10 Things I’ve Learned from Blogging
Posted by Deutlich on December 22nd, 2008 | Filed under: Uncategorized1. Most folks don’t read the full blog post.
This is something that has become abundantly clear when I read comments repeating, over and over, the same thing I already concluded in a post. I promise I’ll NEVER change who I am on behalf of anyone. K, guys? Pinky swear. I’m too fucking stubborn for that. Some of y’all are new, but the rest of you I figured would kinda already know this. In other news, I don’t always read full posts either. So we’re just all awesome that way.
2. I need to clarify myself a bit better.
Yes, I like white guys. No, I’m not going to keep myself from meeting a black guy, Latino, African, Asian, Persian or any other type of guy JUST because I happen to like white guys. I was actually offended that this is what people got out of that post… and then I remembered it had to be my fault because apparently I didn’t speak clearly enough. Or maybe it’s the above issue all over again.
3. Some blogs just annoy the shit out of me.
Inevitably, there are just some writing styles that irk me to death. Other times, it’s an inability to provide variety that really gets under my skin. I really don’t need to read or hear about the same subject 20,000 different times. Snore fest.
4. Picture blogs make me happy.
I don’t have to read. I don’t have to comment. They help kill my reader numbers pretty quickly. Love.
5. Bloggy friends are awesome.
Sure, it sounds cornball-ish to have a “bloggy friend” but fuggit. If they’re good people, then they’re good people. And that, my dear readers, is rare to find. I got the lucky end of the stick on that topic.
6. I can’t always comment.
I’d love to, but sometimes work and life gets in the way. That “mark all as read” button has been my friend on more than one occasion.
7. I really, really, really appreciate those pass-them-on bloggy awards.
I just don’t post them. I used to and then one day I looked at my blog and thought, “woah – it’s too cluttered.” More importantly, I thought it was too self-congratulatory. I don’t care when I see ‘em on other people’s blogs, but for myself it just doesn’t sit well. So my new rule is only posting the ones that are not meme-like. It’s for this reason I’ve never “payed them forward” either. But I think that’s why I went over and above on 20SB Blogger Compliments. Besides, if I comment on a blog then folks gotta know I like their material. Right?
8. Speaking of memes – I can’t dig ‘em.
I remember, vividly, when I would post them and think, “yay! bloggy material!!” Except, it really isn’t legitimate bloggy material and I just can’t get down with ‘em. I am of the lame. I know.
9. No matter how hard I try, I will not remember that perfect blog topic the next day.
Why’s all the good material gotta come to me when I’m about to fall asleep anyway?! I call bullshit.
10. Nobody reads blogs from Fridays to Sundays.
You know what this means, right? We’re all some serious slack assers at work.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
But you didn’t even mention memes! Man I hate those.
Wait, you did? I guess I must’ve stopped reading.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Work is when I do my best blogging.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Yes, yes and yes. Especially that last part b/c seriously I forget I have a computer over the weekends.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Hahaha! Work inspires me to blog. The ironic thing is, if I had a job as a blogger, I’d probably slack off at that, too. What can you do?
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
I don’t like it when people don’t read the whole post. I once posted a theme that my husband made for me and it was very, very sexy and I wrote all about how I wasn’t going to use it because it was too sexy for my blog and then everyone commented and beat me up and I was all like “if you had read my post you would know I didn’t want to keep the theme!”
And I’m not still bitter about that at all.
You can tell, right?
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:27 pm
A. You’re right, I don’t read full posts 75% of the time.
B. Bloggy friends have made my move to Illinois so much easier and better.
C. I don’t pass on blog awards, either, but I DO love receiving them.
D. I’m going to keep a notebook next to my bed so I can jot notes as I fall asleep… because I compose the BEST posts in my head at night.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Very very true.
I don’t pass on MEMEs but I complete them, nor so I pass on blog awards, but I like them.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
#9, amen. I keep thinking I’ll make a quick note so that I can remember a good idea, but it never happens. If you find a way to fix this, let me know? K, thanks.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I’m really busy and could only scan
1)why do you hate dating black men?
2)Please don’t change who you are
3)why do you never post any of the awards I give you?
And now by scanning the comments I realize that Apollocreed has already done this joke…
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I’m so with you on number 7.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
10) Nobody reads blogs from Fridays to Sundays.
Ah, I see now. I was wondering why number numbers were always done on those two days. For a moment I thought that I was just writing boring entries.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
So true for weekends! And this was a great list.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Damn, you hit the proverbial nail right on the head on all of it. LMAO!!
I’m going to kiss ass and say I read your blog thoroughly.
Happy Holidays!
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:59 pm
#1 has always annoyed me – I would much rather someone not even comment. Like you, I don’t always read the full post – when that happens, I don’t comment. Because I feel that it would be an insult to the writer. But I guess that’s just how I roll.
And “mark all as read” is an awesome option. Do I feel a little guilty when clicking that button on one of the blogs I frequent often? Yes, but sometimes it has to be done.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Why aren’t people reading Fridays? I know they don’t, but I just don’t get why! I am lazier than usual on Friday, hence you would think everyone would be reading. Oh well.
