Honestly, it’s a question that doesn’t get asked enough.
“Is it time to shut down this site?”
I’m not so much concerned about content and direction for my writing; indeed, I am happy contributing within niches elsewhere. It’s my question about the format itself.
I write, I share, I communicate through several media now. I do pithy video at 12seconds.tv, I’m playing around with Meedeor as a change of pace for short takes on photos, I have a thriving Facebook tribe and Twitter is always as interesting as you dare to make it.
The thing I haven’t experienced yet are the spammers who want to use me as a vehicle for goosing their link rank.
In the past, the spammer’s best tool was a ‘bot – a piece of code that checked sites for certain hooks, then tried to place a comment that linked back to a site they wanted to promote. Because these were automated, they were clunky and easily punted.
But lately, I am getting comments that are on-topic and show that an actual human being read them for context – yet they are very spammy. The sites at the end of the chain are of no value to anyone.
I enjoy this platform because it invites an eclectic audience. I enjoy this platform because it allows me to experiment with different forms of communication such as the Venns, the My Quotes, and other recent attempts at merging content with layout.
I used to enjoy this platform because of the conversations that would develop in the comments – the connections to real people with real interests. I don’t enjoy it so much now because the weeds are overtaking the lawn. I want real communication, not a well-placed comment from someone who doesn’t care about the subject and only wants link-rank.
So… I’ll be thinking about this for a while.
I’ll let you know where to find me.
It keeps on blogging or else it gets the hose again
“… not a well-placed comment from someone who doesn’t care about the subject and only wants link-rank.”
you don’t set comment links to be nofollow?
I do set them to No-Follow, but that doesn’t address the larger issue.
I want to deal with people who are here for conversation, not making a drive-by comment with the goal of leaving a link.
I certainly don’t want others clicking around some of the links to find out more, and grow suspicious of others.
Maybe I’m just tired of being gamed.
Heheheh… You know we love you. Do we have to tell you? I think it is the delivery to my inbox that keeps me from commenting as much as I should… and occasionally, I just pick up the phone.
So many ways to communicate. So little time.
I admit I delete comments of that nature automatically. You can tell, even if the comment sounds good. I call them canned comments.
I delete many a week, though some call this the cardinal sin of blogging. Sinner I am.
You’re on my reader so I will catch up with you where ever you land.
Ike, conversation is all I ever wanted out of blogging.
Being a self-appointed pundit ran off everbody except those that sounded just like me.
Gets kinda old putting up some post about Palin being an idiot and then you get 50 comments that are basically DITTO.
So….I changed my blog to a non-political. Now I get practically ZERO conversation.
I’m thinking the same thing. Do I just close up shop and dissapoint all 3 of my readers?
They say no.
I know one thing, I don’t do divisive blogs and have blog wars.
The only reason I ever came here was to talk. I have no idea how to use most of the networking tools you use here.
And sorry about dropping the linkie. Seemed a bit spammy, but what a sweet kid and great cause!
I certainly don’t have any interest in promoting me, I’m a nobody.
Wow cooper, I’m jealous.
You get so many that you have to filter them out?
Don’t close the barn doors yet…I’m still coming in for the hay. I’ve just been leaving my manure outside.
I still check in here too.
– I can’t understand why a daily dose of “canned” comments or getting “gamed” through replies can bother anyone, just /ignore; it requires zero time and you make some fool out there happy. If you were getting hundreds of replies I guess it would make a difference but like you pointed out, eclectics are not the predominant creature out there.
– Putting aside ethical issues deleting comments is just one extra step in time wasting, forget that suggestion! Our time is worth way more than we are usually aware of. It slips by very slowly but relentlessly, then suddenly we die : ) –
– the only reason to close the website is if: no one is reading the content or you are not enjoying it anymore (and/or have better things to do with your time). Some would argue one needs purpose too – but then again, purpose can be a tricky illusion.