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Sunday 9 January 2011

Come out of the woodwork

I happened to come across this in the last few days, though I don't know from where it originates. I remember something similar last year - a call for people who read a blog and didn't comment just to check in.


It's a strange thing. Over the last year I've had more visits than ever to my blog, but just a few less comments. I wasn't expecting that. I love comments. I try to respond to them all, either by email or in my commentbox. I love to pop over to commenters' blogs to have a nosey round, too.

I manage it 80% of the time, I reckon. And even though I try to comment on blogs as often as I can as I know how important comments are to bloggers, sometimes I read blogs when I have a pan of something boiling on the hob and it is no time to be composing thoughtful responses.

Also, no-one got any Christmas cards from the Coffee House this year and this is entirely because they sat on the end of the radiator for three weeks and I never got round to buying them any stamps.

What I'm saying is, if I don't respond, it's not because I don't like you. It's just ineptitude.

So, if you're there, why not delurk. I don't need you to say anything meaningful. Just a wave would do.

62 comments:

  1. I mostly read via google-reader and comment verbally to the computer screen which is lame, and I shouldn't. I love your blog! Keep up the great work. You often find links I've not come across elsewhere.

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  2. Oh, I always read, but don't often comment on your blog. I'll try harder in future!

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  3. Interesting...I've noticed the same trend. More visitors (a lot more),but less comments. But then, I find it harder to comment these days, what with all of these children I keep having.

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  4. Hello, hello. I ahve become increasingly rubbish at replying to comments which is pretty unforgivable for someone who posts as infrequently as I do.

    Must Try Harder.

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  5. Hi, there! You have responded to one of my comments before (thanks!) so I am not exactly delurking. But comments are one of a blogger's most important rewards for the activity and I want to reward you :)

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  6. ... not lurking but waving ...

    You have always responded to my inane comments and I do appreciate it muchly.

    I'm going to try harder this year to lurk less, comment more, and respond to comments even more ...

    phew. bit tired now, where's that after dinner cake ...

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  7. Hi! Love your blog and it's so nice to visit you. My christmas cards remained unmade, the design still in my head for this Christmas though ;-) Have a great week. xx

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  8. Hi and thanks for giving me the nudge that I needed to come out of the woodwork!

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  9. You have been very good on the comment front. Like you I really appreciate people taking the time. we must all try to delurk, take a grip and go for it. ❀

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  10. I'm not a lurker but I'm waving anyway x

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  11. This feels like one of those mass revivalist meetings where you leap up sobbing and shouting "I too am a lurker but I repent."

    Which I do and I will do better.

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  12. Hello! Just found your blog recently but that's no excuse for not saying hello before now :-( I enjoy your writing.

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  13. Hello! Just found your blog recently but that's no excuse for not saying hello before now :-(
    I enjoy your writing.

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  14. I'm delurking today. :) Hi. I'm glad you enjoyed "Merry Christmas Mr Bean", it's just too funny to miss. B.T.W., I love your blog, you say it how it is.
    Have a great day,
    Anne xx

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  15. Waving, not lurking. Damn, someone stole my line. If I don't comment as much as I should it is because I fail to come up to scratch in the witty content department.

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  16. Waving from Anaheim, California!!

    I read through Google reader and most times I'll read, think, oh! I should say something!..then I forget to save it as new to come back later and leave a witty comment!! Sorry!!

    I will try to be a more thoughtful reader in 2011!! :)

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  17. Unlurking in Melbournee, Australia :)

    I read copious blogs through my Google Reader, with a finger raised to hit the next button. i figure I can take in all the good stuff or comment on all the good stuff, but if i read AND comment, I will never reach the end of the internet!

    But you have raised a good point and I hereby declare I shall comment more frequently :)

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  18. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  19. I'm not lurker... can I wave anyway?

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  20. I'm waving too... from an occasional commentor but sometimes lurker!

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  21. I have been a(n) habitual lurker but will try to change!

    Your blog and all the comments reassure me that unposted Christmas cards are useful next year, others have cupboards of shame and little things make the day.

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  22. Just to say "Hi". I love reading your blog.

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  23. I read several blogs a day, but only comment a couple of times a week (I often feel the fifteen previous comments have said it all already). Occasionally I have a day when I decide to make the effort to comment, but it doesn't last long!
    (and sometimes my computer doesn't load the visual verification word and removes my comment when I reload the page and I give up!)

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  24. I'm guilty of 'lurking around blogs'. I read so many brilliant ones - sometimes I don't comment because my little daughter is sitting on my lap and I can't type, I also might be trying to cook at the same time, but sometimes I don't feel intellectual enough - does that sound bonkers???? Probably.

    Jill ((((Waving)))))

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  25. I tend to comment but I will say hi anyway!

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  26. Oh I wish I'd known about this. I could've done something on my own blog.

