Wednesday, February 24, 2010

ping, ping

In an interesting twist, I was reading XUP's post on comments, where as is often the case, the comments are as, or more, interesting than the post. There were already a lot of comments to read through, because I've been distracted by the really, really, big event happening in Vancouver and it took me awhile to read through them all and think of my own contribution.

As usual, at the same time, I had just posted on my photoblog and I was visiting a host of other photoblogs and leaving comments there. I always check off the box that says email follow up comments even though I have been getting no notification of follow up comments by email for weeks - months even. Stupid Blogger. But sometimes, it works and you never know. I also don't always get an email notice for comments left on my blogs. Blogger seemed to have its own idea of who was deemed notification worthy. So it can be a surprise when I go into the comment box to reply to one comment and find two or three others there! It also means I have to keep checking, endlessly, because I am a comment whore.

Anyway, I was still thinking about my blogger whingeing contribution to XUP's comments when I went to have a nap. In the depths of my sleep-deprived brain (why do I have to watch all 24 hours of Olympic coverage??) I could hear the pings of new emails falling into my inbox. Suddenly blogger has decided you are all notification worthy again.

Just when I was getting used to having very few emails to sift through...
Glad to have you back.

35 comments:

  1. I think if I had to track every comment made on every post I visit on other blogs, I'd go into a seizure. Too much! But I love seeing comments roll in through my email and love going back to see the response to a comment I've left. It seems more of a relationship that way.

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  2. SAW: it was getting quite exasperating to keep track of them - and I admit, I would get a bit annoyed when there was silence form the original post author.

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  3. I've been pretty bad lately about the comments. I know I need to improve. I love the comments as well. But it is a matter of time constraints lately I'm afraid.

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  4. Sistertex: in my case it is more of a numb brain... it sometimes takes me hours - or days - to think of something suitably erudite.

    (we are winning 7-3 against the Russians at the end of the 2nd period...)

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  5. Hah!hah! You call yourself a comment whore and a good one too.

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  6. :) comments are fun. i love being in touch with others across the miles

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  7. XUP's post made me think more about the whole comment thing, too. (Damn that woman. She's so cerebral sometimes!) I understand that to get comments on your own blog, it's helpful to comment on other peoples' blogs. But you're right: sometimes it is hard to think of something original or interesting to add. Sometimes the post already has thirty comments, and I feel like I would just get lost in the crowd. And sometimes,yes, the Olympics just get in the way!

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  8. XUP's post made me think more about the whole comment thing, too. (Damn that woman. She's so cerebral sometimes!) I understand that to get comments on your own blog, it's helpful to comment on other peoples' blogs. But you're right: sometimes it is hard to think of something original or interesting to add. Sometimes the post already has thirty comments, and I feel like I would just get lost in the crowd. And sometimes,yes, the Olympics just get in the way!

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  9. Oops. I have no idea why my comment just appeared twice. Sorry!

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  10. Gotta just say hi to this:)...and say I do have a hard time keeping up with all the reading and commenting and following up...I find I have been doing more of that than actually posting..

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  11. Uh, I don't know if this problem is entirely Blogger ... I wonder if it also has to do with how strong the email's firewall (or whatever you call it) is -I also found some of the comments in the spam folder lately! Do you look there?

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  12. I love to read the comments too! So I too am a ho!!! LOL!! Just so you know...I do leave comments for you!!
    Have a great day!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  13. Comments and commenters are endlessly fascinating, and can change a blogger's own perception of something she's just written. That dull/silly/self-conscious little thing you just post any old how because you don't want your beloved readers to think you've died while you're having a Blogger's Block week can attract so much interest, but the soul-searching one that reveals a sensitive and beautiful soul goes down like a lead balloon.

    And then there's the whole business of Followers... I keep wanting to write a post about Followers, but can't, because I fear that I'll be seen as touting for more.

    Just some of the many pleasures and challenges of blogging! You have to love it....

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  14. After reading these comments, apparently a lot of bloggers read a lot of blogs. Because I read so few blogs, it's easy to check back to see what the comment reponse was. I like my tiny handful of readers, (and thank-you for being one) because I've never been good in crowds. And to be honest I just don't care for most blogs. I'm ridiculously picky. Even when one of the bloggers I like reccomends a blog, I usually don't like it. I like the blogs I read and don't really want to read any others. But that's just me.

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  15. Char: I agree. blogging is an interactive activity, otherwise it's just a journal.

    Pinklea: I used to make sure I would comment on other blogs that I liked to get my name out there and hope for a new 'virtual friendship'. now, I am thrilled when someone new pops by, but I tend to comment only if I can think of something timely and interesting to say. sometimes it takes me awhile.

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  16. Pinklea: you were just eager to get your point out. must be all that cardio and strength training you're doing!!

