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On Commenting
Being mostly right-brained has its perks at times, while other times it makes me feel like all I’m qualified to do is put a pretty (metaphorical) ribbon on something and call it art. I do consider writing a form of art, so I guess that would make me an artist, and we all know artists do not typically excel in the self confidence area. Sure, I’m happy with who I am, the woman on the inside. My soul, the person I strive to be each day, is someone I’ve put a lot of work into. But when I spill it all out on the screen, I don’t always feel like I am understood or even interesting. Are the things that interest me–things other people want to read about? My traffic says yes, but my comments…well, not so much.
I love to write, and while I do write for my own reasons and own self, I feel like my blog is a conversation with my (you) readers. There are many of you reading (holy cow, I’m shocked at how many of you visit this humble little place) but I know most of you don’t stop and say howdy. I know the reasons why…too busy, don’t feel witty, forget, not your thang…whatever it may be. I get it, believe me, I do. Because I’m not the best commenter either. Sometimes I’m lucky to get to your blog to read it at all, but I’m working on it. Promise.
So here’s the crux of it: comments matter. Like my friend Beth at I Should Be Folding Laundry said, comments are my payday. This blog is not written for money, and while I do enjoy the opportunities this blog brings my way–at the end of the day it’s still just me and my thoughts and I don’t like talking to my dog. Because that’s what it feels like when a bunch of you read and only a handful leave your thoughts…like speaking out into a foggy night when everyone’s already in their houses and I’m standing alone on the street. When I talk to my dog, she stares at me then walks off completely unaffected.
It’s ok…I realize that it’s entirely possible that most of you click away completely unaffected. But if that’s the case, go ahead and leave “woof” as your comment. That way, I’ll know that you stopped by, that you might slightly care, and that you might also possibly be covered in fur and smell like poo. And any of those is fine by me. (Sorta).
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“woof”
I can’t sop laughing, but I totally agree with you and Beth. Comments are important.
so yeah, spread the blog love and comment.
I try to tell myself comments don’t matter but it was easier to tell myself that when I got under 10 comments on a post. One day I had over 50 comments and was like, “Woah!” Because, I just feel like anyone else. I’m not saying anything unique really. I’m just being me. I guess comments can become like validation. Like a nod in your direction that says, “Yeah, I’m with you.”
I’m with you kiddo. Woof! Keep writing. You’re a quality-of-life line to a lot of people.
woof!!!!!Keep up the good work!
Here’s my comment! WOOF!
I won’t say woof, I’ll just say I like your blog.
Comments are a blogger’s crack! I need my fix daily!
So far, judging by the number of “woofs”, I leave people completely unaffected.
Awesomesauce.
I like your blog and comments too!
I think people stopped reading after you asked them to “woof”, because are all those people really unaffected? Goodness…. hey, at least you got some comments, holla!
I see you so much that I like to tell you in person how much I like your shizzle, but I will leave evidence here more often, k?
I, too, sorta feel like barking.
Great post, A. Excellent.
Did you really just say awesomesauce? Heh.
ya know, i nearly was covered in poo today after julian came into the house and climbed into my lap with dog crap on the bottom of his shoes. (daddy let him in the house that way.) oy.
anyway, i hear ya - comments totally matter. i’m guilty of not always leaving them myself, mostly because i don’t always have the time. but it is nice and really an honor when ppl do take the time to give ya a shoutout.
I was gonna say “woof” as well, to be funny…but then you wrote “covered in fur and smelling like poo.” did everyone else miss that part?? LOL.
Like I told Beth, I’ve thought about turning off comments. Then I don’t have to worry about offending anyone, and I don’t have to do the “I read hers all the time and she never reads mine” thing, that I sometimes fall into. I still haven’t even shut comments off and I don’t know if I ever really will, but I do think about it often.
Woot-y-toot-toot-toot!
I so could have written this entry myself. But at my house it wouldn’t be the dawg -she loves me - it would be the cat licking his, well, you know, but none the less not caring about my thoughts or words at all. He might even send a little tail jigging marky-marky my way just to share his thoughts about my words.
On my blog, one of the things I try to do is respond to every comment, usually in one, not individually. I want my readers to know that I read them and appreciate that they “leave their mark”, good or bad.
So stop by and say howdy sometime.
No you didn’t just say covered in fur and smell like poo.
[...] could have almost totally written that post myself. So go read it. Go ahead, I’ll wait right here for [...]
I, too live for comments. I even wrote something about it once in a post to no avail. So, I started thinking that maybe nobody was reading. Of course, when I visited my whole extended family, I found out otherwise when they had already heard all my stories. I read your blog regularly and will try to be better about commenting… that is, if the baby doesn’t wake up from his nap too soon.
He he
I also live for comments, and linked to the now-infamous Laundry post to hopefully explain WHY comments mean so much to us bloggers…
First visit here. *waving* from Canada! Nice to meet you.
And some of us are covered in fur and smell like poo for entirely different reasons! But WOOF, anyway! And I am so glad to have met you and I am subscribing this very moment and will comment as if my very life depended on it. Hugs - M
Comments rock! I feel the same way you do. I tend to write for myself but I also want to know what other think and hope that they have enjoyed reading what I wrote. It’s always good to have feedback and comment love never hurts!! ; )
Grrrr, grrrr *shakes head violently with shredded dog toy in mouth* Yeah, I’m here. And no I hardly comment anywhere b/c I get to read about that often too.
But I recently made a pact to myself to refocus on blogging, writing and reading including commenting because I miss it and that was the one thing I did for ME. And then it slipped on the priority list, as it should, but I was left feeling lost. And when my reading and commenting stopped so did my readers which is only fair. Once upon I time I had decent traffic and comments but now I don’t really care about that aspect (since I can’t force it), but when you do get feedback it makes a huge difference. I’m trying to be better at it.
Now I’m off to comment on some other blogs I’ve been neglecting.
First time at your site and I love it! I have to admit that I am a lurker who seldom leaves comments but that is mostly because I usually feel not witty or after typing a comment out, I look back to read it and then hate it because it didn’t reflect what I was really trying to say. Pretty pathetic huh?
Im still laughing. After that excellent post you’ve got at least 20 people acting like dogs. What could be more funny than that? I’m a pretty new reader but I love your blog!
I love your blog!
I comment on every post I read - whether its to say good post, or to add to the conversation. As a blogger I know how important commnents are, I also feel it’s part of my duty - I can’t complain about the lack of comments on my blog, if I don’t comment on other blogs. That said - thanks for the comments on my blog! You’re one of the few “good” bloggers in that you also comment on posts.
Visit me @ http://www.momontherun.net
Most of what I write for poopsy-woo doesn’t necessarily elicit commentary. That’s what I tell myself…..sniff.
Just stumbled you…think I might repeat what you said on my blog. Even my family comes to look, and never comments. What the heck is up with that?
ehem….woof…woof…woof….come woof my way will yah?
I love your writing! I wish I can be as talented as you are.
You certainly managed to delerk loads of people with this post :)! I have a similar issue with a low comment to reader ratio.
Hey there, I hope you are having a wonderful day and I just want to tell you I think you rock sista.
so go on, rock on witcha bad self.
xoxo
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