October 2, 2006

  • newsandnotesUSE


    PART TIME BLOGGING


    It is now almost a month since I changed my own personal way of blogging. I’m now averaging about three entries a week, and I’m not visiting other blogs much at all. I’m writing this from work on Monday morning, before anybody is in the building except me and one other salesman. From time to time I like to announce personal news and notes using this column, and wanted to make sure I’m letting people know, especially new readers, that this blog is not really that active anymore. Whole weekends are now going by that I’m not even checking my blog. Not too long ago I would check almost hourly for new comments, and when I didn’t have any, I would visit other blogs, happy with the interactive social community that blogging affords. Soon, new comments would arrive. I always wanted this to be a ‘destination’ blog, and in that regard, I created the Internet Island blogring. I kept subscribing to more and more blogs, and at some point I became overwhelmed, as I’m sure some others do after remaining “active” for as long as they can without staying online most of the day.


    If I post an entry without “making the rounds” of other blogs I read, then of course the comments on my own blog shrink. My blog never became a “destination blog”. It has always been the portal to my website “AllThingsMike“, but in the two and a half years I’ve blogged on Xanga, I have noticed that I rarely update my website, yet almost all my new creative efforts have been added to the blog. Actually, after seven years online, I find I’m even less interested in creating new sections of the overall website.


    I rarely do anything halfway. If I want to be active blogging, then I go all out. I have spent up to four hours at one time visiting, reading back posts, and writing long letter sized comments. I usually averaged writing 12-15 long comments a day. I tried to find a happy medium, where I didn’t have to spend so much time “catching up”. The only way to stop was to simply stop. Here and there, I’ve visited readers whom I’ve “known” online for most of my two and a half years on Xanga, and let them know that I’m okay, I appreciate their support, and I will occasionally visit and respond to articles and entries they’ve posted, but I am not doing that regularly on a dya to day basis anymore.


    Basically, I’m a bit burned out. I didn’t want to put up a “closed” sign or “on hiatus” because I might post something of merit at any time, and I want to keep the blog “open”. I do pay for it after all, and there are a lot of interesting articles and entries listed in my “index” at the left up the blog in the sidebar. (Another section of the website that needs updating.) 


    Blogging can be a daily exercise, and one can get overwhelmed quite easily when one’s subscriber list grows to over a 100 or so blogs. I have a lot of content already on my website, and in the beginning, I would sample parts of the website on the blog, with links to the sections. I’ve already gone through most of the site, and I’m not really creating anything “new” currently. I never want to get in a position where I think I’m “working” instead of “having fun”. I have read lots of blogs where the writer feels they have to keep posting, and keep up with their comments. I would always tell people in that position that they shouldn’t have to apologize to anyone. If they post, they post. If they get around to commenting, then that’s fine. It’s taken me a while to realize that I don’t “need” to read every single word that each blogger generates. I can’t make the time to do so, and I shouldn’t worry about it.


    INTERNET ISLAND TOPICS SUSPENDED


     Some readers have noticed that I’ve been a bit disappointed in the response to my blogring over the past few topics. With over 130 members, I felt there should be more than 20 entries for each topic. For Topic 19, which just “ended”, there were 14 entries. One went up over the weekend, so I haven’t visited and commented on that entry yet, but the lack of interest on this last topic made me realize that the creation of the topic posts, which were the last “regular” thing I was doing on the blog, has become “work”, without hardly any rewards. To this end, I am not going to create any topic posts for the time being. The ring will still exist, but it is not “participatory” right now. That is not to say that Topic 20 might not be posted soon. As with the decision not to blog as often, I am making the decision not to post topics for the Island blogring. I do feel bad for all the new “Islanders” who didn’t get a chance to participate that much. Be patient. Topics will come back at some time in the future, as will my activity as a blogger. I read a comment on one Islander’s blog from a new Islander who remarked that the members of the blogring might post entries, but they don’t visit the other entries, or attempt to make friends among the other Islanders. Since this was the purpose of the blogring in the first place, this disappointed me further. I did everything I could to generate interest, and the interest was lackluster at best. For those who did participate in the almost year that Internet Island has been a participatory group, thank you so much. I really enjoyed reading all the topic entries, and enjoyed the visits you made to my blog.


    Well, I’ve written this rather hastily, and I’m not going back to “edit”. Future entries will appear on WhenWordsCollide, but not that “regularly”.  Personally, I am healthy, happy, and in good spirits.

Comments (23)

  • :love: have a great week. all the best!

  • Hi Mike,

    I can relate with this entry whole heartedly, in my 2.5 years on xanga (not as long as you) I have met great and wonderful friends, I appreciate them and they appreciate me, but now that I’m finding other interests and being busy I find that I can’t keep up everyday and read 110 people on a regular basis. I split it up now and make sure (or at least) try to comment on people once a week.

