To blog or not to blog? That is the question. Well...the question really is "do you have a blog?" By far the majority of people who visit my blog do not comment. And by far the majority of people who comment are other art bloggers. Stay with me now. It makes me wonder...just who is our audience anyway? Does anybody without a blog read our blogs? Or are we a community unto ourselves? Writers and readers one in the same.
I am curious as to who you all are. Please help me figure this one out. I have added a poll to my sidebar. If you are still reading this, please vote. The poll will be open one week, until April 2. Feel free to leave a comment or send an email with your thoughts on this too. Thanks for participating!
76 comments:
Hah! I think it's mostly bloggers reading blogs. But I could easily be wrong.
In my experience, there are readers and there are readers that comment. With the advent of RSS readers - not to be confused with the actual PEOPLE readers ;) - commenting becomes even more difficult as it removes the immediacy of 'off the cuff' reaction.
My own personal commenting practices are two-fold ... if it's a new person I'm visiting and their work/words touch me, I feel some obligation to let them know.
If the person is on my RSS reader, I comment every so often just to let them know, yep! still here, reading/loving who you are and what you do.
I have a whole other set of people I read that I've never once commented on ... I see it more as entertainment than connection. They are usually prolific (ie post daily or more), don't seem to require "another fan" and truly, how could I keep up?!?
FYI. I so do NOT relate to the word "blog". So I didn't vote for myself as a blogger. Can't. Stand. It. But I've had a personal website since 1994! :)
My two bits. xoxo
Judy Wise has posed something akin to this question also. She asked if anyone really had time to read other blogger's blogs. I guess the answer might be "sometimes." I know I must have a lot of visitors who just stumbled by looking for something else. You're right, not everyone leaves a comment and that's so inspiring to the blogger. Hence, this long-winded comment. - Jeanne
Before I started my blog here, I mainly utilized LiveJournal for 3-4 years prior...which is *kind of* blog-like...but I have to say that when folks would link to their blogs I rarely clicked over and read them...and when I did, I even more rarely commented. Not sure why that is, though!
Even now, I often don't comment, though I do read regularly. (I do try and give a wave every now and then, as Lynne put it)
Hi Seth, the location ended up being the big clue. I noticed from the stats that most people who read my blog are from my area but they don't comment (easy to tell because of the whole Canada/US thing...very few readers from the US, but most of my comments are from there) The bloggers comment, especially the art community but I think for most of us are writing to a larger silent community. You never know who's listening and where it might lead :)
i'm VERY NEW to blogging, inspired to do so by the disintegration project that you started, and am amazed at all that's out here in this world.....as a classroom teacher, i knew that the effects of noticing/acknowledging student's efforts were rewarding, promoting their growth. NOW, i am the student, and although i see my blogging as a good way to journal, to mark my thoughts and work, THE IMPACT OF ANOTHER'S COMMENTS is extraordinary, really. others taking time to say something to me just seems to inspire me!! makes sense, really. i'm a kid, too!
I'm a blogger (of 602 posts today) ;-). I read and comment on a large handful of other blogs daily. Most of those read and comment back on mine. It feels like a group of "friends" supporting each other's art and lives. I read some others who rarely comment on mine, and some who NEVER comment on mine. I know there are some real life friends of mine who read mine but rarely if ever almost never leave a comment. And then there is that stream I get in my side bar telling me I have visitors from China, and Israel, and Tibet, but I've never heard a word from them so I wonder if that is even real!? Or maybe they don't know the English language??? Possible? I will go vote on your side bar.
And the art you put up today is another example of why I come HERE and read/see/comment. It's good.
Hi Seth - this is really intriguing and I would like to do this myself on my blog if you have no objection - one of my college briefs is about audiences and that is one of the reasons I set up my blog - it would be good to add this to the research so I suppose I am asking if I can use the idea and how you set it up on the sidebar? I have discovered so much reading and participating with your blog ideas so a big thanks. I don't always comment because of time but I will become a follower if I like the blog and try and make a comment every now and again
An intriguing question, Seth...I think that the wonder of it all is that we are a huge community of artists and art lovers and people looking to find connection to others. Some communicate the connection they find by leaving comments, and some don't. Who is our audience ? Anyone and everyone, which is what I love about Blogland.
