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Welcome to our weekly BlogAnon meeting where we confess a particular blogging sin and turn to you for support, suggestions and that blogging bond so we know we're not all alone. Don't be shy. Read along and let us know if you identify with us this week.
Why did you first enter the blogosphere? Was it to hear yourself talk? No, probably not. It was probably because you wanted to talk to other people out there. Find out how things were going in Idaho and Maui, London and Manila all without leaving your keyboard. Maybe you were looking for people who were just like you, or perhaps you wanted to branch out and step outside your comfort zone. So if we all have this common goal to interact, why does the blogosphere make it so challenging to have a real conversation?
The Comments section is pretty much all that bloggers have to conduct conversations in the blogosphere. And that is highly unsatisfactory as far as I am concerned. I leave comments all over the blogosphere on a weekly basis. How am I supposed to remember where I left all of those comments and go back to find out what the blogger had to say in reply? Most of the time I end up conducting conversations beyond the blog via e-mail. And although that is fun and in-depth, it only works one-on-one. What I need is a place to chat with my peeps. Without 140 character limitations. So what better place than right here in Bumble Town?
I've installed a Chat Box here on our blog to test out this idea of mine. You can find it by scrolling to the bottom of any post or by clicking on the **Live Chats** link up above, beneath the tabs. I was thinking of doing monthly chat sessions for anyone available and interested. It could be a fun Tuesday night social hour where we gossip and laugh and give each other pats on the back for being the awesome bloggers that we are. Or it could be an extension of a blog tip topic - a Friday night breakout session of sorts to help each other learn something new. Maybe it could be a place where guest bloggers could lead a Sunday afternoon chat about their particular passion - sharing recipes or book review techniques, gardening tips or telling jokes.
All I know is that I would love to make it work out somehow so that I could have a great conversation with small groups of you together - at the same time. Interacting, sharing, learning, laughing. Making the blogosphere multi-dimensional, the way I want it to be. How about you?
Would you be interested in monthly Bumble Town Chats? What would you want to chat about? When would you prefer to chat? Let me know in the Comments below (I know, back to the Comment conversations) and then I'll be sure to announce a schedule in an upcoming Friday "On Blogging" post.
18 comments:
I started my blog because when I left remarks it always asked for the http:// address and I felt left out not having one! And it looked like so much fun and a great way to meet other people that love books as much as I do. Can I just tell you how my husband rolls his eyes when I say things like "My friend Molly and I are going to read TKAM in September?" This after all these years of telling my kids that you can't really be friends with someone you've never even met!
Gerri - your thoughts are always welcome on our blog. I enjoy visiting blogs of people shedding light on their struggles in life - it helps me gain better perspective and appreciation for what people go through.
Lisa - online relationships are valid friendships as you well know. I'm looking forward to our reading of To Kill A Mockingbird - just one more week! I hope you'll love it as much as I do. Hey - that's a neat idea for monthly chats - book discussions after a group read!
Hi,
If you have a gmail account you can open a 'readers' section into which you can put all the blogs you follow- then the comments and new posts come to you- and you don't forget which ones you're following- I've just organized mine and am really looking forward to this because I was always forgetting where I'd left comments etc.
good luck!
M
Yeah! I'd be down for some live chat. Just tell me when and where.
I started mine to keep my family and friends up-to-date on the grandchildren, and possibly to leave something behind when I'm gone that my children and grands would enjoy reading.
I had no idea that I would make wonderful friends here who have enriched my life exponentially with their knowledge and caring about me as a person, and not just seeing me as a "voice" on the computer. Yes, I've been taking a little break, but I haven't stopped reading and looking. I'm starting to miss the writing, too. So maybe I'll be back soon.
I'm not particularly fond of chat, because I always feel my fingers can't keep up with my thoughts and the conversation at hand, but I wouldn't mind trying it out. It sounds like fun.
You won't believe what the next veri word is:
flucking
Oh my, what I could do with that word!
I started mine just to play the meme's--and I have enjoyed the people I've found, there are a lot of good people outside of my world. I really like the idea of a chat to talk about books--one of my favorite subjects! I've never participated in a chat before.
Maribeth - I have considered following comments before when that is an option, but doesn't that mean that I then get an e-mail anytime ANYONE leaves a comment on that post? I have a nice system working with my Reader to follow the blogs I enjoy. I don't have time for all of those comments after the fact. That's why I need live interaction. Hopefully you'll come back and find a chat to join in.
Cardiogirl - your comments section, aka the VIP Lounge, works so well - your group of peeps are so loyal I think some of them hang out there all day! That's because you are so entertaining of course. I'll be sure to let you know when the Bumble Chats begin.
Susan & Kaye - I find chats to be fun as long as the overall participation is kept to a small number of folks. It can be hard to follow a conversation when everyone is talking at once - in speech or in text. The provider of the program I installed, Chatroll, limits it to 10 people chats when using their free version. So that would be the max since I am a cheapskate ;0) I'm sure books will be on the agenda.
I know, that answering comments with comments is cumbersome, and usually I do not follow back up to see if there is a response. I can barely do what I do!!!! There really isn't a perfect vehicle for group chatting. I would be happy to chat with you, but can't really commit to a date because my life is friggin' nuts right now. Sometimes I'm gone from morning until night, eat dinner at 8:30 then pass out at 10:00. Just let us know when you are doing it, and I will try!
Brilliant idea. Love the idea of book chats, or just general conversation. We started our blog to meet other bloggers and to spread a love of all things bookish. Have met some wonderful people, but you,re right - not enough interraction. You go ahead and do all the work and I'll join in. :)
I simply leave comments and hope for the best.
Molly, I wouldn't mind joining in if and when I'm available. My work schedule is quite unusual, which would keep from making consistent appearances. Plus other life obligations on top, and I'm not sure how often I'd be dropping in for live chats. But the idea sounds nifty, and if I'm around I would enjoy being a part of it.
As for topic matter, anything goes.
I think this is a fabulous idea - although I am not sure that I would able to participate in each chat (not from lacka wanna but from lacka time)
I try to leave comments on others' blogs, but like you, I rarely check back for a response and, consequently, that is why I don't respond to comments left on my blog. I guess for now I just keep the door of communcation open by leaving and receiving single comments. The chat would be lovely!
Hi Molly,
I'd love to enter into a conversation as time permits. Something that is regularly scheduled or set up ahead of time would work best for me. I like the chat idea although I have no idea how it would work. I trust you do. That's all we need.
i love the idea of book chats!!! :)
I would like to IF I remembered where and when!
I like reply comments because I do go back to read some because I'm typically back at the blog anyway the next day. I like how CardioGirl comments back and it's a whole conversation with the other pallies. I like the atmosphere. It's a lot of work, but I do like when bloggers reply in the comments section.
Uh....oh....sorry about the whole White Sox thingy this week. We needed a few wins. :0
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