Come On Out
I once met a local blogger that was obsessed with the lurkers that visited her blog. It simply drove her mad that people would read her stuff and not identify themselves and comment. I guess she wasn’t getting enough applause and recognition for what she considered the genius of her cranial drippings.
Years ago I had a stat counter on this blog and I kept an eye on my hits like it was the stock market, but one day I realized that I was writing more for myself and I didn’t care if anyone was reading. This blog to me is a way of getting ideas out of my head so I can move on to think about other things.
I do still have a stat counter account and I consult it once in a while just to see how many unique visitors come this way. I’m not a real stat whore. I don’t tag my posts with key words that draw people in from all over. Most of the readers here come from blogs that I follow and comment on. I get hits from between 60 and 80 unique visitors a day, of which there are about ten readers that comment here on a regular basis.
I mention this because just in the last three days three lurkers have come out of the closet. One, my nephew’s girlfriend who just had a baby commented on my anti social post earlier this week. Another reader from Virginia emailed me, and someone I went for a horseback ride with on Sunday told me she reads as well. It’s funny because you never really know who is reading. It’s a good thing I’ve been behaving lately.
So I extend a warm welcome to all you lurkers out there. Don’t be shy if you feel like commenting. I’m just a dopey blogger. I don’t bite people other than Auntie, g, Moose and Darev. If you don’t feel like commenting; that’s OK, too.
posted by The Guy Who Writes This at 4:00 AM
22 Comments:
Good Morning. X-Lurker here. Thanks for the welcome.
I have 5 regular lurkers. They don't bother me at all. In fact, I'm fascinated with their loyalty and continued presence.
I mostly blog to keep myself on an even keel, (try being a better word) And to keep my memory in check( old brains need help)... i don't have to have regular posted comments, evry once in a while, I'll ask for a comment, and it's usually because I'm going through one of my "I don't exist moods". the stat or what ever I have i enjoy seeing where people come from, don't ask me why because i don't know, I'm not even sure if I understand how they work.
loopy again
Behaving is for the birds, butt-wipe!
Evidently I seem to remember that first blogger you mention. Before she blocked me because I was lurking too much. Boy, she really was fierce competition for you too. But you won my heart and affection with your beloved "crafts with tampons" series. Loved the ghosts!
i am like a known lurker.
always here... not always commenting.
:)
do you get stats if i read you only my reader?
So, now you get it.
It humors me those that claim to snub their nose at your musings but they show up every day to see what you say next but still, I don't care, I love the outlet to share stuff or get it off my chest and to hell with "Site Meter" really.
I only started blogging (and replying) to clear the boogers out of my brain. I had things to say and the wife and daughter were tired of hearing me rant and it just made the dogs nervous. I guess I'm still a stat whore, because I check mine every morning. It's not so much about the numbers as the map of where people are coming from, for me. That tickles me, sometimes. So, now that I'm "out" I'll stop lurking and try to reply now and then. (grin)
"[...]one day I realized that I was writing more for myself and I didn’t care if anyone was reading."
Yep. I had that epiphany myself. But I would add to that the fact that I've become friends with quite a few people through the medium of blogging, which is almost the only reason my blog is still up at all. I'm just back from a four-month involuntary hiatus, and I'm finding I have less I wish to write about and less time to do so.
Anyway, re-delurking long enough to say "hi." :)
Even if I couldn't comment, or I just don't have anything to say on a subject, I would read what you have to write...keep up the good work :)
i'm a stalker, not a lurker.
sheesh.
Tango, Keep writing and I'll keep visiting.
Beth, that's pretty funny. I wonder if you know them?
Loopy that must be a Midwest thing that both you and Darev are afflicted with.
Auntie, that was a fun post. I'm glad you did one of your own today. My favorite was the ear rings.
Weese, I can feel you breathing. But no I don't get stats from a reader, but I can't complain because that's how I read most blogs.
Patrick, I think I would be concerned if I were getting 500 hits per day, too much pressure. Since I get usually fewer than a hundred hits per day it's like writing a letter to my family.
Darev, I wish I had the time to reply to every post I read.
Hey, Mel. Always a pleasure to know you are there. Did Evil ever move to your town?
Thanks Ginger. I need to get up there to meet you one day.
g, even worse you're an ex-politician.
I come by as often as time allows but without enough time to comment a lot of the time. I must say I have never had much luck in getting people to de-lurk. Stat counters are gone now for good. The only way I know of...I haven't figured out how to find IP's or whatever they're called...is thru my Top Women's Site thingy. It steadily climbs upward so I know SOME people are stopping by, haha! I am abysmal at getting out more than one or two posts a week any more. And now I know it'll be even more of a struggle since I taught Dear Hubby how to look up websites and he's on here most evenings looking up archery gear and dreaming over all the bows he'd love to buy. Oh well. Someday my time will come when I have time to twiddle my thumbs. The grandbabies won't be little forever.
Kris, I've fount that two of the keys to a happy relationship is when each partner has their own bathroom and their own computer.
Right now I get 72 3:45 minute visits a day, mostly readers only and couldn't be happier and right now am perfectly comfortable sharing information I find interesting or informative to others.
Just got a neat piece on how to build your own residential wind generator. Very straight-up and workable.
Excuse me, that should read 32 visits per day, average.
God ! I hate being dyslexic!
Yes, she did - well, sort of. She lives out in the boonies of Oregon City, but close enough! 25 minutes to her place instead of 2 hours? I'll take it. :)
They're hassling with the local (ineffectual) cable company right now; seems that the only 'Net service they can get is pretty pathetic.
most people commend me for leaving politics. i'm not sure if that's good or bad. :-)
The most fun thing about my stat counter (yes, I'm hooked) is seeing what brings people to my site. I love seeing what words they googled to get there.
Patrick, Considering your site is geared for locals, that's a good local pool visiting. 3/4 of my hits come from elsewhere.
Mel, I hope they both find work. She sounds like she always lands on her feet.
g, my favorite g story was when you forgot to put your paperwork in on time so you had to run as a write-in. I think you hoping to get out at that point.
Donna, I don't get that many cool searches leading here. Usually it's stuff like "Brew pubs in Astoria" or "Rust Paint."
honestly, i didn't forget to file. i was ready to fade away at that time and got pressured by a lot of people to run. you heard it here first. i've never divulged this before! betsy pulled out her arsenal to get me to run as a write-in. i didn't have the heart to say no. i wish i had said no. live and learn, and get brought to your knees, and live again. ah well, it will make for some good grandkid stories.
g, forgive my memory, but did you win that one as a write-in?
i didn't win. i was later appointed to another seat vacated by another commissioner.
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