Thursday, October 23, 2008

About That Follower Thing

So, normally, I would obsess about this post, and rewrite it eleventy-one times, to really do my best not to offend anyone... But I don't have time for that today, and I really need to get this posted. I'll depend on you to know that I love you. Right?

OK.

As I've recently discovered, adding many, many people to your Follower gadget also adds many many people to your Googlereader list.

And after I added a crazy number of people to the thing, I began to feel obligated to visit them every time they posted, and thus appeared on Googlereader. I've spent every free hour I've had this last week trying to keep up with Googlereader, and this morning I was actually dreading pulling up that long "to do" list. Which sort of makes this more a chore than a hobby, and heaven knows my chore list is long enough. NOT that reading anybody's blog is a chore!! Just that I become a slave to the reading list. I'm compulsive about getting those things crossed off as soon as I can. I'm probably not explaining this very well.

I haven't had a lot of free time lately, as you might all ready know. We've got some things going on around here.

So I have to apologize and tell you that I've decided to go back to my old method, which is to follow a much smaller list - mostly blogs I just stalk, and big blogs where the authors don't really come around here much. Like Segulla. And Mormon Mommy Wars. And Light Refreshments Served.

The way I keep up with more personal blogs is to just plain old fashioned bookmark them. I also try to visit everyone that comments on my blog, at least now and then.

So, I have to give back the tiara. And even if I have to take you off my follow list, I want you to know that I STILL completely vote for you as Homecoming Queen! (or King, if applicable.)

If you have to take me off your list, too, just so we'll be even, I completely understand.

Believe me. I understand.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

No worries here, just randi. I feel the same way! As much as I love seeing those comments pop up like daisies, I also like seeing who stopped by for a quick peep (thanks to the feedjit map!) or which obscure hit I got from google today (like a random ham radio website who happens to have the same name as me! The nerve!)

Anyway, go be a mom once in a while. Blogging will always be here!

melissabastow said...

There's no way I'm taking you off of my following list. RUDE. How could you even suggest that I would stop reading every single word you write just as you write it?!

Which is why I'm the first commenter. Or one of the first, you know, if someone hits that "publish comment" button before I do. Which could totally happen since I'm taking so long to write this thing.

SO ANYWAYS. You can take me off. Just come visit when you get any free seconds. And sorry, but I'm still stalking/sometimes leaving long stupid comments on your blog.

You can't get rid of me that easily.

Jan said...

Do YOUR right thing. No worries.

The Miller Family said...

Lol. Absolutely understandable! We moved recently, and went for almost 2 weeks without the internet. When we finally did get it back, my GoogleReader was STUFFED full, and it took me another week just to catch up on all that I had missed...totally overwhelming!

Sit back and relax!

Becky N. said...

I'm definitely not offended! I had no idea that following adds to the Google reader... and oh, my, I definitely feel for you. I feel obligated to read everything that pops up in my reader, too... and when I know I need to be spending my time otherwise, that obligation, wanted or not, does feel pretty oppressive.

I'm perfectly happy reading your blog whether or not you feel the need to visit mine, too. After all, mine is just sort of an online journal... I mostly only expect family and close friends to be interested in what I write.

Happy blogging!

LisAway said...

I, too have to have NO NUMBERS BETWEEN THE PARENTHESIS on my Google Reader. I too, feel I have to read every word. I recently started realizing that it's not the end of the world if I skip posts sometimes. So sometimes I do.

I totally understand you. You were feeling the love and realized it entailed more than you were ready to jump in with!

I just started "following" a few blogs that I return to regularly but only like once a week (besides all the many blogs I already had on my Reader). I still consider that following (after much thought)!

Of course we all understand you!!

Chellie said...

haha! We were just becoming friends.

But as friends, I understand!

Busy Bee Lauren said...

Well...it's early, and I am not quite sure where I stand in your "old method"...but that's ok! Because I love you, and will still read you regardless if you read me. You do your thing girl...we all support you! :)

Annette Lyon said...

Nice to find some else as obsessed with clearing out her Google reader!

I discovered that on the reader, you can hide the blogs you follow. If that helps at all.

Amy Peterson said...

Blogging is only meant to be fun! When something stops being fun, or takes over your life- time for a change! I hope everything is going well at your house!

Hildie said...

Hey, I write for Segullah and I read your blog! I did not, however, put my avatar on your Follower because I'm a consciencious objector. I hate the Follower! It's like a popularity contest in a 2 inch square. A popularity contest which I am completely losing.

Sarah said...

I'm totally offended. I can't believe you left my blog. I'm sobbing and sobbing right now.

Or not.

It's totally fine :) And I'm still following you. Cause you're fab.

<3

The Dillon 6 said...

oh please! No need to apologize...I seriously don't expect you to read my blog every day. I am YOUR stalker, you are not mine. ;)

Becky said...