Thanks for the research and the food for thought !
Cheers !
According to the stats, there are alot of readers out there who don't comment. I love comments, and try to leave one every time I visit- if there is a new post. I don't get to read all the blogs I wish I could- not enough time in the day. But, I certainly appreciate comments on mine- and people who sign up as 'followers"- so I know WHO is out there reading me!!!
I have read your blog for a long time but rearely comment as I read through a reader. I decided today to make the efort to click through and comment as it is right it is greedy just reading and not commenting. I love your pieces and the one today is no exception, love the natural verses industrial look to things.
I used to hate blogs (until I had one).
All I knew about were mommy blogs and self-absorbed written with a lower case "i" when referring to the 1st person.
The art blogs are a wonderful new world to me.
Ao that's where I'm at :)
Polled. (is that a word?)
I disagree respectfully with Jen...I use RSS...without it I wouldn't be able to read as many blogs as I do... (I think well over 200)...it does not make commenting more difficult at all..I don’t feel intimacy lost in the least.
I think it is indeed about establishing community...I comment to be a part of it... I am so happy to have created so many friendships this way too... Commenting indicates that you want to be a part of the community…to participate.. I appreciate the interactive-ness of bloglandia…
What makes commenting ‘hard’ is word verification...and the fact that Blogger doesn’t remember me as a typepad uses each visit…all that extra typing to register makes me crazy.
My thoughts and experiences on blogging mirror Lynn's above (albeit on a smaller scale!) I have now added my blog url to my business card, and tell people it's an invaluable tool for letting them know what I am up to artwise. A returning customer told me she always read the blog but felt too shy and 'not really part of it' to comment. A big factor for some.
I find personally time a big factor- I follow several blogs ( yours included! Great post again BTW) and spend the time reading up on other people's efforts, without necessarily leaving comments. I will however reply without fail to anyone who is kind enough to write something on my site- it's such a delight to make someone feel happy through art.
I do wish all who visit would comment, but alas time is sometimes of the essence.....but a little peep once in awhile would be much appreciated =)
I know that people who do not have blogs read mine. They have e-mailed me to tell me they read it. There are also non-blog owners who comment on my blog but I think the majority do have blogs, websites or online businesses.
Love the 'Thought' leaf picture, by the way. It's beautiful. Which reminds me - I just threw out a roll of hessian wallpaper from the 70s (it was my parents). Drat! I could have used it for some art.
Mostly bloggers, I think. Because we are the learner/teachers/explorers who are looking for different ideas. I need "art fixes" that are easy to access due to my work schedule and other life responsibilities. Blogs are my escape to the land of make-believe and then make-it-so! And, the bloggers/blogs become my friends. And, there is nothing to put away or clean up after a visit. Ideas just a click away!
hmm, what's not been said here? i loved your question in the first place. i am brand new since jan. to blogging. i too love comments. i love looking at other's art work and then picking up other bloggers to look at. and i do try to reply when i can, not always though. love your incite. wanda
Great question seth! I think that other art bloggers are more likely to comment on art blogs. I also think that there are people are not artists or bloggers who read our art blogs but don't comment. I read other blogs that don't have to do with art, like food ones, for example. And I never comment on them! I mean, what would i say? :) Isn't that funny? It's a comfort factor, I think. Also perceived succes as well. There are some art blogs I read that I am too intimidated to comment on, so I just read them.
I am not the best commenter, I wish I were better because I really appreciate the comments people leave me. I just...run out of time, it seems. That seems like a poor excuse, but that's where I am. I also try to reply back to those who leave comments on my blog, but blogger makes that difficult and then....I just seem to drown in emails. I hate that. Maybe if I didn't read so many blogs I would be able to conquer the email madness!
