My fellow bloggers know the thrill that rises up inside when you realise people like your blog.
When I first started to gain followers, I was chuffed. I only have 25, but it is a joy to me that anyone wants to follow me.
People, out there, in the big world of the blogosphere appreciate my output. People, out there, accept me. They like my writing and how I convey my ideas and personality.
It is a warm, fuzzy feeling that really can't be forced or falsely "nurtured".
I was irritated, then, when someone recently left me a comment to basically say they would follow me if I followed them.
I have, in the past, had a message from someone who said they were following me, and, if I liked their blog, could I consider following them. The emphasis here is slightly different.
The person that has irritated me, is not following me. I am of the understanding that if I follow her, she will then follow me.
This is a bastardisation of what I believe the concept of following is about.
It is not about simply having followers. I love having followers, but I have to earn them. As does everyone else.
I do not want someone to follow me because I am following them. I want someone to follow me because they get something from what I write, because I provide something of value.
Just to be clear, and without being rude, if I follow you, it is because I "get" something from your work, whether it is information, entertainment or even a challenge.
I will not follow, to be followed. These things are organic and natural, and can't be forced.
Perhaps there is something more to this "political" side of blogging that I am missing.
What do my fellow bloggers think?
10 comments:
I'm sorry...I'm not following...LOL
bunny
Well I'm glad you said it LOL
I don't know *what* the etiquette is to following, on the blogs or Twitter or wherever, and I suspect that we're each working by our own personal rules and some people are getting their knickers twisted by others who are completely oblivious to the twisting.
I'm with you : if I like a blog, I follow it. If someone follows me, I say 'woo hoo'. Granted, being followed means I'll probably go look at the other blog and very likely follow along if we've got the same interests, but dang, I don't want to be *told* to follow someone in order to be followed back or for any other reason, that's just weird.
It's like on Twitter, where you can pay a service to get you followers. If you're a spammer it makes sense, but otherwise I just don't get that -- isn't it supposed to be *social* media? I thought it was about finding kindred souls, not about getting a high score. WTF.
Is my comment as long as your post yet? (sorry!!)
;-)
Thanks Momma.
Yes Bunny, I used the "Follow" word a lot. I had to even read it to my partner a few times, as I had confused myself.
Susan, I have been looking at micro fiction, and now you bring me maxi commenting, lol.
Love it.
I'm like you, I tend to follow my followers anyway, because we do have similar outlooks. I just thought this person was cheeky. I am still learning, so there may be etiquette I am ignorant of.
Blog etiquette, it's a whole new world of unchartered social mazes!
I think it is a bit weird someone has placed a condition on your following them. It's not like you put a plea out there for any lurkers to please follow, or to get ne followers and the only response was, only if you'll support me too!
There is no pioint following a blog that you don't get anything out of. I always go and look at blogs of new followers, but to be honest, if I am not drawn in by what I read, then I don't follow. Do what you want I say, and don't mourn the 'loss' of a potential follower!
I think the etiquette is to follow someone back. THE END. Following is not the issue.
Leaving comments is. You will soon see that when you follow hundreds of bloggers you can't read them all and comment on them all, it just eats up too much time.
So follow everyone to spread the love, but realize that commenting is where we all fall down go boom.
Soooo, you going to follow me or what? Just kidding.
Followers are a fun thing but I wonder about the people who have followed me this past year and have never left a comment. Nothing. Some of them don't even have blogs so I can't follow them back anyway.
I won't follow someone who just gathers numbers by following every single site they can get to.
I won't follow a site that is basically a store or business just trying to make a sale.
I won't follow a site that is ALL religion or all politics.
I will follow one that makes me laugh and today you made me laugh on 3 Men and a Lady's site. So I'm going on your list.
BTW its your blog..rant all you want.
Mrs P!, Welcome to my blog.
Thank you for your comment.
I hope you get something of value from my blog! x
No blackieblogmail follower requests from me!
But I will chose to follow, because your blog is nice and comfy, and I like reading yoru impressions of Adelaide.........
Ha!
Thanks Lucy.
But I am already following you anyway, without the need to blogmail me. ;-)
I stumbled upon your blog and decided I would follow it because I find it entertaining.
I could only hope that people would do the same with the blogs they choose to follow.
I want people to visit my blog because they enjoy reading what I post, not visit my blog to click follow (like they're doing me a favor) and never look at my page again.
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