Blogrolls—Yea, Nay, Or Maybe?
Blogrolls mystify me. For a while I didn’t have one. Then I thought I should get one, so I created one. But like Violet Beauregarde, it grew. And grew. And grew. So much so that I suspect it bled into the next WordPress blog. Did any of you get bathed in my blogroll serum?
And no matter how much I updated my growing behemoth, its fluid nature defeated me. I’d follow new blogs and forget to add them. I’d retain “old” bloggers who’d not posted in ages and forget to delete them.
Perhaps I follow too many blogs, and this creates the conundrum. Inevitably, I leave someone out and feel like a big meanie. So I finally said, “Enough is enough.”
You Did What?!
I have banished the roll to my draft folder until I figure out my next move. So many nice folks have listed me on their blogrolls, and I want to reciprocate in kind, but having a freakishly long circus act is not the way to go. I did try adding the ‘Blogs I Follow’ side widget but discovered it maxed out at fifty blogs. Great. I follow three times that amount.
So until I conjure a more feasible option, I recommend scouting my comments for bloggers to follow. You’ll find humor and insights no blogroll can reveal. In fact, perhaps my comment section is my blogroll, since these are the cool kids with whom I interact.
While we’re on the subject of commenters, I’d like to thank my top five commenters of 2012. As my youngest would say, you guys are “pretty chill.” But I know these WordPress numbers are misleading, because many of you visit and comment on every one of my posts. How much this warms and humbles my cardiac chambers I cannot put into words.
The Top 5 Commenters of 2012 (Drumroll, Please):
- Milka Pejovic from Perfecting Motherhood and milkapejovic.com: On her Perfecting Motherhood blog, Milka posts about family, books, and life situations. On her photography blog, she posts stunning, close-up nature shots. How do I know they’re stunning? I have a calendar and coasters to prove it.
- Starla from Starla’s Chat: This funny, sweet Montana woman hasn’t posted in a while, and I miss her positive and generous spirit. I hope she’s not buried in snow.
- JM McDowell from jmmcdowell.com: This archaeologist will soon have a book out, of that I’ve no doubt. Her premise for Death Out of Time has already grabbed and hooked me. Ouch, by the way.
- Smaktakula from Promethean Times: Have you ever laughed at something and then said, “Oh man, I shouldn’t be laughing at that”? Well, I have. Pretty much all the time over at Smak’s place. His sidekick sac(k) is an un-PC spewer, too and goes by the name of Tardsie.
- G.M. Barlean from Moments of Clarity: This Nebraskan author never ceases to amaze me. Her accomplishments are impressive, and her books are good reads. And she’s generously taught me things along the way.
So to you five and everyone else who leaves me bon mots, a big, huge, Hairy Carrie Thank You to all!!
Do you have a blogroll? Any suggestions for my own?
All images from Microsoft Clip Art
259 Responses to “Blogrolls—Yea, Nay, Or Maybe?”
[...] first post Blogrolls—Yea, Nay, Or Maybe? was followed by a poll and contest tease in Let’s Put This Blogroll Thing to Rest Once And For [...]
Interestingly enough, the blogroll was originally invented in Thailand. They would take the organic skimmings from a lake bottom (basically detritus of lake life) and scoop them up for storage in large black pots that sat in the sun all day long. The contents of the pot would thus ferment naturally, and after a few months, the sludge was ready for consumption. A few discs of rice paper later and the blogroll was invented.
Fascinating! I’m so glad to learn this. My understanding of the topic is now that much deeper. Thank you!
Thanks for stopping by. Appreciate it.
Yes, I do seek to bring depth to the world. I have seen you around commenting, so thought I would drop by, you seem interesting.
Thank you. That’s just the opposite of what my kids think…
I’m with you there.
I like this post because I’ve been stuck with what to do about my blogroll as well. It is so out of date and it would take a lot of time to get it updated. I’ve been thinking of removing it, too but didn’t want to offend anyone. I visit a blog that recently added a “Worth a Fly By” section. It must be a fairly new widget, but it shows links to the last eight posts she “liked”. I may just go that route.
I like the idea of a constantly fluctuating blogroll. I’ve seen that post widget, too, and it seems like a good idea. Of course, it would only show a small snapshot of what I’m reading at any particular moment in time, given the number of blogs I follow. But I really like the concept. I’d love it if WP would rotate 10-20 blogs on a regular basis. Then I wouldn’t have to do any work.
Thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate it!
I tried the blogroll but also found it went on too long. So I created my own page which I try to update with the blogs I like to return to regularly. It’s actually more of a reminder for me!
Yes, I’m going to roll out something new next week. My old list was so ridiculously long it was embarrassing.
I haven’t included a blogroll on my blog since I want to be inclusive rather than exclusive, and I could never decide how many to include. I think the Green Room idea Red suggested sounds like a good place to start. I also frequently find new blogs in comments sections.
That Green Room is a great idea, and I agree with you, scouting comments for other bloggers is more useful than a blogroll. That being said, I’m thinking of a way to feature some blogs without leaving people out. I’ll post on that next week. Thanks for your thoughts!
[...] topic of blogrolls would be so sexy? But apparently it is, because your comments on my last post, Blogrolls—Yea, Nay, Or Maybe?, were bountiful and your feedback invaluable. Thank you so much. Now I’ll sift through the [...]
I’d love to give you brilliant words of wisdom, but I still don’t know the full meaning and purpose behind “Blog-Roll.” (lol) Funny enough, we always use comments to select new blogging prospects, as the comments help to define the blogger thereby allowing us to see who might make a nice blogging friend. It’s how we found you my dear! Love the post, as always!
I agree–the comments seem a much better place to ‘troll’ for new bloggers. Allows a glimpse at the blogger’s personality. Thank you! Glad you found me.
Wait a minute. You follow 150 blogs and Red follows 400?! That alone makes me tired. Add to that the fact that every one of your posts gets a 100 plus comments. You have so many choices in bloggers that you have to make a folder to decide what to do next.
I am jealous, jealous, jealous… or is it envious, envious, envious? Either way, you stay on my blogroll and I await your decision.
Haha, thank you! I figured as soon as I posted this, I’d be falling off blogrolls everywhere. And yes, this one seemed to generate a lot of comments. Who knew blogrolls were such hot topics? Now I need to sift through them and put together a summary post to share all these great insights.
I’ve been wrestling with this exact dilemma. The first time someone suggested not having a blog role I was flabbergasted, but now I totally see her point.
