Commenting and Stalking...Hello Out There!

I got together with a bunch of girlfriends to celebrate a dear friend's milestone birthday. (Really now, DO go on over to her lovely, hilarious and down-to-earth blog and shower her with some birthday blessings!)

Amongst the many many many things we chatted about, blogging, stalking and blog commenting was a huge topic of conversation being that the majority of the gals are bloghappy.

I can't tell you HOW MANY TIMES I've been out and about getting groceries, picking up more Mr. Clean Magic Erasers or getting a Costco iced mocha to bump into someone who references something from my blog.

My usual reply is an astonished: "Oh!?! You read my blog!?! I had NO idea!"

Really now, it shouldn't be like that.

I LOVE to blog. I love to tell stories about my kids, share my crafts and sewing ideas and connect with friends, family and the blogisphere.

However, sometimes I feel a bit sad putting myself out there and getting a big fat zero response. Doesn't exactly encourage further posting. I know my site traffic...I have about a 2.5% response rate. Yes, that is a two followed by a POINT then a five. Not twenty five.

So, let's just put this out there: Why are people afraid to comment? What holds them back???

Ya know, way back when I started Vintage Dutch Girl I stalked a TON of blogs before timidly submitting my first comment. Then, once I had "declared" myself, it was a BLAST having conversations and building relationships with people I'd never met. Guess what? My bloggy buddies are very dear to me. They make me laugh. They make me smile. They give great advice. Most of them know RIGHT WHERE I AM...because they are RIGHT THERE TOO.

Think about it from this perspective. Say we are at a cocktail party (ya know, because I attend so very many cocktail parties that I am sick and tired of wearing my stunning LBB -Little black dress- and conversing with adults...) and we happen to be introduced:

"Hi, my name is Amanda, how are you?"


-----silence-----


"I'm married to my high school sweetie and have two vivacious children that constantly provide me with laughter and help to teach me the fruits of the Spirit. Do you have any children?"


-----silence-----


"My hobbies are crafting, sewing, painting...basically anything that involves creativity. I love to look at new fashion and try to recreate it by refashioning, altering and embellishing clothing. What about you???"


-----(crickets chirping)-----


You get the picture. So here's what I have to say:

1. Comments make my day. I love to hear what folks have to say. The more comments/response/feedback comes in the more I am inspired and encouraged to continue to blog. Comments make me smile. :) See? Big smile!

2. If you've been stalking me for awhile, say HI! I like to meet people! Let's chat, m'kay? I'm really not scary. Promise. Unless I'm dieting and you have Tostitos Queso cheese and tortilla chips. Then I'll straight-up right hook ya, grab the food and run.

3. YES, I realize that sometimes commenting just isn't possible. I fall off the commenting wagon frequently. Usually because I'm holding a 3yr old away from (once again) hitting the master power switch and zapping my computer or trying to convince the 18 month old that USB cables are NOT an item that we need to be chewing on.

So, whatcha got to say? I know you have thoughts bubbling inside. Share a word or two...

A

Please feel free to link/reference/quote this post on your blog...all I ask is that you link appropriately back to VintageDutchGirl.

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