    Oliag: I know, some weeks, there is a veritable feasts of so many good posts to read and I find I don't have time to write my own. or worse (?), I find someone has written about a topic I have in my drafts, but it is so much better than mine that I dump it)

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  17. Honestly, on most blogs, I rarely go back to see if my comments were answered. I just don't have the time and energy to keep track.

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  18. Jeannette: nice try, but I am blaming blogger. everything was hunky dory until a couple of months ago, (and I've read other people who have found similar problems) then suddenly, yesterday afternoon, I started getting email updates and it seems to be sorted. sometimes, I find if someone emails me with their response, that will go into my spam folder, but I find it easily enough.

    SueAnn: I don't need (or want) hundreds of comments, but I do like when 'regulars' keep coming back, and I find I look forward to seeing their names in my comment box (and what they say). and yes, I have found you every time. and sorry, I don't always comment on all your post where I read them in my feed reader.

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  19. Rachel: I know, isn't that the strangest thing?! quite often I will think of certain people when I am writing and I can get some new posts out of the comments.

    there are a few bloggers who acknowledge every new follower, which seems nice.. but then I think, if they didn't leave a comment but just started following, they possibly like the anonymity. I do always pop over and check out their blog.

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  20. Geewits: I have a ridiculous number of blogs I follow and keep up with on my feed reader. many of them I simply lurk on. I find it interesting that you like to keep your readership and following small because you are not good in crowds - I find this as one way to get around the paralyzing fear of being in a crowd.

    Jazz: so I should stop asking you questions?
    and you won't even read this?
    thank you for always commenting. I lurve you.

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  21. Pinklea - I'm not the least bit cerebral. Take that back.

    Violetsky - I would go insane if my email kept reminding me about what was going on in the blogworld. I have a routine. I post. I read and respond to comments. I go to the commenter's blogs and read their latest post and leave a comment and then check back to see if there is any new discussion on the last post. Then if I still have time, I go through my blogroll and check in with some favourite bloggers. That's it. Then once a week or so I make a point of going through my entire blogroll to check in with those I've missed. If people don't post for a long time or don't comment on my blog for a long time I tend to skip over them after a while. Like I said before this could be a full-time job, if only someone would pay me.

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  22. XUP: see, I'm just not disciplined enough to have a routine like that. that's why my computer is in my living room and I sit on a swivel chair so I can blog and watch tv at the same time. I have way too many hours in the day... maybe I need a full time job. nah, I like being constantly distracted.

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  23. VioletSky, glad to see you again commenting at my blog! :)

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  24. Well, I won't say much about the business of blogging and comments, - I am at heart a minimalist..

    But I do love your header. Couldn't you just tumble head over heels into that marvelous warm fluff of cloud!

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  25. Well, I'm gonna fight you for your corner, 'cause I'm a real 'ho, too! For me, it's all about the comments and the answering of them. The post is just the beginning for me...it's like throwing out a topic of conversation and I love the back-and-forth of it. I love my regulars, you included of course, and it's always exciting to see a new face arrive at the party. Sometimes I start following if I find it worth my time, sometimes not. But I always visit at least once and leave a comment. And I have to say, because I'm such a big baby, that if I see the blog owner reply to just one or two commenters and not me, it hurts my feelings. You know, if you do one, then do them all, or do it privately. Waaa, waaa, sniff, sniff. Okay.

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  26. Mary: :) sorry, I have a bad habit of just putting my link in and forgetting to say anything about your own contribution of windows!

    Hildred and Charles: oh but your words are so poetic...

    Susan: hey, where did you get to?
    I know, though sometimes I will leave a general thank you (especially when it is photo post), but I also feel a bit hurt and dejected if my comment is ignored. how junior high of us, eh?!

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  27. A case of arrested development, for sure! :)

    I've been hiding.

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  28. This was great!! ha, and a lovely pastel sky too. I'm still fishing comments out of my spam (not spam) folder? Anyway, cheers-

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  29. Hey XUP, being cerebral isn't supposed to be an insult! Maybe you're not cerebral, but some of your posts sure are - and by that I mean that you often write about real issues that require some measure of brainpower in order to respond appropriately. You make your readers think - and you can't deny that you are the Queen of Research (or at least a Princess).

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  30. Don't you just love it when pings go back to normal...?

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  31. Lena: especially with no effort from me!

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  32. I find it hard to keep track of where I have visited sometimes, and haven't always had much luck with the comment thingy that Blogger torments us with.

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  33. I've been looking at notifying my posts by email (I'm on blogger) but I don't know how to.

    CJ xx

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  34. Sag: I always think I'll remember...
    and I should keep a list of the blogs that have the nine rings of hell to comment and then have the nerve to say "comment moderation" after all your trouble.

    CJ: I'm not sure either (do you mean so that people can get email updates of your posts?) I just use my blogroll or feed reader for getting updates of my favourite blogs.

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