I love eating delicious food. And I love creating new recipes. But I don’t think I would consider myself a foodie: what I like about blogging and about making up recipes is the creativity involved. I don’t watch cooking shows, don’t read cookbooks in my spare time, don’t spend hours upon hours thinking about food, and…
I feel so mean for what I am about to admit, but I don’t enjoy spending the day feeling like I have to read every single food blog out there. I really don’t want anyone’s feelings to get hurt, and I don’t want anyone to feel like I’m ignoring him or her, so I feel compelled to try and visit as many blogs of people who leave comments on mine as I can. Lately, I’ve felt overwhelmed at the sheer number of blogs I feel the need to visit and comment on each day. I try to be fair;
I’m definitely not one of those people who only leaves comments on the popular blogs. I hate to open up this can of worms, but it makes me sad to see the little blogs ignored. Just because a certain blogger doesn’t get 50 comments per day does NOT mean her blog isn’t good and she doesn’t deserve comments. In fact, I try to comment more on these blogs than the popular blogs because each comment means more to the bloggers. I remember when I was first starting out and got only 5 comments per day. Those 5 comments might as well have been 500 for how happy they made me. Not that I don’t still get excited when someone leaves a comment on my blog: I really do!
Even the comments that just say simple things like “yum” or “cool idea” mean a lot to me. So I feel like a hypocrite if I don’t try my hardest to visit your blogs and try and repay that happiness. You all do such a good job of keeping up with my posts that it’s only fair I should do the same. And everyone has such interesting, well-thought-out posts that I really wish there were time to thoroughly read them all. I love you all, and your blogs are amazing: creative, funny, delightful… Each of you offers something special and unique to the blogging world. But feeling like I have to visit so many blogs as quickly as possible (so I can fit all the other things I want to do into my life), I find myself skimming over your cute stories, creative ideas, and other ways that your personalities shine.
Yes, I know I’m over-estimating my importance in peoples’ lives. Logically, I can see you all probably don’t spend even a minute feeling slighted over such dumb things as whether or not CCK commented more on your blog than someone else’s. But not-so-logically, I have a fault of being way too sensitive and worrying about hurting others. I will still try to comment every now and then. I am going to have to step back even further in the amount I comment, though. It does not mean that I love you guys any less!
Blogging should be fun. Lately, to me, parts of it have become a chore. I want to bring the fun back… And I promise not to abandon you. I’m still reading blogs, even if I don’t always comment!
Question of the Day:
Do any of you feel like this; like parts of blogging—be it trying to comment on tons of others’ sites or the pressures to blog about certain things or to not offend anyone—can sometimes get you down? I’m sure many of you do! Please know that I will NEVER hold it against you if you don’t have time to comment on my site. Yes, I’ll miss hearing your thoughts, your cute stories, and your kind words. But it won’t make me stop loving you.
Katie,
I love your blog. Your readers love your blog. And I’m sure your loyal readers don’t give a hoot about commenting frequency. (Anyway, when you feel like you have to do something out of obligation, it’s not as fun, so I wouldn’t worry about feeling like you have to leave comments.)
Hope you’re having a beautiful Sunday too! Mine will definitely be filled with chocolate!
wow sex bomb babies! those look great.
I agree with you about commenting. I would never feel offended if I didn’t get comments from people. It’s not about how many comments I can get, blogging is just a positive expression for me, and I wouldn’t care if I got 0 comments everyday. It’s not about that for me.
that being said, I do feel a little stressed sometimes when it comes to commenting on other blogs. I want people to know I’m reading, so sometimes I feel the need to have to comment on a lot of blogs. but I do comment on the popular ones and the little ones too. I enjoy what I enjoy. you know ?
thanks for posting about this, it has been on my mind lately.
Hey! I dont have a blog but ive been reading yours foreeeever and have even sent you a few emails! I tottttally respect your decision to put your priorities where you feel they need to be. And I really dont think youll lose ANY readers. That would be completely silly because it’s what you have to SHARE that makes people want to read your blogs, not whether or not you comment on theirs. I think you are an amazing girl and so smart. You stay healthy while running which is something I look up to when I read your blog. Just know youll always have me as a reader! Even if I barely comment, hehe. Hope you have an AWESOME day Katie! :))
<3
I completely feel like this. Honestly, if I take my time to comment on a popular blog about something meaningful, I really would appreciate a response back – in comment, email, whatever – at some point. I try to respond to everyone who EVER comments on my blog. After all, commenters are what makes peoples blogs popular. If commenters aren’t appreciated and shown appreciation, I just think it is rude. I agree with you that there are many ‘diamonds in the rough.’ I LOVE finding new blogs that are incredible.
Katie.. we all have a life (outside of sitting on the computer) SO I totally see where you are coming from. I find it hard to reciprocate comments as well.. Keep doing what you are doing.. you have a following of readers who admire your eats. That should make ya smile 😉
Have a supper Sunday, hun!!
I think the whole comment scenario is somewhat overrated–I mean somedays you just don’t have time, or other times theres just nothing you really feel is worth typing out and saying in a comment. However, that being said, I do tend to comment more on people that comment back because I find it somewhat like a conversation going back and forth and usually a convo is two-sided. That being said, I wouldn’t let commenting/blogging get in the way of real life–you know what you should do girl, and regardless, I will still be reading and commenting 🙂 Thanks for sharing this!
those sex bomb babies looks deadly delicious 😉 i agree with you on blogging – i had to delete some from my reader because i was trying to keep up with reading all the posts and sometimes commenting on every blog like once a week and i just couldnt keep up! it also started stressing me out and taking time away from running, my job, homework, time with friends etc. soi completely understand (and i don’t even have a blog!!). i also don’t consider myself a ‘foodie’ – i rarely eat out at restaurants/never watch cooking shows/have maybe a total of 2 cookbooks…but i love the creativity from blogs and learning to be more well balanced with my nutrition and health patterns. anyways, have a great sunday! i hope you never ever stop blogging 😉
Aw, Katie – you are amazing, but I think we all know that there are only 24 hours in your day just like everyone else.
Just keep doing your thing, girl!!!
Katie,
You are one of the sweetest, most thoughtful bloggers out there.
We don’t comment on your blog to recieve a comment in return!
I think a lot of us understand, or at least I do, that when you have a following as large as your own it’s hard to comment and respond to EVERYONE who comments on yours.
That would take up your whole day, and then you wouldn’t have time to bring us the lovely posts and recipes and fun giveaways you do all the time!
It just shows what a good person you are to even think about this! 🙂
you’re so cute Katie…I think everyone loves you and what you share and that’s why they comment. At least that’s why I do! Don’t worry so much..It’s not worth it 🙂