I guess this is something of a follow up to my Social Networking post, in which I mentioned how I tend to mostly lurk around the internet. I notice the blogging community is something of a circle. Or an ellipse. Whatever. Everyone knows everyone and they all leave comments for each other at their own blogs. So why don’t I be more social and leave comments at other blogs to expand my circle? Being quiet has always been a major part of my temperament and it’s hard to change your ways after you’re set in them.
I’m just not inclined to leave comments at big blogs. I enjoy reading all the different comments but don’t have anything valuable to contribute to the conversation most of the time. On that note, I prefer to leave comments at small blogs when I do decide to say something. Big blogs with several commentators remind me too much of message boards, which I’ve all but left behind. The whole aspect of message board and IRC communities never appealed to me very much. To me it feels like getting suffocated in a crowd of uniformity. That’s not to say the big forums and IRC are bad. They just feel very constraining. You may see me around on these mediums every now and then. I probably won’t say anything though.
I like blogging because of the individuality it affords. I like seeing all the different themes and writing styles out there. Was this personal post about anything or was it just another of my mini rants? If Wolf Hurricane starts to regularly get 20 comments per post, will I stop commenting back…? I’ll still comment back, because I love getting feedback. Your comments are my blogger Prozac after all.
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I’d say that you’re in the majority…most people who read blogs or even access a blog’s contents don’t leave comments.
I do like it more when a blogger is more inclined to comment back on a note I’ve left. The bulk of the blogs I follow are where bloggers seem to “value” their visitors.
Caitlins last blog post…Dear Cuil
Sometimes I don’t feel like commenting in places that get shit loads of comments either because …. I dunnoes, they already got enough love in their world lols. I rarely go on the IRC channel because Hemi and Randall scare me (j/ks, they’re awesome)
I’m the (rather) quiet type ’cause I’m new-ish and I the best type of shit I can write is something you’d find in /a/.
Comments, however, are things I always love to see. If it’s a good post then I’ll drop a comment.
C.I.s last blog post…The Anime Saimoe tournament ‘08. Results of Group 8!
@Caitlin: True. Most regular blog commentators have their own blogs. I guess I’m in the majority when it comes to blog lurking in general, but sort of in the minority when it comes to being a blog owner that doesn’t post at too many other blogs. I know many of the bloggers out there post at tons of other blogs. I struggle to keep up with the blogroll and whatever I’ve got on Anime Nano. Sigh.
@Blissmo: I know how you feel. Silly people like Baka-Raptor and Shin already get enough love. They won’t miss me not posting. I’m still there in spirit.
@C.I.: lol /a/. Thanks for wasting a comment on this post.
“…I prefer to leave comments at small blogs when I do decide to say something.”
A-ha! Now I know why you comment on my blog =P
A Day Without Mes last blog post…Nabari no Ou Episode 18
I struggle to find something pithy, relevant and helpful to say on the spot. When I actually have a thought with merit, it takes time to ferment, so I tend to think well in actual posts, but say little extra that’s actually of use in my own comments, or in the comments on other blogs.
This is probably another reason why I’m addicted to pingbacks.
IKnights last blog post…Figure 17: Attention! Deficit!
@Day Without Me: I’ve been found out!
@IKnight: I hear you there. A good comment must ferment like fine natto. Like right now, I had to sit down a good few minutes to think of what to say. This wasn’t even a long comment either. Heh.
I generally stick to silent prowling when moving around in big blogs like Random Curiosity. Even when I get the urge to say something, there’s a fair chance that someone has already posted a comment along the same lines. Usually I drop a line or two only if I happen to be among the first few readers of a new post, but that’s about it.
For the record, I don’t do first-in-line posts (”Woo-hoo! First comment!”) even if I happen to be the first man in a fresh entry. I find them quite annoying (unless the “Woo-hoo!” line is followed by text of real substance), and I tend to think of them as borderline spam.
Caitlin said: ‘I do like it more when a blogger is more inclined to comment back on a note I’ve left. The bulk of the blogs I follow are where bloggers seem to “value” their visitors.’
Yeah, that’s the kind of blog I like. It feels nice to know that one’s comment is appreciated, or at the very least worth acknowledging.
When I can, I leave a comment, if it’s just to acknowledge the blogger who made the effort to post something. Likewise, I really appreciate seeing comments on my own posts, since, like CI, I can just come up with /a/ quality writings.
Shins last blog post…Code Geass R2 Turn 18: A Kiss To Build A Dream On
@Yamcha: I see what you did thar.
And just to add something Iknight pointed out, I struggle with trying to find words to say on the spot (I suck at impromptu shit), so if my twisted and awesomely shallow mind fails me, I generally find the lulziest thing in a post and point that out. Can’t do that on Iknight’s blog though. T_T
C.I.s last blog post…The Anime Saimoe 08, Round 10! Second Prelims.
I think too much when I comment. I keep wondering about if what I want to say is what other people have said, or that I can’t just say “nice post” and leave it at that. So sometimes, it can become a hassle to make what I feel is the best comment that I can make. Especially on posts that really work for me.
TheBigNs last blog post…Back from Otakon, and Boy Are My Arms Tired!
I wish I was Baka-Raptor, I really do.
I get a picture of Fate whenever I comment on this blog, which is a big incentive, I must say.
IKnights last blog post…Stranger in a Strange Land