Yes, and so do a lot of other commenters, too. I’m glad to learn I’m not the only one who struggles with this issue. Thanks!
No, I do not have a blog roll. I do have a page (The Green Room) where everyone gets to leave a link to their blog(s) and websites. I have a page I need to update for this quarter, of those who are the most loved by my readers.
I do not have enough sidebar for the nearly 400 blogs I follow. Lots of folks never know I am around, even though I stalk their posts
A green room–what a great idea! And yes, 400 blogs would make for one long blogroll. Wow.
Yes I have the same dilemma. My ‘blogroll’ is blogs I follow and it’s a bit upsetting because every time I follow someone new, someone drops off the bottom. That’s horrible. And I follow loads of people.
I’ve been wondering what to do for ages, but haven’t come up with any ideas yet.
I’m still tossing a couple ideas around. I think I’ll put together a summary post of the thoughts expressed in these comments. It’s obviously a topic of interest based on the number of them.
Be interested to see that. It’s not easy to decide what to do. I began with lots of pictures of people on there as well, which took ages to load so I soon dumped that. But there doesn’t seem to be any easy answer.
I know. I hate to slow down the page-loading time by putting too many links on my homepage.
I always suspected that keeping an up-to-date blogroll was a lot of work. (Although I did notice that I was on yours, and I found a lot of great blogs through it. So, thank you!) I usually click gravatars and discover new blogs that way. The only frustrating thing about that process is that a lot of bloggers haven’t added their web address to their gravatar page, so there’s no way of finding them.
That’s a good point about not having blog links on the Gravatar page, so if you wanted to follow someone based on their comment, but they weren’t on WordPress to click directly to their blog, you’d be out of luck.
Funny to find your comment now, because I’m about four windows away from your latest blog post. (I pull up a bunch from my inbox and read them in a row.) See you soon!
I can relate. I’ve never ended up establishing a blogroll to begin with, especially since there are only few people I follow closely. I envy you the dedication and ability to follow that many blogs
A suggestion for your blogroll? Why yes, I do have one – you should have top 10-15 posts rotating at random…all of them from Nest-Expressed. But that’s just me…well yeah – exactly!
You’re right! In fact, there should be a Nest Expressed widget to do just that. I must take this idea to WordPress pronto. The Duke has spoken!
Hope you’re enjoying some good barbies down under.
Damn, I didn’t make the top five. But there’s always next year! Now you give us something to all aspire to.
Nice, very nice. 
You’re pretty chill yourself! And thank you for explaining what a blogroll is as well, I actually didn’t really know how it works, so nice to know that it doesn’t really, so why spend time on it 
hahaha.. especially if it’s got a cap, 
Yes, I would say if you don’t have one, then probably no need to create one. Ignorance can be bliss.
Thanks, Pink!
Great advice! I soooo agree about ignorance, sometimes I envy shorter people who don’t have to see as much as I do from my tall height.
Sigh… 
Haha–I believe there is a great metaphor in there. Love it.
i agree with you on this. at first my blogroll was a cool thing and i loved doing the ‘reggies’ profiles, but as time went on… not so much. i wanted to profile or show some love to bloggers who hadn’t opted in for a reggie. i wanted to say, ‘hey i stopped by and read your thing and it was so good, i told everyone about it.’ so, the blog of the week became the next best option. still with all of that i forget, regularly, to add peoples’ links to my blogroll/ reggies section. sigh. i think you have to constantly evolve and change your blog if you’re going to do this for any kind of long term plan, which you do. otherwise, forget it. so, i think your decision is the right one. xo, sm
Thanks for the input. I’m thinking of trying to do something on a rotating basis, but like you point out, that isn’t so easy either. I might try to feature certain blogs at regular intervals, but again I’m stuck with updating it, and honestly, there is so much more to do with my time. Oh, well, I’ll try and figure something out.
it will come to you. i think the best thing is shelving it for now, like you have done and the idea will present itself or it goes off the table… well, really off the blog, but you know. loool. xo
I’m thinking of going through all these wonderful comments and writing up a post summarizing what people said they do in terms of blogrolls (in generals, of course–I won’t point anyone out lest I embarrass them). Some have asked me to do that, and it makes good sense.
Personally, I almost never look at blog rolls of other people, so, eh, why bother? But then, that is just me.
I think you’re onto something…
Hi Carrie, I have a links page rather than a blog roll on my site, which allows for a few more entries than an ordinary list would. It still requires to be kept up to date though, which mine isn’t. It’s nearly up to date, which is good enough for me. It’s similar to the fact that I almost keep up with the blogs that I follow! Who says two wrongs don’t make a right?!
Hope you have a good Tuesday evening!
Yes, mine was a separate static page, too, but for whatever reason, I found it difficult to keep updated. Too lazy, I suppose.
I’m going to try something that’s more limited and occurs on a rotating basis. Of course, the question remains whether I’ll keep that up…
Thanks!
I feel the same way – blogrolls mystify me. For a long time, I didn’t even know what they were. Every once in a while I think I should do one so that at least I could use it, but there just hasn’t been enough time and now you’re convincing me not to bother with it.
If you haven’t yet created one, then maybe now is the time to NOT make one. Can’t worry about what isn’t there.
Recently started visiting new blogs by checking out blogs of commenters on blogs I read. It’s like prescreening – and I’ve found some really good ones.
You reminded me my blogroll should be reviewed -I started out listing ones I found really cool…but need to delete MIA ones and add some (and there’s another thing to suck up time…maybe it will just limp along as it for a while – right…you know how that spot on your clothes doesn’t bother you until you see it and then it’s a huge glaring monster blemish?)
Haha. Yes, I know that spot.
I’m tossing around some ideas for how to promote the blogs I enjoy on a regular basis, but sadly, it doesn’t appear like I’ll come up with anything earth-shattering. And as you allude to, it’s a questionable use of one’s time. Thanks!
Carrie, I have deleted and then started up again a blogroll so many times, my head spins thinking about it. I have thought of it as a tribute, as a promotional tool and as a way to easily access the blogs I like to read. None of those ways have fully satisfied. In point of fact, if no one is using it to find other blogs, then all it is is dust in the wind. I will delete mine again and swear off blog rolls. However, I will not give up trying to think of a way to promote blogs that I consider have excellent writing. The writing is the thing for me. I will follow a blog, regardless of subject, if the writing is good. HF
I agree with you in that I don’t believe many people follow new blogs based on blogrolls. I imagine follows occur more through reading people’s comments. But it is nice to promote others, so like you, I’m trying to come up with a plan, something visible but unobtrusive. Thanks, Harper!
