Why I Love Wordpress Bloggers

A Blog Blitz Thank You!

           Firstly I want to thank D.L. Hammons for the Blog Blitz surprise this week.   And thanks to all of you who left your comments--especially to all who left more than just Blitz greetings.   The Blitz came on an ideal day since the main thrust of my post on that day was to promote the survey being conducted by M.J. Joachim on her blog M.J. Joachim's Writing Tips.   She's gotten a wonderful response so far thanks to the Blitz.   If any of you have not yet answered this very short five question survey, I encourage you to head on over and check it out in order to help us to make some improvements in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.   You can find the survey here.

I Thought You Said...

          Even before the early arrival Blitzers started showing up Tuesday night, my Monday post Why Should I Bother Commenting on Wordpress Blogs? had passed the 60 comment mark.   The topic certainly pushed some buttons.   And when visitors started arriving for the Blog Blitz, some of them even weighed in on the topic.  And the comments about that post have been continuing to come it.

         Now I'm saying I love Wordpress bloggers!   Well, what's up with that?  First I say one thing and then I say another.   What am I really saying?

         To begin with, I was tossing out a general aspersion on the Wordpress community of bloggers to get the Blogger bloggers to chime in with their own complaints and just check to see if any Wordpress bloggers were actually paying attention to what I was saying in my posts.

        Well guess what.   The Blogger bloggers had plenty to say.  After all some of my finger pointing did have some validity.   But then again I was making a blanket statement that did not necessarily cover all Wordpress bloggers.  The ones in our community came through to let us know my challenge had been heard and accepted.   My Wordpress post as of Thursday afternoon had received nearly 100 comments, 26 being from Wordpress bloggers.  If you remove my replies and a couple of other extraneous comments, the Wordpress bloggers made up nearly 1/3 of my comments on that post.  Let's hear a round of cheers for those fine bloggers!

         I make blanket statements on this blog sometimes because I find it stirs the pot better.   There are still a number of Wordpress bloggers who fit the description of arrogant, pompous, and self-centered, but there are also Blogger bloggers who are the same way.    My call is for all bloggers to be sure to show the love to the bloggers who leave comments.   I'll do that right now for all of you who left Blitz comments.  I'm going to try to make it to visit everybody, but if I don't then let it be known that I thanked you here and I love you all.  Even bloggers on Wordpress.

           If you were offended by my Monday Wordpress post, why were you offended?   Do you think it's bad to make blanket statements?    Why do you think that blog comments increase when the blog post is about blogging?

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Why Should I Bother Commenting On Wordpress Blogs?

Gorilla is sticking out her tongue in SF ZOO (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

       There are a number of Wordpress blogs that I follow and comment on with regularity.   These blogs have content that interests me.  However if I no longer saw this content, my world would not change significantly.  Actually I would not even notice that much.  There are more blogs that are not on Wordpress than I can possibly read everyday.

        I try to be fair in my blog reading and read some from Blogger and Wordpress, as well as a few other blogging platforms.   And guess what--I almost always comment on every post that I read no matter what blogging platform they're on.   I must be some kind of blogging genius to have figured out how to comment on all of these different platforms!

       Not really.  I'm pretty dumb when it comes to computer stuff.   I'm just persistent.  I figure out how to comment, sometimes making several tries until I've figured it out, and then I start leaving comments.  Most Wordpress bloggers that I've encountered either aren't as smart as dumb ol' me or not as persistent.  Or maybe they're just snobbish about their Wordpress community.

         Those bloggers certainly see my comments because they usually respond to them.  They're nice about that.  They seem to want me in their community just fine.   But when it comes to crossing over the tracks into the trashy neighborhood of Bloggerland, noooo! they're too good to read our blogs and comment on our blogs.

          Oh, there are a handful of Wordpress bloggers who do comment on my site on occasion, but it almost feels like a charitable gesture meant to appease me after so many visits I've made to their blogs.  Most of the Wordpress bloggers I visit most likely have never seen any of my blogs and probably not many other Blogger blogs.

          So screw you Wordpress bloggers!   And if you do see this post, I dare you to leave a comment.  Are you gutsy enough to leave a comment on this post?  Or can you even figure out how to do it like I figure out how to leave comments on your site?   Or maybe you're just too good for me.  Or think you're smarter than me.

           I not only dare you to leave a comment on this post, but better yet tell all your wimpie Wordpress weenies to come and prove that they can figure out how to comment here.

           You Wordpress bloggers think you're so hot.  Well, I think you're scared of me and all my friends on Blogger.  So there!  Nanny nanny pooh pooh!

