I’ve had the same scenario happen many times since starting this blog—a colleague or friend I haven’t seen for months will run into me on the street or at a gig. They remark on how much they enjoy my blog, sometimes even quoting specific passages from different articles or cite specific posts, videos, podcast episodes, or the like.
My first reaction is always surprise that they have been following my blog so avidly, followed by the inevitable question:
“If you like it so much, how come you never leave a comment, send in an e-mail, phone in a podcast message….?”
What bloggers frequently forget is that there are many different kinds of audience feedback, and that just because you don’t get a certain type of feedback (or even any concrete feedback at all) does NOT mean that people aren’t following and enjoying your output. The way many bloggers gauge their audience’s enjoyment of a blog is by the number and type of comments they receive. While I fall prey to this tendency as well (I always love seeing those comments come in), over time I have realized that there are many different types of comments. Sometimes I wonder why nobody is commenting, only to later open my e-mail and find several messages from readers regarding specific topics, suggesting ideas, or just offering their appreciation. These are also comments, and they are every bit as appreciated and valued as comments on specific posts within the blog.
Many people, after all, feel more comfortable sending a private message rather than leaving a public comment. Also, there are many types of comments which ARE best served up as a private e-mail. I get a lot of correspondence with readers via e-mail, and I appreciate all of it. Finally, certain types of posts seem to generate public comments, while others seem to prompt people to send private e-mails. I’m not sure exactly what reaction any post I put up will generate, and it is interesting to see how these reactions differ.
Also, when I question why someone expressing enjoyment of my posts hasn’t left a comment, I tend to forget that the fact that we are talking about the blog is in and of itself a comment. Blog comments, e-mails, talking to me in person, phone calls—these are all forms of feedback, and all are equally valid and appreciated.
This is just a long way of saying that I really appreciate the feedback I get (whether it be in the form of blog comments, e-mail, phone calls, or person-to-person interaction) from readers, and feel free to get in touch with me anytime with comments, suggestions, story ideas, links, videos, and anything else that’s on your mind (including any stories of your own that you’d like to share). Your comments, suggestions, and contributions help to make this blog better and more relevant to people, and I appreciate all the many people that have contributed over the past couple of years.
And if you haven’t gotten around to leaving feedback or just aren’t into it, that’s completely cool as well. There are people that like to interact and people that just like to read and listen, and both are totally valid ways to interact with this site.
If you do happen to like leaving feedback, here’s my contact info in a nutshell:
Blog comments: just click the ‘comment’ link at the bottom of each post
E-mail: jsh177@yahoo.com
Phone (24-hr voicemail): 206-666-6509
In person: I am often seen walking my two cats in
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P.S. – If you’re wondering what on Earth is being depicted in the drawing at the beginning of this post, you can click here and read all about it.
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I shall leave a comment, but I don’t know what to say, except that I visit this blog at least once every two to three days.
You have the courage to make a really valid point about the musical blog-o-sphere. I think that it reflects the fear that many people have to “register” an opinion on anything musical. They fear that they will be judged by the person making a blog post (many people are intimidated by anyone who is willing to register an opinion openly) and exposed as a “no nothing” by the blog’s readers.
I notice this time and again in various musical situations. I have seen it for years at concerts when people are afraid to voice whether they liked or didn’t like something until they find out how someone they respect felt about the concert. I was one of those people once. It was when I was a child. I needed to learn how to formulate intelligent opinions. I knew that I had made it past childhood when people started asking me how I liked concerts right after they were over. I always said what I thought, and have kept up the habit.
I notice it in classes too. Students are afraid that they will be “wrong” when they make any kind of judgement about a musical performance. They would rather take notes and write down the “right” answers. Getting them to react verbally to music is sometimes like pulling teeth.
In extreme cases, like the case of being moved emotionally by music, it is hard to talk about your feelings. Some of us, on the other hand, need to find community in our reactions to experiences in order to affirm that they did actually happen.
The musical blog-o-sphere is becoming, sadly, a “place” not designated for musical interaction, though I really believe it should be. It is an entity that is evolving like any other social entity, but it lacks the actual face-to-face (or even e-mail to e-mail) interaction of the world in real time.
It is also an idealized world where everyone has his or her say, but it is also a “place” where people can present themselves in ways that are downright intimidating (you don’t, but there are bloggers who do).
Hey, love the blog. Sorry I don’t comment much…
But I’m sure you’d be happy to know that I heard Paul Ellison talking about your blog a few days ago.