I used to have a perfectly well-oiled blog roll. Everyone on it checked in with me daily and I with them. But the blogging life is a hard life, it seems. We have personal problems, we have crazy ex's or crashed blog crushes. We have sickly loved ones, we have personal spats and blog wars. We take sides in the skirmishes of others or we are forced to choose one blogger or another because neither of them will associate with anyone that hangs around that asshole!
Sometimes bloggers just lose interest in each other. It happens. The relationship played itself out. It seemed like there was a spark there, but now it's gone. We both know it. No use pretending.
Sometimes people inexplicably stop commenting but continue to read your blog. That always makes me scratch my noggin. Why do they stop? Something I said? Am I not visiting their blog enough? Has some old conflict somehow reinfected the blogosphere and now I am persona non grata in their world? You never know. Because they never tell you. They just fade away or they suddenly come back when some sort of resolution comes to whatever was preventing them from commenting in the fist place.
I was just looking at the state of my blog roll today and noticed that it is particularly tattered at the moment. I'm not really out there trolling the streets trying to pick up new blog tricks, so I basically have the people that come to me. Little known fact: comment three times at Bugwit Homilies, and you get blogrolled! Unless you are a jerk. I'm easy, but not desperate.
So, here's the breakdown of my peeps:
I have 20 bloggers on my blog roll.
5 of them are on hiatus.
5 just don't blog as much as they used to and don't come around very often.
1 Was in honor of someone that closed their blog.
2 just blurk now and don't comment.
So, given that 65% of my links are inactive or nearly so, does it even make sense to HAVE a blog roll? At what point is it acceptable to delete a link? What's the appropriate mourning period?
Your thoughts please. Blurkers invited!
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39 comments:
Thats it...... just bin me..... lob me in the dustbin and wait til Monday when the dustbinmen come and put me in the dustbin lorry.....'throwing me arms in the air'......... :)
I know, I havent got around to the blogs that I usually do..... just life stuff here really..... but life stuff pans out on to a level eventually and life floats on :)
and look what a infrequent blob slag poster I am.... I usually only blob twice a week.....
I'll be back ;)..... even if ya do bin me...... Like I give a toss whos blobroll Im on lol
ps..... also this computer is being used by the 5 of us, they all have a myspace and IM so sometimes Im last in the bloody queue ....
x
ohhhhh you are not afraid of raising the hard hitting subject, eh Bug?
Blogrolls are very political. i don't have one personally because its just too bloody political. and i am precious about my template.
I have commented 120 times on your blog. should i have 40 links???
I started a blogroll when I started my blog...the only folks on it are the 3 or 4 people who started me off - or - family.
I don't use blogroll - I use bloglines and I've just got it up and running - this way I know when someone has updated their blog and I can avoid the click click 'anything new?' click click waste of time.
Right now my main client has changed absolutely everything from their methodology, approach, tools, templates and team for a worldwide project involving some 300 staff of our firm. We need to get everything changed by the end of July - and guess who is doing the work.
Sometimes you come and read to see how a person is getting on...but your brain is too full of your own life and you're on such different planets at the moment to really have much to offer...
also...I think summer is not blog season...my visits are way down too...
and...when you crossover into the world of email/messenger/facebook with a blogger...the traffic onsite tends to go down and into direct contact.
just my thoughts on this rainy friday morning...gotta run back to work - I've had a full 6 hours of sleep - thats cutting into my chargeable hours!
xx
PS - safe travels, bugsy
I gave up on my blogroll nearly a year ago for good reason and haven't looked back. I prefer to do the featured comment thing.
Sometimes I read and don't comment because my brain has gone to mush and I don't want to say anything like 'nice post' just for the sake of leaving a comment. Other times, I can't relate to the topic or won't comment on political/social issues etc. But I visit just to show I've been here.
Blogging also goes through peaks and troughs. My comments have been down lately but such is blife.
((((Marmy))))
Actually, this whole post was about seeing if I could get you to stop blurking and start commenting! It worked beautifully, I might add!
I can't believe you are busy with only six little monkeys to look after, plus four boys, two cats, various reptiles and field mice and one chicken to take care of.
But just the same, darlin', if you drop by, leave a calling card, eh? You don't have to write anything elaborate. It's just nice to see your smiling face (metaphorically).
Janey-baby:
When I assembled my first blogroll, I was blithely unaware of all the shit I was stepping in. I think you have the right solution..."Sorry, links just don't fit my artistic concept!"
