Thursday, April 15, 2010

Consider This A Wagon Well Fallen Off Of... Or Something

Yikes! Many days have passed. Remember a couple of months ago, when I was writing daily. Those were good times, eh?

Okay, so I re-read my post about my crazy life (like two back, I think) because I got the feeling I had offended some of my commenters (and I'm going to mention at least one of you buy name, so I hope that's okay... and by name, I mean by the name I use which is your screen name or blog name or whatever... and I've gone on too long about this, haven't I?).

There was so much wrong with that last paragraph. Manchion should use it as a DOL for class tomorrow.

Anyway, I thought I should re-read the post, because I think some people took umbrage at what I said about people posting to gain readership, etc.

And I get that. I don't know if I'm going to start trying to make the pedals on this bike go backwards, but I will stop pedaling and lift my feet off the handlebars and let gravity and inertia battle it out...

I really did not mean all the people who actually SAY something, if that makes any sense. And if I was the person I meant to be when I was younger, I would go to the blog of every person who posts on here and find something positive to post on theirs. It's how I'm wired. I'm a teacher, for cryin' in a bucket! The way I discuss in my online grad school class is to find the person with the fewest responses and find SOMETHING to talk about in their initial posting. It really is how I'm wired.

However, in addition to people like Purple Cow, who actually says stuff, and Robin, who I have conversed with via comments on here and via facebook, and MANY other people who seem to be genuinely wanting to share a compliment or a thank-you (or even an opposing view, on occasion), I get some crazy spam-like comments... and if you go through, I get some comments that seem "real" until you see the similarity to so many other comments and think they are "unreal".

And the thing is, they may be real. Who knows, right?

Oh, and the blogger my brain calls "Toppo", but really it's longer than that. That person seems to be... less easily thought of as unreal.

And this Arshed person I haven't looked into yet (just meaning reading profile, checking out blog, etc., not actually, you know, LOOKING INTO like a background check or whatever), but I think is on the "Mark thinks they are real" side of things.

Not that it's some elite group everybody should want to get into. I'm just trying to lay out the map of that part of my brain for you.

Anyway, I got distracted and lost my track, which is the norm. What I'm trying to say is, after hearing from several of the people I think of as "real" (again, if I haven't mentioned you as "real", that's not to mean I don't, it just means it's late and I haven't gone through all my comments), I guess I realize I do want to take some time to read about these people.

A friend of mine in high school, who I went on and on about during many posts from early January until... I don't know how many back... I guess we have to include this one, now, too... anyway, this guy was big into the blogness. He knew people from all over, and I think he had a bit of a "no fear" attitude about it. If you knew the whole story about us, you'd see he was the poster boy for "no fear", and I was Mr. Fear 1985. So I should work on fixing that. I should go read other people's stuff. I should get to know some people, eh?

Okay, so here's my goal: I am going to read your blog--at least three entries--and comment on at least one if you comment here. If I fail to do so, then I have to prepare all of Julia C.'s recipes in a year and blog about that. Or something.

Anyway, it's late, and I've gone from silly to stupid back to silly again (but with a hint of stupid, for flavor). Good night, all.

Oh, and Brenda, I know you're real, because I've known you for nigh unto 25 years... I fell I should say that because I sense an impending comment from you...

And now that I mention it, I know all you other people I know are real too. Stop being smart-ashes.

18 comments:

Lisa Metzler aka toppogigio said...

Toppo(gigio) here. Uhm..... I'm not sure what to say, other than thanks.

I literally fell into your blog, found it interesting and thought provoking (can't miss with that title!) and just kept following. I must admit, I was getting concerned that you hadn't posted in a while, but then, hey, I manage about one post a month if I'm lucky. (There are a batch in the works, but I'm s slow writer/editor, so you may not see anything for another month or so.)

I've gotten a kick out of reading your blog because I am (presently...) a former teacher, having taught in alternative high schools with some very interesting kids. Further, I know the grad school grind, although I did it before I started teaching. So I can relate to a lot of your stuff simply because I've been there. And, even though you're a math teacher (math completely escapes me--I taught in the liberal arts), I recognize a lot of similarities in our thinking. Scary, huh? There may actually be someone out there in cyberspace that "gets" you? It could happen...

Yes, by all means, drop by...read (or, if it's too long an entry, feel free to scan), and comment. I'm still finding a voice, so don't be too weirded out by some of the subject matter. It's just a bunch of words strung together. Sometimes it even makes sense/

Hang in there, keep writing when you have the time or the inclination or inspiration, keep sharing what's in your head, heart, or any other anatomical part that needs to speak. We're here, we're reading.

Unknown said...

Hi 'EyeRytStuf'...
Good to hear from you again. I appreciate the rather bold challenge you have took upon, about reading every blog, and wish you good luck with it. :)
Personally, I read and comment in blogs only when I really like some blog, and particularly the post. Indeed, I admit, when I do I actually expect them to come read my blog too. But I don't really say 'i liked that' unless I actually really liked it.