I think we are our own community...
i follow the same artists that other artist i see are following.. the same people who follow me...are all following each other...
(don't i make the best sense!)
:)
yeah i am accused of speaking another language ALL the time at work..
which is as a waitress!
(what else would a struggling artist work as!?)
;)
**understand I live in the NW with a Southern accent**
I don't think everyone who views a blog knows about leaving comments...seriously!
I just finished explaining comments to a fellow blogger, who didn't realize she received comments...yes!...so not all who are on board are totally literate in the game of blogland.
I do try to treat a visit to a blog like going to the door..say something...don't just ring the bell and run off...
Hmmmm, I never even considered this and assumed all were bloggers since I have such a hard time commenting on google blogs and sometimes others. I was once a Luddite and am still struggling with all the permutations of bloggerdom.
Brilliant idea to post this. I think this subject has been on every bloggers mind at one point or another. I often see posts about "lurkers" and think it is almost an insult to the readers. A blog is a public look at a person's life and if they did not want "lurkers" then they should spend their time offline. I often "lurk" or get to know an artists before feeling I have something to offer in a comment. I also impulsively tell people I love their artwork if I really enjoy it in passing and may never return. I have several friends and family who read daily and my bestest friend (non-artist, non-blogger) has yet to make a comment in over 1 year of my blog...she commissions me to create every possible gift she can think of too and most of them have been featured. I love that people comment, I have met some fabulous friends that way. It is my blog, for me, for my journey though. A tool to get more art accomplished and my name out there. To learn, to see my progress, to see what influences me. A story to tell my family about my creative side. I was scared to even hit that "publish" button the first day...wow...that would have been the biggest mistake in my life.
Thanks for posting this but do you honestly think if "they" are not commenting "they" will vote?
I've often wondered the same thing...I think my small audience is a mix of bloggers, friends, and people that somehow stumble upon it due to a google search....looking for something.
Fascinating to read this comment stream.
What I'm thinking right now is if there was an exhibition of work and lots of folks came to view it, they wouldn't all comment in the visitors book, a lot of them would run a mile form saying hi to the artist unless they were best friends of brother, neighbour or Great Aunt Bertha and some other folks would say they liked the work because they feel they should say something.
I look at a lot of creative work both on line and not. Sometimes, I don't have a response - yet. I might have a question that may lead me closer. I might want to hang out a bit longer and sit with the work a while.
For me, it's the same with blogs. Everyone is free to comment or not.
Hi Seth. I am taking part in your Disintegration project but till now have not commented on your blog. I am an art blogger who started blogging to see if it would help me concentrate on producing art and to maintain a record of that journey. Blogging has done that and more and has brought me a rich circle of friends and access to an amazing richesse of skills and ideas.
I track blogs both in my blogroll and in Bloglines where I can read quickly and decide whether I want to see the blog post in detail.
I do comment quite regularly but some blogs I admit I just read and don't comment very often. I comment to offer support or ask questions and am sometimes put off commenting where I would simply be repeating everything that has already been said.
I love blogging,(sometimes too much.)
I try always to leave a comment if someone's been kind enough to take the time to comment on mine.
I follow several regularly, and many occasionally. I love to just browse sometimes, as time permits, and find new places to learn about;new people to meet. Of course I favor the art blogs,,,The Altered Page has become one of my favorites.
I think it's mainly us fellow bloggers that seek out other bloggers that we enjoy.
You and I must be riding the same wavelength today...I was thinking along these same lines, in a way. Since I'm starting a new job (outside the house), I know my blog reading time will be cut severely...how do I decide which blogs to keep up with and which ones to let go of? *sigh*
Oh, and I have 102 subscribers, even more that view, but only about 10-12 regular commentors. I have no idea why that is...I hope you can figure out the reason for all of us that wonder about it.
BTW, I adore the piece you posted on this entry. It's gorgeous! I always love your creations...they seem to just grab me at some deep level. I can't describe it...just know I love your work tremendously.
