Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Shhh, don't let them know you are here.

Raise your hand if this is the first blog you have ever visited.

Raise your hand if you only look at the blogs that are on your blog roll.

Keep them up. Raise your hand if you never, never, never blog-hop or blog lurk, or blog-admire as I like to call it.

Really? Never?
(warning, I am seriously chatty, so sit tight)
You don't just start clicking and see something you like on another blog or see someone has left a comment on your friend's blog and you don't click just out of curiosity to see who it is? You don't ever think "maybe that is the Savvy from college, let's just look"?

Liar! (Unless you really aren't, but I don't think anyone is guilt free of this)

I have found some old friends through this very clickety click blogworld. It has helped me rediscover old friendships that are better anew or introduced me to people I may never meet but have found way too much in common with that they might be my lost twin (between Gilmore Girls and other TV shows, plus books, I think she needs to move to America, right next door to me and be my best friend). (I have to say I am writing this while sitting next to Dave as he watches Deadliest Catch. Why is it ok for him to watch this reality series but he scoffs at The Hills? That is for another ranting post. Two brothers are arguing saying "You're not my boss, only Dad is and you are only my brother...." good tv)

Here is the good thing about blogging and the bad - comments. Don't you ever read something or laugh out loud at something and so want to leave a comment but you really don't want them to know that you are lurking? Really, no? I have. In fact, I saw this tonight and about died it was so funny (if you happen to come across my blog and see that I have linked to you and really aren't happy about it, let me know and I will remove it promptly, but just know that you are really funny and we have met, so technically it isn't so creepy, right?). Let me tell you how I got to it. I know that this gal that my little brother went to school with links to the other gal that grew up across from my aunt who links to my good friend's sister in law who had a post about her baby being born and since it is too late to call my friend and get the date of the baby's birth (for a birth plate I am having made for her) I just clickety clicked to find the right post and presto chango I have my information that I need. I knew that she had posted about it because a friend of her's told me that she saw a post about my friend's new baby. Got it? Back to the post I saw earlier. I really wanted to write something like " OH my gosh, how did you find this? I can tell that you are terribly funny and witty and remember that time we met, so...." who knows what I would write, but I wanted to. Then, the anxiety. I couldn't possibly leave a comment. They don't remember me, they would find it creepy that someone that isn't on their blog roll is leaving a message. What if I am not cool enough? The scorn. The angst. The uncertainty.

I admit, I have left the random comment on blogs before. Sometimes it has been on some one's that I have admired their blog from the shadows and finally felt like I should say something. This has turned out some fun new "friendships". I also have left comments on blogs belonging to people that I have known for years but haven't seen in years (do you know what I mean?). There are still quite a few that I haven't outed myself to. Maybe this will be my new goal, share my admiration of them with them. Everyone likes to be recognized and complimented, right? Recently, somehow, and I don't even think I could retrace my steps, I have found the blogs of some gals I used to live with in college, sorority house mates. When I see these gals, I am excited. It is always good to catch up. But leave a comment on their blog? I'm still thinking about it.

In any case, something that has been on my mind. That silly comment box. So inviting, yet so daunting. I should ask this friend to rewrite this whole post for me and make it so much better, but instead I will just wait to see what brilliant thing that she writes next (once again, if you would rather I not link to you, send me an email, but really everyone should be reading her blog anyway). And while I respect that you may want to remain a blurker, I would love any comment you feel like leaving. Unless it is rude or pervy, then kindly stop visiting. And most likely I will wake up tomorrow and either rewrite certain things or delete this post all together. This blog phenomenon is interesting, isn't it?

17 comments:

Lacey said...

Great minds think alike! I just posted something very similar to this on my blog! Blog phenomenon? Very interesting!

Amanda said...