    Hello, anyway. I read so many blogs and I'm trying to be better at commenting on as many as poss. I'm pretty anal about replying to all on mine - but I find them easy to find as Disqus puts them all on one place on their site!

    I'm thinking we might meet soon too.....

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  27. I read your blog regularly but comment irregularly: I can't match the wittiness of previous comments, have nothing very original to say other than hello or sometimes I'm simply in the middle of things. I do love your sense of humour and will try to respond more.

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  28. Hello! I'm a lurker too. Will try to correct. Love your blog!

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  29. I am a lurker, who is also a non regular comentator, but I do really like the blog and we will get to meet again at Kellogs I hope

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  30. Hi, my name is Jennifer and I'm a lurker. Love your blog and your great sense of humor! Post more!!!!! See, now you won't want to hear from me again.

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  31. Ohhhh, having been 'outed' as a lurker I feel compelled to give you a wave and say 'thank you' for bringing me a smile on gloomy days! I promise to try harder in future too.....xx

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  32. *Waving* I don't think I've ever commented, which makes me an official lurker. De-lurking now :-)

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  33. Hello, I lurk a lot, not by choice but I have problems posting comments on most blogs except wordpress...sometimes if I really want to say something I try email...

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  34. Thank you for not being blog perfect..... from Lurker #572

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  35. I confess, I'm more of a lurker than a commenter. I could promise to better my life, and would really like to, but I also know that most of the time I just don't know what to say very much, even though I really enjoy reading your blog. Silly, I know..

    I will wave though!!

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  36. Blogs and shrubbery are both ideal for lurking in. But you're less likely to get knobbled by the police for doing it in a blog (and don't need to wear a raincoat).

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  37. I've lurked but not commented for a year or two now. I always enjoy what you have to say and am feeling quite ashamed I haven't told you so. I shall mend my ways in 2011.

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  38. Taking a break from the vacuuming to wave!

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  39. Victoria hello!

    kmkat that's very kind. I shall bow and scrape in response.

    panyan thanks for delurking!

    Helen you're right - but it's sometimes just a matter of not having the time when there are so many good blogs to read.

    Marion Thank you so much. Glad to have you here.

    Lucille Coooeee!

    Anne thanks Anne - the kids loved that clip.

    Paola if you're reading me, I must be very blessed. I have seen your commentbox work elsewhere.

    Joolz of course, the Christmas cards will save. Just don't lose them...

    Helen@leatherbabyshoes Thank you!

    planetcoops I had that thing at work with the visual verification. I decided it was a karmic glitch telling me I shouldn't be reading blogs there!







    kateab - I hope so!

    jennifer - that's really kind. So many people have said nice things - I wasn't angling for praise (honest!!)

    jennifer - so many jennifers! I should post more, I know...

    jurban craft is it? Oh dear. Better go hide in the kitchen.

    Rachel - thank you. I'm waving back.

    pennie my email is on my profile, I think. I've tried different comments (Intense Debate) on here to see if it helps, but ended up going back to Blogger. I think every comments system has good points and bad points, you can't have it all, sadly.

    Lurker 572 no, perfection is something I definitely don't reach

    Jannette look, I'm not going to call anyone silly. I'm in no position.

    NotFitForPurpose aren't they just! Shrubbery is probably going to be colder and less convenient, though.

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  40. Thanks for making mothers' daily challenges humourous and interesting! I really love your blog!

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  41. tinotino thanks! I don't like to refer to them as 'challenges', however. I see them more as 'impossibilities'.

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  42. I do read but don't always comment. Will try to do better as I know how good it feels when someone comments on my blog.

    Keep up the good work.

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  43. 50 comments?

    Really?

    Fifty lurkers...lurking around?

    What a shifty bunch. I'd be terrified.

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  44. does it feel like woodworm?

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  45. My dear, I commented less because it took me at least the first 8 months of the year to figure out how to use your new-fangled comment dealie-bob.

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  46. Wow! So many comments! So I added one.

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  47. :) Boo!

    Have been reading for a few years now... v v occasionally post- will make an exception for this one.

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  48. Alysha in Seattle12 January 2011 at 14:07

    Ok, I'm one too - waving from WAY over in Seattle. Thank you for the wit that brightens my day - oh and for the oh so funny lines you post to Eurolush in her comments. So fun...

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  49. Superb blog post, I have book marked this internet site so ideally I’ll see much more on this subject in the foreseeable future!

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  50. Not a lurker, but might as well tip the comment scales to 60!

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  51. Hello! I've been a lurker for a month or so - coming out of the closet now!

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  52. Is it too late to de-lurk?? I read regularly but comment rarely. I love your blog, my default setting is cheery and your blog reminds it's good to be a smidge grumpy once in a while ;-)

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  53. That worked, didn't it? Waving at you...

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