Peace & Love,
♥ Barb ♥
My guess is bloggers.....being semi-new at all this......I love comments from anywhere,anyone,anytime.....I mean...we are all putting ourselves out there with our creativity...it is awesome when someone stops by to say Hey!
Hey Seth! I love the bricks.
Adios
Hi Seth,
I am an artist who has a non art day job and I am a blogger. I love getting comments. I often leave comments on art I am drawn to. I have sites I visit regularly but I don't comment on every new post. I have made friends through blogging and other online groups. I think it is so cool to have this technology to connect artists to give us a community of sharing and support, of belonging. I think a lot of us might feel as though we don't fit in, in our local community. I sure do wonder how many people have looked at my site. Is it easy to put a counter on your blog? Cheers
Such an interesting question, I run into people (without blogs) that soooo surprise me when they say they look at my blog every day.
those silent masses...
Off to check out your poll, looks like, based on your number of comments, that have pulled some lurkers out of the woodwork??
I also started my blog to record my progress and growth in my art. I started about last Thanksgiving and I really enjoy it. I was surprised when I started to get some comments because I didn't know how people found me. I do post some times but I feel like I need to have something special to say or something really touches me before I post. I always feel like I am pestering the artist to over comment. I will have to say that I always enjoy it when someome posts to my blog.
What is RSS?
like many of the other respondents i have an art blog. i have a day job that's not art related. i started my art blog to think about art or creating daily, but it has become so much more. the community of people who share ideas and encouragement and who challenge me to stretch (including you, and thank you) is a gift.
Interesting post. Maybe we (bloggers) are a closed community. I'm happy with that.We inspire, inform and share between us
Personally, I just don't have the time to comment on every post, even on the blogs I follow...unless I am goofing off at work. (like now)
Hi Seth.
I didn't often leave comments on blogs, esp if someone else had already made the same kind of comment I would have. I tended to think of the comments section as being like a group conversation, so I didn't comment unless I really felt I had something to add. Silly really, because of course I love getting comments on my own blog, even if it is just the "wow, I love your art", kind of comment. So now I make an effort to leave comments. Not always, but just to let people know I enjoy visiting their blog.
my name is grrl+dog and I am a blogoholic
Interesting (as always). I have a long list on my bloglines and I tend to skim through them as one would a magazine, stopping to read when something(usually a picture) captures my interest. I don't always comment, this, I think, depends on my mood and sometims I write a comment and then don't post it in the fear that it will be misconstrued ( my sense of humour is not always understood). When I receive comments I don't always answer though I will usually visit the blog of the person who has commented and perhaps leave a comment there.I am honestly not sure exactly why I keep a blog but I do know that I enjoy the communication with a wider world and the learning benefit has been enormous. (As a lover of words I actually hate the word blog and all it's derivities!! I stopped looking at one because started every post with "Hi Bloggers"!)
I had to leave a comment seeing you said that hardly anyone leaves comments when they visit your blog!!!! Not only are we all bloggers that read each other's blogs, we are also artists that buy each other's art!!! Spooky, eh?! I can't believe how many art blogs I read where they are showing us what they just bought on ETSY from another blogging artist. Not that I am knocking it, I think it is fantastic that we all share something in common, and find someone else's work that we love!
Hi there seth
I am another one of your readers that doesn't comment so often. Maybe it's because i am usually going through an RSS? I guess that makes people feel a bit of a step removed. However, tehre are so many awesome blogs out there and I subscribe to about 30 of them... many update daily or near daily. Know that even though i don't really write many comments, i adore reading your posts.
