Blogging and mute visitors
Blogging is about sharing. I spend, nope, invest time blogging everyday. Which means I try more or less every single day (& not always achieve, I acknowledge this) to come up with an interesting analysis or something to say that I believe is somewhat original. And when I don’t have the time or will to write, I browse YouTube, MétaCafé or DailyMotion in search for a funny, tech-related video. On the same side as me stand all active readers and semi active readers (readers who left at least one comment; thank you, and I mean thank you). These are frequently people I don’t even know (some are also friends), who with I feel honored to share a common passion, and who don’t hesitate to leave a value-creating comment whenever they feel they have something to correct / add / clarify / challenge / answer / offer / say / pretend / claim / bash. On my side also stand other bloggers. They read my blog, I read their blog. Commenting is rather sporadical, but we know we scan each others in quest for fun or learning. Bloggers watching each other also helps knowing each other better: conversation topics come quicker during real life meetings, and you know who with you’ll get along well in a wink.
Unfortunately (but you’ll help me change this 
), there’s also an other side to the fence. People who don’t blog (and I respect that, blogging is an addictive pain in the ass that cannot match all personalities), and don’t feel like sharing although they would’ve hell a lot things to say. These people read blogs but never left a comment, are glad to take but unwilling to give back. I believe things could be a lot better. I know I know some of you. I’m often told “Hey Jeremy, you know what? I’m a big fan of your blog, I read it everyday”. My answer often is: “then why don’t you start a conversation, why don’t you leave comments?” I’m sure you would have a lot to bring, a lot! I’m a rather unknown blogger, not a rock star, & I don’t blog for fame or traffic or money or to be read by people who would think “hey, smart guy!” (yep, you would definitely be overestimating the depth of my thoughts) or say “hey, cool idea, I should come over here more often to take away more from this blog”. I feel honoured to have you onbard, but my motivation to blog and keep blogging is somewhat not correlated with your interests. And there should be a way to align our interests (we do have common interests or you wouldn’t read Tech IT Easy at all).
I see blogging as a learning experience, as everything I undertake in life. I share, you share. We share, together. If I say something dumb, it means I think dumb and I could get better through being challenged and corrected as in the comments after I hacked my first “Hello World” on Ruby on Rails showing I didn’t quite get it. I’m here to be challenged and learn by doing things. I don’t blog to be judged or scanned. I blog to exchange with/ discuss / argue with / meet people who with I can share and from who I can learn.
I see blogging as a sharing tool, not as a shop window. I’m not selling any product or expertise and don’t plan to whatsoever. For those too shy to leave a comment, I’m available to discuss any topic through Skype, MSN Messenger, e-mails and over coffee. Let’s make of this blog a place where you’ll give as much as you take. I’m sure we’re not even using 10% of what blogging may offer in terms of social interactions so I encourage you to participate in this amazing multilateral sharing adventure.
For those sitting on the fence, your call. I’m sure you’ll make the right decision when working on changing rather passive habits into more people-oriented ones. Thank you in advance.
Sorry for publishing such a post, but I really mean what I’ve written here. My gift: here’s one of Paco de Lucia, John McLaughlin and Al di Meola’s best pieces, Mediterranean Sundance.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEZrB_FDw4c]
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Your blog is great Jeremy and, personally, I don’t know how you manage to write 200 lines or more each day, even if it is “just for learning”.
Commenting posts is not easy. If we want to ad something interesting we have to think about it first. And a lot of people hate thinking. They like to have others thinking for them. Be proud to be part of thinking ones.
Thanks for your compliments Rup. However, I think these people not commenting love thinking. They’re just too busy or shy to do so. But we also are busy. And we invest time in sharing.
I think it’s this little, restricting box that hinders many. And how the comments are hard to tell apart.
This is something I think blogging needs to achieve in 2007. Improve commenting through good UI.
I found this particular post because I was doing a search for the word “mute”. I have a son, who has severe speech disabilities and can’t speak. He can hear.. but he uses American Sign language. Sometime I try to find sites or groups or others that are like him- can hear, but can’t speak.. and I never do. I find people using the word “mute” in all different variety of ways… but not in the true way it is meant to be used. I am brand new to blogging. I just started a blog a couple weeks ago- for my family, to try and keep in touch. It is slow going getting started.. the rest of my family hasn’t contributed yet.
So, is this term ‘mute’ used in the same context commonly in the blogging world ? Or is this your way to say ?
Annie D
Hey Annie,
Thanks for your comment.
It’s really hard to say (about the word “mute”) – I’m not quite sure the word “mute” is used in the same context in the blogging world as I’m not a native English or American speaker.
Sorry, I’m afraid I can’t help you too much on this matter.
Enjoy blogging!
Jeremy
It’s the right phrasing, though mute could be substituted by ’silent’ or other words that suggest not making a sound. I can see how that can get confusing to some. But I think 99% of your readers get it
As far as “I love your weblog goes..” I used to get this comment a lot and it still pisses me off when I hear it. I think your attitude is the correct one: if you love it, then give something back.
Here’s a business model: if your too shy to comment, donate to this nice paypal-button
[...] Comments: I don’t care anymore Filed under: Europe, Business intelligence, Education, Friends, blogging, Entertainment, Internet — Jeremy Fain @ 1:21 am 13 out of my last 15 posts didn’t get any comment. But you know what? I don’t care about comments anymore. [...]