WordPress is great but it has no happy medium when it comes to blogrolls. It’s either use the widget or do it manually and both suck. If you find a clever way around it please share!
Agreed. One commenter (JM McDowell) suggested WordPress have a widget that rotates on a regular basis 10-20 of the blogs we follow. I think that’s a great idea. They do something similar to that with comments I think, so it would be nice to see it with blogs.
Yeah that would be a great idea. I hope they bring out a widget like that soon.
I think you’re awesome. Thanks for the shout out. I want to have a blog just like yours some day when I grow up!
And it can be yours, too, for the low, low price of following 150+ blogs.
I’ve avoided the blogroll for the same reasons. But I gotta say, your comment section usually is a blogroll itself. I can count on 100 yards of scrolling every time to get to the bottom of your page!
Haha, I guess that’s true. One of the perks of following a lot of blogs.
I’ve failed horribly at maintaining a blogroll or ‘blogs I follow’ list. I had the best of intentions, really I did, but then I’d forget about it, ignore it and finally I gave up on it. When you find a wonderfully Carriesque solution, you will share with the rest of us won’t you?
That I will, but I’m not sure I’m creative enough to come up with something. JM McDowell had a great idea of WordPress having a widget that rotated 10-20 of the blogs we follow, like the one they have for comments. That would solve all my problems, and I’d have to do very little on my own. Which is the best part…
That is a great idea! Now we just have to sit back and wait for it to happen, huh?
Yes, I think WordPress will get right on that for us. Especially if we say, “Pretty please.”
187 comments so far? ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SEVEN ?!?! That makes my words 188.
Anyway…I never did the blogroll thing, as I was too nervous about hurting someone’s feelings, or worse yet, detracting from the anyone’s attention to ME.
Haha. Well, it appears you were the smart one, because you don’t have to worry about any of this then.
As for the number of comments, who would have guessed a blogroll post would attract so much interest? On the other hand, maybe it’s that gold I’m giving away…
Hmmm. You bring up good points, Carrie. Guess I need to update mine but can’t get to it right now. But: assuming a blog remains and I’ve never objected to the content, I leave it up there. It’s just one more place to give someone exposure.
That’s true, but it gets tricky when one follows so many like I do. And I noticed some blogs I followed hadn’t had a new post for several weeks. How long does one keep them on? I’ll have to come up with something that has a more fluid nature. Thanks, Joanna!
There’s no reason you have to keep someone on your blogroll, other than courtesy, or so I think. Again, it is a type of promotion for other bloggers. Leaving it up, regardless of what goes on at the other end, allows the reader to choose his/her own blogs to follow up with.
God bless you, taking the time to keep up with so many. There are many more I’d like to, but I can’t.
Yes, well, some days get a little hectic, but I make sure I leave time for my writing.
I’m sure. Enjoy.
Completely agree with your approach. I started a blog roll because, well, every blog has one. But, I don’t update it anywhere near as frequently as I should. It’s just become one of those things that sits there on my blog, rotting away. Many of the blogs on it are not ones that I check out regularly now, while many of my current regulars don’t make an appearance there. Discarding it certainly makes sense.
I think so, too, and I guess there are bigger things in life for me to feel guilty about. And better uses of my time.
I have one, kind of. Mine’s a little different though. I like to use it to give a shout out every month or two to either the new people that I follow, or the new ones that follow me (which are always the same, I guess.) Those “you’ve been sainted” post are fun to write, and I plan on writing many more of them.
I think you have the right idea. Showcasing new followers every month makes good sense. Of course, it still requires work to make sure no one’s left out, but at least the risk is less that way. And yeah, your ‘Sainted’ concept is wonderful.
Well, I did write something, it may or may not have been profound, but it appears to have disappeared…
Attempting to recreate; I don’t blog roll. I used to and found it be just another social media chore to update. Now I subscribe by email to blogs that I want to read regularly (yours included!). I find that getting a message in my inbox is a great way to get me to click on through and read!
Isn’t it frustrating to type out a whole comment only to have it disappear?
I receive email notifications, too, and I arranged it in my email that all blog post notifications go to a separate email folder so they don’t fill up my inbox. That helps cut down some of the clutter.
Before retyping a comment, try hitting the “refresh” on your browser when that happens. I use Firefox, and that works when it looks like my comment disappeared. The comment appears again when I do that.
Hey, thanks! I didn’t know that. Look at everything I learn from you. Now, if you can just figure out a way to get rid of my annoying FB ads…
I’m still trying to figure out your moving and blinking FB ads. I’m not seeing anything like that on my page!
I must have followed a page that invited them? I follow things like CNN and USA Today, so maybe this invites different ads? Is really, really frustrating, so much so that I’m tempted to ditch the whole thing. Argghh.
It is hard to keep up with, especially when you start following and following and following and realize there are a quijillion amazing blogs out there. Quijillion is totally a word, I swear.
I believe you! Sounds like a good word to me.
And I agree about trying to keep the blogroll up. To really do it well, you’d have to add a new blog when you followed it, so you’d remember to add it. But then what if you end up not frequenting it much? Then you might want to take it down. But then you might feel bad. And so on and so on. Oy vey, too much to think about!
Eek, you’ve so many comments here to this post that I’ll have to return to read them another time! But I solved the Blogroll problem for my own blog by doing this.
That’s really impressive what you’ve done. I had my blogroll separated into categories too (though not as nice as yours), but it still got down to trying to remember to update them. That was the part I struggled with.
I think I might take what I’ve gleaned from these comments and do a follow-up post. Lots of great thoughts here. Thanks!
For what it’s worth, I update my blogroll about once every few months (did that with the old blog too – had a blog before the current one), but what I also do is I make sure that I only add people (with a few exceptions, like people who aren’t well) who update their blogs regularly anyway as they much less likely to vanish from the blogosphere. Also there is no way I’d add everyone I read to it! That would be madness!
Also, I actually don’t entirely agree that a blogroll is just for other people to find blogs to read. It’s for oneself as well and as such one needs to be a bit more selfish… dare I say it…. to be healthy!
I did use my blogroll for my own purposes, too. And with it in my draft file, I still can.
Thanks for the insights!
What????????? I’m not in your top 5 commenters? Shame on me! Another resolution to add to the list.
I’ve toyed with the blogroll idea. I love seeing when I’m on someone’s list. Now I’m not so sure I should do it.
