Why I've Harangued You For Comments

It's official:  The blog is my favorite hobby of all my long list of hobbies.  Of course, it's nice that it can be the outlet and clearinghouse, as it were, for all -- or most, anyway -- of my hobbies and interests.  And you, my dear readers, are important to me.  

But for a while, it appeared that readership was drastically down, commenting was drastically down, and I started to wonder if it was because I had become a terrible, obnoxious bore.  If that is the case, then it's time to hang it up.  That is the last thing I want to be.  Then again, I don't want the pressure -- and know I could never live up to it -- of always being "on," and always being entertaining.  

Of course, I could tell from my blog stats that readership was not REALLY down -- it's just that the hits to the blog were down -- to the tune of 50%! -- since I allowed the full posts to be readable in the feed readers.  That means that of course it's more convenient and faster to read it in the reader, but people were not then clicking through, and not commenting.  I had a little bit of a crisis of confidence over all of that.  I always think I'm not into the popularity thing, but being ignored can shatter the confidence of even the most thick-skinned, I suppose.  

Not really, but really, if that makes any sense.  I knew you were there, but many of you were awfully quiet.  And it's not a good feeling, as some of you delurkers have acknowledged you realized, to feel like one is talking either to oneself or to the mirror, or writing into a vacuum.  One wonders if one has become redundant.

I'm a terrible hypocrite, because my own ability to read and comment on my friends' blogs and new blogs has taken a nose-dive what with all my responsibilities, trying to get enough exercise, keeping up on the studying I am doing, and keeping up with my own blog.  

In addition, in the last couple of years with the blogging every day, I have abandoned the practice of answering every comment like I used to do in the old days.  I just can't do it all.  I read them and relish them -- usually on my BlackBerry whenever I have a minute in my day to check it -- but can't always respond.  So it's a terrible one-way street, and I wish I could do something about that, but I can't.  Well, of course I COULD.  It's all about choices and priority-setting.  Oh, and I do need to get some sleep once in a while.   

So thank you for understanding, and thank you especially to those who have come out of lurkdom to make an effort.  I appreciate it sooooo much.  Of course I don't expect you to comment ALL.THE.TIME, but it is lovely to hear from you on a semi-regular basis.  And for those people who say they don't comment because they can't think of anything clever to say, cleverness in the comments is not required.  A simple, "Hi, I'm here reading because I enjoy your blog" once in a while is very much appreciated, though.  

All right.  Enough of that.  

Lookie:  There hasn't been much time for knitting, but I have started a scarf in the gorgeous tomato-red Blue-Faced Leicester yarn AnnaMarie gave me for my birthday.  

The pattern is the lovely Palindrome, which I like to characterize as the ever-popular Irish Hiking Scarf......

.... only reversible.  I'm pretty sure this one is going to belong to me.  

The poor tweed sweater has not had any progress made on it since we last spoke.  

Speaking of red scarves and me haranguing you (nice segue, hm?), you can start shipping your scarf for the Red Scarf Project starting September 1, which is right around the corner.  The deadline is not 'til December 15, so there's plenty of time for you to finish a scarf or two or three.  Just do it. You'll be glad you did.  

Here's the address:

Orphan Foundation of America 
The Red Scarf Project 
21351 Gentry Drive 
Sterling, VA 20166

Comments

[Kristen]

{crank on} Hey, babe, you have more commenters on a daily basis than I ever had readers in my blogging days, so if you think you could ever be boring, I got a smack upside the head with your name on it! Yeah, and that segue from guilt to more guilt was really smooth. {crank off}

Lovin' ya--you know that, right? Right? RIGHT?!

[Sarah]

I hope you understand when I write that I am glad this was the commenting thing to which you were referring. I know what you mean about the comments. I was just worried that one of those jackass things that happen occasionally had occurred.

I had forgotten about Palindrome. I like it a lot. I am getting a list of things I want to knit, but I just need to make it through one or two that I must finish first.

xo

[Cookie]

It doesn't matter, but it does. Oh, honey, do I ever understand that and the pressure to be funny. Oy, there's a pressure. Thank goodness I gave up on that one before anyone noticed I could funny. Think where that could have led. o.0

I really need to knit that pattern. I do love a cable that can go either way. Then again, I like all kinds of things that can go either way. ;^)

xo

[Stacey]

That red is TO DIE FOR! :D It's going to turn out lovely.

