I have been working hard to increase my readership on my blog. Being part of NaBloPoMo is helping, plus I have discovered so many great blogs to read in my "spare" time. (Spare time means instead of housework).
I strive to answer all the comments I receive. I like it when bloggers respond to my comments, so I want to reciprocate.
But now I am getting more readers, and more comments, and I am afraid that inadvertently I am going to miss responding to someone's comment.
It won't be on purpose.
It might just happen.
And if they are melancholic like me they might think I don't appreciate them.
But I do!
I read each and every comment.
And then I get stressed that I might have missed responding to one.
Hopefully, my readers are more sanguine than I am, and never check back to see if I replied, or maybe they are more choleric, and will just bad-mouth me, or perhaps even phlegmatic and just get over it with a nice cup of tea and a biscuit.
I suspect, though, that many of my readers are melancholic like me, so I can only say I am truly sorry, and I will try to do better.
Don't hate me.
I think I'm probably phlegmatic. For me tea and cookies and a good book and the world is beautiful. I think responses are only necessary when you've been asked a question or when the comment actually made you think of something new. Most folks don't expect a response.
ReplyDeleteI think you are probably right...I just want readers to know I am listening to them as much as they are listening to me.
DeleteOh Shit...Guilty as charged! As I am really new to blogging I must admit I get a bit panicky over comments! I am getting more confident about leaving comments now, but as I am great at getting things wrong I worry that my remarks might be taken wrongly and I have offended! I do then go back and check for replies!! Time for me to lighten up , drink a bucket full of tea (have to pass on the biccies) and get over it!
ReplyDeleteMe too! Kettle on the boil as I type!
DeleteI have to confess that as a brand newbie, I'm a bit...OK ...I'm ridiculously obsessed with whether I have any comments or whether my comments have been read. But surely that's impossible for bloggers with huge followers. That being said, I read a post yesterday about Blogger Ego... those who NEVER bother to respond. hmmm... it IS tricky... But DO NOT ... repeat... DO NOT add it to the list of things to beat yourself up about! Surely responding should not be a chore or a burden. How about this... allow yourself 30 minutes each day, and do what you can in that time. Deal??
ReplyDeleteTotal deal! Thanks Wendy!
DeleteI love to read, and often posts make me reflect on my own life as you reflect on yours. I comment when I can make a connection that I think is worth putting out there in the "webiverse'. I don't worry if you don't respond - lots of times I don't expect a reply as my comment is meant to affirm that your voice is being heard. Be kind to yourself, comment when you can and be sure that your truly interested readers will keep coming back regardless.
ReplyDeleteThank you...being kind to myself is something I am working on ;)
DeleteTell you what...if you don't respond to me ever again, I won't be mad atcha ;)
ReplyDeleteDeal. teehee (she says as she responds!)
DeleteI'm really hit and miss with my comment responding. Sometimes I am pretty good at responding to comments, and sometimes I won't do it for weeks. I think I extend the same courtesy to other bloggers that I do to myself, and just assume that they are as busy and spazzy as I am. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is funny, I rarely check back to see if a blogger has responded to my comment, but I worry others will check back to mine. I think that makes me a little narcissistic. lol
ReplyDeleteI think you can relax about the occasional missed reply to a comment. Most of the people commenting are probably bloggers themselves, and know that it's easy to overlook a comment. On some posts I try to reply to all the comments, and on others I don't reply to any. I think bloggers are a pretty understanding group!
ReplyDeleteNo one should worry! I am often late to blogs and by the time I read them, someone else has already expressed my sentiments and so don't end up writing anything as it has already been said (twice even!).
ReplyDeleteI do believe that for every person who takes the time to leave a comment there are usually at least 10 other people who have read your blog and not commented. Have faith that people are reading but not always commenting, although, I like the interchange of ideas in the comments so always try to respond when I have something different to add and, like you, make an effort to reply to everyone. Sometimes a 'group reply' is easier than lots of individual replies if you are low on energy or time.
I am not as distressed as I sound in this blog, more an observation of my own fretting. It isn't keeping me up at night (well, maybe a little ;) )
ReplyDelete