-12929821137822043292009-11-22T21:14:13.161-06:002009-11-22T21:14:13.161-06:00I don't really have anything to say or add her...I don't really have anything to say or add here, except to say I'm glad THE EVIL SLUT CLIQUE commented, 'cause I feel like following you back to your blog and seeing what an EVIL SLUT CLIQUE might be about.Freida Beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11489663202315694313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-8051750549981515202009-11-21T22:05:52.790-06:002009-11-21T22:05:52.790-06:00Dear Blue Gal,
I've never understood RSS, Face...Dear Blue Gal,<br />I've never understood RSS, Facebook seems strange, and I don't see the attraction of Twitter. I just learned how to take a picture on my cell phone and print a "selection" of a web page. Sigh. Obviously from the older generation. <br /><br />But I discovered blogs during the Obama campaign and I confess I'm hooked. What an amazing communication medium. You are one of my favorites -- creative, well read, funny, and honest! <br /><br />Thank you for putting yourself and your ideas out there for the rest of us. Great job! <br /><br />Susan McL<br />Stow, MASusan McLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12328853545361366562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-33009154180426171842009-11-18T21:02:13.820-06:002009-11-18T21:02:13.820-06:00I think I'm unlurked. I read your posts daily ...I think I'm unlurked. I read your posts daily (big fan) and comment occasionally. I've always commented anonymously because, quite frankly, being severely techno-challenged I can never get the identity thing to work otherwise. Hopefully this one will stick.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-37439947881518919842009-11-18T18:51:17.397-06:002009-11-18T18:51:17.397-06:00I think for me it's a combination of things. I...I think for me it's a combination of things. I need to go back and read all of your comments because this is something I've been thinking about since I started a livejournal in freaking 2001. But my knee-jerk is:<br /><br />1. Primarily I have a hard time being a commenter on a blog where I don't feel like the blogger will ever return the favor. This might not be because they disdain me or something, it might be because they got comments from 35 people that day and simply don't have time to comment back to every person on their latest post. There is an issue with economies of scale and I just like to interact with bloggers who also read my stuff. But that makes it hard to connect sometimes. <br /><br />2. Related: time. My google reader explodes frequently; if I commented on everything I wanted to comment on I'd have to quit my day job or something. It just doesn't work. <br /><br />3. I think that in the grand scheme, there are just plenty of people who aren't commenters. They just like to be entertained. That's cool. <br /><br />4. Some folks only like to comment if they feel they have something quality to say, something substantial. Like #3 I think this is just a style of blog consumption. Those of us who devote time to trying to write something personal, or political, or whatever, just have to accept that some folks aren't talky. <br /><br />Or maybe that's just what I tell myself when I get 0-2 comments. <br /><br />And I also think it's sad that the only way I can get the comments is to pimp over at FB. But the reality of that is that I think some folks don't use feed readers and can't be bothered to go to individual websites on a regular basis. <br /><br />Jeez, I guess I could write my own whole post on this. Sorry to take your space!! But I think about this more than I probably should. But hey, hello! Nice to meet you, I'm a former lurker.Kimhttp://www.prosaicparadise.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-2351626685518243292009-11-17T11:55:00.820-06:002009-11-17T11:55:00.820-06:00Arrrgh, I completely feel your pain, as it were. ...Arrrgh, I completely feel your pain, as it were. Not to go all Palin on you and make this all about Me! Me, me, MEEEEE!, but my tiny little outpost has seen a serious decline in comments, too. Sitemeter tells me the traffic remains constant, which is to say, I still get a whopping 50 or so readers per day, sometimes a few more, and once in a while, a whole boatload! But even then, no-one comments. On <i>anything</i>.<br /><br />I think our dismay stems from this: reading and interacting with commenters is (was?) such a pleasurable part of being a writer--one that didn't exist until blogging came into being. Before Blogging, there wasn't really a way to get feedback unless you read your work aloud to someone.<br /><br />The instantaneous, real-time feedback makes up, in part, for the not-getting-paid aspect of blogging.<br /><br />So I'll admit it: it's really discouraging to put several hours' worth of my wittiest, chewiest compound sentences together, only to have no comments that day, and perhaps, a day or two later, there will be some bullshit remark left by an insurance shill, something that completely fails at refuting my argument, but worst of all, <i>doesn't offer a hint of acknowledgment as to what a talented, clever, and deeply funny writer I am.