Thursday, 02 July 2009
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Your Xangan Duties
I've been blogging here for five years.
In that time, I've gone from unknown to highly popular, to slightly popular.
I've also developed this weird feeling of duty to my readers, and to the site:
1. I have a responsibility to be as accurate as possible in my posts. This can be difficult. Writing an abortion post takes three times as long when you have to dig up sources every other paragraph.
2. I have a responsibility to provide sound information, even when recommending blogs. [Recently, I recommended a post about premarital sex that made the "pullout" method sound like reliable birth control. The author was kidding, and the rest of the post was pretty sound, but I worry that young teens would take the line about pulling-out seriously. It may seem like common sense, but in rural areas with no sex-ed, there's the possibility of a kid taking it to heart. Let me tell you guys now, pulling-out is not good birth control. It's not even average birth control. It's probably the stupidest sexual move in the book. Use condoms.]
3. I have a responsibility to send people to Xanga. I link, link, link on other sites, brag about it to my friends, and email links to smart posts to people who could use the info. Xanga is like my grandma's house. It needs love and attention to be kept in good shape.
4. I have to read for spelling and grammar, know the difference between "worse" and "worst", "suppose" and "supposed".
5. I have to approach issues from the other side once in a while, even if it freakin' kills me. Do I see pro-lifer's point? Certainly. I can understand their every rationale, but I can also refute every argument. Being able to do this feeds discussion, and keeps us from sounding like stubborn mules.
6. Once in a while, I have to be positive. Owning dogs helps greatly.
7. The stuff I rec has to be rec-worthy. No contests, no surveys, and, for my own sake, no poop-jokes.
8. I have to encourage promising new bloggers. The first year is the hardest. You update and update but no one seems to read, you pour your heart into a post and get two comments on it. It's discouraging. The good news is that now we have the Rec feature. My rec sends almost 1,000 nice people your way. Dan the Theologian's rec sends 14,000 people and probably Jesus to your site. Your blog will rise if the quality is there, just keep at it :)
9. I have to read clever blogs, outside of Xanga. Some of my favorites:
http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/
http://www.sexypeople-blog.com/
10. I have to respond to messages and email as often as I can. I know I'm way behind on this, so don't take my unresponsiveness personally. Just know that I read, I note, and when time permits, I provide clever responses. The important part is that you read me, and you took the time to write me. For that, I love you <3
Do you feel any duties to Xanga? Do you think popular bloggers have a responsibility to their readers?
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Comments (51)
yeah, the main responsibility is to write well, be interesting, relevant, and encourage those trying to do the same thing.
can't let Xanga get stale... er.
nice post, i've been writing since 2005 and i have like 8 friends hahaha. but is ok, because I'm not sure my post appeals to the masses.
i love reading your stuff!!
FML? lol
@rajni8u - and I love your for loving it :) Thanks for the support!
I don't think I've been on xanga long enough to feel like I have a responsibility to my readers. I writer for myself, but I also like to be heard.Â
I've had my xanga for 1,974 days. (that IS a big number!) I've never been "popular" around here but i also see my xanga as more of a journal than anything. I don't write for other people but i do feel like i have a responsibilty to tell the truth regardless of whether someone reads it or not. With a blog with as much traffic as yours though, i can understand all the responsibilities though it seems a bit tiring!
i know when my readership went up i felt way more obligated to be a better blogger.
and i tried for awhile.
then i burnt out.
now time for a second try
If my Xanga were not so personal, so much just my thoughts & reflections, I'd feel a greater responsibility to research, provide quality posts on a regular basis, etc.
As it is, I write for me and for my friends. Anyone who wants to can read it, and I appreciate interaction -- though I get very little. I've also moved a lot of my more controversial thoughts into protected posts. I teach, and it just wasn't worth the hassle to deal with parents who flipped out because I wrote the word 'fuck.'
I'm thankful for the Xangans who take the time to write.
And I loved the comment about the power of Dan's recommendations.
Ooh, yay! ^_^
This pretty much sums up what I feel are my obligations as well. Except I don't think my Recs have much trafficking power.
I guess I feel it's my duty to make sure I try to open people's eyes when it comes to them being inconsiderate jackholes. Haha. I try my hardest to stay calm and to be respectful, and I believe it's really my duty to make sure I spread that thought process.
I know it's an open forum, and people have rights to say what they want, but I really don't like to see people get squished for saying something people don't agree with.
I give readers what they want. Other than that? I don't think so anymore.
@TheBigShowAtUD - You took all the work of putting these thoughts to words, thank you for this comment,I second it.
How did your Chicken Tamales turn out?
1. Keep blogging. No stopping. Good if it is pulsing
2. Comment on others blogs.
any else? I can't think
I make a point of it to remain authentic. Sometimes I write stuff that is pretty intimidating for me to put out there, but, I get enough personal messages and comments and the like from people saying that it helped them through something that I try and keep at it, even if it can be draining sometimes, because in the long run, it's quite rewarding.
I mostly rebutal b/c I cant write for shit and my grammar sucks.
I have been feeling a responsibility to support xanga financially lately. I have to make an ethical decision and will do so next week.
I don't think bloggers have a responsibility to readers. I think they have a responsibility to their own souls.
I think we all have some kind of responsibility. We try to post the way we talk, be positive and supportive. We act here like we do in real life. You can't ask more than that.
I rec'd this 'cause I want to see where others weigh in. Me, personally? I have a responsibility to myself, to write what I enjoy writing. Beyond that, there is no reason or purpose for my being here.
Now, it just so happens, that living up to a lot of the responsibilities that you listed, are part of what I enjoy doing as I write here. But still, my first - and only true 'responsibility' - on this personal blog is to myself
Interesting question. I've investigated what my fickle bunch of readers like and I have my cherished rocks of constant peoples who grace my days. but in a way I feel only obligated to be myself- whether I spell check or not.
Good list. I definitely agree with #6 ... although, I would probably do well to be a bit more positive myself!
Being just a novelist in Xanga, I feel that I need to ensure that the chapters posted up on my site is correct in order. Updating rates should be consistent as well.
#8 is so great. I was just telling a fellow Xangan today the power of the rec when it comes from a popular blogger. I've had some help, and my subs always go haywire with even ONE rec from a popular blogger.