Said so far, I'll say one thing again - I love your blog. I follow 3 blogs (disregarding the 3 via NetworkedBlogs) and have actually said this to just two people, one being yourself.
So long, friend. Looking forward for more from you.
Regards.
Arshed Nabeel


And of course, I almost forgot - as the cliché goes, my blog is HERE. :)

Robin said...

Well... it had been SO LONG since you had written the blog you referenced, that I had to dig into the archives to find it. Indeed, I had read it the first go-round, but didn't comment. I read pretty much everyone I follow, but I don't comment unless I feel I have something relevant to add. Well, sometimes I comment when I think it's relevant, but maybe it actually isn't. Moving on... The deal with writers is that they like it when other people read their stuff and comment. They just do. The best way to gain readership is to leave an insightful comment on someone else's blog and start following them. Continue to leave insightful comments. But only follow blogs of people whose writing you actually like. Otherwise, what is the point? Truth is, they may never read your blog, but if you sincerely enjoy their writing then you are still benefiting from the experience. That doesn't mean I don't want you to drop in on my blog. I wrote this funny one recently called THE FRICTION POINT. I think you'll like it. Later gator:-)

Purple Cow said...

Thank you for the honorary mention and recognising the fact that I am real...I always knew I was real. But how can I be certain YOU are real? Kind of have the feeling you are un-real!

;)

Take care. Be well. And you really don't need to read my blog just cause I read yours. Infact having you read my blog would kind of throw me off balance.

GaAm said...

I am real...or at least I think I am. I may be a figment of my imagination. Do they have shrinks for figments?

BeDoubleYou said...

I don't have the slightest idea what you are talking about... But I feel I should tell you that I've never been real.

Anonymous said...

Well, I assure you I am not fake! I just don't comment much.

By the way...

I just wanted to let you know that I am one of your followers and have linked your blog on my blog as a way to direct more traffic to your site.

As a fellow blogger, if you happen to take a look and enjoy my blog, I would appreciate your support as well. By no means do you have to, but it's always nice if you do. :)


Thank you very much,


-Almighty Unicorn
http://thechurchofalmightyunicorn.blogspot.com

Nomad said...

I'm not even sure If I am real. I think I am but there is no way of proving it.

I'm not a follower but I did enjoy reading this post when I happened upon your blog. Keep blogging or not blogging or whatever it is that your are doing here. :-) Happy thoughts.

http://pokernomad.blogspot.com/2010/03/submit-your-poker-mantra-get-your-blog.html

Josh said...

Love your post: great stuff.

Especially how you slipped in the word "umbrage."

Classic.

Anonymous said...

hi, lm Tracy here, am a singaporean here. This is not a spam. lve a passion to serve my community but is facing cashflow problem. lm here to plead for some donations. Minimum of 1 dollar from you can help me to serve my community. Will you please do me this favor by transferring a minimum of 1 dollar to my POSB Savings bank account, 248-25319-3. On behalf of my nation man, Thanks a million.

Anonymous said...

hi, lm Tracy here, am a singaporean here. This is not a spam. lve a passion to serve my community but is facing cashflow problem. lm here to plead for some donations. Minimum of 1 dollar from you can help me to serve my community. Will you please do me this favor by transferring a minimum of 1 dollar to my POSB Savings bank account, 248-25319-3. On behalf of my nation man, Thanks a million.

Anonymous said...

hi, lm Tracy here, am a singaporean here. This is not a spam. lve a passion to serve my community but is facing cashflow problem. lm here to plead for some donations. Minimum of 1 dollar from you can help me to serve my community. Will you please do me this favor by transferring a minimum of 1 dollar to my POSB Savings bank account, 248-25319-3. On behalf of my nation man, Thanks a million.

Alpha Za said...

Haha, your funny.

You really ought to write more often.

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Purple Cow said...

Hey, just to freak you out a little more I've decided to nominate you for the incredibly prestigious "Oh My Blog" Award. Dibs, you're in...

http://australianinathens.blogspot.com/2010/05/so-here-is-second-bloggers-award-i-have.html

jessica said...

My first time on your blog and, well, I sure would like to know what you have to say next. can say this much...I am much like Robin, I read everyones blog, blogs I follow of course though I tend not to comment unless I have something valid to say. I am not a fan of people that befriend you, be it facebook or blogger and then you never hear a word from them. I look forward to seeing what you have to say next.

myblackfriendsays said...

One thing about blogging is that is makes you go crazy in your head thinking about the frequency you post, the number of comments you get, what your readers think about what you write, etc. I hope this content was specific enough to seem real :P

sally said...

I guess you're a good teacher...I'd love to be in your class ...as an observer.. and see if you talk like how you write your posts. THAT would be interesting.