           Do you ever like to just say things to get a rise out of people?    Why do so many people take things so seriously?    If something makes you upset or annoys you, can it be called humor?


     

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Can't You Please Just Make It Simple?

Spitzer - base do telescopio (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

           Maybe it has something to do with Amazon wanting to keep you on their site longer.  And of course Amazon's not the only one.    A lot of web sites seem to want to make you jump through hoops to find things or do things on their sites.  Internet hell is what I've found sometimes.  It's like being locked inside a store until you buy something.

         On the blog site bridgetstraub this question was raised in relation to finding a particular book on Amazon.  She related some of the problems she ran into finding a particular book and wanting to leave a review.  As she admits, her techie skills might not be the best, but I can certainly relate to that.  However the point she raised made me start contemplating some of the internet hassles I've dealt with and so have many of you I would guess.

           Fortunately, I've learned to navigate Amazon and some of those sites pretty well, but now and then I still get caught in a frustrating quagmire.  I've even managed to get pretty adept at leaving comments on WordPress and the annoying systems like CommentLuv, Intense Debate, and Disqus and the like.  Oh sure I'm a big blog baby some of you may say.   Well, that's what I think when I hear complaints about commenting on Blogspot sites. What's so difficult about leaving a comment on a Blogger site?

          I guess it's a matter of what we're used to.  I'd be fine if Blogger stopped changing stuff so I didn't have to stop and think and relearn new processes.    It's like the automated phone systems that keep asking you to press this button or that and then keep you on line waiting for a long time.

        And then there's those automated phone systems that say, "Please listen closely as some of our options have changed."   My health care provider has had that message on their system for like seven years now.  Can you please stop changing the options already people?  Either that or change the message.

         Don't even get me started on the crazy lady giving directions on those navigation systems.   Have you ever driven in circles with that lady scolding you about missing your turn and telling you to go back.  

        Time-saving technology sure seems to waste a lot of time.

        What website loop-de-loops particularly annoy you?   What about those automated phone systems?   How often do you actually talk to real people anymore?  I mean people that are actually helpful?

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Comment Conundrum and More Comments About My Conundrum Post

Image via Wikipedia

          Comments are one of the driving forces that motivates us as bloggers.  It's nice to get the encouragement that we usually find when we open up our surprise package that pours out sweet words from the readers.  This is something that makes me look forward to writing the next blog post.

           Even when the words aren't so adulating they can reassure me that someone is listening and often even be instructional and informative.  My favorite comment situation is when a dialogue opens up.  A reader who has commented has chosen to follow the conversation by requesting email notification of follow-up comments and they may come back to respond to my response or say something about another person's comments.  Alas, this seems to be no longer the case for some of us.

          Those of us on Blogger who use the pop-up window no longer have the email notification option so far as I can tell.  Now if the owner of the blog where I have left a comment decides to respond, I will probably not see that response since as I rule I don't keep going back to monitor the comment thread once I have left.  It's impractical to do if you're trying to follow many blogs.   Now I leave my comment and that's where my conversation usually ends.

         Lately I haven't been leaving comment responses like I used to because I figure that like in my case others don't return if they're not notified.  Odds are that most commenters weren't checking that notification box and never saw my responses, but still the option to have the possibility of dialogue was nice.  I still read my comments and in a few cases I do respond by e-mail, but that's not always an option and I don't always have the extra time that direct contact takes.    I'm not sure what to do.

           The notification option is still available on those blogs that have the embedded comment box.  I know that some have said they don't like this system.  For me the embedded comment box loads much more easily than it used to and I don't have much problem with it aside from Word Verification and even that I've just about mastered.  Should I switch back to the embedded comment box?  Would that deter you from commenting?

          I love comments.  Those who follow Tossing It Out will probably recall my series on the comments I received on a post at the beginning of this year.   I was so inspired by the comments I received on the post Where Am I Now Anyway? that I have been doing a series memorializing those comments and as a consequence that post has been receiving additional comments.  Here are the next two comments after where I last left off:

 kirstenlopresti said...

I follow what you are saying - I think.

January 4, 2012 10:12 AM

      Thanks Kirsten!  I know I was rambling in a confusing way.  At least you took the time to let me know you visited and that means a lot to me.  Even if I did confuse you then that gave me a certain sense of achievement because I was trying a mind-bending experiment.  Your comment is a compliment--I think.

 alexia said...

That's a cool way to look at things! I get what you mean.

As for me, I'm pretty happy with where I've been, am at and am going with my writing.

January 4, 2012 10:23 AM

       Ah, Alexia!  Cool--that's what I want to be and you confidently assert your understanding of what I've said.  I find your positive reply uplifting and optimistic.   I makes me want to move forward as well.

