Wednesday, February 17, 2010

watch what you say about, Ahem, social media

Oh, Bubbie, within an hour of posting that entry about not "sharing" on FB, my monitor went out. Co-inky-dink? Woooo... ain't life funny?

I'm now posting from my new laptop ... waiting for my IT guy to bring me a new monitor (he just got a new shipment, by chance) ... and I still haven't figured out how to get into my main mailbox, being an old lady with few technical skills.
But it does give me an opening to talk about website and blog "comments". I read plenty of other blogs, but must admit I rarely leave comments. I'd have to go from the RSS reader to the blog, then write the secret word as it appears to get past the spam filter, and then think of something original to say. Too much volunteer work and you may know how I feel about that.

I do appreciate comments, so I guess it makes me a bit hypocritical. And as much as I appreciate your comments, replying is even more work, so I usually either decide I need to check out a new link or something I've bookmarked, or I get up and let the cat out ... but please, don't feel I haven't read the comments... I really do like the feeling that someone out there is reading.

Someone, anyone, except those gosh durn persistent "Anonymous-es". Here's the low down: if you send a comment as "Anonymous" your message goes right into my spam file. But I still end up sifting through the replica watch, Viagra, and broken English hacker practice entries, just to find your missive. I encourage you to leave a name, even if a pseudonym, if it's not too much trouble.

2 comments:

Summer said...

Well, Betsy, I've been a reader of your blog for awhile now. Dare I say years? Yep:P

But I gotta say, I only occasionally comment for the very reason you mentioned... the lack of interaction. Web 2.0 is all about conversation. Leaving comments - which, as you said, takes effort - is like writing graffiti on a city wall. Sure, someone reads it. But it's not like conversation unless someone scribbles back.

It's not that time consuming to reply. If you want people to comment, even if you don't return it by commenting on other people's blogs, you should reply just to let us know that you're listening:)

Betsy said...

Hi Summer,
Thanks for the comment and the advice. Yes, you're right. I should get up off my lazy duff and respond to comments, at the very least. Maybe I'll just start with the people who leave their names... or, just go with the interesting comments. And I should begin to leave comments here and there on blogs. Maybe it's just the moon talking, but it seems like a good resolution for a new year.