Its Just not That Much
Fun Anymore
A cranky opinion for
CRANKY OPINION SATURDAY
I really
enjoy this blogging thing. You are able
to exchange ideas, try your hand at creative writing and meet new people.
For me, in
the beginning it was easy. New people
were joining the community every day.
There were blog-hops to meet and be met.
Commenters were nice and respectful.
I followed and was followed by bloggers from places I knew very little
about, bloggers with diverse ideas and with unique viewpoints. There were bloggers who were very old, bloggers
who were very young, bloggers of means and bloggers who had little.
There were
also bloggers who only followed as a means to get more followers for
themselves, and bloggers who thought they could make money from blogging. Perhaps that worked for some, I doubt for very
many as I seldom see these people anymore.
It seems to
me that this blogging thing has lost its luster. Fewer people seem to be joining, many seem to
be dropping out. Posting regularly is
not easy. Those first bunch of posts
might be, but as the years go by you run out of interesting things to say.
With the current
animosity in American politics, it also seems necessary to take sides whether
you want to or not. Post about almost
any innocent thing and you are liable to get snarky political jabs inserted
into some comments.
I have had
people stop following because they don’t like my perceived positions, and I
have unfollowed some very nice people because they continually pluck nerves
that I prefer to have the media pluck or not pluck. I’d like my casual reading be casual
reading. I like discussing some topics,
but this blogging venue is not really well designed for conversations; it
mostly works for those who wish to sing with the choir.
Anyway, for
whatever reason, this blogging thing is not that much fun anymore. That and I've pretty much run out of material.
Time for a sabbatical.
I reserve the right to post something if
I damn well feel like it, but probably will slowly drift away.
I might be
lurking…probably not.
I don’t expect
to make a comeback; you won’t have Cranky
to kick around anymore.
Keypad drop!
My 13-year-old self will certainly miss you! I can see how having a new guitar with twice the strings will keep you busy.
ReplyDeleteI do things that are goofy and surround myself with the same kind of folks. You have to be ever careful out here. You do what you have to do, but I will say I will miss you. ☺
ReplyDeleteOuch. You sure laid that out. I write because it is a compulsion. I seem to have many followers and very few commenters. At first I wrote for myself and now I try to find balance. I wait patiently for your return someday.
ReplyDeleteDON'T GO--I'LL MISS YOU!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame.......still.....I know what you mean.....I used to try to post every day You may have noticed that I now post only when I have something to say (not that what I have to say is worth all that much). Why not leave it at that? Just post when you really feel like it....but don't drift away Cranky....please don't drift away.
ReplyDeleteToo true. I've given in and given up except for an occasional "I'm still here." All the other social media has taken the audience and it doesn't take much skill to post a bunch of selfies of the latest vacation or the shot of the food on the plate. Your writing has always been thoughtful, fun and interesting. We'll miss you.
ReplyDeleteSir, i respectfully say i understand, and at the same time i am going to miss you terribly. Please check in sometimes, i worry when my online friends just disappear.
ReplyDeleteYou deserve to be able to do whatever you enjoy. You don't owe anyone a laugh for the day, or a thought for the day, or even an opinion of the day. You do what you like, and do it for yourself. I personally enjoy your blog, always have, and I generally agree with your serious observations. But you shouldn't put pressure on yourself to write when you're not feeling it. Please do occasionally lurk, and share things you find interesting, but just relax and enjoy yourself. Take care Joe. :)
ReplyDeleteCrank, you've become a refreshing, interesting, entertaining, stimulating daily habit. I'll miss your thoughts, opinions, observations, etc. - - Keep listening to Ms. Crank and remember: you're still a jerk. But lovable!
ReplyDeleteI am so going to miss you. But I totally understand. I only blog now when we're traveling so I can remember where we were when. But we're traveling less and 8 have nothing to say when we are just living in one place. But please check in once in awhile. It's good to hear from old friends.
ReplyDeleteI will miss you look forward to reading what ever you had to say. I read all your post, but don't comment much. Take a break but don't leave for good.
ReplyDeleteWait...but wait...isn't a sabbatical by definition limited to a certain amount of time? Please don't go permanently...even if you just post a few times a month, it would be enough to keep us happy. Of course it's your life and you can do whatever you please, but I'd really, really miss you.
