ahhhh. . .well, today I am on my soapbox about a trend I have noticed. . .not a good trend, I might add. . .
Now, to me, blogging, and facebook, and email, etc., etc., is all about communication. . .and communication is a two way street. . .that means speaking, listening, responding. . .and so on.
So. . .here’s what’s bugging me. . .bloggers, and facebookers who just want to speak, and speak, and speak. . .and yet never respond to their followers. . .
For example. . .I love to post comments on blogs when the topic is interesting. . .(except on those blogs where you hafta put in those stupid little captcha codes EVERY single time. . .ughhhh) . . . and I especially love it when the blog writer bothers to respond back. . .especially if there’s a point to clear up. . .or a commenter has asked a question.
Several of the blog writers that I follow are fabulous at doing this (you know who you are). . .makes me very happy!
So. . .here’s my point. If you are so busy, and so important, that all you want to do is to spew your story out there, and you can’t ever be bothered to acknowledge those who participate in the conversation, then what is the point of having a conversation? I’ll just read a magazine where I know a response is not expected. . .
It reminds me of baseball players, or movie stars who think they are so important, they never need to acknowledge their fans. . .or to say thank you.
Is it just me? Am I the only one who thinks acknowledging the input of others is important. . .well of course I know I’m not. . .because I see the responses of those of you who care about your followers.
You know, Phil Mickelson often stays up to two hours after a golf tournament, signing autographs, and showing his appreciation to his fans. . .that’s the sort of person I want to look up to. . .someone who is grateful, and appreciative. . .
Thanks to all of you who have read my rant. . .I hope you will respond. . .ha ha!
I've been known to climb on a soapbox...or two. I know what you're talking about. It kind of makes you feel like the red-headed step-child. I stopped following a couple of blogs that did that. I figured if they had asked for input and couldn't respond to that same request that perhaps they had too many followers and not enough time. I hope I helped resolve that issue for them:)
ReplyDeleteUmmm...was that a soapbox statement?
I do respond when someone asks a question, or If their comment actually deserves a response. Most of the comments that are left require no response from me unless it is just to say thanks for the comment. I really enjoy following you and your blog. I seldom leave a comment mostly because I do not have a question. I have left comments on blogs and do not expect a response, but agree it is nice when I do get one. OK I have ranted on and have not said anything of value LOL Please keep up the good work on your Blog, even though I may not say it I do appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteGreat Vickie. . .it's nice to know I'm not ALL alone. . .and I think I probably need to just follow your example, and just leave the ones who act that way. . .but their info is interesting. . .just not their style. . .ya know what I mean?
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comments Mike. . .and actually, it's not that I always expect reader's to comment. . .it's just that when they actually take the time to do so. . .I think they should be acknowledged. . .that's all.
ReplyDeleteOn a couple of blogs I follow. . .there may be 10 or 12 comments following a post. . .and never any acknowledgement from the writer that they even see the comments. . .much less a response.
Again, thanks for taking the time to read my blog. . .I appreciate it!
I haven't left very many comments on blogs. In fact, this is my first to an actual blog. I did comment on your Facebook post once and was very happy when you commented on my post. You're right. I like a conversation so much better than just spewing information at people. Thanks for posting your blog. I will be moving into my 5th wheel next month and need to know as much as possible!
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to leave a comment Debbie.
ReplyDeleteI originally started this blog to offer tips and information to those who were just starting out RV'ing. We had so many great folks answer our questions and help us out. . .and I wanted to do the same. . .but I've been coasting along the last few months, and haven't really been doing so great following through on those tips. . .gotta get back to it.
I hope you love Full Time RVing as much as we do. . .and we'll always be happy to answer questions. If we don't know the answers, we know lots of smart people who do. . .
Wishing you all the best,
Well,I am one of the guilty ones, and I don't mean to be! If somebody doesn't have an email for their name when they leave a comment, I've tried leaving a response on my blog, but then I'm not sure if that person will see that I answered back. A lot of times I have found that there isn't an email attached to their name. But I will try to do better on responding to people who make comments. Usually, I prefer to send a private email just because I'm not sure anybody is going back to see if I said anything in response to their comment. And when I leave a comment on somebody else's blog, I certainly don't expect an answer because some people have huge numbers of followers and you could be on the computer all day trying to stay caught up with reading, answering and commenting on blogs! :-) Just my two cents, not trying to be difficult here....thanks for bringing this up! Guilty as charged! I will try harder to be a better communicator. That's an important people skill when you are out on the road and don't have the normal friends channels....Thanks for posting this. Jeannie
ReplyDeleteJeannie. . .you always do a great job of responding. . .even on your blog comments you respond to the different questions and thoughts. . .and of course, I would never expect someone to respond to every little thing. . .but there have been those that I have sent a specific request or comment to who can't bother to interact. . .if it was just once. . .I would say oh well. . .they just missed it. . .but more than once. . .aaaahhh. . .nope!
