If a post falls in the blogosphere, and no one comments...

…Is it still [good]?

 

I’ve been blogging for about a year and a half now. A relative newbie and an older one to boot. For the longest time I didn’t tell anyone I was doing it. The word “blogging” was kind of embarrassing and really, it was just a little outlet I was trying on.

 

I had always enjoyed writing, but I never felt inclined to write a book or become a journalist or even write a diary (not since I was 12). I was realistic: my stories are mostly about me, so unless you know me, why would you care about them? At least this is what I told myself.

 

The truth is that once I started writing it became important for someone other than me to read my words. It didn’t have to be a big crowd of people, just a few who cared enough to read my stuff regularly. That would be enough.

 

So while I hid my TypePad blog from the search engines, I let a few friends and family members know that I was writing and where they could find it. I was relieved and heartened to receive positive feedback from them, and while no one ever commented on the posts, I had stats to show they were visiting regularly.

 

When I started up with Vox it was a richer experience. I loved the diversity of posts from the people in my neighborhood. I loved the ability to insert audio and video and to make my Vox blog reflect my personality – not only from a design perspective, but also from building out the books/video/audio sections.

 

The thing I loved most about Vox was the feedback. I didn’t get huge amounts of it, but whenever it came it was like a gift. Someone had read my words and something had resonated. It was both satisfying and validating. That sense of connection with another person made the experience of posting more meaningful. It closed the circle: think –> write –> get feedback –> think some more.

 

Whenever I get a free moment I go exploring around Vox. I see a lot of first posts and some writings that sound a little bewildered. What am I doing here? Gee it’s pretty. Do I really need another blog? What am I supposed to do? And it touches my heart when I see these calls go unanswered.

 

So every now and then I answer them. “Hi, welcome. Nice post. Hope you like it here.” I don’t know these folks, and I don’t want to come off as a weird, stalker type (at least not until they know me better) and yet I want people to feel connected in this community. Connected such that they want to bring their friends. Because the more cool people that join Vox, the richer the experience will be for all of us.

 

The thing I don’t want to happen is for people to get discouraged and think that no one is hearing them – especially since someone almost certainly is, they just aren’t leaving any traces behind them. Stats would help, because we would at least have some visibility into our readership, but I don’t think stats are possible – how could anyone tell if someone read your post in their neighborhood stream?

 

This means that if we want people to feel encouraged, we are going to have to be the ones to encourage them.

 

And that means that commenting is one of the keys to Vox. I know, by now you’re saying “duh” and maybe even “good lord, when will she ever stop talking?” (soon, I promise) but I’ve seen so many posts go without comments that I think it bears saying out loud. Actually, I think it should be a rally cry: when you see something you like, say so!

 

Your feedback doesn’t have to be Shakespearean, just sincere and positive (feel free to ignore the stuff you don’t like, that’s what my grandmother always told me to do). There are a range of options, from simply checking [this is good] to actual words of cheer. I think most people will appreciate the feedback. So many of us are in here to creatively express ourselves, positive feedback is one way to ensure that we all keep doing it.

Comments

[Tyrical]

yes! It counts!Just like this one did for me! I've just joined Vox and unlike Livejournal there are no communities or shall I say neighborhoods to join into. So I've been wondering how do I meet people? I'm being a bit tentative and just posting comments to those entries that seem open to unknown people posting to it. (You know kinda like yourself. Your title drew me in!) Yeah and it means something to me if anyone takes the time to read my work too!

[Annie]

i am so heartened (is that the word) to see someone my age blogging and admitting they were a little embarassed to tell others, i'd love to be a part of your warm family here, you are so right, the more cool people that get into vox the more interesting the place is going to be.

hi. welcome :) nice post, hope you like it here.

[allaboutgeorge]

[this is still good]A friend asked me why I blog today. I said to keep track of things, to practice what feels like the opposite of meditation, to see how I can tell stories and recount events in ways that aren't as fixed to "descending pyramid" format, to meet and keep in touch with interesting people and to test my boundaries and affiliations with them. And, oh yeah, to know my own mind over time.But comments are nice, too.

[Timmy!]

I love it when people comment on my posts. Though I usually only get one or two comments to each post, that's proof positive that people read what I write. Why do I want the feed back (I wonder to myself)? Perhaps it's an ego/validation thing. It's true that comments give me fuel to continue and motivation to not let my blog gather dust.Ego, validation, the need for attention... whatever it is, I don't blog for the kudos. I started blogging because I have friends and family who live far away and it seemed like a more passive way of sharing what I was doing on any any particular day---as opposed to emailing said group my daily activities, every day, which seems invasive and presumptuous (I mean, who wants to get an email where I blather on about the afternoon with my S.O. eating bacon cheese burgers? I mean, really). I live in San Francisco and there's always something
nutty
going on in this town, and I want to share it with my friends who live elsewhere.Actually, now that I think about, this meta-blog-entry of yours will make a good entry for my own blog.