    I liked things that I read from you but sometimes I wanted to know about you, the person. The poetry and stories and videos as all wonderful as they are, and as much work you put into them (trust me I appreciate that), I find sometimes I left your site missing something.  Because it was you the person I was really curious about…I saw parts of the easy going, great smile good hearted guy that liked trains and had a variety of interests (including girls and sex) …strange that as much as I know about you sexually, I don’t know much about you the person. I know you probably keep your cards close to your chest. From what I seen I always like the person behind the cards, a real straight shooter…

    Be well, stay well, and I will continue to check up on you every so often to hear what Mike has to say.

    Frank

  • I had been feeling very remiss on not blogging about the topics.  Some, I just couldn’t get a “handle” on.  But, like you, I think it is mostly feeling “blogged out”—-if you get my meaning.  I am commenting on friends’ blogs, but not writing as often myself.  Have been thinking of taking a hiatus, but know I would miss everyone.  Will just have to wait and see. 

    Will keep checking in here to see how you are doing, though.  Good luck, Mike!!

  • Glad to know you are okay and hope you have a great week. Thanks for the comments you left for me. I appreciate them. I hope you have many blessings coming your way.

  • I know how you feel. Lately it’s felt more of a chore to make the rounds on my xanga than something I do for fun and relaxation. I’ve been more involved in video games lately than I have in xanga. But that’s how I work. I get hooked on one thing at a time. First it was MMORPGs, then it was PS2 games, then it was Pogo, then it was xanga, now it’s back to PS2 games and a new PC game my fiance got…I wonder if I’ll get back into the xanga swing, but if I don’t I feel as if I’m disappointing people…I don’t know. Do what you want, you’re your own person, don’t feel obligated to anyone on xanga just because we subscribe. Have fun on your break.

  • I’m a firm believer that if you force something, it becomes a responsibility that will inevitably generate that burnt-out feeling. The beauty of blogging is you’re free to post what’s on your mind, not what’s dictated. Enjoy your life, everything will fall into place.

  • Dear Mike

    I know that I have contributed to your discontent lately by not participating and for that I truly apologize.  I for one shall miss your blogs and truly miss the internet island ring.  I will miss everyone so much.  I do understand completely your feelings and hope that one day you return.  Until then I miss you.

    Kat

  • Thanks for all you have done!  I made quite a few friends when the “Island” first started.  I enjoyed writing for the topics I could get to.  I had nearly 100 subscribers myself, so it was hard to feel that I did justice to all, but I did read many of the topic contributions.  Actually it may be easier to participate on an irregular basis, so if/when you feel like posting a topic, who knows what might happen!

    I enjoyed your contributions, and hope you miss us here at Xanga and are back soon.

  • glad you are healthy!!!  this sounds a bit bittersweet in its text.  i took a 2 year hiatus from xanga, i would be checking every hour for new comments, and then feel let down when none were there!  now i know i have a few people interested in my posts.  you can feel free to leave a footprint and not comment on me if you would like.  i will still love ya!!!!  i am putting up some neat fall pics.  fall in maine is most beautiful.  i wish everyone could come on up here to see for themselves.  on the ride into work, when the sun is hitting the leaves, it is quite breathtaking!  hope all continues to be well, and if you ever just want to chat, feel free to e-mail me.  i try and respond quickly, but seems like lately the real world is interfering with my wants!!! it is almost my birthday, i will be 27 next friday!  thirtys knocking on the door.  i say BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Hello, Mike Stopping by after liberating myself from my own constricting burdons, I understand your need to take a break. I hope you’re taking a deep breath and that afterwards you will find a new way to fuel your creative energies. As for me, I felt constricted by my role on Socrates Cafe and frustrated that I wasn’t in a position to really voice my own opinion. Yours, being a social group, didn’t constrict you in that way, but I do understand the pressure you must have felt to keep things alive and the disappointment that others didn’t just run with the beautiful thing you’d created. Anyway, I just wanted to say hello and let you know that you are missed Hugs, Simone

  • No need to “edit.” This is to the point and honest and groovy, as you tend to be. As I believe with most things, I think that moderation is the key with Xanga. I deleted an entire Xanga site once, and that was hasty (but a good lesson). I also make a point for myself not to get too caught up in my Xanga, especially when other things are going on. I certainly enjoy it, but I can write two times a day or once a week, depending on what I feel like at the time. I hope your real readers have let you know how much you mean to us and how much your efforts to this point have been appreciated. It hasn’t been as much as you’ve wanted, I’m sure, but it hasn’t been totally in vain. Continue to be well

  • Mike I will miss your posts on a more frequent basis. I have really enjoyed them, but I totally understand your reasoning for doing it.  It does seem hit and miss for me. I go about it with great enthusiasm and then life gets in the way…and really if we are missing out on life because we feel this need to keep up the blog, that isn’t right either.   I’ll drop in from time to time and you do the same.  Thanks for the great comments you have made on my posts throughout the last couple of months. I have enjoyed your point of view.