Thanks for the shout out, but comparing to me to the Mighty Dooce and slandering her name may very well incite the blog gods and get you knocked on your can - be careful! I'm such a lurker! Most often I comment because I figure, "Hey, who hates a comment from anyone?", but I also admit that I'm a total creepy lurker of quite a few people and I read their blogs, blow up their pics so I can get a better view of their vanity and what's on it, and read their whole archives so I can create their personal history in my mind. Oops, I should probably tell you that I've done this to you, too. (Lucky for me that I've known you for decades - not too many blanks to fill in)

I will definitely try to be a better commenter on blogs because I have yet to regret a single connection I've made due to blogging. Maybe I'll make more - but I'm awfully glad you and reconnected again.

Lindsey said...

I think you're just prepping your readers for the very similar photo of you and Dave from your last pregnancy....Just post it already!

linds said...

that picture was pretty awesome...and honestly, how did you find it. that must have been some serious linking. so true about this blog buisness, its a pretty strange world. i blog stalked for months before i decided if i was going to stalk, i had better at least have my own blog for others to stalk. thanks for the perspective.

Meghan said...

oh my, whit. i cannot follow how you got there, but i will count it in the top 5 posts/pics i have ever read. but you have found me out - i have about 5 blogs (including a few of your previous post-ers;) that I stalk on a regular basis, but don't comment... because even though i have connections with them, it would be a little creepy if i suddenly jumped on their bandwagon. my older sister is buying something on etsy you were eyeing last week, and you had no idea she was even stalking you - see how much influence one can have on the blog? wow. anyway, thanks for the fun post, and the new blogging "friendship".

for the record, i am a big fan of deadliest catch.. you can't say you don't like it, can you??

Julianna said...

I am outing myself. It's scary, but liberating! I watch The Hills, my husband watches Deadlist Catch. Okay, we both watch both.

We went to high school together. I found you by clicking on someone, then someone else, then someone else, then you. I've been stalking for awhile. I love your stuff. I love reading your blog. Feel free to read mine too...you can even comment...I won't think it's creepy.

Rebecca said...

Whit, this is too funny and completely true! I am horrible at commenting but that doesn't mean I don't visit blogs regularly, including yours. I even added you to my blog roll without asking a while back, which you may or may not appreciate! I am a comment slacker but your post has inspired me to comment more frequently. And thanks for the nice comment you left for me!

JK said...

I LOVE comments - I get all depressed and sad when I think no one is reading my blog. I had actually never thought of it as stalking!!! I figure if you put it out there in cyberspace you are inviting people to read it.
I get ridiculously excited when I get a comment and even more so if it's from someone I haven't previously heard from. So PLEASE feel free to leave me HEAPs of comments and make my day.
By the way Whit - if the house next door ever comes up for sale let me know and I'll pack up the family and move to the USA.

karey m. said...

i'm karey m. and i am a lurker.

not really. not anymore. a few things...those aprons? adorable. and you? beyond adorable. that white skirt is heaven, too.

and your babe? esme had the same thing. couldn't use her left arm at all. xrays, mris, everything. and nothing. then this random ortho walks in, takes one look at her, wrenches her shoulder and elbow. all better.

surely that wouldn't be the case for you. but they said it wouldn't show up on an xray. just a thought.

Lindsey said...

just saw a flobee at salvation army...need a new one?

whit said...

linds!!! you have to get it for posterity's sake. who doesn't need one?

Anne said...

Bummer, I had a really great comment, but I think it falls under the category of pervy. And ps- I'm all for the set-up!

Roxey said...

I love your posts....and I watch The Hills....and I find myself being a blogstalker ever so often....no worries!

linds said...

what is a flobee and do i need one?

Sharon said...

I'm always leaving random comments, because I don't know anyone! I thought that was what made the blog world go around. I hope I haven't got it horribly wrong! I'm not a stalker really...

Adrienne said...

Thanks for stepping out and leaving a comment on my blog so I could find you! I enjoyed this post - It's sooo true! Best wishes to you and happy blogging.

Anonymous said...

So I am ones of those people you don't know. I totally found you by blog hopping started at the black apple and eventually made my way to you from a woman in Australia. It appears you live in the same state as me which I found totally funny. I traveled the globe blog hopping and ended here. I am in Lehi, Utah. I loooovvveeee your aprons and would love to know how, what, where, when. So if you could send me in the right direction for help with creating my own it would be much appreciated.
Heidi