I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
Stanza 1 Sound of Silence
Simon and Garfunkel
I am sure most of you have noticed that my blog writing has fallen off the last few months. One of the primary reasons is my uncertainty as to where to "go" from here.
Some of you likely remember I started off using Jonathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind" as a means of presenting some views or "slants" of my own, while acknowledging that my opinions were influenced by my own "Righteous Thinking". I felt that if I approached controversial topics from that perspective (that is an understanding that everyone's opinion on a particular issue will be influenced and shaped by their own biases) it might help "ease" any personal concerns about voicing a differing opinion.
In reality it never worked out all that well with the audience. I quickly detected that with few exceptions most people (but not all) choose to stay away from commenting on controversial topics. Generally posts that generate the most reader comments seemed to come from personal anecdotes or posts on friendships etc.,
However the most reads seem to be on what I felt were more controversial subjects (like anything with "gender" or war in it!). In addition some of my more "controversial" posts generated direct one on one emails. All of which reinforces my sense that some readers might be interested in a controversial topic but want to avoid getting into it publicly. Most understandable.
All of this has been "OK" with me but I think my more recent blogs have tended to lay off "controversy" because like any writer I enjoy getting "feedback" (even if negative) particularly in the form of comments . However, reader comments were never a part of my pitch to follow my blog and some of my readers have even said I like reading but commenting is not my thing. So comments may be a very bad way to judge "interest"
So I went back through my blog posts with an eye on "statistics" to try to see what generated "views" and comments. Here is what I found:
First -I had several blogs where that made me laugh and I had "fun writing".
My two favorites were:
1. Welcome to Colorado Courtesy of the DMV
July 9, 2017
25 Views 2 comments
2. The Handyman
August 31, 2018
32 Views 4 Comments
_________________________________________________________________________________
Second two of my posts I had the most "passion" writing:
1. Reflections on Father's Day
June 17th 2018
See Stats Below
1. The Real Gender War
February 19 2018
See Stats Below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a trip down memory lane showing the top 10 posts by the number of "pageviews". (Note these are all time views so if a new reader joined us and went back and read it ....it would generate another view...even today!). The results did not totally surprise me.
1. Welcome (First Blog Post)
Dec 15, 2016,
365 views 7 Comments
(I suspect a number of Russian Bots , seriously, bolstered these stats!)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Gender "Wars"
Aug 11, 2017
55 views 1 comment
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Maria Lanz: A "Modern" Women Way Ahead of Her Time
Nov 15, 2018,
53 views 10 comments
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. A Trending Topic Karma and Buddhism in the Business World
Jan 6, 2017
51 views 0 comments
_________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Gender "Stuff" where I come from
Mar 1, 2018
50 views 0 comments
________________________________________________________________________________________
6. The Real Gender War?
Feb 19, 2018,
49 views 2 comments
_________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Some Observations on Skiing, Austria, and New Fri...
Jan 29, 2019,
49 views 7 comments
_________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Just The Facts Ma'am
Aug 18, 2018,
48 views 7 comments
__________________________________________________________________________________________
9. A Goat "Tale" From the future
Aug 20, 2018,
47 views 3 comments
__________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Reflection on Father's Day 2018 Versus the Past
Jun 17, 2018,
45 views 6 comments
________________________________________________________________________________________
So now for my final "Observation" for today and the reason for my Simon and Garfunkel lead.
My blog was never intended to be about expanding readership or generating page views. Silence can be golden and I completely understand that not everyone likes to write comments or even read every piece of drivel I write. I plan to continue on...and will likely hit a hot button topic or two in the next several months, as well as maybe a few bits of humor. I do, however, welcome any thoughts any of you might have on my future approach or topics you think worthy of a post. These thoughts can be public or via an email.
However If you do not feel like weighing in your continued readership is enough for me!
Thanks and Until Next Time
Adieu
PS My Faithful and Obedient Companion and I head for Arizona tomorrow for the wedding of my nephew TJ Corley to Alexa Miller next weekend. He is Blog follower Ethel's (my sis) Son. We are staying in Taos NM (of Harmonic Convergence Fame) to Ski and commune spiritually for a couple of days on the drive down.
Perhaps my next post will be very, very deep and insightful !
Uhummm Uhumm Uhum (my planned mantra)
From Wikipedia:
Reader Feedback
I am sure most of you have noticed that my blog writing has fallen off the last few months. One of the primary reasons is my uncertainty as to where to "go" from here.
Some of you likely remember I started off using Jonathan Haidt's "The Righteous Mind" as a means of presenting some views or "slants" of my own, while acknowledging that my opinions were influenced by my own "Righteous Thinking". I felt that if I approached controversial topics from that perspective (that is an understanding that everyone's opinion on a particular issue will be influenced and shaped by their own biases) it might help "ease" any personal concerns about voicing a differing opinion.
In reality it never worked out all that well with the audience. I quickly detected that with few exceptions most people (but not all) choose to stay away from commenting on controversial topics. Generally posts that generate the most reader comments seemed to come from personal anecdotes or posts on friendships etc.,
However the most reads seem to be on what I felt were more controversial subjects (like anything with "gender" or war in it!). In addition some of my more "controversial" posts generated direct one on one emails. All of which reinforces my sense that some readers might be interested in a controversial topic but want to avoid getting into it publicly. Most understandable.