As for being a blogger, i think that the majority of readers are bloggers (including myself). In order to be a regular reader, you often need to feel connected or some pull into the blog world. This pull often results or comes from being a blogger oneself... i don't think many people are all input with no output in relation to blogs. I do believe that our community of bloggers is self-supporting from others who blog also and feel a strong relation to what it is other bloggers are trying to say. As well, i agree with teh valid point made that you can't comment here without at least a user name etc (or it's more difficult).
i look at blogging as a social network...with better art work...no pink teddy bears holding heart shaped blinking balloons like the bad graphics on the facebook applications....ish..
i love that i can meet people, go to the art gallery and maybe do a little shopping without having to leave my favorite chair by the window....a daily vacation
and yes, i do leave the house....just in case you want to know...
I'm a blogger who comments randomly on blogs usually through feeds but also through through jumping from one site to another. If I see a piece I like, I try to comment if I have the time & if I can get through the security codes!
My site gets few comments which reminds me sometimes of the old days of art fairs where people would look at my work and not say anything and walk away. Frustrating, but what can you do?
I blog to be in touch with people because I live in a very rural area and to keep me focused on my art. It has helped. So I'll just keep going and maybe the comments will pick up.
Great thread Seth. I just put a stat counter on my blog. It is amazing the number of people who stop by but don’t comment. Comments are feedback and really help fuel the fire. But I can’t comment every time I read a blog post either; time is the issue. It takes me about 2 to 3 hours to write and put up images for a post. I try to post about 3 times a week, and keep it fresh. Then I read a lot of blogs. So Maybe I will increase the number of times I “wave” as I cruise the blogs that caught my eye that day. Bloggers are very generous people. The world is a better place, I think, because of the positive blogs in the world.
I'm with grrl, I am also a blogaholic.
Questions are in the air, Seth, and answers too.
I love inquiring minds.
Happy days,
Joanie
Most people that come to my blog I believe to be artists. After all it is an art blog.
The most comments I received was through One World One heart Giveaway. I picked up a couple of followers from that.
Comments I get are few but my aim is to inspire other artists, a lot of people come to my blog but do not comment. But then again I go to many blogs and do not comment. It has more to do with time constraints, than not being interested. Hopefully that's the reason they don't comment on my blog also.
Friends, fans and people that take my classes from me are the one's generally that comment.
If you run a give-away Seth then you will also know who is reading your blog.
The lurkers suddenly de-lurk!
i love when they "Come out" - hey now there's an idea......I am not being cynical here. You can also go into goggle analytics and see who what where they are etc. I think in the main though lots of people comment when they are moved by a piece - its hard to comment every time as it is very time consuming - sometimes i just say hi - i am still reading - like now.
xo
Great ponderings... can't wait to see the results!
I know that many of my blog vistors are artists, but I'm getting more art-lovers visiting (who send me emails, but don't seem to want to leave comments on my blog!).
I also love seeing what search terms bring folks to my blog... one today was "falling down barns in washington state"... something I've not blogged about (yet)!
I do have a blog and sometimes I do believe my blog has me....not without my consent however :)
Participating in various weekly challenges, I am connected to a nice handful of mixed media bloggers, which is a welcome part of each day. Art is my therapy!
I enjoy sharing what I am enthusiastic about and appreciate the sense of community I get in blogland.
Some close friends (without blogs) hardly ever comment. A 78 yr old friend said about visiting and not commenting "it's like knocking on someone's door and not saying hello" :)
I enjoy giving my first reaction when reading blog posts and since I appreciate comments, I leave comments when moved to......it's a good question Seth and one that has many layers!
I think that it is defifnitely other bloggers that visit and also that leave a comment. I have found that even friends who visit my blog usually send me an email to voice their opinion rather than leaving a comment on my blog. I'm not sure why this happens.
Keep on blogging!!
heya seth, great food for thought as always with you, artwise or other. i have been wondering the same sort of thing and very grateful to you for running 'a poll' on the subject! i don't always have time (or want to take the time to be honest) to leave comments. my time behind the screen is enough as is... i do really enjoy when people leave me comments on my blog tho, but also understand why people don't. the weird thing is when you receive all those hits and you know people read your stuff - but WHO are THEY?? right?