Well, if you do, be prepared for regular and routine updating…
Can’t add another thing on my to-do list. I’ll hire an assistant like Le Clown did.
Or you can just not create one altogether. That’s the option I’d choose.
never been able to figure blogrolls out … must take a closer look
but at the moment tweeting is all I can do
If you don’t have a blogroll, then you are probably miles ahead of the rest of us and really don’t need to change a thing.
OK! Enlighten me; what’s a blog roll?
It’s a list of various blogs that you enjoy. It’s supposed to be a way for others to find new and interesting blogs. Those of you non-bloggers don’t need to worry about it. Unless you’d like a job managing mine…
I feel so dumb now, because I actually don’t know what a blogroll is…
It’s great to see your list of top followers – I think JM McDowell is one of mine as well
I think in the traditional sense, a blogroll was meant as a means to share relevant and useful links with followers, but it seems to have evolved into a list of the blogs the blogger enjoys following. If you don’t know what a blogroll is, it means you probably don’t have one, which means you are likely the smartest one of all…
LOL!
I think I have a blog roll but I can’t remember the last time I updated it, or even looked at it. Terrible thing to have, when it just sits there, huh?
Thanks for awarding me links to my websites for being your top #1 commenter for 2012! My son has already awarded me the trophy for best mom in the world, so this comes to a close second.
Maybe he can draw a trophy picture for you: Top Commenter on The Write Transition. In fact, I’M the one who should be passing out trophies to you all. Dang. Missed that boat.
It’s a bit scary to realize how many times I’ve shown up in the annual stats as one of fellow bloggers top five commenters for the year. I think it reinforces my suspicion that I spent a lot of time in Blog Land last year! But some blogs (like yours) are too fun (and/or helpful) to stay away from!
I haven’t updated my blogroll in a while. It was easier when I first started blogging and didn’t follow too many. But now? It’s nowhere near a reflection of who I follow and recommend.
The widget I would love to see (are you reading, WordPress?) is an every-changing random sample of “blogs I follow” that works like the “Community” widget. We could choose, for example, for 10 or 20 blogs to appear. And they would change every time someone clicked on our blog. No hassles of keeping them up to date, and no one would be left out. Hello, WordPress! I think this is a great idea!
Until then, as others have noted, I think readers pay more attention to references to other bloggers in posts and commenters than they do to blog rolls.
And now I’ll see if I can hold onto that Top 5 spot on your blog in 2013!
That is a great idea for WordPress. You should pitch it to them. Their “Blogs I Follow” widget is great–very convenient because the links are automatically included–but as I said, it’s limited to 50 blogs. Your idea of a constant rotation is great. That would solve all my problems.
Check out one of Smak’s comments below (from Promethean Times). He mentions trying to overtake you and seize third place.
It’s tough being popular. I am don’t even mess with mine. I feel bad. I need to update it.
Or you can take the easy route like I did and remove it.
LOL maybe so. It might be smart.
I found it difficult to keep up as well. I feel really bad though that I do not have one and then others actually put me on their blogroll.
Oh, I know the feeling. Isn’t it crazy that we let things like this guilt us? Is it maybe just an estrogen thing?
personality and gender–double whammy
Haha. So true.
I.Hear.That. I have a blogroll of sorts, but sometimes I wonder what the point of it is since everyone who reads my blog most likely reads most if not all of the blogs I have listed. Blogging can be so incestuous. Mine’s coming up for revision in February and I’m kind of dreading the whole ordeal of editing it.
“Blogging can be so incestuous.”—I loved that. Top Phrase of the Day Award to you!
Hey, thanks! I’m kind of on fire today.
I have a small blogroll that I haven’t updated since before summertime. And like yours, mine isn’t reflective of all the blogs I enjoy. I haven’t worried too much about it only because I use the Blog Awards Ceremonies to shout-out to bloggers, and I try to spread the wealth. Even though the awards can get repetitive and ho-hum, I feel like those award posts get looked at more than blogrolls anyway.
Sometimes, widgets in general seem to fade into the background because they don’t change often and we’re not doing anything to direct attention to them. With my new theme, I got rid of a lot of the extraneous widgets partly for this reason. They felt like clutter.
One piece of advice I remember reading was to only list blogs on a blogroll if it is a professional blog (or as professional as blogs get anyway). For example, blogs run by lit agents or publishers or marketing gurus or published authors, rather than those blogs that are for pure enjoyment/entertainment. I don’t know if I wholeheartedly agree with that, but it might be a good place to start?
I think that’s a reasonable goal. I do have a side widget entitled “Helpful Writing Resources,” and I’ve left that in place. My blogroll was a static page, but it was tricky to keep current.
I switched to this new theme a couple weeks ago and didn’t at first realize the side widgets didn’t show up on the post pages (only the home page and static pages). At first I was disappointed, but now I like that clean look. I think you’re right–a lot of those widgets don’t get noticed anyway, and less is definitely more.
I like having a blogroll. I also enjoy ignoring it.
You could set up a page with links to the blogs you like.
And then ignore it!
That’s basically what I had–a static page entitled ‘Blogroll’ that was getting ignored. There were stale blogs long since abandoned on it and others missing that should have been there. So now the page is taking a nice nap. Which is something we all should do.
Thanks for the retweet, by the way!
I don’t have a blogroll, but mainly it’s because I’ve been too lazy to go into my dashboard and figure it out. I like your idea though of just surfing comments. I’ve found many blogs to follow using those. You can hear their voice and if you like it, you just click on their name. So good job. Don’t give yourself a ‘conundrum’ (ha ha–sorry, but I like that word and had to throw it in even though it doesn’t fit…and good job fitting it into your post) trying to keep up with a blog roll.
I think you’re right–avoid the conundrum and eat chocolate instead. Oh, what’s that? You didn’t mention the eat chocolate part? Well, I’ll assume it was implied…
Of course it was. You just see my name and the subliminal message–CHOCOLATE–goes through your head for the rest of the day. And chocolate makes you happy…so You’re welcome.
Hmm, let’s see chocolate starts with a ‘C.’ Carrie starts with a ‘C.’ And Char starts with a ‘C.’ Coincidence? I think not…
2 of my kids start with C and the other 2 don’t. Does that mean I love the first and last more? The others always claim I do, and I always give them the typical Mom answer of “I love you all the best!”…but now you have me thinking.
Hmm…
I like the new setup. As for blog roll, I just try to keep it to the girls because I read so many people. It’s hard to keep up with and I’m thinking of deleting the thing all together!
