BlueDev BlueDev

Run-Away bloggers

Run-Away bloggers

-or- show a little more backbone

Good afternoon everyone. Yes, yes, please come in, sit down. Today I would like to discuss with you something that has been weighing heavily on my mind. But first, may I set before you a question? Good.

Who here would turn around and walk away from a conversation they started? No explanation, no "Sorry, got to go", just turn around and walk off, to only strike up a conversation with someone a few feet away?

Hmm, I'm not seeing many hands. Come on, raise them up, high so we can count.

Oh, so you are saying you that you wouldn't do that? It would be rude you say? I see. Oh no, no I agree, it would be terrible rude to strike up a conversation and then just walk away, no explanation, no closure, nothing. That is why I don't do it, and I am sure that is why so few here are actually raising their hands.

So why do some think it is acceptable to do with their blogs?

I am getting so sick of the run-away bloggers. They are a minority, of course. Most here have the decency to either continue or openly terminate a conversation. Yet there continue to be those who write a topic (often of a somewhat controversial nature), enable comments, receive them, and then run away. In the past few days I have been involved with multiple examples of these encounters and, frankly, it is kindles my indignation.

If you are going to say something controversial (and in some cases ignorant) but not answer appropriate and important questions then don't waste our time by enabling comments. I find it insulting, cowardly, and rude. And if you realize you said something stupid, and got called on it, have the 'nads to admit you were hasty in your comments.

Look, I understand things happen, life gets busy, and blogging isn't expected to be the center of your day. But when you turn and, without explanation, leave the discussion only to be seen striking up another one it shows little concern for what you write, and even less for those who took the time to read and respond.
6,788 views 34 replies
Reply #26 Top
Blue, a very good "pointwhoring" blog


Considering that I really didn't start it for that purpose (I promise, I didn't), it has turned out nicely, hasn't it? Thanks for stopping by stevendedalus.
Reply #27 Top
Bluedev, I meant to respond yesterday but got side-tracked, so that does happen too. Sometimes, as it has happened to me here, I'll respond to an article of interest, go back to check to see if there are anymore comments or if the writer responded and it'snot there! Then I sit and I look for it and can't find it. Most of the time I blog at work when I'm not busy and at during lunch so I leave the JU website on so that I can refer to it. But it is rude for someone to not let you know that they are moving on. I always enjoy reading your blogs and I do stay away from the political ones, except once I responded to one and still can't find it up to this day! har, har.
Reply #28 Top
sometimes ive written just to get things out of my system, to see them in black and white, and hopefully gain more perspective


I do that, too . . . I always like to get comments, but some things I write just out of the need to get it out of my head and put it somewhere.

Of course, I'm a points whore at heart . . .
Reply #29 Top
Bluedev, I meant to respond yesterday but got side-tracked, so that does happen too.


foreverserenity--Yeah, that does happen. It happens to me more often than I might like. Thanks for reminding and pointing that out.

In the end, substance is what keeps folks coming back, not lurid headlines, but its the lurid headlines that bring them to you in the first place.


For the most part I agree LW. But not always. I have seen more than one occasion in which substance is repeatedly overlooked for sensationalism. We see it every day in the popular media, and it often isn't any different here. I know I still find myself doing it. As far as the salesmanship comment, I can't quite agree. Poop by any other name is still poop (yes I have little children and I call it poop!). Asi que, points whoring is still points whoring. Not trying to say I am above it, but I will just call it what I see it.

Tex--Your honesty is refreshing. Thanks again for stopping by.

Reply #30 Top
But reality isnt always what we think it should be, so hey, let your hair down and try a little whoring now n then, lol. You might find you even....(gasp)....like it! (And the pay aint bad, either.)


Hah, true, true. But my hair is at most 3/4' long! How can I let it down more???

To be frank, I really don't know what I would write to get lots of responses. Some of the articles I actually wrote attempting to be a bit inflammatory, expecting to get lots of responses, went mostly unnoticed. Oh well, some of us are destined to mediocrity. I'm okay with that.
Reply #31 Top
BlueDev, your writing is FAR from mediocre...its thoughtful, well presented, and literate...(which is a far cry from some of the crap i see on here.)


Thanks. I really do appreciate that.

I suppose this is starting to sound like a whining session, which is so far off what it started out as that it astonishes even me. And now that this thread has received numerous replies I have realized a very interesting thing. Replies get you points, but being featured and getting referrals get you even more. None of my top articles (the ones that have points up in the thousands) have more than 10 replies if I recall correctly. They were all either featured on the front page or one of them was posted over on the front page of Wincustomize.com.

And I have noticed that I have earned some regular readers. There are folks who I pretty much know they are going to come by and read (as I go read their blogs daily). That is a very nice feeling, and more than good enough for me. Heck, as I have been more regular in writing and commenting on other's articles here my blog has moved from somewhere in the 70's to be in the top 20 now, so I think I will just keep doing what I am doing. Writing about what interests me and trying to write it in as interesting a manner as possible so that those who come by enjoy it. Thanks for your contributions and suggestions here. They are noted and appreciated.
Reply #32 Top
I might have been guilty of it a time or to, I think, but then again, I am in and out all the time, sometimes i don't check when I should.
Reply #33 Top
Good article Blue Dev, and deserving of a bump in relation to my 'Manners' blog. You encapsulated the sentiment perfectly. have (another) insightful!

Suz xxx
Reply #34 Top
have (another) insightful!


Aw shucks! That is kind of you. The bump ain't bad either (man, I really had to dig back a ways to find this one too!).