Long ago, in a time when blogs were just blogs

I've been trying to comment more on actual blogs lately, and not just liking or tweeting, as seemingly easier as that is, but wow, these days you have to do a song and dance number, then show your bra size and whistle the secret code before you can. 

There's a benefit to that, I suppose, because unlike here on my blog, the author can easily respond to the commenter, and show his or her deep appreciation for the comment. 

Or more easily tell them to shut the fuck up. 

Not that I would ever do that to you specifically, of course, but it's a nice benefit nonetheless. 

Here on my old Typepad blog, which has had that Friends with Kids ad in the sidebar forever now because I can't figure out how to get it down, I'm still rockin' the old system where you just have to decipher the silly captcha that I use to help prevent some of the spam. 

Even then, it still doesn't stop Christian Dior Handbags. 

You cannot subscribe to comments, which THANK GOD almighty because I accidentally did that once and holy emails. And if you want to tweet my post, you must manually copy and paste the URL. Same goes for Facebook or Stumbleupon (which, are we still using that?). Even Pinterest (though seriously, what you would pin from this blog I do not know). 

There are no buttons. No fancy counters to show you that I have been liked by 1800 people.

If I was The Bloggess. 

But this also makes interacting with you a bit challenging.

I've grown lazy in my commenting back, which is truly much easier on Facebook or Twitter because I don't have to enter my own personal information and complete a captcha ON MY OWN BLOG in order to tell you "Yes!" or "Thanks for saying that!" or "Leave me the fuck alone, already!" 

Then I read Liz's post about inspiring people and saw all the lovely shout-outs to inspiring bloggers and commenters (and Sara, gee whiz you made my entire year!) and I realized, maybe people don't know that I read every single comment on my posts. All of them. Sometimes twice and three times. I laugh, smile, and nod right with you.

I really really appreciate the time you take to spell out HD8IK9, and say "hello." 

So lest you think I'm a total snotty asshole who is just too good to respond, mostly I'm just too freaking lazy to fill out my own personal information and do the captcha.

Comments

[Motherhooduncensored]

I don't anyone likes talking to themselves for real, Alyssa :)
Welcome Melissa!

I know J -- and you're always so nice about stopping by. So, THANK YOU! And hello!

Yeah, Sandi, I don't begrudge anyone but at least when it comes to commenting, I wish it was a little easier. I think that's why the FB like is so popular. Ping and done!

And Charter Schools Arizona - congrats on the balls!

[Asha (Parent Hacks)]

Typepad dork here: did you know you can respond to comments from within your "dashboard" -- so you don't have to do it from your own site?

[Melissa]

Hi! I recently found your blog, as in yesterday, and am so glad I stumbled upon it. I spent way too much time yesterday reading some of your older posts, and thoroughly enjoying myself. I love how honest you are. I love hearing about the experiences other mothers have without them getting overly preachy. Sometimes I don't need more advice, sometimes I want to just laugh or nod my head because I may have had similar thoughts or had something similar happen. Keep up the good work!

[J from Ireland]

I must admit I comment more on the blogs that acknowledge me, even if it's only once, I understand it's difficult to respond to 50 comments all the time but once in a while would be nice. Although with my laptop broken & reading blogs on my phone it makes it extra difficult to comment so my comments are few & far between. I appreciate your honesty here though.

[Sandi]

I remember the old blogs. I liked them a lot, before it became all about making money with ads and giveaways. (No offense to anyone who does giveaways and has ads, I am just saying it didn't use to be that way!)
I am trying to comment more, too, and stop being so lazy.

[Karen (Submommy)]

Ha! I do remember. I'm here to help, seriously. ;) We must unite against slutty porn horror movie dolls. Civilization depends on it.

[Alyssa S.]

I make an effort to comment wherever and whenever possible. Mostly because I imagine somewhere out there, someone like me who doesn't get a ton of comments might appreciate an occasional, "hey, I see that you're out there...so am I." And even if it's someone who DOES get a lot of comments, they still might appreciate the comment anyway.

Or maybe I just like talking to myself.

[Cheryl]

Kristen, the fact that you thought of boobs when seeing the word letdown is 100%, authentically you.

[Mom101]

Hello back!

I was going to give a shoutout to you via Submommy...
http://www.mom-101.com/2012/08/comments-count_shot_at_life.html/comment-page-6#comment-43737

but then I see she beat me to it. She's good, that one.

[Motherhood Uncensored]

And Karen - You always share such thoughtful insights. I give you a hat tip for ridding my home of the Monster High doll that I let come into my home. Remember that?