You and many others who’ve commented. Maybe I’m starting the No Blogroll revolution…
I don’t have a blogroll. I’m following just over 180 blogs, and I don’ t like the idea of showcasing some and not the others. I try to point out a variety of blogs when I do awards, or by giving shout-outs in my posts when I can. I’ve found quite a few people to follow by their comments left on posts, and by clicking links within posts. I rarely look at sidebars or likes for people to follow. Thank you for making me google bon mots. Now I know more French words! And I guess a bon bon is good good!
Yes, a bon mot is good good. And so are bon bons.
Glad to see I’m not the only one who follows a zillion blogs, and like you, I’ve found other blogs through reading comments. I don’t think I’ve ever followed a blog based on someone’s blogroll.
Carrie,
I agree… blogrolls are tough. You sure follow a lot of blogs! Wowza! I don’t want to leave anyone out, and I forget to update mine as things change.
But on a blog as popular as yours, I simply don’t have the time to go through every single comment (and kudos to the people who do!). I guess if I were searching for other blogs to start reading, I might try that, though.
Mentions on other people’s blogs, in whatever format (like you did with your top 5 commenters) definitely helps get the word out about other blogs–and that’s much more meaningful than a list anyway. ; )
I think mentions certainly are more meaningful. And yes, I follow a lot of blogs, but luckily some are infrequent posters.
But what started out as a marketing tool has grown into so much more, and I really enjoy interacting on each and every blog (though for many, I certainly can’t get to every post).
Oh, the blogroll! I know, it’s tough. I follow many blogs, too, and truly enjoy a lot of blogs. I don’t know where to begin. I said I would put one up…I am concerned someone will be mad if I forget someone. Maybe you could repost your findings here…give us all advice. I liked Adam’s idea of the latest blogs he follows, but then what do you do with your original list? I thought of you when I compiled a list and thought about all the many you listed. when you had one. I can see you why you did it!
That’s a good idea–put together a follow-up post based on people’s comments from this one. I could put a poll together–although, come to think of it, that would have been smart for today’s post. Ah, always late to the mental party, I am.
Thanks for the idea. I might just follow-up on it.
I would be interested in learning what you found out! You have lots of great comments here, so I bet we could all learn from it. I know it’s all such a personal choice. The good news is you can always change it. Of course, that takes time. I haven’t had even got to mine really because I haven’t had the time!
It did take a lot of time to put together initially. But once it’s together, it’s not really time-consuming to add to it, but it’s time consuming to think about who hasn’t been added yet and who should be; who hasn’t blogged for months and should come off, etc., etc.
The stripes! Where are the stripes? Is something wrong with my PC? The color has run right off the screen.
I don’t have a blogroll. I spent a lot of time tweaking my sidebar last year trying to get it just so. Finally deciding to stick with “follow the leaders” adding blogs from time to time without any fanfare.
What’s “follow the leaders”? Is that what you named your blogroll or is this a widget I don’t know about.
And yes, I put the stripes to rest. Didn’t want to give anyone a seizure…
It’s just what I named a links widget. I add bloggers who interact with me regularly through comments when I discover that their blog also inspires me. The list has changed some over the year, but has remained small. Even though I read a lot of blogs, these are “the leaders”.
That’s a good idea. Unfortunately, I get worried I’m leaving someone out. My own insecurities, I guess.
And I just noticed I was on it. Thank you for that! Of course, if I fall off your list given I’ve just banished my blogroll, I’ll understand.
No way. That’s not how I roll.
Haha. No rolling off Honie’s roll. I like that.
My guilt pool feels a wee bit smaller from your confession. Muchas gracias, Carrie. Except, now I feel compelled to add 5 more to my follow list. – Nikki
Well, if you add 5 more, think of all the new email notifications you’ll get. That’s always fun.
My blogroll is currently under reconstruction—I read so many blogs, and I don’t like to hurt anyone’s feelings by not including them. But on the other hand, if I included the blogs of everyone I read plus everyone who follows me, the blogroll would be 15 pages long. So I’m going to try to edit the list judiciously.
I hear you. Perhaps we could both list all of the blogs we follow, and create two super long lists that connect up with each other and say ‘hi’ on the blogosphere…
I have a blogroll but it’s outdated. You have to decide how many you’re going to have on there and maybe once a month updating it.
But that’s like choosing favorite children–it just can’t be done.
Oh yes you can. I love my daughter MUCH more than I love my two boys.
Haha. You’re so nasty!
I thought that was why you loved me?
Oui, but of course! (Said with a French accent.)
It’s a conundrum, isn’t it? I follow about a dozen blogs, and most, if not all, are on my blogroll. It’s still hard though. I want it to be meaningful but don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I’ve thought about taking it off altogether because like you, I want to keep it small, but that doesn’t feel exactly right either. For now I’m just keeping it small, and hoping that anyone who feels they should be on it simply thinks that it’s stale. =/
” For now I’m just keeping it small, and hoping that anyone who feels they should be on it simply thinks that it’s stale.”—-Ah, the old passive aggressive approach–I like it!
If I followed less than 50 blogs, I’d use the ‘Blogs I Follow’ widget–it does all the work for you. But alas, I follow far too many for that.
That’s a great tip…I might have to try it out. I still think a blogroll should be sort of special, but who am I to say who’s is and isn’t? Ugh.
And at one point I got up to about 20 blogs that I was following and thought I was going to lose my mind. How do you do 150? Good thing you’ve got that treadmill…. =)
Haha. Yes. Well, for bloggers like you who don’t post that often, I’m able to get to most all of them (which is great, because who wants to miss a Stacie post?), but for others who post frequently, I can’t stop by for every post. But I like to peek in when I can.
Gotcha. And thanks for the kind words. Right back ‘atcha. =)
I removed my blogroll a long time back but there are a list of blogs I follow religiously! Like even if I am not commenting! I do read and like. Sorry for the blog hiatus, been sick! BUT NOW I AM BACK! woot! Happy New Year Carrie!
You, too! And hiatuses can do a body good.
I thought about adding the blogs I watch widget, but feel like it’s a little more personal to make one. However, it’s not like that thing gets tons of clicks. Even though it’s front page it doesn’t. I’ve also thought about making it a separate page because I’m scared of adding links. Literally, I’ve left people off that I love because I’m afraid having too many links will slow down the page loading…
Sometimes I think not having one might be far less complicated.
I never thought about the links slowing a page down. That’s a good point. I did have a static page for mine, but it saw very little traffic. I suspect more people surf through comments than a blogroll.