[Katy]

Is it possible that your hits are down because many more people are using feeds now and so don't appear that they are actually reaching while still reading it. Am I making sense?

[Kathy]

Loved the scarf and can't wait to make one myself, once I finish the other 3 projects I have pending. Love your blog, too!

[Cathi Davis]

I am a lurker. I read your blog every morning before work but very seldom comment. I wanted you to know that I read faithfully as it is so interesting to me to read someone who lives not that far from me and has a very interesting life going on there. Keep it up as it is very entertaining and I learn a lot about gardening from you!!
You are really very interesting and someday I am going to make the trip to your local yarn shop again as it is the greatest place.
Cathi

[Krista]

A Canadian reader checking in, have read your blog faithfully for some time and enjoy the knitting and the gardening tips :) Keep on blogging.
Krista

[Michele]

I just started a Palindrome too. I put in an extra cable for width. Cause size matters.

[Leanne]

Hi, I'm here reading because I enjoy your blog

[Nora]

On a *much* smaller scale, I've noticed the same thing in my blog. I started a whole tome here but I'm thinking it might be better used as a post over at my place. Anyway Norma, worry not - you are loved! And the scarf is da bomb!

[Judy]

I read daily - love the blog. The scarf is beautiful. My first red scarf is almost done - hoping to do at least 2 more. Thank you for blogging.

[Mary Fran]

OK, since I have enjoyed reading your every day blog - and miss it so terribly when you're taking a break - I will attempt to comment on every post for a year. And each time I'll give you a little tidbit about me, since I don't have a blog, and then you can get to know me better. Deal? Today's tidbit: I work for RIM, so you reading your comments on your BlackBerry makes me happy.

[Patty]

Red scarf started and looking so good to me it's going to be hard to pass along! It's a beautiful morning in N.E.!

[Margaret in Ontario]

Beautiful colour, beautiful Palindrome. Just curious as to why you are using a circular instead of straights -- is there an advantage? (I haven't used circulars much, since I haven't done many big projects and I like dpns for socks, so would like to know what I'm missing...)
Very glad you're back. Here's me trying to comment more.

[Carole]

Hi, I'm here reading because I enjoy your blog
hahahahahahhahaha
Oh, and I finished a read scarf.

[Lisa H.]

I'm a faithful reader and rare commentor (?) or would that be commentator (?)

I really enjoy your blog and am happy you're back after you're break! I've got a red scarf ready to go and hope to knit up another one before I mail them away. I like that Palindrome pattern and the yarn color is rockin'.

[cindycindy]

September 1 already? WTF??????????????

[Elizabeth]

How great to have a scarf to match your garden.
I've got one on my needles, too. My first for the orphan foundation.

[margene]

Part of the downturn is due to summer. When people are captive indoors trying to stay warm and want to be entertained, they'll come back and your hits will go up as will comments. You're a constant in our lives and we're glad you're here.

[Debshepknits]

Keep on blogging . . . daily doses of your life start my morning off right! I started the red scarf just like I promised.

[carol]

Guilty, guilty, guilty (of reading and not commenting)! Yours is the first blog I check each day, but I rarely comment on any of the blogs I read. I have seen the error of my ways - let the commenting flood gates open. Welcome back from your brief hiatus.

[Anne]

Red scarf - check. Comment for Norma - check. Looks like I'm good for now.

And thank you for sending my friend, Christina, an email and comment about her scarf. Somewhere in there she got the idea you were really sweet and friendly....

[Bev]

I'm sending one too!

[toni in florida]

Thanks a million for the link to the Palindrome scarf!

As for comments, I rarely get them, at all. I'd like to get more, but what's a girl to do?

[Becky]

Thanks for answering my comments, Norma, but you know I understand if you have a life to live! Your blog is ALWAYS very entertaining, often educational, intellectually stimulating, and frequently HILARIOUS. So, don't have a crisis of confidence. Keep blogging, and I'll keep lurking, and commenting occasionally. My comments pale in comparison to your blog. Thanks for your efforts. I appreciate them very much.