[Shade]

... I found this via random vox-surfing and of course, felt I should comment. :) Even if just to say "Yes, I rather agree."I will also, if you don't mind, add you to my neighbourhood.

[vj]

Comments make such a huge difference. I fear sometimes with some blogs, I might seem like a stalker because I do comment with some regularity. But I love it when others comment on my blog. It's good. And it's good to be reminded of the positive impact of it!

[Ray]

Great post! I had gotten really lazy about leaving comments, but have become re-inspired after reading your words!

[GingerH]

Thanks for this Karen, and for providing my first ever comment. I had assumed no one was looking, as I'm rather fringe. I sent this post to folks who ask me why
people do this. And I want a shirt.

[Ruby]

Very thoughtful post, Karen. I cannot understand why people blog if they only want a select few to benefit from the wisdom of their words! That's why I love the "explore" feature here, and I think it's great to be able to wander in and out and find new and interesting people. Welcome to MY neighborhood.

[vespalass]

I really liked this post. I like the mix of people that I'm finding as I'm getting out and looking for neighbors here on Vox. So "Hello Karen" here a wave for (waves) thanks for the encouraging words.

[Laurel]

Nice!

[karen]

Thanks to all of you for your warm reception to my post. To receive so many comments on a post about commenting, well that just pleases me to no end. If you are as generous to other Voxers with your comments as you have been with me, I feel sure we will be well on our way to a vibrant and interesting community.
Thanks again for making me feel so very welcome. It means a lot to me! I look forward to reading your stories.

[sandk]

I'm adding the same here but: thanks so much Karen, for actually providing a "comment" on my little blog-of-life. I'm very new at this as well, and I appreciate your support!

[the-kitsch-doll]

[this is good] Well said. What I like about Vox is how interactive it is. And I'm not sure if it's just me, but having taken a look around, I get the general impression that people on Vox are a quirkier bunch than those on other blog servers :)

[Renée]

[this is good] This made my day. :) Lately, I've been feeling like my posting has been going unheard. I've been kind of sadden by that because in my QotD of what was my favorite part about VOX, I said above all else was the communal aspect.
I don't intend on meeting kindred spirits or anything like that... Just someone else to read and say something about what I just posted. I hate to feel so ego-centric but affirmation is something that all humans need on a primative, inane level, I feel...
Thank you for posting this and understanding how other people feel. :) I suppose we're not every really alone after all.

[karen]

Renee, I expect that you will find kindred spririts in here, it may just take you a while to find them- just like friends in real life, it takes a bit of time to get to know people. But welcome, and I hope you like it here.
Kitsch-doll, thanks so much for favoriting this post. I had almost forgotten it was here and it was very nice to see someone new (to me) connecting with it!

[country_cinderella]

It would seem that it will be heard. Maybe the same day, maybe days later (like today). Thanks again for sharing wonderful thoughts.

[zombiebite]

[this is good] as much as one would like to think they write purely for themselves, there's always a little part in us looking for the littlest bit of gratification. i've always thought it took a certain amount self-absorption to run a blog. i mean, if we really did write for ourselves then we wouldn't be posting in public waiting to affect complete strangers.

[SheCodes]

[this is good] Yeah, I think we're all looking for some sort of feedback. I blog at several different places, and did Vox just because I could. And to have an "purty" interface without me having to do all of the work to accomplish it.

[miraphora]

[this is good] I agree wholeheartedly. Feedback keeps me thinking and writing, and knowing that someone out there is reading this stuff. After all, most of it floats through my head regularly anyway; if I didn't want to share it, there wouldn't be much reason for me to write it down.Great post. (even if I am a little late to the party)

[Dances With Cats]

Good post. I do find it rewarding to get comments on my blog entries....and so far I haven't expanded my vox neighborhood enough to get too many on my blog. So, if you want to visit me and hear random weird stories about living on a farm in Maine with my family, my advice-giving cats, and answers to random QOTDs with odd digressions, feel free to stop by. I've also got some music and some photos posted.

[Cedarwaxwing]

Thanks for directing me to this post. It certainly speaks to me and my experiences. I think a large part of my own lack of comments was my reluctance to comment on posts written by strangers. Why that bothered me here on Vox and has not bothered me elsewhere is a mystery though. Perhaps it is an age thing - I guess I assumed everyone here was decades younger than I.

[EndOnEnd]

[this is good] Great post!

[Banana Split]

[this is good] I totally agree with you. Getting feedback really inspires you to keep writing.

[BeeDee Mum]

What a lovely post, I haven't been blogging very long but this has given me the courage to comment on someone I haven't yet got to know [rather than a strangers] blog. I had my first comment today from someoneand you know what? I felt really touched that having read the blog they feltinterested enough to reach out and comment on what I had written.