Friday, June 26, 2009

Oh no! Am I a jerk blogger?


I'm really sorry.

So, I probably should have read some "how to be a good blogger" articles before I started writing and because I didn't (until Leah posted this article on her blog), I just found out that I have been a little rude to you fine readers for a long time. I've been especially neglectful of those of you who are nice enough to leave a comment.

See (now I know this is no excuse), I leave comments on a few blogs from time to time and I never return to the blogs to check and see if the authors have replied to my comments. Therefore, because everyone MUST think exactly like me, I thought that none of the people who commented on my blog looked for replies either.

I have since learned two things:

1. Not replying to comments may make you look like you think you are "too cool for school".
2. There is a simple way for people to get replies to their comments known as "subscribing to the comments". I feel silly that I did not know this and have never used the trick myself.

I am going digging through past posts now and leaving replies to ancient comments and pledge to be better about replies form now on. Your comments really are my favorite part of having a blog!

bunny photo by Megan Taylor Brooks

20 comments:

Theresa said...

Aww, you're too cute.

I just wanted to say that Elise is the most sincere, grateful, and kind-hearted human being ever. I know that she wholly appreciates her readers/customers.

ren said...

i guess i am a jerk blogger too! ooops. i don't always reply to comments either. but on the other hand, i don't expect people to reply to my comments anyway. don't feel so bad. i come here because i like your art and your bunnies. and i come back because i still like your art and your bunnies.

Elise of Argyle Whale said...

I feel way better. Thanks to both of you!

ps: more bunny art is on it's way!

Sayo said...

I'm a jerk blogger too :P Although, I always try to answer questions. I think it's silly to ALWAYS ALWAYS reply to comments... huh. or maybe I'm just a jerk. Either way, I just found your blog yesterday and I don't think you are a jerk. :)

leah creates said...

Haha, I was a jerk blogger too, before reading that! I generally don't EXPECT blog authors to respond to my comments, and I think it's unreasonable to think that you have to respond to every comment to be a good blogger. Seriously, Dooce.com gets hundreds -- sometimes thousands! -- of comments on every post, and there's absolutely no way she responds to everyone.

Elise of Argyle Whale said...

Maybe tomorrow's post should be another overly dramatic apology to all the bloggers out there who don't reply to comments that I've accidentally called jerks! :D

Waxy said...

I'm a jerk blogger too - I never go back to look for responses to my comments so I assume others don't either? oops - I guess I am naughty...

Jen Collins said...

i kind of have a habit of replying to people's comments, whether it's flickr, blogger, or twitter. i used to have a livejournal, & i replied to every single comment i got! it made me look like i was popular or something, with 30+ comments on each post!
nowadays, i still reply to most people, but not obsessively. i guess i feel since someone took the time to tell me something, i should try take the time to reply to them. but that's not how everyone works, & i don't get offended if people don't reply to my comments.
i don't think i could always use the follow up option on blogger. my inbox would pile up after commenting on blogs like yours elise!

Anonymous said...

It's never bothered me! I put comments randomly on all sorts of blogs, and never check to see if there is an author reply. Maybe if I'd asked a question, but not generally. A lot of the time comments are just comments, and there's not much to say in response. I wouldn't worry too much about it! :)

Dawn said...

I am a very old blogger - in blogger time...and I only very occasionally respond to comments. Not because I am too cool for anything..but because I often just forget.

kendall.micayla said...

hi elise! (this is kendall*micayla from flickr.)
you have a lovely blog and i cant wait to hear more!!

Elise of Argyle Whale said...

I'm glad to hear it's not as hurtful to you readers as the article made it seem. Whew!

Hi Kendall! I recognized you even without the * ;)

kendall.micayla said...

oh yeah- i forgot both usernames were the same... boy do i feel silly! :)

Unknown said...

Pffft, responding to comments is not necessary (unless someone is actually asking you a question or something, then it is nice to respond).

Talia said...

One thing I did as well was reply to the person's comment via email, as well as on the blog post. That way they know you've replied to them and they don't have to subscribe to the feed. :-)

Anonymous said...

I just read this and laughed my ass off... Thanks!

Rebecca said...

Lucky I just read that, cause I think I'm probably a jerk blogger too! I never subscribe to comments, and I often make fleeting comments (like this one), that I don't expect anyone would be able to reply to! So that's often how I treat my blog comments... uh oh!

Don't feel bad, you're not alone!!!

Patrizia said...

I am a big jerk blogger too! I didn't know this either! I need to start replying.

I am never heart when people don't answer me, actually I never check. Usually my responses aren't questions or don't really need a response.

:! You shouldn't be sorry! You don't strike me as a too cool for school type of gal, although you probably are too cool for school just maybe humble? I don't think I am making nay sense... sorry

krys kirkpatrick said...

I too never ever replied to comments...because, I didn't look to see if there were any comments and thought who would even look at my blog to leave a comment. oops. I had a friend show me...I had comments. I guess we are guests at the same naive party.

Elise of Argyle Whale said...

Wow talia! i don't think i could ever be as good as that. I'm too scatterbrained.

At least we jerk bloggers are in good company.

Patrizia, Your comment is so funny! I'm pretty sure I'm not too cool :).