Nice dodge.
Oh, if you'll notice, there is an exception to that rule of 3 comments = 1 link.
Chavette is sorta like Britspeak for asshole, right? ;-)
Pinky-san:
Blog season? I had no idea! I'll be sure to put away the white background before labor day! ;-)
If it isn't blog season, it must be Darfur Duck season!
You work too hard. Would you like me to call your boss for you and tell him to go easy on you? I'm happy to help. Really.
Chickybabe:
Actually, CB, you hit on another possible explanation for why my comments are down: What I post may just suck.
When you can't relate to my post, just drop me a line that says, "Hey bug! Your post is really dull!"
I'll get the hint and you'll be providing a public service for your fellow bloggers who have to read this crap!
Thanks in advance. ;-)
I'm here a lot. I enjoy what you write and I enjoy the comment threads too! Your entry is right on target. This time around blogging I decided to make things as simple as possible, and that includes going without a blogroll.
:)
:) - 6 kids your joking right? lol - I have 13 different nippers during the week and all that goes with them lmfao.......
ok, I will leave me calling card under the front door mat next time, or write me comment in blood on the bedroom wall LOL.......
:)
X
Lzbth:
I think my links will soon be 'designed out', too! Thanks for the nice comments.
Marmy:
13? Better you than me. Obviously, I would have lost count after 5.
Feel free to write Helter Skelter on my walls.
I must be the "in honored of closed blog" person. I have also noticed that I hardly get any visitors anymore, not sure if it's because it's summer or what. Maybe people just get sick of hearing me whine. Who knows. I still love visiting you though, Bug.
Hi, my name is ~d and I am a recovering blurker. Actually, I do not blurk. On anyone. If I go..I leave a comment. I just left a comment on someone named Badger's and all I said was
hey!
No no no... it may not be dull, just a topic (of many) I don't comment on, eg politics, religion and so on. Others may relate whilst I don't. I'm sure you feel the same about some of my posts.
I tend to suffer from blurkitis too sometimes.. finding that some good antihistimine cream works wonders for that, along with oodles of chocolate..
and no pizza.
lol
I think maybe I'm a very lazy internet user actually.. I have my little 'roll' at my place, and I open up my page, and click around to where I particularly want to go from there..
Hope you are heading into a good weekend, Bug... I work tomorrow, but that's okay.. Sunday I'm off..
Hi, Bug! Last time I changed my template, I decided not to put up a blogroll. The main reason is that I am afraid I will hurt someone's feelings if I change anything after it's up. What if they are infrequent posters and go through blurking spells? I might think they have quit coming around or have lost interest in blogging. If they are blurking, their feelings might be hurt if I remove them from the roll. I guess I just don't want to take the chance of hurting anybody's feelings. Weird for someone who tells people to fuck off right in her header, but there it is.
I don't do the blogroll - well except for a link to my other blog - and that in itself is an excellent example of how people don't always click on the blogroll as many of my readers has no idea the other blog exists!. Plus, I don't like the aesthetics of having a sidebar on my blog AT ALL, I like it simple and neat and that's that.
Anyone can see who my 'friends' are by looking at who comments anyway so click-a-bility exists there if nowhere else.
I find that my comments and readers ebb and flow. I might have a lot of readers for months on end and then only 1/3 of that for other months - I know I used to update more often that what I do now so that may have something to do with it... but then again sometimes I just go into ranty entries for weeks on end and that sometimes offends people into silence. heh. Sometimes life gets in the way too.
I have to admit that I do love it when people just get right in there and give me an opinion either way though. I think humans should be political and provoke sometimes and it's good to see that side of people in my comments - though I have been told privately by a couple of readers that they prefer not to comment on those kinds of posts publically but will let me have it on email instead. lol - go figure.
As for reading, I go through stages when I am OBSESSIVE about reading people's blogs and then I'll get caught up in my own horrible stuff and that enthusiasm falls away. I find that when I'm silent on the blog (mine and others) then it's not so much good life getting in the way but shitty stuff getting in the way. If I feel deadened inside then I can't write and I find it harder to comment too. Sometimes when I take a break I find that a lot of my readers take a break from me as well.
err..sorry about the essay.
Dammit Bug, i am still trying to work out the math - 20 minus 5 plus one hiatus divided by 65%?