[Jess]

Ok, you've motivated me to delurk. I'm a fairly new reader. Thanks for posting your gardening exploits. I don't have the space to have a garden like that, but really enjoy seeing the fruits of your labor.

I'm in the process of making a red scarf for the project...the project is such a great idea.

[Viki]

One thing I love about your blog is that it is posted first thing in the morning. I know that you and Margene will be there for me when I catch up on my emails and Ravelry group before breakfast. Very dependable. I usually don't comment unless I have something somewhat unique or interesting to say, a habit I wish I also had in conversation. But I will try to pop in more regularly since I truly enjoy your blog. Knitting and gardening are such a perfect combination. And I'm inspired by what you do for charity. Blog on!

[AnnaMarie]

I'm still working on the twin rib red scarf but I've also got startitis. Cool mornings mean I want more shawls and now that it's not eleventy billion degrees during the day I'll try to sneak in a few rows on the scarf between canning up zukes.

[Carol Smith]

Blog on!!! I enjoy reading it every morning. Thanks! I can't believe it's almost September. My second red scarf is nearly 40" long - looks like 2 will be my max. I was at the Sock Summit, and suddenly have no interest in anything except socks, socks, socks.

[Mary Lou]

My question is - with all that rain, and al that mulch,why no slug damage on the tata-matoes? Went out yesterday morning and had slugs all over my German stripes. eeeuuuww

[Cynthia]

Red scarf is [ ] close to being finished, that and weaving in the ends, a quick soak and blocking. I used the corrugated rib pattern you posted recently and absolutely LOVE it, the pattern AND the scarf!! This will be only my second red scarf project and I couldn't be happier to be participating in this effort. And since the deadline isn't until December maybe there's ANOTHER scarf in me somewhere. But first I have to finish all the projects that are [ ] close to being finished for my first, newest, and only granddaughter due in late October. That would include a Baby Surprise jacket needing only buttons, matching booties that need a soak and block, one quilt, two knitted blankets, and various bibs and burp cloths....oh Norma, I just realized that this comment should be for YOU, not for me to ramble on and on....just know that I love stopping by every morning to check in and find out what you're up to. Hugs and kisses.

[diane]

Norma - I read your blog every day at work (thank goodness they haven't blocked blogs yet... knock on wood). My red scarf is making good progress - if I can carve out a chunk of knitting time this weekend it just might even be ready on September first. And since I live only about 15 minutes from Sterling maybe I'll drop it off in person!

[Mrs Cabrio]

I am a terrible lurker. I have been reading your wonderful blog for quite a long time and am sure that I have never commented. I think years ago I had an experience where I commented on a blog -- a simple comment, just two cents -- which started a raging comment war of epic proportions. I am not even sure how I learned that other comments were posted in response to my comment! It was a very strange experience -- startling I think would be the best word. I learned immediately that I probably did not have the courage to have a blog of my own. From that point on, I rarely commented because I felt that, once published, it was truly out of my control and that I didn't have the ability to explain my tone, humor, background, etc., which may have made my comment more understandable. Of course, that was a different sort of blog from yours, one where the comment arguments were apparently one of the highlights.

At any rate, I did want to mention that currently I read about 10 blogs regularly. I have them listed on my toolbar and with a cup of coffee in the morning I click through them and start my day. Over the years, I've narrowed down the hundreds of blogs I've "tasted" to the top ten. In my own humble opinion, I think making my top ten is quite an achievement :-). Regarding the pressure to be funny or "on" each day, I wanted to let you know that I greatly appreciate that you post each day. This is much more valuable than you being extremely funny or extremely wise on any given day. It reminds me of the difference between doing something amazing once versus having a large body of work that over time one sees is incredibly valuable. It is also so much more human -- today was a work day or a garden day or an errand day -- not necessarily a great blogging day but a very real life day. I love that about your blog. You are, however, hilarious, very clever, a wonderful gardener, an accomplished knitter, and more. Thank you so much for your blog! (I promise to make future comments more concise!)

[Tammy]

Like the look of the scarf w/clematis. Your photography is very good as well, but nothing beats your humor! T

[Donna]

Norma - I am another one of the lurkers. I am a daily reader of your blog since I discovered it about 1.5 years ago. I came upon it due to knitting. Your knitting and work stories have kept me coming back. I am not a gardening person - but even those posts are entertaining to read with your sense of humor thrown in. The latest addition of the Terrier Tuesdays are also great. I live just down I89 from you so I can say I live hear an online celebrity!