ReplyDeleteIt's kinda like back in snail mail days. . .you get a letter from a friend, you respond. . .you finally, finally get a letter back. . .you respond. . .after a while they are fewer and further between, until, before you know it, you've completely lost touch. . .that's what happens. . .
I just think staying in touch with friends and family is important. . .but it requires a lot of effort. . .that's all!
Maybe I'm expecting too much. . .but once I committed to email even, I would get up two hours before time to leave for work, so I could make sure I kept in touch with anyone who had sent me something overnite. . .can you imagine being out on the road back in the "olden days" before email, and facebook. . .wow. . .we've got it good!
I guess I am guilty of the above. I enjoy reading the post and only comment on very few. I try to not make to many comments on things as I do not want to over step my boundrys
ReplyDeleteBill, I rarely comment on controversial issues. . .what's the point. . .but it never hurts to let someone know that you enjoyed some aspect of their post. . .in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteOne lady has the most phenomenal photography. . .I want to make sure she knows how much joy her incredible gift gives to me. . .that kind of thing.
We've met so many great RV'ers across the country. . .just because we corresponded on a blog or on facebook. . .and then when we were in the same area, we were able to get together for lunch or something. . .how would we ever be able to do that unless we interacted. . .
I'm glad you took the time to leave a comment today. . .thanks!
Guilty as charged...although acknowledgments we make are through private e-mail and have been at times extensive communication when questions have been asked about one of Paul's projects, I am guilty of not acknowledging every comment...no excuses. I appreciate reading yours and others' thoughts. You can count on me to do my part so that you can put your soapbox away...at least until you need it next time. LOL Please forgive me. :-)
ReplyDeleteI try to answer every comment, no matter what the comment is. Once in a great while I will get behind and skip over a generic comment. As you well know, answering a comment can lead to a more in-dept relationship. I enjoy the emails that lead to other emails...eventually we find out we have a ton in common! You did a great job of making yourself clear on this topic...hehe ~wheresweaver
ReplyDeleteSparked some interesting replies Janice..good job! I too am guilty as charged. Many of tne bloggers I follow I read via the email to my smart phone vs. the actual blog on my PC. I follow at least 10 who post daily.
ReplyDeleteMaking time to actually go TO the blog, log in and then comment is more time than I can give, so often I fail to get back to them, other than approving their comment.
I have become a fan of Facebook because I can communicate quickly with others and get back to work. There are even a few people I have "met" on Facebook that I really have come to care about, more so than a casual acquaintance.
Its very interesting how this "new" social media method of communicating keeps us connected yet dis.connected at the same time.
Thanks for prompting some of us to rethink how our blogging ethics stack up.
Copies of comments to my blog posts are sent to my gmail address automatically so sometimes I just email directly to the person who commented. Does that count? And I try to comment on blog posts written by individuals that I know read my blog.
ReplyDeletehttp://travelinglongdogs.blogspot.com/
oh goodness. . .now you guys make me feel bad for being on my soapbox. See. . .the ones who actually care about others, and spend the time responding most of the time are the ones who've taken the time to comment on here. . .you guys are great.
ReplyDeleteI imagine the ones who provoked my annoyance in the first place are just continuing on as normal. . .and will never even know!
I'm thinking I should just follow the advice of Vickie. . .and either just not follow the ones who can't be bothered with others. . .or just know that's the way they are and let it go. . .hmmmm. . .decisions. . .decisions.
To me. . .it's sort of like that lesson you learn on how to have a clean desk. . .you know the motto. . ."only handle that piece of paper once". . .that's how I handle comments, whether it be FaceBook, the Blog, emails, etc. . .read it. . .deal with at that moment. . .done!
Thanks guys for being so very, very thoughtful, and for all your great responses. . . .you've made my day!
Janice,
ReplyDeleteYou have hit the nail on the head. Some of the more "famous" rvers blogs that I used to follow but don't anymore, were/are too far into themselves that they no longer have time for the more "common" among them. I don't post often, but do when I feel the need. I was very appreciative of your email responses to me about your Thousand Trails purchase some time ago.
Joe
Hey Joe. . .thanks for taking the time to comment today.
ReplyDeleteBringing up the Thousand Trails is a whole other issue. . .I'm amazed by the number of people who are so close minded about memberships. . .without really having any knowledge.
Now, I totally understand of course, that memberships are just NOT for everyone. . .and it's only beneficial when you are using it all the time. I would never think it would be cost effective unless you were full timing. . .or lived close enough to a park that you could go every weekend or so.
Anyway. . .that's a different subject. . .glad I was able to answer your questions.
Travel safe,