Very interesting post and comments - i am most interested in blurking as i get a lot of that. i always assume that my blog is a bit like a road accident - many people slow down to take a look but you need a very strong stomach to actually get involved.
I blurk on one blog - today is the day i will pluck up the guts and comment on it...
Helter Skelter
x
Chickypea:
Yes, the 'Undisclosed' is for you. I wanted you on the blog roll, but obviously I couldn't link you.
Post more pictures of your butt. You'll get plenty of visitors!
Tildy:
So happy that you have your blurking under control. Some people think they can just blurk now and then, but before they know it, they are blurking four or five times a day.
It's tragic,really.
Chickybabe:
No...I am fascinated by each line of each paragraph of each post you make, and I am deeply hurt that you don't feel the same.
That's it, I'm just blurking you from now on!
Hmmphhh!
Peanut:
I had blurkitis once, but instead of chocolate, my doctor gave me a shot in the elbow! Jeez! Can you give me the name of your guy? I'm going to him from now on.
Lynn:
Didn't your therapist ever tell you that the best way no manage friendships is to dump them before they can dump you? Also, mine told me that I should insult my friends on a regular basis because, "Deep down, you KNOW they don't like you. Don't you, bug?"
Accordingly, I am going to re-do my blog roll and all the links will say things like "Assface" or "Trollop" or "Two-faced" or "Thinks she's pretty".
What do you think? That should send my readership through the roof!
M:
First off, no problem on the length of your response. After all, I've left you some comments that were so long, you must have gotten a surcharge from your ISP.
Second, I will give you the same advice I gave Chickypea: Naked sells. My readership goes through the roof every time I post myself nekkid.
If you don't want to publish skin, more posts on tumbleweeds and unconventional uses for hair brushes will work just as well.
JJ:
Not good with math, huh? Good thing you don't work in a technical field. I'll explain it all again to you, but much louder this time. That should help you. Always worked for my 10th grade algebra teacher.
Yes, your blog is like a road accident - if that accident were bewteen a bus load of circus freaks and a van full of passed-it prostitutes on their way to work a 'living with herpes' convention.
Oh, and who's going to be the recipient of your wonderful pluck?
Manson, I mean Marmy:
Comin' down fast, but don't let me break you!
Uh... your therapist said huh? Do we need to chit-chat, my Brother? You know where I am.
Lynn: Well, I'm always up for a chit-chat, social kinda guy that I am, but that was a joke.
ummm was I ever on your roll?
dido what the other mouse said
Bug - you obviously haven't visited me lately.....
Oh. Well my sense of humor can be a bit... out of commission. But that does explain my confusion.
:-)
Citymouse:
I'm busted!
Anonymouse:
I am so busted!
Chickypea:
I am SOOOO busted!
And a little turned on!
I get it now. Maybe when you redo your blogroll, my link can say "clueless". It would probably fit more days than not.
Lynn:
Ah...don't worry. I understand that you might take me seriously. There are actually therapists that might say something like that!
I got your back, Bug!
Do you ever!!
Bug! I'm still here!!!
LOL
I have been sort of on hiatus/not checking blogs as much. LIFE is just popping right now and it hampers my time for such activities. Such is the summer, I guess. But I do still stop by from time to time and I still post (albeit not as much as I once did).
Don't write me off just yet, man!
(((hug)))
What exactly does it mean to RE DESIGN your blogroll?!
Hmmm!
no worries abt answering.
I am not here.
~d heart Bug
I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm just too fucking busy for my own damn good anymore. Not an excuse, just the truth. I'll try to be better about coming around, and you know you're always welcome at my place, hon.
My blogroll got out of freakin control. I use it more than I think anyone else does. It's for me. I get that now. I put up only the blogs I can manage to read and only the ones I like. Sorry if you come to my blog and comment and I don't make it to yours...that's just the way it is. (Not talking of you of course). There's an ebb and flow to blogging.
I blurk therefore I am.
You're still in my blogroll dude.
I used to gasp in disbelief when I am not in someone's blogroll esp if they are in mine. Haha! Blogging really reveals the petty side of me :-)
Now, I don't care if bloggers have a blogroll or not as I read posts on my rss reader.
I thought about removing mine today but the space it fills on the right side of my blog balances the "look" of the blog, so I think I'll keep it for now.
I have no answers for all these questions but I think I answer yes to most of the questions.I have had a blog for a little over 2 years and still do not know what a blog roll is...
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