Comments on: Bah, humbug http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/ Hardy plants for hardy souls Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:24:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ilona http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/comment-page-1/#comment-20902 ilona Sat, 25 Aug 2007 17:57:53 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/#comment-20902 I have a love/hate relationship with these things. I find them useful for looking at a number of blogs, blogrolls have become unreliable as they often list the same popular ones ( I'm as guilty/lazy as anyone in that) I like to see if ppl will bother to vote for me, but then there usually is difficulty in having a fair game, I remember early in my website experience someone approached me with the deal that we vote for each other every day... I know that there were groups of webmasters that did that. This cheats the system, and the viewers. but where do you start looking for sites that cater to your interest? It is often just these sorts of voting sites. ok- now for one of those opinions that seem to make me so unpopular with many ppl: Everyone that blogs does so for an audience...other wise we would just have our personal home hard copy journals. Or we would have a private one. We write to share in some way, and that means we all care about readers- although we each have our unique combination of why. My motivation is personally fed by those who read and comment. I like the interaction of blogging., but I don't want to be intimidated by it. For the garden blog especially I just want casual enjoyment of the medium ;) I have a love/hate relationship with these things. I find them useful for looking at a number of blogs, blogrolls have become unreliable as they often list the same popular ones ( I’m as guilty/lazy as anyone in that) I like to see if ppl will bother to vote for me, but then there usually is difficulty in having a fair game, I remember early in my website experience someone approached me with the deal that we vote for each other every day… I know that there were groups of webmasters that did that. This cheats the system, and the viewers.

but where do you start looking for sites that cater to your interest? It is often just these sorts of voting sites.

ok- now for one of those opinions that seem to make me so unpopular with many ppl:
Everyone that blogs does so for an audience…other wise we would just have our personal home hard copy journals. Or we would have a private one. We write to share in some way, and that means we all care about readers- although we each have our unique combination of why.
My motivation is personally fed by those who read and comment. I like the interaction of blogging., but I don’t want to be intimidated by it. For the garden blog especially I just want casual enjoyment of the medium ;)

]]> By: Ron http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/comment-page-1/#comment-20817 Ron Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:21:11 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/#comment-20817 I would questing the "Top 100" part of it, but any time you have a list of quality resources I do not think it is all bad. At least you did not buy your way onto it! I would questing the “Top 100″ part of it, but any time you have a list of quality resources I do not think it is all bad. At least you did not buy your way onto it!

]]> By: Molly http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/comment-page-1/#comment-20412 Molly Tue, 14 Aug 2007 17:20:05 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/#comment-20412 I'm pretty good at ignoring clutter on a page unless it makes pages slow to load. I visit your site for the quality of your writing, not because someone has decided that your site is one of the "top 100", or that you are a "thinking blogger". I don't really notice the badges. I’m pretty good at ignoring clutter on a page unless it makes pages slow to load. I visit your site for the quality of your writing, not because someone has decided that your site is one of the “top 100″, or that you are a “thinking blogger”. I don’t really notice the badges.

]]> By: Gotta Garden http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/comment-page-1/#comment-20333 Gotta Garden Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:44:20 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/#comment-20333 This explains some things...and for that, among other reasons, I'm glad I stopped by. I had wondered about the Top 100 thingie...so many seem to be commercial selling things ones and it didn't seem to me that they compared with those that are about the writing. Then, those peculiar things you all have brought to my attention...food for thought. After this, I shall have to pop over to Stuart's to get more info...but, I'm thinking the 100 badge may not be for me. Funny, what Stuart described I have always called Gardening In and Gardening Out and have meant to write about it for ages! Anyway, since I have always considered my garden a retreat from stress, what's up with my wanting that and even caring about what my number is??! Doesn't make sense, really. I don't know that I'd use the amount of comments either...if only because I read many more blogs than I comment on. I simply don't have the time (I'm a slow writer!) to comment on them all...surely, I'm not alone in that. It's all just been a new world to me...one I mostly like...and better than the garden magazines which no longer seem fresh and particularly interesting to me. I'd much rather bop around the the garden blog world and see what's up. I actually came over to see Kate's comment about her garden mishap that won the book! This explains some things…and for that, among other reasons, I’m glad I stopped by. I had wondered about the Top 100 thingie…so many seem to be commercial selling things ones and it didn’t seem to me that they compared with those that are about the writing. Then, those peculiar things you all have brought to my attention…food for thought.

After this, I shall have to pop over to Stuart’s to get more info…but, I’m thinking the 100 badge may not be for me. Funny, what Stuart described I have always called Gardening In and Gardening Out and have meant to write about it for ages!

Anyway, since I have always considered my garden a retreat from stress, what’s up with my wanting that and even caring about what my number is??! Doesn’t make sense, really.

I don’t know that I’d use the amount of comments either…if only because I read many more blogs than I comment on. I simply don’t have the time (I’m a slow writer!) to comment on them all…surely, I’m not alone in that.

It’s all just been a new world to me…one I mostly like…and better than the garden magazines which no longer seem fresh and particularly interesting to me. I’d much rather bop around the the garden blog world and see what’s up.

I actually came over to see Kate’s comment about her garden mishap that won the book!