To be honest I read ALOT of blogs. I have invested in reader for that purely. I have over 1500 blogs in my reader and on any given day that gives me 1000 to read. There is just too much out there I want to keep up to date on. I did post a fair few comments in the beginning but have wittled that down to the ones I really do have something to say, which is a bit rude but other than the mornings when I check them my day is fairly packed.. I have days where I just sit there and go through a weeks worth of blogs and open the ones I want to comment to in a tab and then write one.. It is also often there isn't much to say other than that I like it which is perhaps enough but I don't just want to write "I really like this." to every post. I want to be able to take the time and write why if I can :) I have a blog and a website but there was no option for that there :)
It seems as though it's all been said already based on the comments made here, but I'll still toss in my 2 cents worth. By far, I have more readers than commenters on my blog, part of which may be my own fault of getting very lazy at acknowledging comments left, bad bad habit and poor manners to boot, something I'm going to try very hard to correct. For myself, I don't read as many blogs as I used to, so I'm not leaving as many comments either, and I've backed off from posting as often as I had been-took a little break from it all, and to be ho9nest it felt good. But now I'm ready to get back at it. Maybe it's a winter hibernation thing or something, although I've spent the majority of the last few months dealing with a pretty serious health issue, something you can only blog about so often without boring everyone to tears! Didn't intend to write a novel here, hope the info is of some help:)
voted. :)
honestly, I don't think we'll ever know the answer to that question.
I'm a blogger that started blogging (just over a year ago) due to another blogger's call to artists ... that single step opened a whole new universe to me ... I follow close to 100 other blogs. I read about 97% of all of new posts and of that 97% I think I comment on at least 80%+ ... plus, I take the time to check out links they took the time to mention (and likely comment of about 50% of those posts) ... ok, it's true that I have been accused of being a bit OCD, but I know how much it means to me when someone actually takes the time to comment, so feel that it is only right to reciprocate - most of us get some sort of validation from this process. I can also add that I know of friends that keep up with my blog, but NEVER comment ... and when I am part of a charitable event, those same people email my blog link to nearly everyone in their contacts ... I can't even begin to guess the percentage of those people that actually look ... it's a great big mystery, but I bet it's a lot more that we'd imagine.
sorry about adding another dissertation response. You must have caught me on a chatty day.
Good luck with the research ... and let us know what you determine.
Hi Seth,
I am a lurker/blogger :-) I love your blog, and you are in my favs link on my blog as well. I am always curious to see what you are up to. I gain a lot of inspiration from looking at other mixed media blogs, and I love to share my work on my art blog too. I think there is a great support system here, from Yahoo groups to art blogs...I have gotten a lot of help along the way, and I hope I can share some of that too.
Keep creating artfully!
Roberta
Well are you happy now? You certainly opened up a pandoras box, didn't you.
If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it......
In the beginning....there were just a few. It was easy to commment. Now that there has been mucho friendmaking/networking/inspiration gathering....there is barely time. I think many people are being more selective.
Dear Seth, I blog to hear my own voice or rather see my thoughts that I will share with others who bother to take the time to stop for a moment to hear another voice in the distance. I found a Utube video called Art by Tonya Davis at andyradorfman on 6-21-08. I am sorry that I could not tell you how to get to this in the universe but hopefully it can answer the questions we all seem to have on different blogs. I do not care if I am read... but just putting the authentic thoughts, fears, joys and whatever we feel in our human vessels out "there" I feel validated in some strange way. Seth you are powerful in sharing your journey with others you may never meet...but you share your life and give life. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart
Dear Seth, I blog to hear my own voice or rather see my thoughts that I will share with others who bother to take the time to stop for a moment to hear another voice in the distance. I found a Utube video called Art by Tonya Davis at andyradorfman on 6-21-08. I am sorry that I could not tell you how to get to this in the universe but hopefully it can answer the questions we all seem to have on different blogs. I do not care if I am read... but just putting the authentic thoughts, fears, joys and whatever we feel in our human vessels out "there" I feel validated in some strange way. Seth you are powerful in sharing your journey with others you may never meet...but you share your life and give life. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart
Dear Seth, I blog to hear my own voice or rather see my thoughts that I will share with others who bother to take the time to stop for a moment to hear another voice in the distance. I found a Utube video called Art by Tonya Davis at andyradorfman on 6-21-08. I am sorry that I could not tell you how to get to this in the universe but hopefully it can answer the questions we all seem to have on different blogs. I do not care if I am read... but just putting the authentic thoughts, fears, joys and whatever we feel in our human vessels out "there" I feel validated in some strange way. Seth you are powerful in sharing your journey with others you may never meet...but you share your life and give life. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart
You've asked the question that has been rattling around in my brain for a while. I know I have many more readers than commenters. Not sure whether they are all bloggers. It's got to the stage where I battle to comment on every blog that I visit (not enough hours in my day to blog, reply and comment, whilst still trying to do my art and run a household) but if I really enjoy the blog I will try and leave a few words to show that I've stopped by.