All of this has been "OK" with me but I think my more recent blogs have tended to lay off "controversy" because like any writer I enjoy getting "feedback" (even if negative) particularly in the form of comments . However, reader comments were never a part of my pitch to follow my blog and some of my readers have even said I like reading but commenting is not my thing. So comments may be a very bad way to judge "interest"
So I went back through my blog posts with an eye on "statistics" to try to see what generated "views" and comments. Here is what I found:
First -I had several blogs where that made me laugh and I had "fun writing".
My two favorites were:
1. Welcome to Colorado Courtesy of the DMV
July 9, 2017
25 Views 2 comments
2. The Handyman
August 31, 2018
32 Views 4 Comments
_________________________________________________________________________________
Second two of my posts I had the most "passion" writing:
1. Reflections on Father's Day
June 17th 2018
See Stats Below
1. The Real Gender War
February 19 2018
See Stats Below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a trip down memory lane showing the top 10 posts by the number of "pageviews". (Note these are all time views so if a new reader joined us and went back and read it ....it would generate another view...even today!). The results did not totally surprise me.
Top Blogs by pageviews
1. Welcome (First Blog Post)
Dec 15, 2016,
365 views 7 Comments
(I suspect a number of Russian Bots , seriously, bolstered these stats!)
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Gender "Wars"
Aug 11, 2017
55 views 1 comment
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Maria Lanz: A "Modern" Women Way Ahead of Her Time
Nov 15, 2018,
53 views 10 comments
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. A Trending Topic Karma and Buddhism in the Business World
Jan 6, 2017
51 views 0 comments
_________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Gender "Stuff" where I come from
Mar 1, 2018
50 views 0 comments
________________________________________________________________________________________
6. The Real Gender War?
Feb 19, 2018,
49 views 2 comments
_________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Some Observations on Skiing, Austria, and New Fri...
Jan 29, 2019,
49 views 7 comments
_________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Just The Facts Ma'am
Aug 18, 2018,
48 views 7 comments
__________________________________________________________________________________________
9. A Goat "Tale" From the future
Aug 20, 2018,
47 views 3 comments
__________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Reflection on Father's Day 2018 Versus the Past
Jun 17, 2018,
45 views 6 comments
________________________________________________________________________________________
So now for my final "Observation" for today and the reason for my Simon and Garfunkel lead.
My blog was never intended to be about expanding readership or generating page views. Silence can be golden and I completely understand that not everyone likes to write comments or even read every piece of drivel I write. I plan to continue on...and will likely hit a hot button topic or two in the next several months, as well as maybe a few bits of humor. I do, however, welcome any thoughts any of you might have on my future approach or topics you think worthy of a post. These thoughts can be public or via an email.
However If you do not feel like weighing in your continued readership is enough for me!
Thanks and Until Next Time
Adieu
PS My Faithful and Obedient Companion and I head for Arizona tomorrow for the wedding of my nephew TJ Corley to Alexa Miller next weekend. He is Blog follower Ethel's (my sis) Son. We are staying in Taos NM (of Harmonic Convergence Fame) to Ski and commune spiritually for a couple of days on the drive down.
Perhaps my next post will be very, very deep and insightful !
Uhummm Uhumm Uhum (my planned mantra)
From Wikipedia:
Taos Hum[edit]
An ongoing low-frequency noise, audible only to some, is thought to originate somewhere near this town and is consequently sometimes known as the Taos Hum. Those who have heard the Hum usually hear it west of Taos near Tres Orejas. The Taos Hum was featured on the TV show Unsolved Mysteries,[71] and it was also briefly mentioned in an episode of The X-Files.[72] It was the basis for the TV series Criminal Minds episode
Well Jim, you are right, some people choose to comment to you directly as I have on occasion but I hope your comment stats reflect it as these comments on or off the record still count and I like your pen or writing style. I did not see some of my earlier responses to the blog and hopefully can determine what has happened. I will throw out a subject for a future blog; Where Culture and Sports Cross. This is an interstate highway with multiple exits so go to it Mr. Hearst.
ReplyDeleteThanks John not only for the comments but for the suggestion...hmmm a sports/culture post. Might be interesting.
DeleteOh and glad to see you figured out how to comment!
Hey Jim, FYI- I always read your blog posts. I mostly enjoy them, even when your position does not mirror my own. As I think I have told you before, I rarely have the desire to compose comments that are as involved and “weighty” as the efforts you have made in your writing. You have made a true effort to create a forum for discussion. The fact that your readers are sometimes reticent to comment may, or may not be, because they resist “argument”, or are busy with life responsibilities that are too pressing, or just “don’t” want to get into it because the subject upsets. Who knows, given the various followers of your blog. Still, if the writing and exploration gives you pleasure, I encourage you to keep at it. I thoroughly enjoy reading what you write (even when I thoroughly disagree)! I think it wise not to judge appreciation of your writing based upon comments. Maybe we all could at least acknowledge we have read the post, even it we are not inclined to offer commentary?? As always, sending love.....S
ReplyDeleteHey Susan you have provided great feedback in the past. There is no need to "acknowledge reading. Heck there are times or topics that just don't work for people. I was just trying to get a feel and feedback on the blog. Thanks for weighing in!
ReplyDeleteJim, I’m of the same mind as Susan but I don’t “thoroughly disagree” with all your positions. Most of my comments have been personal anecdotes and maybe I’ve been too lazy to engage in any more serious debate. I’ll give it some thought on your future blogs...uhummm.
ReplyDeleteMorning Whitey..
DeleteThanks for weighing in I assume your back from Hawaii!
You (and maybe Phil)of all readers have posted numerous comments, You even spurred a couple of my posts. You have never been afraid to disagree....particularly on climate change! I enjoy that!
Jim