]]> By: Annie in Austin http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/comment-page-1/#comment-20322 Annie in Austin Sun, 12 Aug 2007 19:51:54 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/#comment-20322 My purpose was to find other gardeners to talk with, so whatever the statistics for my blog - it feels like a success to me. Kathy - this whole discussion and the one at Stuarts's has been very enlightening as to why you all cared about the numbers... and I understand that it isn't really like a vanity plate - even though I like to tease you guys that it is. I still don't want a counter - that may be just reverse snobbery. Annie at the Transplantable Rose My purpose was to find other gardeners to talk with, so whatever the statistics for my blog – it feels like a success to me.

Kathy – this whole discussion and the one at Stuarts’s has been very enlightening as to why you all cared about the numbers… and I understand that it isn’t really like a vanity plate – even though I like to tease you guys that it is.

I still don’t want a counter – that may be just reverse snobbery.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

]]> By: Oldroses http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/comment-page-1/#comment-20285 Oldroses Sun, 12 Aug 2007 04:51:45 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/#comment-20285 I just keep reminding myself that I started my blog as a form of garden journal because I am terrible about keeping a paper one. If other people read it and enjoy it, that's even better. But the basic purpose is a selfish one: a record of my garden. I just keep reminding myself that I started my blog as a form of garden journal because I am terrible about keeping a paper one. If other people read it and enjoy it, that’s even better. But the basic purpose is a selfish one: a record of my garden.

]]> By: Kathy Purdy http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/comment-page-1/#comment-20268 Kathy Purdy Sun, 12 Aug 2007 00:58:00 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/#comment-20268 Yes, it's the comments that are the most important, as just about everyone has said in their own way. The comments are the human connection. And thank you everyone for the appreciation you've expressed here. I hope I continue to earn it. Yes, it’s the comments that are the most important, as just about everyone has said in their own way. The comments are the human connection. And thank you everyone for the appreciation you’ve expressed here. I hope I continue to earn it.

]]> By: layanee http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/comment-page-1/#comment-20247 layanee Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:12:26 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/#comment-20247 Gee, I just blog to share the joy of gardening. I read blogs to learn and enjoy others' gardens. Do I look at stats? Just on my site and they are important but the comments are, by far, the most rewarding part of this shared experience. By posting a comment you show the writer that you have read and valued what has been posted. Gee, I just blog to share the joy of gardening. I read blogs to learn and enjoy others’ gardens. Do I look at stats? Just on my site and they are important but the comments are, by far, the most rewarding part of this shared experience. By posting a comment you show the writer that you have read and valued what has been posted.

]]> By: Stuart http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/comment-page-1/#comment-20243 Stuart Sat, 11 Aug 2007 09:07:43 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/#comment-20243 I think this conversation has actually taken a different direction as your readers, and those who have commented on my blog, polarize their views of why they blog. It appears that there are 2 very different camps; those who blog for themselves and those who blog for others. Neither is right nor wrong, but it seems that whichever camp one falls within assumes that theirs is the right one. Gardening blogs, like any other genre, will always have these two very different poles. Lets get over it and enjoy each others offerings without feeling that we need to distinguish between some moral high-ground. If you like to have banners, counters and check your stats - then good for you. If you don't - still, good for you. It makes no difference to me, just keep writing good content... I think this conversation has actually taken a different direction as your readers, and those who have commented on my blog, polarize their views of why they blog.

It appears that there are 2 very different camps; those who blog for themselves and those who blog for others. Neither is right nor wrong, but it seems that whichever camp one falls within assumes that theirs is the right one.

Gardening blogs, like any other genre, will always have these two very different poles. Lets get over it and enjoy each others offerings without feeling that we need to distinguish between some moral high-ground.

If you like to have banners, counters and check your stats – then good for you. If you don’t – still, good for you. It makes no difference to me, just keep writing good content…

]]> By: Robin (Bumblebee) http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/comment-page-1/#comment-20236 Robin (Bumblebee) Sat, 11 Aug 2007 04:29:17 +0000 http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2007/08/09/bah-humbug/#comment-20236 Hi Kathy, I don't ever look at those little merit badges and ratings because I am suspicious of the validity and merit of most of these little widgets that you can find on the web. To me, it's more important that I find the content compelling, appealing or humorous. Why bother otherwise? You, Kathy, are one of the most thoughtful bloggers I have stumbled across. And I enjoy the dialogue that you inspire. I don't give two hoots about what's in your pile of accolades. As for me, I often ask myself, "Why am I doing this?" Do I look at stats? Yes. Was I happy when SumbleUpon discovered me? Sure. But the number that matters the most is not the number of hits, but the number of people who bother to visit time and again--and comment. I feel that I've gotten to "know" on some small scale a handful of other gardeners. Maybe THAT'S why I am sticking with it anyway... Robin (Bumblebee) Hi Kathy,

I don’t ever look at those little merit badges and ratings because I am suspicious of the validity and merit of most of these little widgets that you can find on the web. To me, it’s more important that I find the content compelling, appealing or humorous. Why bother otherwise?

You, Kathy, are one of the most thoughtful bloggers I have stumbled across. And I enjoy the dialogue that you inspire. I don’t give two hoots about what’s in your pile of accolades.

As for me, I often ask myself, “Why am I doing this?”

Do I look at stats? Yes. Was I happy when SumbleUpon discovered me? Sure. But the number that matters the most is not the number of hits, but the number of people who bother to visit time and again–and comment. I feel that I’ve gotten to “know” on some small scale a handful of other gardeners.

Maybe THAT’S why I am sticking with it anyway…

Robin (Bumblebee)

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