ReplyDeleteI will miss you too! Did not comment often, but did always visit and read! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe'll miss you, but thanks for letting us know and not just disappearing without warning. I hope you do pop in from time to time, but if you don't, be well, be happy and enjoy that new guitar.
ReplyDeleteThere aren't many who are as entertaining as you. I know how you feel, though, and the new shift that has taken place, for some God-only knows reason, has made blogging difficult. I don't blame you for taking a break, if a break is all it is. Do pop in occasionally if only to say Hi! I can reveal, however, that you will be sorely missed.
ReplyDeleteNoooooooo. I am just coming back from a break and you are leaving:( Hope you find renewal quickly for your unique view of life will be sorely missed.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that there seem to be fewer and fewer folks blogging anymore. This is the only real public venue I write on as I don't twitter or snapchat or any of those other things.
ReplyDeleteBut I will miss ya! I enjoy reading your blog, and I hope to see you here again.
As someone who takes periodic blogging breaks I can appreciate what you’re saying. Have enjoyed visiting here and will miss you. You can always come back.
ReplyDeleteWell, I wasn't expecting this, but I do understand. I've been at this for 10 years and it can feel like a chore. I've run out of interesting topics and that's why it's mostly a photo blog now. But I do enjoy the community and would love to hear from those who go MIA. Take care and I will miss you!
ReplyDeleteI hear you loud and clear.
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering if I'm done with blogging myself. Not quite ready yet but I get where you're coming from. I've enjoyed reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteOh no! Don't go Joe!! Gonna miss ya you Cranky Old man. BB2U
ReplyDeleteI get it..I've been blogging for 10 years and I know I'm not that interesting, however I do it for a journal tool and may just continue as a private blog one day. I've truly enjoyed your posts. I've only followed you for a little while but it was worth the journey! If you don't come back I wish you good health and good times. If you do, I'll stop by and say hi! Take care!
ReplyDeleteSay it ain't so, Joe!
ReplyDeleteI do know what you mean. Blogging was more fun back in the day, when I was posting 3-4 time a week, and I was part of a group of 20 or so folks who read each other's blogs, and formed an online community of sorts. Now I've got three or four people who read my blog, and I post about once a month. I probably won't have a 'to hell with it' moment, but I'll most likely just lose motivation to keep posting, and nobody will really notice I've gone. . .
Hey Joe, I haven't been a very good blog buddy lately. My part time job is almost a full time job. I'm interviewing incredible people and telling stories. I love that part of the job and blogging helped me get to where I am.
ReplyDeleteBut I know what you're saying.
You put it out there. I agree with you most of the time, but when I don't, I usually move on down the road and keep my opinion to myself. We are not supposed to agree with everything. If you do, one of you is conceding, or lying.
But, I blog because every good writer I've ever studied said if you want to become a better writer, you have to write every day. I think that's true. Sometimes I pull lame crap out of my butt, but I write every day and I have since December of 2005 with very few exceptions.
I hope you're freeing up time to practice guitar. It's another love of my life.
I appreciate you and your voice.
Come back any time.
R
So be it, Cranky. We all have these feelings of ennui from time to time and some of us never recover from it. Act as you see fit with no feeling of guilt. But I'll miss you.
ReplyDelete"I don’t expect to make a comeback" You know you'll wanna ... in 5 years or less.
ReplyDeleteThings run their course, Cranky. I stopped posting a couple of years ago and don't even visit the sites like I used too. You will be missed, even by those of us who understand.
ReplyDeleteNo Joe! Say it ain't so!
ReplyDeleteBut I hear you, it's why I'm posting a lot of history lately.
I'm planning on posting cat pictures too. Why? Because I can.
Well, that sucks! You've got a fun voice that will truly be missed. But, on the other hand, I understand. It's hard coming up with new stuff
ReplyDeleteHave you ever thought about publishing an ebook or guest
ReplyDeleteauthoring on other blogs? I have a blog based on the same ideas
you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would value your work.
If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.
Ah...the subject of this post is that I am not posting anymore...so...I guess you didn't even read it, but I'll be sure to back to you some time after never.
Delete