Thanks, L&L!
It sounds fairly universal that we all struggle with the ubiquitous Blogroll. I have one, but don’t update it nearly enough. When I do, it causes me stress. Do I leave people on there, who don’t make an effort on my blog (comment, like, etc)? Do I need to include every blog that I follow? I am very slow to “follow” someone… I do look at other blogger’s blogrolls (and yes, it’s always nice to see your own name there), and make note of people in comments. Then I tend to “bookmark” a blog and follow it for a while, before I “commit” to following it. Otherwise, my email in box is stuffed with new posts when maybe I lost interest after a few reads. Once I do follow, it depends on a few things as to whether I decide to add them to the blogroll… damn, this is much more complicated than it should be! I may need to follow your lead and stop the roll. Funny post, funny comments Carrie!
It is complicated, isn’t it? And really, shouldn’t we be putting our efforts elsewhere, especially considering my static page ‘Blogroll’ only had 9 hits last month? That says to me that people weren’t looking at it all that often, anyway.
I’m like you–I’m slow to follow a blog. It’s a lot of messages in one’s inbox. But I’ve now relegated new emails of new blog posts into their own email folder so they’re kept separate from my regular inbox. This helps cut down on the overwhelming feeling one gets when blasted with dozens of emails.
I am terrible with tech stuff. I figured out how to make separate email folders, but then forgot. Old dog, new tricks. So yes, my in box gets pretty full, and I do have other things to do… if you can’t tell from my frequent comments! I should be packing, getting myself organized, revising my novel… um, trying to get published. Ugh. I definitely get distracted by the blog world… wonderful distracted, but nonetheless. :-p
Oh, believe me, I hear you.
I printed out the instructions for how to make separate inbox files so I’ll have it for future reference, because I’ll never retain the steps in my head.
Oh! See, you’re ahead of me again… feh.
Carrie,
What about a monthly blogroll? List only the blogs that you plan to follow for that month. At the end of the month, switch it up?
Ooooh, love that idea! I wouldn’t be able to remember to keep it up, but like the idea… especially for someone who follows 150 (!!) blogs.
I’m considering doing it. It’s so hard to follow everyone on my list. There are a lot of good writers out there, but unfortunately, there are only so many hours a week that I can dedicate to reading blogs. Ya dig?
Dig! (Wait, unless you are saying that you don’t have the energy to follow my blog! wimper wimper). It does take a lot of energy and time to follow all the people I enjoy. Then, I start feeling guilty if I don’t make time to read, like and comment on posts from good people, who really appreciate the effort, when others hardly notice. Spins my loosely attached head round and round. Carrie has really started something hear… !
Uh oh. All over WordPress blogrolls will be disappearing…
And they will trace it back to Carrie Rubin… pot stirrer.
Yikes. Carrie better leave the building…
No, no! Please don’t go; we’ll eat you up we love you so!
Chomp chomp.
I know I certainly dig!
Well, luckily not every one of those bloggers posts all the time; otherwise I’d be in trouble! But yes, it’s a lot of blogs, which is why I can’t get to everyone’s posts all the time. But Adam’s monthly idea is a great idea, isn’t it?
Thanks for visiting!
I think it’s a great idea, but I’d have a tough time keeping up with it. That said, if you follow a lot of blogs and you have a blogroll that says something like: “blogs I followed this month,” then people would know it was relevant and it might mean more. Reading the comments makes me question having one myself. It does seem to take a lot of energy and thought… or none at all!
Yes, I’m starting to like the “none at all” approach. Frees me up for other things.
I thought about doing something monthly–more along the lines of my top commenters for the months–and I might still do something like that. But it gets back to the upkeep, doesn’t it? But it’s a great idea and one I have on the back burner. Thanks!
You’re welcome!
I like this idea! It could be a lot of work to keep up, but it sounds like a good one.
Just keep rotating the same groups. I think all you would have to do is check/uncheck under the links tab in the dashboard.
Oh…see I’ve never even done one! Thanks for the tip.
No problem, yo
Very clever. And I’m not the only one who likes that idea as you can see from the comments. If I should ever do it though, I would of course give credit back to you.
I liked the stripes!
I am with you on the blogroll. I have thought about posting one, but then it keeps changing (I forget to take off the blogs where people aren’t posting — just to give them the benefit of the doubt!) and the number is exponentially more than 50. I guess I can just keep commenting on the blogs I read and like and let people know this way that I appreciate what they are doing.
(See that? I just commented to let you know I like your blog.)
I agree with you. Comments seem to be the way to go. And thank you for yours!
The other thing I found tricky about blogrolls is knowing when to take someone off. How long is long enough to assume they’re not blogging anymore? A month? Two months? Six? Oy vey, so much to think about…
Too much thinking. I guess you could write yourself a reminder each month to stop by the blog in limbo and see if anything stirs.
Or you could just comment on their blog directly that if they post, let you know. Then the onus is on them to keep you as a reader.
That’s a really good idea. It would allow you to unfollow someone without feeling guilty. Then if they resume the blog, they could comment on your site to let you know. Thanks for the idea.
And to illustrate the lengths to which I’ll go to snag that #3 spot, here’s a gratuitous comment:
Hey! I just noticed I’m not on your blogroll any more. What the hell!?!
Haha. That was a good one!
I’ve been thinking about mine, too! What timing!
Although I haven’t done anything yet, I’m thinking about separating them into three group.
The first two would be on my sidebar: (something like) Faces Seen Here (to publicize frequent commenters), … and Some of My Haunts (others places I commonly visit) … and then all others would go onto a Other Bloggers page.
I haven’t done any of this yet, just processing my thoughts.
That’s a good idea. I tried to divide my blogroll into different sections, but again, the upkeep got difficult. I like some of WordPress’s side widgets–they do all the linking for you. But as I said, they don’t list all the blogs or commenters at one time (and of course, if they did, it would make for one long widget). I’ll have to see what you come up with. Thanks, Frank!
As I said, just a thought … but I’m in the planning stage, well, at least with the sorting.
Hey Carrie! Thanks for the mention. I had no idea I was WT’s 4th most prolific commentor. Hot damn! JM McDowell better sleep with one eye open!
I share your issues with a blogroll. I had one for about five minutes one time, and it caused me nothing but apprehension. To some degree, every blog I read is deserving of my blogroll. Otherwise, I wouldn’t waste my time with them, y’know? And some funny or well-written blogs just come and go.
I think things run more smoothly without a blogroll.