    Love ya

    tami

  • Hi Mike,

    I am sorry that Internet Island disappointed you. I know that I was not the best member. I have not participated since about the 4th topic, I think. The reason that I quite participating was that members did not use the link and read and respond to my topic blog. They just clicked on the link in my signature and responded with a “thanks for visiting” comment under whatever blog was at the top of my site. I felt that if I read and responded to their topic entry, it woulr be nice if they did the same for me. I found it disappointing very early on.

    I am trying to get my blog active again, but I don’t think that I will ever be a daily blogger again. I have found that many forms of internet activity can be addictive and can lead to neglect of the “real” people in life. I have had some sad experiences with that, so now I try to focus on the people around me in my daily life and visit my Xanga friends occasionally. It is OK if my blog is less active, because I write it for me. Comments are nice, but I do not depend on them. There are bloggers that I like to hear from, though.

    I wish you well. I hope that you will stop by from time to time. I will do the same.

    Nancy

  • I totally understand how and why you feel hasty.  There are so many times that I visit peoples site’s and try to be nice and leave a comment, and then they can’t even stop and say hello.  It’s like if we were on the street and I tried to talk to you  would you be that rude.  That’s why I started blogging.  It’s a way to talk to people you dont’ know and get to know them.  Anyhow just wanted to say “I see where your coming from!”.  Stop by my site and check out the slide from the farm!!!!!

  • Everything moves in cycles…the yin and the yang….it is how things are. I enjoyed the Internet Island topics and tried to visit others who blogged. I doubt if the blog has been my destination blog…I think one’s own blog will always be a your destination blog. I visited as often as possible. Unfortunately my lifestyle does not give me the opportunity to visit too many people. I am happy if I get 4 replies. per entry because I know those people come there because they really want to. Most of my subscribers, subscribe by e-mail so I have no idea how many actually reads my blog. In the end the blog is for my own expression… and I appreciate the few that venture in and dare to leave a comment. Blogging is a community thing…of give and take…if you want to generate traffic you must visit. I can not blog every day and I can not visit every day ..so when I do get a visit then I celebrate that individual  to be as important as a hundred visits.

    Mike, I wish you a good rest…and may you return filled with vitality and energy. Yin Yang….i am looking forward to the new cycle.

  • :sunny:yes, that’s the way it’s been for me. having fun, enjoying the sun…so to speak and still able to stop to smell the euphorbias as i blog from time to time.  take care Mike. Alice

  • I am sorry to not have responded to the Internet Island each month, I’m still stuggling with trying to connect my blog with your web page so that you’d know when I and responded.  I was really interested in the one about the ‘music’ in my life, I’ve thought about it several times and was waiting until my daughter came home from Germany or another friend could take me step by step on how to do it.  I am not very comfortable with the computor as yet.  I know that you sent me instructions, however, I think I am a ‘show me type of person, and let me do it when you show me’ so that it sticks in my brain.”  I’ll continue to look for topics, and now that Renee is home for a few days, maybe she can help me over this hurdle. :p.  I’ve enjoyed reading others view points, sometimes feeling like I was out in left field with their deep insights, and then alittle intimidated!!:(  I hope you don’t get too discouraged, you really challenge one to think and think deeply, not everyone can do that, and I thank you for letting me stretch myslef alittle.

  • Hi Mike, I just stopped by to say hi because I haven’t been able to do much writing or blogging lately (work, life, etc).  Just wanted to let ya know I was thinking about you. 

  • Hi Mike, maybe we all should consider the following comment I found on the philosopher.org page: “Do NOT ever worry about ‘attendance figures’, or judge a gathering’s success, by how many people show up. Whether one person shows up, or a hundred, the only measure of success should be whether there’s a thoughtful exchange between participants. Too many Americans obsess about numbers.

  • I know what you mean, I skip around to my commenters than I try and do subs, then I find I have waisted hours and for what! Sometimes I have a post a really want people to read, because I have amused myself, they do end up coming then I feel burnt out and don’t feel like commenting back. Or I have to comment to get readers to come over, and that is stupid too. I wish I could just see a name on my sub list, go when I feel like it and people can comment me or not. But I like the feedback, otherwise their is no point in blogging I could make them private right? When I have tried little games hardly any of my people participate because they have their own stuff to write about, that was on their minds. I have missed two FC grown up posts and the last couple of yours. Sorry, my life is hard and I just want this to be fun. Stop by and say hi, only if you want to,

  • Hello Mike

    I hope you are off having a blast somewhere.  Just checking in to see what is up with you. 

    Big hugs to you and Liz.

    Kat

  • I, too, “get it”. Believe me. I didn’t nearly hit the stride you did, but I got burned out too. I felt guilty for not doing your Internet Island topics at the end there, but now that I’ve finally come and read this, I don’t feel so bad. I admire your capabilities to read so much in the past of people’s blogs! It would take me a year just to read everything you’ve written! It sounds like you are well…and that makes me happy.

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