Interesting poll Seth... I have often wondered this myself... I looked at your the answers .... quite a #'s distance in the results...
Many folks from all over the world have contacted me directly by email, after seeing my work online... but they never commented on my blog when they were visiting... It feels a bit weird to me when the local folks from the village or at craft fairs say they saw "it" on my blog.. and I never knew they ever went there.. It is then I feel exposed... but I don't feel like that when people I will never meet comment on my blog.. this probably sounds strange but that's just me... Thanks...
Wow... this entry sure has a lot of comments, some really interesting answers to an interesting question.
I use Google Reader to keep track of blogs and websites that I like to read on a regular basis. It saves me time as I can open up the reader and instantly see which blogs have been updated. To comment on the entry I just go to their blog. It saves me so much time, which is why I use it.
I'm not sure if my blog readers are all from blogs but I would take a guess that the majority of them are although occasionally I will get a comment or email from someone who has found me through a different avenue.
Comments are great and I do appreciate people taking the time to leave them but on the other hand I don't expect everyone who visits to comment on every single post or feel that they have to either.
Hi Seth, I made my way over here from Viv Bonder's blog. I have a blog, but have visitors who do not. I also am like others, who have commented here, I read most blogs through bloglines but only comment when I have time of if the author has said something poignant that I want to comment on.
I have a few 'followers' on my blog who have never ever commented but it's nice to see their face there in the 'followers' column. I also love hearing how people happened upon my blog because I have had people drop in for all types of reasons.
Glad you've got people talking about this ;)
I'm an artist blogging since 2006. Posting mainly photos and artworks. When I visit blogs I prefer to look rather than read. If an artwork strikes me I will read and comment.
If a non-artist blogger comments on my art, I return the visit and always leave a comment... they may turn out to be a patron.
Okay Seth I must admit I have been reading your blog for a few months and haven't left comments but I must tell you that is because I am relatively new to the whole blogging and art communities both. Don't ask me where I've been until now, but wherever it was I will never return thats for sure. I have only discovered art in the last 3 years (OMG I said that out loud too) prior to that it was something I looked at in galleries but it could never be me, could it? Well now I know better, but it has been a journey of its own to feel brave enough to both comment on anothers work and to also put myself out there as well. So I joined the blogging community at xmas and am here to stay. Now I understand how inspiring and important it is to have feedback from others, so here is some for you. I love your art. I have found it very inspiring and make a point to cruise around every few weeks to see what you are up to. Thanks for posting and inspiring others.
In my limited experience, most of my readers are either other bloggers or some family who do not have blogs themselves and some friends in the same position. I tend to click on some of the commenters from art blogs who are usually artists themselves. It's a great way of discovering more talent.
Very interesting, Seth! I think we all wonder about who our readers are. Sometimes, I think I must be the only one looking at my blog, although stats don't bear that out at all. Most of my readers are silent...which is ok. If they're touched by something I post, they'll comment...or not. Still, I know they're out there!
i've been here a few times, and always get sidetracked by your visitors--bouncing to their blogs... and not getting back.
i've always had lots of people who don't comment... in fact, you tagged me once, and i had no idea where you came from or how you knew me.
i haven't been online long, so its a whole strange thing to me, to witness this sharing, reading, talking outloud stuff.