And congrats on your one year bloggiversary.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I don’t like white guys either…
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
haha, i NEVER break out the laptop during the weekends. i am an at-work-blogger only. my job loves me.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I only read the first three.
Haha just kidding. I tend to either read full posts or just skim the entire thing if I don’t really dig it depending on my mood. I still have my core 30 blogs that are must-haves though. I’ve just gotten sucky at commenting lately.
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
9. I’m the same way. I thought it would be a good idea to keep a post it by my bed to write my ideas on. Turns out, I’m too fecking lazy to turn on the light and my writing in the dark is horrible. Oh Well.
10. Work is where the only ideas I get come to me. I find it more entertaining than actually working
December 22nd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I judge people based on their blog design. Ugly blog? Won’t read it. I’m like that bitch who won’t date someone if they have a gap in their teeth or something, except in this case the gap is a bad color scheme, horrible font, etc.
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I’m right with you on #8. I hate those just as much as the annoying FWD text messages i get on my phone.
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I don’t comment on a lot of blogs. Especially the ones that repeat the same shit over and over again. I hate how a lot of bloggers have the same writing style. It’s like they feed off eachother. A lot of blogs annoy the shit out of me. Which is why I don’t read them anymore. I hate blogs who try too hard to be funny. If I don’t read the full post, I don’t comment. I hate those “Oh I agree with you, you’re fucking awesome, can I kiss your ass a little more please!?” kind of comments. Nobody reading blogs over the weekend never stopped me from posting over the weekend. Perhaps that can mean I am dedicated or I have no life.
December 22nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
You are seriously onto something here sister!
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I take the time to read your full posts and I know you do mine because you’re the only audience I have left!
That being said, I might just brainfart out a random comment which offers absolutely no value. You have so many commenters and I just want to fit in with the cool kids.
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I only comment on a few blogs and on a few posts. But I’m reading them. So that counts right?
And does anyone do anything on the weekends?
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Great list! #1 is diffinetely true. I have also had people misread what I wrote. Oh well. It happens.
I try to use the weekends to catch up! Heh!
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:44 pm
You’re right! My blog hits get cut in half friday through sunday! Ha! It’s cos we suck.
As for meme’s, i can’t dig them either, but sometimes the link is good for my page rank, which actually helps me make money… so… sometimes I’ll do it if the other person has a really high page rank.
I also randomly give out my TG101 award… but i certainly don’t expect them to re-post and you don’t actually pass them on.
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Haha, not only do people not read blogs on weekends, they also don’t blog. It is funny because for me it is often the opposite, as I cannot read or blog at work or school.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Good call on…everything. I though about creating a blog award once, but then I realized that I never pass them on, so why would I put that upon other people? Best decision I never made.
December 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I usually skim it, if it looks interesting I’ll read it all. Is that mean? Maybe, but I read a lot of blogs and every post can’t be awesome its just not possible.
P.S.
I also love photo blogs. They warm my little heart.
December 22nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I must be weird, because usually I read the full post and all the comments. Yes, that is weird.
Also, by Sunday evening I’m usually doing some blog-stalking, but alas there is rarely any new, exciting material. This is when my inner skimmer comes out.
December 22nd, 2008 at 8:12 pm
i am so guilty of most of these yet i continue to do them, haha. oh the joys of blogging.
December 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
i’m totally guilty of half of these. and commenting? i suck at it. sorry, love. i still heart the shit out of your blog. haha.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Dude this is 100 percent true. And I actually read your entire post
Okay 90 percent of it. You are awesome and so dead on with this.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:38 pm
i’m with you on a lot of these, especially the skimming part. that’s a give in.
and the no one reads blogs friday through sunday? can i get an amen!?!
some blogs annoy this shit out of me, ie yours!
KIDDING, you know i love you girl : )
December 23rd, 2008 at 12:17 am
dude. you’re SO right about the friday-sunday thing. that’s hilarious.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 am
#6, 7, 8, and 9 – I agree with. I actually do read blogs on the weekend, and I do read them full-through. Or at least I try to unless my brain goes hdk;hjdk;lhj;khjgs’ajh. In which case, I quickly close and move on to the next one.
I think it’s probably because I’m so picky about what I read.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:52 am
I’m always shocked when people have clearly misread my post.
Like the one where I talked about thinking I had found out about my friend’s death on Facebook, then it was someone else?
I had people giving me condolences!!
And I can’t figure out what to do about all this commenting. I want to have a serious dialogue with people, but, dammit, I only have so much spare time.
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:34 am
I’ve learned many of these things, too. Sometimes I get annoyed about a lack of reading everything, but I sometimes do that, too, so I’m a tool. Also, I noticed your commitment to 20SB compliments and I was impressed; you’re so so nice!
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:22 am
Dude. Yes. All so true!
December 23rd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
#10 made me laugh out loud. I get 99% of my blogging (both reading and writing) done at work. That’s why when I’m actually busy at work (especially lately!), I virtually disappear from the blogging world.