[gayle]

Oh, good - you posted the address. I was just about to wade through your archives looking for it. (Knowing full well that it would take a long time, since I would be endlessly sidetracked reading other posts...)
I've got a scarf near done. It's been my travel knitting since AnnaMarie gave me the yarn.
I know what you mean about the comments. I tell myself that I'm not in it for the commments, but it makes me sad when my stats show people who are stopping by every day but don't even wave and say "hi"...

[marianne]

"Hi, I'm here reading because I enjoy your blog"
Should not that have read 'ta ta red' BFL? and yes, I'm hoping it stays with you. love love love that colour! I'm hoping to return to the red scarf knitting after wedding stole and flowergirl Swallowtail, ok, not 'hoping'.. make that 'I will'.

[Joannah]

Beautiful scarf!
I'm trying to get over my bad habit of reading and not commenting. I love checking your blog every morning. It's a nice way to start my day.

[Marcia]

My Bloglines just updated.....ten posts from Norma! Palindrome is one of my favorite scarf patterns, but be sure to get Susan Lawrence's special bind-off.

[Annie]

I don't comment much because I not only don't have anything clever to say, but oftentimes just don't have anything to say. When I do have something to say, then I usually do. But if you want Hi, I'm here reading because I enjoy your blog, then that is what you shall have. So, Hi Norma! I'm here reading because (see, if I were clever, I could come up with some outlandish reason every day).

[Jean E.]

Your Palindrome is lovely; and what a great name. My Corrugator red scarf is my "car knitting." It keeps me sane when I am riding with one of my kids. I am glad we have till December to finish as I had to rip back about six inches last week. I treated myself to a pair of Signature needles for red scarf knitting. I am using the size seven and it is red!

[Erica]

I'm guilty! I read everyday, and mourned when you'd "left us" (for like 2 days??!! lol) I don't usually comment, but I'll try to be better about it! I'm glad you've come back. I missed you!

[Carla]

I am thrilled you are back -I was a tad stressed when it looked like you COULD stay away! I did not comment then as I didn't want to make you feel guilty that you were messing with my daily routine!

I also adore that the whole post opens in my RSS feed! Love the scarf if it were only periwinkle- :-)

[Jennifer B. / Brooklyn, NY]

To paraphrase: Howdy! I'm popping in because your blog is a mix of funny, insightful, and wonderfully random. And because you've encouraged me to make two red scarves already for the Red Scarf Project. :)

[grumperina]

I myself feel very conflicted about full posts vs. excerpts in feed readers. Norma, the thing is that I read your blog *more* since you've gone to full posts in readers (it's easy! I see an update, I read it right away!), but comment probably with the same frequency as when you only posted an excerpt. But of course your stats must look like readership is going down... Just the other day I switched back to full posts myself and want to see how it affects readership/comments. Any thoughts?

[Geri]

I'll keep reading and commenting when I can! Glad you are back! Can't believe September 1st is just around the corner. My red scarf knitting is my travel to Maine, Boston, etc. knitting. Love Palindrome!

[Linda]

okay, you shamed me out of lurking! (Or did Mr. Jefferies?) I love to compare my knitting progress with yours, but I'm jealous of your garden- I have a black thumb. The only thing I can grow are kids and mold! And I have a grandpuppy- Jack the Yorkie-poo. Give Mr. Jeffries a hug for me. Jack got my daughter through law school! Keep blogging, I missed you during your break.

[Vic]

I've been wondering whether it's time to hang it up, too. It's hard to read what's going on -- or who's reading or if anyone is reading. Sometimes it's hard to blog -- especially now, when there's sad, hard news -- even if I'm not writing about it, it's there and a big reason why I'm there. I've also been drifting in different directions. Inspiration sometimes comes from interaction in the comments, one plays off the other, but if there are no comments... it is rather one-sided, as you say.

[Leslie]

Yeah, yeah, I'm here. But Mr. J could tell you that. I sometimes use google reader as an instant reader - if someone I normally comment on has a new post I click and get them open in a new tab. It saves me being disappointed by clicking the bookmark and seeing old stuff. I hate to disappoint myself...