       Please keep the comments coming my way--I love hearing from you.  What do you suggest about keeping the conversation option open?   Is the embedded comment box that bad?   Are you a fly-by commenter who would prefer to just have your quick say and then keep moving on?   If you are one who uses the pop-up window, do you reply to your comments and how will you handle this in the future if it less likely that visitors might be returning to see what you have said?

          Remember that submissions for the A to Z Video Contest close this Sunday night March 11.  If you are going to enter a video please get it to us this week-end.   Voting for your favorites will be begin next week.  To view videos received so far click here.   For complete Video Contest information go to the tabs at the top of the A to Z Blog.

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BlogWorld Expo 2011 Los Angeles: Day 2

           On Saturday November 5th I decided to forego the networking breakfast so I could sleep in a bit and take my time.  Taking the Metro Rail to the Convention Center, I arrived shortly after the Expo Hall doors opened at 10 AM.  As I neared the venue I noticed a throng entering the hall opposite where I was going.  Since many of these folks were in costumes I had to investigate.  The Comicaze Expo--the L.A. version of the Comicon show--was taking place and drawing a considerable crowd of comics fans.

          In fact in the huge Convention center there was also an event featuring Tony Robbins the self-help and motivational guru and the West Coast Franchise Expo, which looked pretty interesting.  It was a busy week-end for sure, but I was on my mission to finish visiting the BlogWorld booths that I had missed the previous day.

          My first stop once again was the Blogger booth.  I had a few more questions and wanted to see what kind of promo we could get for the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.   Blogger support rep Lisa Ding said she thought they could probably give us a plug or two in the Blogger blog in the months before the 2012 A to Z event.  Then Lisa kindly posed for a photo with me.

Arlee Bird of Tossing It Out with Blogger support staff rep Lisa Ding

Cover via Amazon
        Next I visited the booth for the Yahoo! Contributor Network where I was told about their program for accepting content for their website--something I will want to explore further.  Before leaving their booth I was showered with some wonderful parting gifts including a purple Yahoo! t-shirt and tote bag, as well as a thick hardbound copy of the Yahoo! Style Guide, which is a resource book that should prove highly useful in the future.




       Then I began stepping things up lest the day get away from me and I miss visiting all the booths I wanted to stop by.  I saw some fabulous video and computer equipment that I certainly can't afford now, but would love to own one day.  I picked up brochures for my daughter and a musician friend of mine who are both interested in video technology.

          I made sure to get a card from Anthony Adams from Izea.com, a company that I will be contacting later to get more information.  It was at the Izea.com booth that I spoke briefly with Roland, the owner of CouponProBlog.com, and realized he was the guy that I'd asked to take my picture at the Blogger booth.  If you're into coupons and bargains you might want to check out Roland's blog.

         At midday my cell phone rang.  It was blogger and author Beverly Diehl--the winner of the BlogWorld pass that I had given away on my blog.  We met in the lounge meeting area in Expo Hall entrance and had a very nice chat about blogging, writing, and the A to Z Challenge.  Watch for Beverly's report about BlogWorld this Thursday on her blog Writing in Flow.   It was great meeting Beverly--such a delightful young lady.

         Time was running out and we both had some stops to make at the booths we hadn't visited yet.  We parted ways and I made some last visits to a few booths that I had not had been to yet.  Frankly I was still tired from my full Friday at Expo and even though my Saturday had been much shorter I was ready to go by two o'clock.   I had been to the booths that I had wanted to see and the Expo floor would be closing at 3:30.  I did not see much point in hanging around until 5 PM for the closing program.  It was time for the train home.

         I hope I've given you a good overview of things at a BlogWorld Expo event.  There's way too much to be contained in two relatively short blog posts.  And this is only what I saw from the Expo floor.  Added to this were three days worth of speakers and seminars and three nights worth of parties.  Anyone who was attending BlogWorld and staying in a nearby hotel had to have had a blast.

          Should you attend one of the BlogWorld events?   If you are serious about blogging and social media then it's a big yes.  Even if you are just a blogger hobbyist this event is truly eye opening and might change the way you blog.   I'd love to attend next year for the full BlogWorld experience.  It's a bit of a pricey undertaking, but if you can afford it you might want to consider attending one of the Expos.  Next year the events will be in New York City in June and will be returning to Los Angeles in the Fall.  Check the BlogWorld website for complete details.

          Any questions about BlogWorld?  Ask away and I'll try to answer.   Did anyone else reading this attend either BlogWorld event?   If so, what were your thoughts?




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