April 04, 2008 | Lurky-Loo
By nature, I am one who lurks. Okay, that sounds kind of bad. I don't really lurk all secretive-like, but I would definitely classify myself as more of an observer than a doer. In my early geek days, I used to dial up to chat boards (on my 2400 baud modem, woo!), and I'd maybe talk with one or two people, but most of the time I would just sit there and read what everyone else had to say. I would lurk.
It occurred to me the other day that even 17 years later (yes, you read that right), I'm still lurking. I have a gianormous list of blogs that I read. And I try and keep up with them as best I can. I rarely, if ever, leave comments. I do the same thing on flickr. I favorite here and there, and I sometimes make a comment on a friend's photo, but in general, I don't say much. I'm not even sure why I'm so silent. I'm self conscious perhaps. I'm going to spell something wrong and look dumb, or nobody is going to get it if I try and be funny, or there's so many comments already I just don't bother.
And now I'm starting to think that maybe I just need to get over it already and say something. That seems to be how this whole internet community thing works now. You comment on someone's blog, they comment on yours, and boom you've started a little friendship. I don't mean to be all "Boo-hoo! I don't have any bloggy friends", because that's not true. I've made some fabulous friends through this site, and I love them all. But after 7+ years, I feel like maybe I should know more people? Or at least have some sort of relationship with more?
Let me give you a bad analogy: It's like I'm working at this big company with tons of employees and I've worked here for years and I recognize a lot of people and maybe some people recognize me, but we don't really know each other, because we never say anything to each other. Yet, we pass each other in the hallway every day.
(See, I told you it was bad.)
I dunno. I guess lately I just feel like I'm doing this wrong, and I'd kind of like to start doing it right and see what happens. So I guess that means I just need to suck it up and start leaving comments, regardless of how many comments there were before, and regardless of what anyone else will think.
So, Hi. I'm the weird self-conscious girl that's going to attempt to leave more comments in the blogosphere.
But I think I'm going to go hide in that corner over there first.
I have to agree with Susan... yours was one of the first blogs I ever read. And I think I might have had to google "blog" to find out what the word meant. Just like I had to read the whole instruction booklet for the first cell phone I owned.
I realize I should be better about commenting too... so this is a good start :)
Oh, and if it helps. I feel a certain connection since I have an ugly green couch. I'm still struggling to work up the nerve to photograph it. :)
It's been awhile since I've commented here to you. Your post made me think about how many blogs I lurk around, yours is one. Don't feel too bad, I think a lot of people do. :)
I love you guys! thanks for all the comments. I'm still hiding over here in my corner for the weekend, but I'm going to start working on the comments thing on Monday.
I think.
And Susan, I do have an ugly green chair. There's a photo of it here.
Ugly Green Chair was the first blog I ever saw--and I didn't even know what a blog was. Your links were the path to blog world, but I always started out at Ugly Green Chair, because I could always remember the name, and I had, still do, though I'm sure you don't have, an ugly green chair.
I've been thinking the same thing lately. It must have something to do with Blogher coming up.
I agree with everyone else, readers and feeds make you one step removed from the blogs you're reading and make it really hard to leave comments. Yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
I think the internet allows us to be a little lurky :) But it's fun to come out from time to time and say hello. Hi!
Ha, it's so true. It's become something of the nature of the beast (the internet-beast), though, due to the rss feeds and general news format of a lot of blogs; it's not as feasible anymore to actually have a small number of blogs that you keep up with and engage in conversation with. The pressure to emit content on a regular basis kinda sucks too, and contributes to things being less conversational. Man... sometimes I miss ol' Diaryland.
Hi! Just wanted to let you know that you've received an award over at my blog... you can visit this link to pick it up:
http://abeautifulabode.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/inspiration-friday-awarding-excellence/
Take care!
xoxo- Shauntelle
Don't feel bad; I'm the same way too! :)
ooh...i thought I was the self conscious girl in the corner...I'm making an effort to throw a comment out here and there too, so I hear ya sister!
I'd be honored to hear from you.
It takes some serious effort to do more than lurk, especially in the modern era where you get on these sites with hundreds or thousands of regular readers (think Deadspin). But really, all you have to do is say something that demonstrates intelligence above room temperature and you're ahead of 85% of the curve ;]
I think it's a great idea :)
hey, me too. mostly it's a time issue though - i read my feeds and rarely actually visit the sites. flickr's a bit different, but i still don't keep up w/ all my contacts...just have entirely too many now. good luck being social. :-)