</i> *BIG pout*<br /><br />Hang in there, BG. You have lots of readers, even if some of us get yanked away from the laptop before we can write something in support. The support is still there. I suppose I should take my own advice, shouldn't I?Deborah Newellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02527317477388626268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-555535804551982742009-11-17T08:33:32.915-06:002009-11-17T08:33:32.915-06:00I'm not a cherry as a responder but sort of a ...I'm not a cherry as a responder but sort of a slut, but here's a shout out to you again: You do the best damn videos out there! And I'd donate again if I could get my damn paypal thing to work.George Fitzgeraldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15882576171159405598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-47886508949066000342009-11-17T06:25:18.365-06:002009-11-17T06:25:18.365-06:00The web usability experts say that blog comments h...The web usability experts say that blog comments have just about the lowest participation levels of anything on the Internet. That is independent of the subject matter.<br /><br />Don't feel bad. You aren't doing anything wrong. It's the nature of the beast.libhomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05537213558568338561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-56066131857975342282009-11-16T23:03:02.018-06:002009-11-16T23:03:02.018-06:00I went over and voted for ya when you posted on th...I went over and voted for ya when you posted on the awards the other day. Though, and this is just my humble opinion, the best award any Blogger can get is when you post something that people feel is worth their while their while to comment on or link to. By my count you just got about a dozen awards in this thread alone.Connecticut Man1https://www.blogger.com/profile/08923884330387123010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-67561411716380313152009-11-16T20:56:25.141-06:002009-11-16T20:56:25.141-06:00I comment from time to time, so now all I need you...I comment from time to time, so now all I need you to make me do is actually start blogging regularly. :-)Shawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18102698830252835240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-52017226208796189462009-11-16T19:02:54.259-06:002009-11-16T19:02:54.259-06:00Evil Slut Clique cracks me up with their shy ways....Evil Slut Clique cracks me up with their shy ways. Ha ha.Fran / Blue Galhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18293627981248346055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-34576759754305587692009-11-16T18:55:55.749-06:002009-11-16T18:55:55.749-06:00I also read your stuff every day and look forward ...I also read your stuff every day and look forward to new posts. Sorry I don't often comment, I guess I'm just a little shy and don't want to seem trite if I don't have something witty to add. I'll try to do better. <br /><br />P.S. Thanks for the Anne Taintor link, now I know what to get my snarky female friend for XMAS.2xFooledhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14710798686073479621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-67985293470619905242009-11-16T18:39:52.372-06:002009-11-16T18:39:52.372-06:00Okay, fine. We'll TRY to delurk. But we're...Okay, fine. We'll TRY to delurk. But we're very shy.THE EVIL SLUT CLIQUEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11123136759394345810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-58700959226572823892009-11-16T18:39:36.678-06:002009-11-16T18:39:36.678-06:00Delurking, too.
I started reading your blog earli...Delurking, too. <br />I started reading your blog earlier this year and always enjoy it. I don't comment here--or anywhere else normally--because I don't have anything to add. On the rare occasion that I do, I comment but I read about 20 blogs a day. That very time-consuming already. I'd be on my computer all day if I also commented on everything I read. <br /><br />I read blogs to stay informed and because I enjoy the analysis or humor of certain bloggers. I'm not interested in the community aspect of blogs--I'm a passive viewer/reader. Maybe it's age-related. (1) I'm 45 and have 2 kids. I hardly have enough time to keep up with my real-life friends and relatives. (2) I grew up as a passive consumer of TV and newspapers, so I approach blogs the same way.<br /><br />Just as I might recommend a good TV show to a friend, I sometimes recommend certain blog posts to friends (usually on Facebook these days; I used to email them) but it usually doesn't occur to me to give any feedback to the writer.<br /><br />I really do appreciate your wit, your writing and your artwork. I like that you're my age, too--many bloggers are VERY young. Thanks for doing this! Keep up the good work!Kelly in NYnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-70960814765818900272009-11-16T17:53:38.873-06:002009-11-16T17:53:38.873-06:00I'm delurking now, and feeling sheepish. Thank...I'm delurking now, and feeling sheepish. Thank you for the kick in the butt! As a fellow blogger, I was actually just talking recently about how when I come across an interesting article and I post it to Facebook rather than to my blog, I feel quite lazy. Before Facebook, I feel like I was more critical about what I posted and more thoughtful about it.<br /><br />Facebook seems like lazy blogging to me. Sort of like drinking cheap beer, which I also sometimes do, but it makes a truly good drink taste so much better!Sue Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05372579806614287004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-17883856061692303522009-11-16T16:54:43.345-06:002009-11-16T16:54:43.345-06:00I always laugh when I see you make fun of a four w...I always laugh when I see you make fun of a four word Atrios post where 386 people leave comments. The commenting public can have a herd like mentality at times.