[Motherhood Uncensored]

Thanks so much Cheryl -- I think Twitter is tough because people use it so differently: for some it's like IM for others it's well, like email or texts I guess.

But I thank you.

Is it wrong that I saw letdown and thought of boobs?

[Charter Schools Arizona]

Yes I have been caught up in just liking and/or re-tweeting things instead of commenting. As a business owner I know it is important to take the time to comment. It is helpful. I am with you on this!

[Issa]

I've gotten really bad about it. When I do comment it's on the same 10 blogs. I really love comments though, so I've been trying to do it more.

I like what Dawn said. Why call when I can text? I'm like that with blogging. Why comment when I can tweet. Yet, I do know it's not the same.

[Karen (Submommy)]

I comment on a handful of blogs, yours being one of them. You were the first blog I ever read and your Diva Cup post the first post I ever read. I keep coming back because I like you. Plain and simple. I like your honesty, your willingness to put your honest thoughts out into the world - the good and the scary - and say what you really think. It inspired me to start my own blog all those years ago, and since I've started writing, the 'me' the world sees is closer to the 'me' inside than it has ever been.

I've got a soft spot for you for unknowingly helping me open that door.

[Cheryl]

I make an effort to comment where I can (and reading most posts from Google Reader means that takes extra effort), but I do often use Twitter too, especially if I first found out about the post that way.

And then I feel letdown that the person didn't respond in any way to my tweet. Even more letdown if that's someone I really admire.

I get it - as far as you know, I'm the equivalent of a Christian Dior Handbag. But I'm trying to be supportive, I am a real person, and I'd love a response too. It's nice to know you read them, as I'm not sure some people even do that, but as a small fish in a big pool, it feels awfully difficult to get noticed sometimes.

[vicky]

I have been back on the commenting since Liz said this at Mom 2.0. I've become interactive in my own comments which I used to do fleetingly. I think it's great you posted this because we all need to do it more.
And then never subscribe to the comment updates/replys because GEEZ that clogs up the email.

[Motherhood Uncensored]

Thanks everyone -- and I'm not sure what you're talking about Dawn -- you're always such a thoughtful, consistent commenter!

[Dawn @ thedalaimama]

Commenting has become like making a phone call--if I can text you I will, if I have to call you? Probably not going to hear from me.

Have I really become too busy? Too Lazy (who am I kidding, I have always been lazy)? But, I have seen on my own blog--comments disappear--which is fine (I certainly don't write for the comments).

But, just like the occasional written thank you note, I'm trying to comment a bit more often--at least on my favorite blogs (those I have been reading since I started in 2006). It also makes me feel more part of the community--which is why I was drawn to blogging in the first place.

[the grumbles]

I'm trying to get better at commenting too. It's like a dying artform, but when you get them it feels like you're surrounded by fluffy clouds of love. Making someone else's day is worth it, right?

[Suzanne]

I have been blogging for about 2 years, but reading blogs for at least four. When I went to my first blogging conference last October all the experts made a point of giving out the blog love and posting comments. They said, "If you post a comment on someone else's blog, the will likely post something on yours." Supposedly that was going to start getting your name out.

Right.

I'll admit that there are plenty of blogs that I read and that particular post doesn't strikes a cord for me, so I say nothing. It seems only my mother and a few friends are consistent commenters, but I am sure some of that is because of my content. (My blog is about my special needs daughter so when I tell her adventures it's in her voice, but damn that girl can get snarky!)

Anyway, I think the problem is more "technical" on my end. I have Blogger but don't do any SEO coz I don't know how (and have been too lazy to learn) and will be moving to WordPress soon. Of course I 've been saying that for months. The web designer created the shell for me and is waiting for me to fill it with content before going live. It's been 6 months and she's still waiting.

The point? I don't mind writing content, but all the "business" and technical parts of blogging are paralyzing me, so I get why you haven't responded back. It's hard enough to write something funny or thought provoking, etc.

And if I haven't babbled enough, let me add, I love your frank and funny stories. Keep it up! But I am one of those commenters who is dying to know if your MIL knows that you even write a blog and she is a major sticking point.

[Amelia Sprout]

I'm bad at commenting, I know I am. But I'm cleaning up my feed and changing things up a bit so that I read where I want to comment. I have a captcha too, since I got sick of spending my free time marking comments as spam. I make people do math because I'm a mean geek. ;)
I really hope that the post BlogHer happy happy everybody write isn't community a good thing, thing sticks around. I like this. This is why I wanted a blog in the first place.

[jodifur]

I'm trying to comment more too. It makes me remember why I started blogging in the first place.

[Rachel Backngroovemom]

so glad - I thought it was me.