Just wanted to mention something I added to the blog last week for those of you who read my posts in a reader or via e-mail. If you are on Facebook and want to interact there, please click over to the blog and "like" the Page I created on Facebook. Then you will get any pics or posts I add on FB in your Live Feed there. It will be purely for fun- a way to interact and share a few laughs- as this place seems to be where I mostly share my "deep" thoughts :)
Also, I need help trying to figure out a new commenting system for the blog. I hate knowing that if you comment you will not see my response unless you subscribe to the comments of each post. I know how often I forget to do that so I assume you might, too. I already tried one system that I was not happy with- can't remember the name right now. I was going to switch to Disqus and actually added it to the blog and deleted it right away when I realized it had deleted (temporarily, thank goodness!) the comments made through blogger from my last post. If you have made the switch to Disqus, do you know if there is a way to avoid that?
Finally, I would love to get your thoughts and advice on something. I've been blogging for 7 or 8 months now but have not shared this place with many friends and family that are very dear to me in real life. It's starting to feel a little strange- almost deceitful- that some of those closest to me do not even know this blog exists. My hesitancy to share it with some is that, as I mentioned earlier, I share some of my deepest thoughts/struggles/journeys here and I worry that they just won't get it. (Many of these people are not believers.) If you have worked through this already and would be willing to share your decision and reasoning, I would love to hear! Feel free to share in the comments or via e-mail at onethingspoken(at)gmail(dot)com.
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12 years ago
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16 comments:
I can sooo relate to not sharing with people about your blog!!! And the whole comment thing...I usually end up going back to the blog of the person who commented and responding there. I tried subscribing a few times, but that ends up clogging my inbox sometimes. I will be interested to see what you find out. Have a blest day!
Nat, you know, Eve had cute little cards printed to invite people to her blog. Maybe you could include some of those in Christmas cards? Or if you do a Christmas letter, maybe you could mention it there. That's a long way off, though, so maybe the Lord will give you the boldness to just send them out for no occasion. I'll pray for the Lord to guide you. ~L
I unfortunately have no advice for the comments thing, haven't had many comments to worry about so far ;) I did feel similar to you about the "secret" blog thing. When I started it, it was just for me. To see my thoughts on "paper" so to speak. I have always done my best thinking when I write down my thoughts and look at them from this "outside" perspective. I changed the names because I didn't want people who google my blog to learn too much about me for safety reasons. I think there was a part of me that didn't want people who knew me IRL to find me either. Then I realized that I am me, take me or leave me, and I felt that if there are those who didn't want to learn more, they could quit reading. My blog is not for everyone, but those who enjoy it could keep coming back for more. As far as those who are not believers, they will either read your blog and want to know more about the God you serve or they will not "get it" and choose not to continue to read. But God is the one who has the power to change hearts and can give those that don't know Him a heart to seek Him. Perhaps their journey will start with your blog? They will learn what REAL discipleship is like. It is not all sunshine and roses. The Christian walk is HARD and DARK and LONG at times. The Lord is glorified when He brings us through those times, and when you carry your cross daily and share it here, you will bring glory to Him, struggles and all. I say share it!! I will pray for you as you make that decision ;)
It took me *years* to share my blog with face to face friends and even family. I think I was(am) insecure about it.
I have opened myself up more and shared with more people, but I still am not comfortable with sharing it with just *anyone*--like I don't feel comfortable putting it on facebook, as a lot of my friends and family and even church friends on there I don't know if they'd "get it" and there are aspects of life on my blog that I wouldn't feel comfortable with them knowing about.
I would just say only share when you feel comfortable, don't push yourself. Your blog is your art and do what your instinct tells you!
Also, if people read or want to read my blog, I always tell them to comment because it irks me when people read and don't tell me they read and never comment...feels sneaky to me.
Mary,
Thanks for responding :) Yes, I do go back to the person's blog, too, sometimes. But I wanted something easier ;)
L,
That is such a cute idea with the cards :) I am praying about how to handle it but think I may just take the plunge and let those who are closest to me in on it. If they get it, great! If not, they probably won't read, right?
Elizabeth,
I don't get many comments either. Many posts do not have any comments. But for those who do go take the time to write, I do try to respond.
And thank you so much for your thoughtful response to the question of opening my blog to IRL friends and family. You have given me much food for thought!
Colleen,
I am pretty sure that the people I am thinking about sharing the blog with would not become regular readers as none of them (to my knowledge, anyway) are avid blog readers anyway. So it might just work out similarly for me as it has for you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Thank you Andrea for your wise words! This blog has really become a place where I am working things out from my real life, my real inner life. I don't want to lose the freedom to share from my heart that I have now. Something to keep praying about...
I kind of wanted to keep my blog a secret, but I have too big of a mouth for that. ;) I have shared a handful of posts on my personal FB page, but share all posts on my blog FB page. Out of 400+ friends only 10% are blog FB page friends. Seems like most of my readers are people I don't know, although I am surprised occasionally to hear of the friends that do read... some non-believers, but regular readers. You never know who God might be speaking to through you. :) I don't have any blogger comment advice. I do have a GREAT wordpress plug-in though, if you ever switch. :) ♥ Michelle
I've been googling blog etiquette to know how to respond to those who comment. I want them to know I really appreciate the time it took to stop by, read and then leave a comment. I usually just go to the person's blog and comment there.
The sharing your blog thing is something I see a lot of people are dealing with. I've had my blog three years and just shared with family last Christmas. A few friends know of it now and they're telling others. They always tell them to contact me by email and get the address from me. So I do have some control over my IRL friends who see it. I don't use my name, but I do use my family's names. My husband was not happy putting too much info out there. I feel a little more comfortable in my blog skin now and link to a few things each week. I know that doesn't help, but thought I'd share that you are definitely not alone in your resistance to share with everyone.
This is really a dilemna. I do not share about my blog intentionally. No one in my family seems to care and I am pretty sure none of my friends read. That being said, I have had the uncomfortable experience of having someone IRL read it, not comment, and later say something to me in person. It was unsettling because it was so unexpected and yes, it felt sneaky.
I have lots of readers according to my sitemeter but rarely have any comments. Which is not a huge deal, but it sometimes bothers me.
Like right now, I have a contest going on at my blog and haven't gotten one comment. Oh well. Such is life.
Michelle, I am not at all computer techie and do not think I could handle a switch to Word Press on my own. Given the big b'day coming up, though, I have contemplated getting myself a blog make over for a present. We'll see... Thanks for stopping by, friend!
Southern Gal,
Yes, your thoughts and experiences DO help. Thanks for sharing. Still not sure of what I will do but I'm glad I am not the only one in this boat :)
Stacey,
I know what you mean. It is a little strange to have such a small percentage of readers who comment. Before I started my blog, though, I commented very rarely so I know the reluctance to comment, too. It's more laziness really- for me it was anyway. And I didn't realize what a real encouragement it is for the blogger to "hear from" and interact with her readers. I'm off to your place and promise to leave a comment :p
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