<br /><br /> I understand the whole "time is precious" argument, but mostly I think it has to do with fear. People are afraid, even when anonymous , to speak their minds. They want to remain in the audience instead of participating and being part of the show. Here we are now, entertain us.zencomixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02425613931488064403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-25345036471070385552009-11-16T14:34:17.831-06:002009-11-16T14:34:17.831-06:00I visit your blog EVERY day, and if something new ...I visit your blog EVERY day, and if something new is up, I read it. I don't make comments because it would seem to me as if I was trying to out-clever you. Intellectual female smartasses are the best. I should know, one of them married me.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07059717904682980669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-53664552071783199042009-11-16T14:22:50.705-06:002009-11-16T14:22:50.705-06:00I read your blog every day, and I comment when I f...I read your blog every day, and I comment when I feel like I have something to say. I don't know if this helps or not, but this is one of the easiest blogs to comment on that I have found. It never has the feel about it that you could get shot down for what you say. Well, maybe if you say something that is both really stupid and not amusing... Really, the reason I don't comment more is that I always ask myself before I do: "Would anyone want to read that?" So I guess it boils down to a question of who the intended reader of the comment is. If I'm answering something in your post like I am right now, I'm less shy than when I'm commenting on a subject in general (like a real blogger). Also, I agree about the phone, it is my electronic leash, but at this point I pretty much have to have it. Please don't get too discouraged, you have created a very fine thing in this blog, and I do read it every day.<br /><br /> -Doug in Oaklanddinthebeasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12941071534250216503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-72322282579638931702009-11-16T14:19:18.887-06:002009-11-16T14:19:18.887-06:00I'm not going to leave a comment, so there!
Y...I'm not going to leave a comment, so there!<br /><br />You're not the boss of me.Ubermilfhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08685628102770311287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-1067897136106343192009-11-16T13:43:19.244-06:002009-11-16T13:43:19.244-06:00I was the one who talked about technological solut...I was the one who talked about technological solutions to cross-platform commenting with Blue Gal in email and I didn't take offense at all, because the technology is only part of the problem. Yes, Facebook and Twitter and all the other social networks have fractured commenting. And yes, there are various solutions like FriendFeed's API (assuming Facebook doesn't just kill FF now that they own it), or Disqus comments or Threadsy.<br /><br />But even assuming we could finally integrate comments across all the major platforms, that still leaves the problem that the person reading the blog post has to <b>want</b> to leave comment. And that comes down to a commitment of time, which is a very high price to ask someone to pay in this day and age it seems. <br /><br />For instance, one of the features I most detest on Facebook is the "Like" button (even though I use it, and hate myself for it). It's great to know people give something I posted their personal thumbs-up but it doesn't tell me anything. 9 times out of 10, when I write something, or even when I just post something, I'm looking for feedback and conversation. Just hitting that "Like" button doesn't scratch that itch I have to engage with people on ideas.Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09230447874923339087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-17937084055048555692009-11-16T13:40:59.169-06:002009-11-16T13:40:59.169-06:00Thanks for the reminder re hating the phone, Susan...Thanks for the reminder re hating the phone, Susan. <br /><br />I do use the phone to catch up and keep close to friends when there is no other alternative. But I spent years as a customer service rep: I don't hate the phone but in day-to-day interactions I consider the phone "work." Answering the phone when I don't know who is at the other end? Definitely work. Thanks.Fran / Blue Galhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18293627981248346055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8983386.post-81528664579129656602009-11-16T13:16:27.950-06:002009-11-16T13:16:27.950-06:00I'm delurking! Huzzah!
I feel your pain on th...I'm delurking! Huzzah!<br /><br />I feel your pain on the over-teched front. I'm overwhelmed, myself, trying to keep up with my RSS feed alone. I've added Twitter (as a reader, not a Tweeter). I think what finally happens is, you try different ways of keeping up and keeping in touch, out of all the tools out there, and settle on the ones that work best for your own quirky work habits and personality. For me, it's RSS and Twitter. For others, it might be Facebook and having digests delivered directly to your inbox.<br /><br />On a personal level, I hate the phone ... even family knows to email or IM because I so hate the damn thing. Just admitting I hate it and using it only when forced to has been very freeing, and made me much less of a grump.<br /><br />Anyway, keep on keeping on with your blogging. There are more of us than you know reading you daily, even if we don't comment.SusanGhttp://www.dailykos.com/noreply@blogger.com