Friday 16 January 2009

Why do you blog?



My husband has been into cyber relationships for alot longer than I have but hasn't embraced the whole blogging concept. Each to his own & ,rather than evangelising, I actually enjoy us each having our own domains. Not really sure what he gets up to on the net to be honest...don't care either (we have a very trusting relationship) but think it's mainly music chat-rooms, as is his interest. Haven't done the forum/chat-room thing myself so can't comment but somehow he has managed to form a few cyber relationships, one in particular that has developed into skyping/ msn/e mails/sms's...blah,blah, blah. I'm almost jealous (particularly as said friend is female...) but it is all above board & nothing more than it appears. In fact, she is a great girl & regularly sends me Yorkshire Tea so where's the bad in that?!


Which brings me to my corresponding parallel...You're all my blogbuds as you know & I love being part of the Internet Community but what I want to open up for discussion is this...what to do if a "Blog you follow" doesn't reciprocate. There are certain blogs (rather, SEVERAL blogs) that I just adore but a few (fortunately only a few...) that I read religiously - in fact, I can't wait to see what pops up in my Google Reader as often as I can get online - BUT that, while their posts are inspiring - aren't embracing the interactive part. It's tough having a one-way conversation KWIM? I need to update my Blog Roll & am thinking (time obviously being a consideration) should I be spending time reading blogs (& leaving comments) when there is no relationship developing & no give& take?

I suppose we all have our different reasons for blogging & we all get different things out of it but, to me, there seems to exist an unwritten "code of conduct" with regard to the Law of Reciprocation in Blogland. Maybe I'm making too much of it & should "just chill", maybe these "wicked" thoughts are only coming into my head in light of my personal circumstances at the moment (where hubby & I are in the line of fire with his family-as outlined in a previous post) or maybe what I'm daring to say is something I'm not the first to have considered. What do YOU think?


12 comments:

Vicki said...

I have all sorts of blogs in my google reader - some I read and don't comment (usually celebrity scrappers and manufacturers), some I lurk on and others I regularly comment on. If someone new comes along and leaves me a comment I'll reciprocate and see where it goes. Sometimes nowhere and then they get deleted off my list. Its a bit hit and miss and not sure if there are any "rules" on this but have "met" some wonderful friends now all round the world.

Stefanie said...

Ok, I admit I am lazy... most times I read from my google reader and don't comment but then I have listed myself as a follower on many people's blogs and feel that kinda shows my loyalty, then if I have something to say I'll actually make the trek to the person's blog and leave a comment. I wish the family would make the effort to read and know what's happening in our lives. As to the JJ blog I seldom respond to comments left there, unless they are from people leaving me the URL of their LO.s My advice... chill a little and just skip it if you don't "feel like it".

Desire Fourie said...

I have had a similar approach to the previous commentators. I do however mainly visit blogs that relate to my interestes i.e. scrapping, cardmaking, beading, photography and mosaicing and because we all share a common interest, we all seem to comment regularly on each others posts. However, I don't return to a blog, delete it off my google reader, should someone not show the same interest in my doings/comments. But hey, its a free for all out there in cyber land and one can do whatever rocks your boat. During December last year I met two of my dedicated blog buddies in person (both from two different provinces in SA). It was as if we have known each other for donkey years when we met and we could pick up conversation topics where it was left in cyber space. This is the real thrill of blogging for me. Hope you are feeling a bit better of late. Hugs from Desire
(PS: Your comments on Doing Life is really appreciated after all comments received is what inspires us to keep blogging)

Jenny said...

