Thing #4

Blogs exist for people to share their ideas with the community. They want and encourage other people to peak into their thoughts and ideas. Commenting is essential to this community because it allows the blog to continue into a conversation. People with like interests can discuss what that blog entry was about, and the blogger knows people are reading and how they feel about the material. Without this transaction, that encouragement to continue blogging doesn't exist.

From reading Brown Thoughts, I learned that with almost every other social interaction is there is a proper etiquette that must take place. I never really thought about this before. I comment occasionally on my friend's blogs, but I never thought there was a standard practice. One, that I was surprised to learn was the practice of being polite. I know this goes without saying in a face to face interaction, but I have unfortunately become accustomed to the "hide behind the screen" attitude from some online forums and message board I frequent. People tend to be meaner with their hands on the key board than in person. I would hope I would never say mean things to someone else, but I never thought to myself that I shouldn't under any circumstances.

From ProBlogger I learned that a responsible blogger interacts with the people who leave comments. I have never done this, because I always thought it was slightly vain to bring attention to people posting on my blog, but now I can see how it is quite the opposite. By interacting, you can show your appreciation for the comments people leave and that encourages them to leave more.

I have yet to comment on any blogs from my class, but I will update as I do.

However, I have already left comments on other blogs I frequently read.

I follow a friend's girlfriend's blog http://badpoetry-ohnoetry.blogspot.com/ I do not know her personally, but we visit the same online forum. I started following her blogs when she started following mine. She has one that is just devoted to her own original poetry. I commented on one of her poems that seemed to be about the way she sees herself in a mirror. I left her a comment telling her I liked the poem and gave her some of my thoughts on why women see themselves critically, and reminder her that there is more good in a person than the flaws.

Another blog I follow is http://acruikshank.blogspot.com/ I found this blog completely haphazardly. I was looking at a friend of mine's blog and kept jumping through a string of other people's before landing on this one. I don't know her and she lives far away from here (New York) but I enjoy reading about her life, and she does a lot of craft projects and always posts pictures. I commented for the first time today on her blog after reading the importance of blogging. I was scared to at first because she doesn't know me, but I introduced myself and told her how I found her blog and why I enjoy reading it. I then commented on her most recent post where she explained that she had recently fallen in the subway and I told her how I, too, recently fell and sprained my ankle. I hope by breaking this ice we will continue to be in communication.