All the world is a stage, Shakespeare said, wonder if he could see the blogs.
:)
Living down under, so far away from the rest of the world, blogging becomes away of spreading your wings. I've also got to meet some great locals along the way too.
seth, you have obviously posed a great question - look at the responses! whatever the answer is, as to who the readers are, i hope you have inspired the thought process for all readers to comment more often. for me, blogging is two-fold: that which we share, and the dialogue that follows in comments. i do believe 'feeds' and 'readers' have cut down on comments, but it is a useful source to see who on your list has recently updated...but it's up to you to click through and join in the whole post, which means reading and leaving comments.
perfect example is this post - so many opinions offered, making it an even better post.
I have a blog of my own and subscribe to others using Google reader. I have this BAD habit of skimming the posts of the blogs I read...it's really due to the fact that I read so many. This is the reason why I can't get my own things done! I do comment on blogs but not as often as I should. I'd prefer to write something thoughtful rather than making a comment just for the sake of it.
Oops! I missed the poll by one day. Well, I would have just upped the count on bloggers by one more.
I blog mostly to document my art. I enjoy interacting with the folks who comment on my blog. I like to comment when I visit a blog but visiting other blogs is hard for me time-wise so I don't end up commenting very often.
My name is Hélène, I'm Canadian. I totally fell in love with your stars series, love the rusty circles.
There's around 80 blogs that I follow on a regular basis. Of course, it's on a RSS reader. I don't agree with Jen though, as soon as I have something to say, I just click on the blog link and comment away!
i blog, read and comment - I appreciate your blog and how you connect/in.spire others.
Hello Seth, I confess, for a moment I thought this was Judy's blog, then after your email I had to come back in here and now I figured it all out, you have a world of people in here and so much beauty to share!
I love blogs and also to leave my mark, most of the time because it is a way to reach out to family and friends and also because it allows me the opportunity to meet other artists.
I visit other people's blogs but do not leave comments, often I don't have the time, but I appreciate their creativity and the way they share...it is often moving and inspiring.
So...thanks for creating this space, and please come to visit mine if you have some time. I have so many blogs by now I forget to go there myself. :)
Hi Seth, I've missed the cut-off on this one but nevertheless I wanted to leave a comment. I started my blog to motivate myself and my art which hasn't always been easy given that I live outside my own country and 'art' culture. In the process I've found an amazing group of talented people doing their own 'thing' inspiring and encouraging others along the way. I also see from my stats that many come by without commenting but that in itself is oddly fascinating.
Seth, I am so sorry I missed your poll. As you know, I left town on the 26th and returned Saturday, so the window was closed. But you know all about my blog and about my sometimes silly comments.
I often find it curious as to why people who read don't comment. I'm thankful for readers. It's great. But it's confusing to me that, even people who may complain because others don't comment, don't take the time to comment, themselves! I don't know what that's about.
I'm back. I don't know if anyone is reading through all the comments, but I've started reading through them, and I will just speak to an issue that bugs me, even as you may be the only reader of it!
I don't know why readers, feeds or word verification should keep anyone from commenting. It seems to me that you have time to do what you want to do. If you truly are taking the time to read a blog post, you can take the extra seconds it takes to comment. And I also think it's disingenuous to say that you want a community when you never leave comments. What it means to me is that you want to talk and not to listen. That you want exposure, but not to give back. It means to me that you are in this for a one-sided conversation. Or, you want to sell your work. But that's not the same as wanting a community. That is fine! Many people don't need a community, and I am a very independent and self-involved person in many ways. But I would be lying if I said I want only to hear my own voice and spread my own cheer. I always want to see and hear what others have to offer, and I want them to know when I respond to it. I have the few seconds it takes to do so.
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