I’m thinking I like your thinking. I highly doubt my blogroll will ever see the light of day again, not unless the WordPress widget allows for more than 50 blogs.
You’re welcome for the mention. Thank you for the comments. I think it’s the back-and-forth banter that brought you five to the forefront. And you were only a couple comments shy of JM, so she should indeed sleep with one eye open. But remember, she probably has access to some sharp archaeological tools.
I have every intention of holding my place or even moving up, Smak! And Carrie’s right. I can easily reach some sharpened trowels and bamboo picks. Never underestimate the power of sharpened bamboo.!
Hmm, maybe you ARE Indiana Jones, after all. I know I wouldn’t mess with you…
You got nothing, McDowell–NOTHING! I eat punks like you for breakfast! Despite your undoubted skill with a bullwhip (bullwhippery being, I understand, a 100 level course for archaeology majors), I’m like a commenting ninja.
Remember, when you mess with the bull, you get the horns. (And here I’m going to have to ask you to use your imagination, picturing me ((or anyone, really)) with fingers crooked at both temples like horns, and a big scowl on my face–only it doesn’t look goofy, it looks really intimidating).
I know I, for one, am quaking. Of course, that could be due to my caffeine consumption today.
Game on, Smak!
I think referring people to your commenters is a neat way to give them a slice of other blogger’s personalities. I do keep a blog roll of the core blogs I visit. I follow a couple hundred but I can’t read every post of every blog. It’s just not possible. But I do get to those top 20 on a regular basis.
I think of it more as places I hang out. Some I go to once in a while some every other day.
I hear you. As much as I’d like to visit every post of every blogger I follow, I can’t feasibly do that, especially those who post daily. But I like to buzz by when I can, and hopefully they understand why I’m not always there.
You renegade, you! Thanks for this – I’m a “thrower-outer” by nature, and the idea of cleaning up my blog appeals to me.
Back in the early days when I first started blogging, I used to look at other people’s blogrolls, but I haven’t done that forever, so I have to wonder whether anybody reads mine. But I hate to take it down if any of my blogging buddies are getting traffic from it. Unlike a static page, the widget doesn’t tell me how many clicks it gets, so I can’t determine its effectiveness.
Sigh. Decisions.
Well, my blogroll was on a static page, and I checked my stats. Last week it received no views, and over the past month it received 9 views. So I doubt it was very effective. I know I’ve never followed a blog based on someone’s blogroll, but I have followed lots based on the comments I find on other bloggers’ sites. Maybe the trick is to take it down and not tell anyone. And see if anyone notices…
Good thinking!
I don’t think I’ll ever do a blogroll…even though I’m always flattered to see my name on someones…and I sure wouldn’t want to hurt anyones feelings. I have checked out other bloggers from someones roll, but I too, tend to find people I like by the comments they make! (if I did have one – you would definitely be on it!)
Aw, thanks, Missy. You WERE on my now banished list. Now you and many others are enjoying a little siesta.
But you’re in my comments section, and as you point out, this is a great way to find other bloggers.
Thanks!
I get a lot of clicks on the recovery links, but very few on the running and even fewer on the writers links. So I’ve thought about only keeping the recovery section, but as I don’t have as much time to blog and comment anymore, I find that I use the links myself so I can check in with favorite bloggers (like YOU) from time to time.
You seem to have a great method for keeping up with your blogs! I think that’s what most people appreciate–the visits and comments–not necessarily being on a list.
I think you’re right. People are probably looking more for a useful blog in a certain category if they peruse a blogroll–like your recovery links or my “Helpful Writing Resources” link. If they want to follow other bloggers, I imagine they get more from the comment section.
And thanks for the nice words!
I’ve always just scanned the likes and comments for new blogs to follow. I don’t plan to have a blog roll because of the ever changing nature of blogging habits, etc. Besides, I’d inevitably wind up leaving somebody out and I don’t want to create that energy. I barely look at blog rolls as it is. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see my name on a couple of blog rolls that I stumbled on. But I just appreciate people showing up to comment and ‘like’ my posts, more than being on their blog roll. Blogs I support, like yours, should know how much I appreciate their blogs. I also make note of bloggers in my posts, which is an acknowledgment. Blogging takes up a lot of time. Having a blogroll, in my opinion, isn’t necessary and only saps more time out of my blogging effort.
I should copy and paste your comment and publish it as a post unto itself! So well said, and you just nailed exactly how I’m feeling about it. As I mentioned to an earlier commenter, I’ve never followed a blog based on someone’s blogroll, but I have followed a new blog based on that blogger’s comments on someone’s post.
Thanks, Sandee! You’re so smart. Must be all that frigid, New York jogging.
Just got back from jogging — whew! It was a good one today. But sometimes when I jog I feel like I’m dying — haha! But you never know how a run’s gonna be until you do it. I’m glad I did today! Happy exercising to us both!
I bet your nose hairs got a little frosty with that run!
Hairy Carrie Thank You — HA!! You’re welcome for the comments although I’m not on that’s prestigious list of yours, but I do love your blog. I’ve not updated mine (blogroll) in forever and I’m thinking of putting it on another page. I don’t know what the best solution is, Carrie. Like blogging it evolves, I suppose and takes mucho time. You know?
Oh, believe me, I know. And based on a previous comment, I just pulled up my stats to see how often my blogroll page was actually looked at in the last month. It had less than 10 site visits, so it’s not like it’s getting much action. In fact, I probably could have removed it and remained silent. No one would have noticed.
This is so funny (and timely) because I just added a “Blogs I Love” page yesterday. (Of course, you were on there!) For me, I added it so I can remember to keep up with the people I love. It personally makes it easier for me because I can just go to my own blog roll when I get a minute to read. Oh sure, I follow a lot more. And I might add them. Eventually.
Haha–I probably won’t be up there much longer, huh?
If you follow less than 50 blogs, that WordPress “Blogs I Follow” widget is really nice. You don’t have to do any linking–just move the widget to the sidebar. But if you follow more than that, someone will be left out.
You’ll ALWAYS be up there.
Aw, now I’m big time blushing. Which is good, because I’m so dang pasty otherwise…
I don’t really look at the blogrolls of other people either. I have one, on my Tea Party page, and if I think about it I update it but there are probably some left off, I dunno. I put the disclaimer on mine that if you don’t find yourself on there and want on there to just tell me or write a nasty post about it or whatever.
I mostly look at the comments, and if the comment is funny, I click on the person’s blog.