No apologies needed! Sometimes I look back on what I've accomplished for the day and realized I spent waaay too much time in front of the computer trying to read and comment on everyone's blog. Do whatcha gotta do, and no worries!

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

You're so cute, Randi, no worries!

I use bloglines to track posts so I can follow people with impunity. =)

Anonymous said...

Isn't simplifying our to-do lists something they hit on at Conference every six months! Way to go. :)

Laura said...

Yep, I think you should totally stop following every...else. Me, though, I'm still worth the time. You'd so be totally missing out. Sorry!!! =]

*MARY* said...

I know how you feel, sometimes blogging feels like a full time job. Don't worry about it.

Jennie said...

Hey, you'll always have a tiara in my mind :).
I love your blog so much I left you an award!

Susie H said...

Thank you for cracking me right up!!

Yvonne said...

My goodness--I'm sure that's the one and only vote I've ever had for Homecoming Queen ; )

It's so hard to keep up with it all.

mormonhermitmom said...

No worries mate. Glad to see you know when to say "no thank you".

Heather of the EO said...

Ugh, I know. So much reading, so little time! You're doing the right thing. I recently "unsubsribed" from a bunch of blogs and I felt so bad, but my family (and me) need me a little more present these days.

All is fair in love and blogging.

Peace out,
Heather

nevadanista said...

This really made me laugh! I've considered putting a moratorium on discovering anymore fun blogs. My laundry can't take it!

"Q" said...

If such actives have kept you from going to lunch with your friends, I'd have to agree, you're out of control.

Babzanne Barker said...

What's a google reader???! Aren't you glad you have at least one friend who doesn't have a blog? --Well, not one that has anything on it. I actually started one to make my kids happy, but I can't see any time in the near future where it will contain more than just two pictures on it--and random butterflies floating through it (if you happen to have the right program you can see them! Michael set up the butterflies.) I'd give you the link but I honestly don't know how! Take care, dear friend.

Melissa said...

No worries here! I don't like people following me anyway... I usually make lots of mistakes and if people are following me... well, they see all my blunders ;)

Elizabeth-W said...

You're still bookmarked over here in 20th century land :)

Little GrumpyAngel said...

Don't worry about me. I read your blog because you have interesting posts not because you follow me so I'm not taking you off. There's blogging, then there's life and one cannot resent you for choosing to live in real world not virtual world.

Chell said...

Such a cute and honest post :)

I dont mind - promise!

Unknown said...

hi randi,
blog without obligation baby :)

when your hobby starts to feel like an obligation, no longer is it fun. the hobby starts to feel like a job and who wants that?

enjoy and do whatever feels comfy to you.

always a pleasure to pop over here from time to time. and always a pleasure to hear from you, too.

my 16 y/o ~E comes home from the RTC in utah for a week, starting sat. and she comes home for good in december, after 14 months away. it has been a beautiful gift to see her complete turnaround and change of heart. thanks for sharing parts of the journey along the way.

blessings,
kathleen :)

Nancy Face said...

I still love you, too! :)

Thanks for the "follower thing" explanation...makes perfect sense to me! :)

Super Happy Girl said...

Ah, you and my honey.
I read way to many blogs.

NO worries JustRandi chick. As long as I am the only Mexi you read I am O.K.

;)

Super Happy Girl said...

Keep the tiara. You make it look good and it matches your chicken.

Tori :) said...

So YOU are the one that dumped me. My self-esteem was destroyed. ;) I actually have no idea who's following me, etc... so no worries there. And I don't quite get the whole "follower" thing. It makes me feel like I'm in jr high hoping the cool kids will like me. So, I just act like a dork, just like back then and don't worry about it.

Lippy said...

Sorry...I have to keep following you. There are some Blogs that I'm simply addicted to.

I do agree though, I calculated that if I spent just one minute at each blog I have in my reader, I'd be reading for 175 minutes at a time.

Might get fired for that, ya know?

mikelle said...

No worries! I know exactly how you feel. I used to be the same way with google reader. I would check it obsessively and read every single word. Right now, I have 315 unread posts. I doubt I'll ever get to all of them - just the important ones. Like yours!

mindyluwho said...

I didn't even know how that "follower" thingie worked and even if I was on your list or not anyway, so I guess I can't be offended!

Anonymous said...

I've never commented on your blog, and I don't have near the following that you do, ok, not even near-near! I do have to say that I don't ever want to google read and I LOVE the way I've set up my fav blog sites! I actually get to see their entire blog page AND read only those posts I like!

I stopped over off of Judi's page because I was intrigued by the Headline!

Just enjoy!

Christine said...

Good for you. Blogging does get stressful. I guess that's why I took an extended break.