I have challenged myself — a few things in the past few weeks.
#1 — I have technology either totally ON or totally OFF. (but that is another blog post) and
#2 — I am taking the time to comment more on blog posts I read and encouraging others to do the same.
For many months, I became a BLURKER — someone who read a LOT of blog posts — even blasted out links so others could read the posts as well.
But I wasn’t commenting……
it was read read read — which just isn’t write — uhhh, right!
Consumers of posts, if I might…..take take take…..and seldom letting the reader know I was even there.
And slowly, I am starting to believe that a blog post really is NOT a blog post until it has comments. For several reasons –
- #1 — It is GUTSY. For someone to first take the time to sit down to write out their thoughts and then secondly, for someone to push the submit button — that took Guts — and that is really worth us (me, you, whoever) taking the time to say “thanks” or “huh” or “did you think of” or etc etc.
- #2 — Until someone comments — IT IS ONE PERSON’S CONVERSATION. Perhaps a good conversation — but still, just a thought bubble floating out there, perhaps read, perhaps seen, perhaps even with great impact — but until there is a comment, who’s to know?
- #3 — It means more than just a RT. Zite, Flipboard, Diigo, Google Reader and more have made it SO SO easy for a multitude of blog posts to zoom by our eyes each day. And almost all of these RSS options have made it even easier to Tweet out the post. In fact, some do it automatically before you even read the blog post. But to take the time to COMMENT means you took the time to read, to perhaps dwell or toss the blog posters thoughts a bit in your mind, to weigh it against or with your thoughts…….to reflect and then to respond means much more than just a RT.
If you say, “Oh, Jen, I follow too many blogs to comment on them” — then honestly, I would ask you to pare down on your RSS feed. Or make a special folder and throw a few blog writers into that folder and then take the time to comment just on posts written by that writer for a few weeks.
Ask yourself, if you have been a blurker? I have been — and I am going to do better from now on.
Just my thoughts.
Jen
Guilty as charged! I have been struggling to deal with this very issue. Thank you for bringing it out into the open and putting it in print. You are one of my favorite bloggers and I am always inspired by your thoughts. Thank you for the much needed “nudge”.
Uh-oh. You caught me. Google Reader has been a blessing but it has allowed me to not even go onto someones site address to read the post or post a comment. It is easier to scan the post or just read the title and move on. An advantage when you are busy but a disadvantage when you suddenly realize that you follow too many blogs and not many are making an impact on your life. Quantity vs quality, an age old issue. Time for a change. Thanks for sharing your heart Jen. You are a treasure!
Unfortunately you will need to count me among the blurkers, too. I hit my Google Reader when I need a lift or some inspiration and too often I don’t let the person who inspired me ever know. I am trying to do better, too. Thanks for the gentle reminder.
Smiles, I think we are all guilty — myself included.
And I forgot to also mention the importance of coming back and responding to comments made on your own personal blog. (grins)
Thank you all for sharing — and perhaps we can hold each other accountable??
at least for commenting on each others posts.
Jen
Well I guess I HAVE to comment on this post. Hahaha. Great stuff Jen. Thanks for saying it like it is.
Tim
Smiles, I had to laugh.
wondered if at least one person would take the bait. 
Thank you, Tim…..and talk soon!
Jen
I only recently started my own blog and have thought the same thing! It’s different being on the other side of things waiting for comments on your posts, wondering if they are helpful. You are one of only about 6 blogs I routinely follow through my GoogleReader. There are tons more, but I always find what you are posting to be helpful. Thanks!
A blog without a comment is an article. And a donut without a hole is a danish.
Excellent point, Jen! Now on to some other blogs to comment!