I'm a chronic lurker, a virtual peeping Tom, an eavesdropper. I'd give anything (almost) for Harry Potter's invisibility cloak. I belong to 12 listservs, write 3 blogs and visit 9 other blogs on a regular basis. And I feel guilty all the time because I don't usually post to the lists and I rarely comment at the blogs.
I used to feel sorry for the commentless blogger because I judged readership by the number of posted comments. Then I had my own blog, added a hit counter, and learned that comment numbers don't tell the whole story. By a long shot. In fact, there are a whole lot of you out there just like me! Listening in.
Why don't I comment more? Who knows. I read all the comments (love them) and I really, really want to comment, but I just can't bring myself to participate unless I'm truly inspired. I agonize over it. Should I speak up more? What should I say? And who really cares? On those rare occasions when I do add my two-cents, I feel pretty good. Still, next time it's the same story.
I know it's supposed to be good for me, especially on a professional level. Get my name out there. Interact. I should be posting witty, interesting, informative comments. Engaging others. Or I should be commenting just to let the blogger know that I'm out there, paying attention, and liking what I'm reading. Right? Instead, I hang out behind the curtain, watching the show from backstage. But I'm comfortable back here.
I love my early morning ritual. A steaming cup of coffee next to my computer, spending time with my favorite blogs, tuning in to what they have to say.
I realize that I'll always be a lurker. And maybe that's okay.
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11 comments:
I hear you. We probably belong to all the same listserves and read the same blogs. And of course we see certain names over and over. That's part of Publicity 101, right?--get your name out there as many times as possible, and maybe it will stick in someone's mind when they're wandering through a bookstore.
I know that counters exists. I just don't want to know what they say. How many hits is enough? Is the number worth worrying about, and what do you do about it? I'm thinking about adding "sex" and "cat" as a tag for every post.
My philosphy is, comment when you have something to say, not just to wave your name.
I have several blogs I check nearly everyday, as well as bing on 3 listserves, but I only regularly comment on 1. As for blogging responses? It depends on what is being discussed and how much time I have.
I often wonder how authors manage to do it all. Some of you all are active on more than one blog-really active, plus the lists plus cranking out these great tales for us to read.
Caryn
Ok. So I don't feel quite so bad now. I lurk like crazy. I love reading the blogs and visiting the forums I frequent, but I can't seem to post unless there's something that really hits me. I thought surely I'd be blacklisted if what I commented wasn't funny enough or sounded rude when it wasn't intended that way. Now I know I'm not alone. :-)
Sheila - sex and cats. LOL. I hear bathroom humor works, too.
Caryn - maybe that's part of why I don't comment much. It takes a little creative thought and most of the time my brain is numb.
M.W.A. There are more of us than them! Thanks for commenting. Did I mention that bloggers love, love, love comments.
I'm a major lurker too! I belong to (mumble-mumble) listserves, most of which I don't get time to read, check blogs regularly, but rarely take time to offer a comment -- usually because I'm so late getting there, anything interesting that actually popped into my head has already been said :)
I don't visit all that many blogs, and mainly for the most part, just comment on this one. I guess it is because I've been reading the Cozy Chicks blog from just about when it started, so I feel like you all are friends. As for lurking, I do that a lot if I take an online class.
I don't visit many either. I visit DorothyL daily, but have rarely posted there. I admit to being intimidated by the regular posters. I also read my agent's website daily and only post when I want to encourage other writers. I think there's a time to lurk and a time to talk. If you only comment a few times a year but feel passionate about your response, folks will really benefit from your words.
I know I should visit more other blogs, but there's only so much time. That's what usually pushes me off the computer.
I used to think comments = readership too, but with those handy stat counters, I learned differently too.
I don't comment a lot either because it tends to take me forever to think up a witty reply, and if I have to think that hard, I'm better off expending the brain power elsewhere. Which is a real shame, because I can be darn witty when forced!
I'm a tried and true lurker, too. Every so often I go through spurts of making myself comment (because I know bloggers love comments), but eventually old habits sink in and lurkdom is just a lot easier!
Glad to see I'm not the only one. I love to visit and read blogs. but sometimes I can't, or don't, comment for fear of looking dumb, not knowing what to say, having nothing to say, not sounding as 'witty' as someone else...ha! But I read, lurk and sometimes leave a short comment. I realized comments vs. visitors are vastly different though we all love to feel popular sometimes and have that proof huh?
Sad to think... is this part of why newspapers are fading, failing and closing?
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