December 23rd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Right on on all counts!
I’m a terribly commenter mostly because I feel like I don’t have anything clever to say. I wish you could just post a picture comment to posts. So much easier. No words.
December 23rd, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I don’t love memes either. I hate being tagged too. It feels like a chore and I hate being assigned chores. And why is it no one reads blogs on the weekend? I can usually tell what the weather was doing by my traffic…oh, hey looks like Boston had snow this weekend!
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Ha, this hits on a lot of what I’ve learned from blogging also. Great post!
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I stopped reading after the second point, so this might have been your conclusion, but my thinking was: “I am white. Therefore, Deutlich will have sex with me. Rock on!” I might be completely off base. Also, as I’m a complete slacker at work and only read blogs during the work week, so I’ll wish you a Happy Holidays! and hope I don’t have to read that you had an unpleasant Christmas.
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Do you mind if I cut and paste this blog and pass it off as my own? Because, word.
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
I always read the whole blog post. I know there are bloggers that comment just so I will come to their sites, which is fine, I only comment on sites that entertain me in some way.
December 23rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Totally agree on all those!!
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:01 pm
ditto ditto ditto
and i actually do most of my reading friday-sunday lately. so i’m always like four days behind on what’s happening.
December 24th, 2008 at 1:48 am
Your list is great. Like erin, I also do a lot of my google reader reading on Sundays or when I do have some time off work. But that tends to make my comments irrelevant – what am I #50 on this post?
December 24th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Lol, I loved this. All so true, and no one does read blogs Fri-Sun!
December 24th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Hmm.. That Marked all as read works for me two! I love that button!
December 24th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
“No one reads blogs Friday to Sunday”
How very true.
December 25th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I keep telling myself to put a notebook next to my bed to write that last minute of consciousness shit down, but alas, I’m yet to do it…
December 26th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS! (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!)
(I’m just doing what I’ve been told to do) 
nah
December 26th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
happy birthday fellows 20SB!!!!!!!!
December 26th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
lol I completely agree with these – and happy birthday!!
December 26th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Happy Birthday Lovely, I hope you have a great day and all your birthday wishes come true!
December 26th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I never comment on a post if I haven’t read the whole thing– I’m too afraid that I’ll do that exact thing you describe! Every once in awhile, someone will leave me a comment that is remarking on some utterly insignificant thing in the first paragraph of my post and I can tell that they probably just didn’t read the rest of it. It doesn’t bother me that much– people should read what they want to read. But I do always feel a little embarrassed for them, because sometimes it makes them look silly!
And I agree with Princess Pointful– it’s always hard when someone completely misses my point in a post. When this happens, I try to look at my own writing and see where I might have been unclear, or maybe I was rambling too much and they just started skimming. But other times, it’s like, “Ok, this person is just a little dense. Whatevs.”
December 26th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
me again! happy birthday, love! hope you had a great day =)
December 26th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Happy Birthday!
As far as number 9, I keep notepads on me, and one on the nightstand for that EXACT SAME reason. I always think funny thoughts while I’m sleepy for some reason.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:27 am
So all these points? Perfect on many levels.
Also, I heard today is your birthday. So happy day! I hope it’s an incredible one!
December 27th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Happy Birthday (belated) in case you missed it on Twitter yesterday! Hope it’s been a fantastic birthday with many good friends.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Blogs with a very narrow scope really piss me off too – c’mon now, I don’t want to keep coming back to the same BS, it’s not a crime to go off your theme now and again…
And yes, we’re all serious slack asses at work! LOVE IT!!
December 30th, 2008 at 11:45 am
hahha I totally relate to number 9. I’m always thinking of these great ideas and I think that I should write it down, but I always reason that I won’t forget this one. So frustrating.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
occasionally i like memes. only the good ones. but i’m pretty tired of doing the ‘6/7/8 random things about me’ meme.
and i speed-read the whole post, if it’s good, then i go back and read it slowly.
i love bloggy friends too. i have some pretty kick-ass ones.
and all the ‘perfect blog post topics’ are still sitting as drafts on my dashboard. i’m too lazy to finish them.
December 31st, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I loved this post! Learned some things and also totally and fully agree with some especially 9 and 10. You’re blog is one of my faves
December 31st, 2008 at 3:41 pm
AMEN, lady!
January 1st, 2009 at 11:53 pm
MOST of my blog reading comes from friday nights staying in and doing laundry.
…but that’s because if i was a superhero, my name would be SUPERLAME. good post, isn’t it interesting what we learn from blogging ourselves?
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:26 am
that’s funny. I hate memes too. they remind me too much of myspace. and I’m pretty sure I basically wrote like 3 blog posts in my head one night, and the next day couldn’t even remember the subject.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Slackers at work, for sure!
January 7th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I totally read this whole post!!
January 18th, 2009 at 10:39 am
hahaha, all true but the last one for me (obviously, since it’s a Sunday)… but I AM at work, so, um…