Hi there - I came visiting via my SIL's blog and I have enjoyed your photos and writing. I live in NZ now (we emigrated 12 years ago)

Anonymous said...

the only way to answer this, is to be blunt, and i don't mean to step on any toes. although i refer to 'you' and 'me', it is a manner of speaking, and not personal!...

blogging is like any relationship, sometimes you need more friends, while i may have enough, and don't need more. maybe you might find me interesting, but i may not find you interesting. i may just be busy, and cannot follow so many blogs. i may have a life (not me, i'm just theorising here. i don't have a life). remember, there are many blogs out there that have so many 'fans' that it is impossible to respond to all. also, i read blogs in my google reader, so i only see your actual blog when i pop in to leave a comment.

initially i responded to EVERY single comment i got with a personal email, but as my blog grew i found i could not keep up.

i have a typepad blog, and we don't have a 'blogs i follow' feature, so i don't know what that entails. if i like a blog, i put it in my google reader, like i did with yours, so i have been a follower of you, though you might not know this.

you cannot expect anybody to reciprocate equally, the best you can do is have a great blog, and SLOWLY the hits will follow. and you will appreciate your 'loyal' readers all the more.

i suppose i really always blog for myself, so any response, whether it be in the form of links, comments or just hits, makes me happy.

maybe you are a little impatient? growing takes time...

Michelle Ramsay said...

Don't let it stress you out.I look at blogs because I find them interesting and if I receive a comment back then that is great, if I don't then that is fine too. I certainly don't take it personally.

Andrea said...

Wow Helen, I have never really thought of it like that....I think because of having Nicholas I lurk in many more blogs then I comment on and only get to update my "blogs I follow" list very infrequently....I will make more of an effort to click the keyboard and let you know when I have been passing through....oh yes and go check out my list I have updated it!!!!!

Thanks for the blog, it is great and I do visit more regularly then you think as with many of the bloggers you are leaving comments with I am sure.

xxx
A

Mel said...

I am with Michelle. I blog cos I want to. I comment where I want to. I follow where I want to. None of it is personal. Just because someone enjoys my blog DOES not mean I am going to enjoy theirs. And vice versa of course! I read and comment on quite a few blogs that dont read mine....probably cos I always want to have my 5c worth! Doesnt bother me a bit.

Beryldene said...

Hi Helen,

Hmmm...blogging is such a wonderful medium of meeting new people (ok virtually), or should I say making new connections...you've probably noticed that my blog is more about life and self exploration, but let me tell you, it didn't start out that way, and I was naive thinking only my friends would read it...I have asked the same question as time has gone by and new people have joined...what is the "unwritten law" of blogging "etiquette" ??..especially if your bloggin time is already stolen time as it is...the hard one for me is that because I no longer even find time to scrap for example, I no longer visit scrapping sites I used to, and have had to limit my visiting to sites that feed my soul in other ways...sigh...but as is the case with Desire, it's amazing how you do establish relationships with people who you've never met, and I really think it's a wonderful idea to meet them if you can...the good old fashioned way...in PERSON...LOL!....I do think as bloggin becomes more and more known, it will eventually become impossible to respond to all that visit and "pop in" for tea, as I like to call it...sadly

brigitte said...

i started blogging recently, so still new to all of this. i started blogging so that my family out there could always be up to date with what is happening in my life. when i got my first comment i was over the moon. but i find that i don't find the time to always comment on other blogs. i try and keep in touch.

CathQuillScrap said...

I started blogging hopping my family would read what I've been up too.... hehehehe... fat lot of help that was! But now I've met some awesome woman through my blog (and reading/commenting on theirs) so if/when I get comments it's great. Whether or not the family will ever read my blog is still to be seen. But I also now blog as a form of a diary for me... hence my waffle. So my advice to you... keep going at it and don't worry too much about the family issues, or whether or not you get comments... if you enjoy it and can get it off your chest, so much the better.

Anonymous said...

Hey - I'm quite new to the blogosphere, and whilst I appreciate and LOVE getting comments, it is not the be-all-and-end-all. It's nice to get feedback, but not vital!
I know I'm an IT dunce, but can you please tell me what a google reader is and how I can get one?
Also - I have a typepad blog and don't have a blog roll - cos I haven't worked out how to do it! Any one keen to give me a lesson??
Kirsty x