I think that’s true–comments catch my attention far more than blogrolls. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever followed a new blog based on a blogroll, but I have followed several through reading people’s comments. Excellent point!
I had blogrolls on my Blogger sites though I could not bring myself to take down sites I liked that had ‘died’…and was dreadful about housekeeping and putting on new sites found.
I suppose I did a blogroll because I thought people who liked my blog might like a look at those I liked…
I’ve moved to WordPress totally now…after a foul bit of stalking from my husband’s family who prefer kremlinology to the normal way to find out how he is – by e mail or telephone…..and have still work out how to put one up as I think I’d like to continue it – but with better housekeeping.
Yes, it’s all in the housekeeping, isn’t it? And lately, I haven’t been too good about that in real life, so why should my blogroll be any different? (I have an oven in desperate need of a cleaning…)
Can you give me the link to your WordPress blog? Is it still the castingacoldeye? If so, I have that link, but I don’t believe I’ve been there in a while. I’ll go check it out.
i’m still on there….from old trips round France but the up to date stuff is now here
http://asurfeitofpalfreys.wordpress.com/
Great. Thank you!
We have a blogroll, but it was put up there aagggessss ago, and some of the bloggers don’t even have blogs anymore. I might need to go and refresh it, thanks for the reminder!
Beth
Yes, I had left mine unattended for far too long, and I was probably leaving out lots of people as a result. So, Poof!, it’s gone.
Thanks for the comment!
Yeah, I don’t really understand the point of them if I’m honest. You know what, I might just get rid of ours. Your post has convinced me! You’re welcome Carrie.
Like bras in the 60s, all around the world, blogs are shedding their blogrolls…
I feel liberated already.
Good questions, Carrie. I don’t have a blogroll – have considered putting one together but every time I sit down to do it, I realize that I follow so many blogs that I actually do read and interact with on a regular basis, that it would be a very large list. Then I’d be concerned about leaving someone out. I’d still like t do it, but I’m not sure how to tackle it. If you get some clear insights, I’d be interested to know what you decide.
If you follow less than 50 blogs, then WordPress’s “Blogs I Follow” widget is really great. You don’t have to do any work but move the widget to your sidebar. But it only lists the 50 most recent, and I would leave far too many bloggers out with that.
I created one a while back and have NOT done a good job of adding the cool new sites I’ve found. So to hide or to try to update. Who really even uses them? Hmmmm…..
That’s what I wonder, too. I guess I should try to hunt down in my stats how many views my static page titled “Blogroll” actually received. Hmm, maybe I’ll go do that now. Anything to procrastinate from my real work a little longer…
Thanks for the comment!
You’re welcome. Now I have to do something about my blogroll…..
I have a acknowledgment page, but the list is short. I have delete one blog, because it is not up anymore. Most, but not all are people I have interacted with in some way. If the blog owner never responds to my comments, they do not go on the page, well there is one who doesn’t, but he writes so damn good, I’ve kept it on, though I rarely go there anymore.
You are great at interaction, so you will stay on!
Glad to hear it! I can already feel my blog being eliminated from blogrolls across the globe. Ping! Oops there went another one…
Thanks for the RT, too!
It is your blog do what you want. I do not follow blogs just because they may stick me on a blogroll or something, I follow because I like the blog.
Me too.
I don’t really “get” blogrolls either. I don’t have one. Like you, I follow too many to list them all, but if I just picked a few to list then I feel I’m kind of snubbing the others. And how many people really look at other people’s blogrolls except to see whether they are on it or not!
Of course when I was added to Le Clown’s blogroll, I felt hugely honoured
and of course I feel pleased if I see myself on anyone’s blogroll, but I just don’t really want to put one on my own blog unless I can really understand the purpose better.
I’m beginning to agree. In the fluid world of blog following, it’s too difficult to keep it current. I love the idea of a “Blogs I Follow” widget, and WordPress has a nice one, but I wish it listed all of the blogs followed, not just the most recent 50. Of course, that could start to look like a circus act, too.
Thanks, Vanessa!
Thank you. Finally, I figured what blogrolls are meant for!
Haha. Glad the elimination of my own could help your education.
Exactly, that eliminates a potential monster before inception in my case
Oh, good. I’m all about warding off monsters before they’re created.
Oh Yes! Hence I have nominated you for “Saved a miserable poet” award. All you have to do is, continue writing about such possible disasters that can make me look like an utter fool in future
Now that’s a blog award I can handle.
I do not have a blogroll, but have considered it. I have started following a blogger, only to drift away later though, and like I forget to update my Currently Reading widget, I’m afraid the same might happen with a blogroll. You blog however, is one I read without fail, and it always amuses, or teaches.
Thank you, Lynn. Nice of you to say.
My blogroll was growing dust and not being properly managed, and I decided there must be a better way of doing things, and certainly a better use of my time. Like playing word games on Goodreads…
Carrie,
Blogroll MUST be malleable by nature, and be updated regularly (this sound so definitive). The readership changes, occasionally, and the blogroll should mirror these changes. It will also happen that even blogs that we love and cherish stop existing… And off of the blogroll they must be. It’s a job in itself to maintain… I keep on playing with mine as you know, and make it a point to try and have fun with it… But it will change again, and again…
Le Clown
Ah, but now you have an assistant to help you. You will have the cleanest, most manscaped blogroll in WordPress history. I’m jealous.
Carrie,
Subcomandante is already making me happier than herpes at a Frat party.
Le Clown
That’s pretty damn happy.
I’ve never had a blogroll and don’t look at other people’s … does that make me a really bad blogger? Aw, heck, I wouldn’t like to let any of you guys down, but … have you missed my blogroll?
You’re probably right. Is anyone really looking at these things, anyway? On the other hand, I have occasionally had bloggers tell me they found other bloggers from my blogroll. Not anymore I guess…
One of my blogging friends is deeply into a minimalist look for their blog and dislike lots of things in the sidebar ~ each to their own, I guess. It will be interesting to see what some of the others think
This new theme I got eliminates sidebars from the post pages (only has the sidebar on the homepage and static pages). At first I wasn’t thrilled about it, but now I think that clean look is kind of refreshing.
Yes, I like it. Somewhat elegant
And I got rid of the stripes. Didn’t want to induce seizures in anyone.
I noticed … didn’t want to say … I like what you have now better … seems to be more ‘you’.
Yes, I do tend to be more understated by nature than overstated, and the stripes were a bit overstated. But another commenter just mentioned they missed the stripes. Maybe I’ll have to find polka dots…
Oh …
[please don't]