I'd mentioned to Vish that while some journals are very popular & receive 30 or more comments, the vast majority of journals are not commented on by more than 1-3 people. Journals are a great way to express yourself, but it usually feels a lot better if someone is actually reading your expressions 
. So I started reading the lesser commented journals a while back & thought I would introduce a few.
. So I started reading the lesser commented journals a while back & thought I would introduce a few. Skelligrants < He's smart. He's funny. He has an adorable baby he is madly in love with. Those are huge turn ons for me, but he's happily married :-).
there's no beginning to this story... < A mom doing her very best to care for her ill son. Sometimes he seems to be taking care of her as well.
Holme 2005 & 2006 - NJ Bar Band < I don't know the author, but I just might be including this one because I've actually been there. 
Rod's Floating World < Rod is easy, smart summer reading for me~with oh so not superior insights.
KMae Today < Kathy calls herself an aging & defiant soldier of menopause. I'm Sure some can relate.
Trying to make sense < She says she is crabby & obsessive. I am sure None of us can relate. 
Cayce Grace < She is almost 2 years old, & she's adorable. I don't want a baby, really, don't but.......
Please try some of these out. The whole most commented journals thing needs a little shaking up 
.
.~Mary
28 comments:
Thanks for pimpin journals .. I'll have to go check out a couple. Emmi
http://journals.aol.com/garnett109/rockin-with-jumping-johnny-g./
can you add that to the blog list?
It is a music video journal.
Thank You!
Great idea! When I have the time, I like to go to the journals page and pop in and visit journals randomly as they come up on the recently posted. Never know what you'll find that way. = Barbara
I would have to disagree that "the vast majority of journals are not commented on by more than 1 - 3 people." I could be wrong, but it is not what I have noticed. Have you actually taken a scientific study? Anyway, I think the truth lies somewhere between the two categories, as far as comments go. The vast majority of journals fall between being commented in a couple of times a day, and having 30 or more comments a day.
I think it is great to find journals that are not commented in much and visit them. I frequently look for new blogs, to both read them for their good content, and to encourage the authors with my readership and comments. But I also find it just as important to have the freedom to read ANY journal I choose, even when it is well commented in. Even if it has more than 30 or so commenters on a regular basis. Which includes Mary's blog. I often read it. Mary is the author of this entry. I don't know exactly how many comments she gets per entry, I never looked that closely, but she does have a popular blog. And why wouldn't she want to have one? As she says, "journals are a great way to express ourselves, but it usually feels a lot better if someone is actually reading your expressions."
So we need to read some new journals, true, but there is nothing wrong with reading those that are already popular and have comments. I am wondering what you mean, Mary, by your comment "The whole most commented journals thing needs a little shaking up."
Thank you, Mary, for letting me address this.
Krissy :)
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink
h
thanks for the links. I always like to find new journals and those less read.
Missie
I love the way you presented these---matter of fact yet inviting.
Good Job!!!
connie
To answer Kris of comment 5: No, I haven't done a scientific study, but perhaps you are not aware that there are 1000s not 100s of blogs, & the majority receive less than 3 comments per entry. A scientist I am not, some things are pretty obvious without intensive research. I've done extensive research on eldercare & evolution, not journaling. I journal for more social, personal reasons.
I am well aware I receive a lot of comments, & that is part of my point. I don't feel I am all that more interesting than some of the journals I just listed that receive very few comments. We tend to get complacent & visit the same journals or journals most spoken about, which can leave some out, not by intention, but simply through ingorance.
What I mean about shaking up the most commented list is that we are often called a journaling community. Communities develop as a result of the interactions of individuals as they help & cooperate with each other. I am hoping to have our community expanded by including some of the lesser known journals.
~Mary
It would have helped it I had spelled ignorance correctly in that comment below. LOL.
~Mary
wonderful idea, Mary!! I know I try to visit new journals I'm not familiar with; the trouble is, I sometimes have trouble finding new journals or journals that don't get a lot of comments unless someone does something like this in your entry or someone emails me to visit this journal or from call for support, etc. I visit the main journal page but that's sporadic to get other journals because it will just list most commented or recently updated. Maybe you can do a weekly entry on journal finds or something :)
I will visit these today later as I have time :)
betty
It was obvious to me what you meant by shaking up the community. For sometimes we only visit our few friends and we can become a clique even on the internet. You have chosen some very interesting people that I've never ever heard of. I have rarely if ever gotten more than 14 comments. That's a good day. I don't think I am needy to want to know if my 'friends' have read what I just poured my heart out writing. I have believed for ever there are secrets for getting more comments far beyond visiting that many journals. And sometimes when a journal shows up on the main page listed under recently posted and most commented with having a high number of comments, when I visit them, that number is terribly overstated so I just don't get it. I like having a few close friends. I disagree with being called needy as many say just because I want more comments too. Your choices were very good ones and I'm going to visit them. Thanks for the wonderful introduction.
Nelishia
http://journals.aol.com/nelishianatl/Prayingandbelieving/
PRIVATE JOURNAL
h
Mary (comment #9), I am aware that there is more than 100 AOL blogs. When Scalzi was here, he said there was over 100,000. No, I did not think there were 100 AOL blogs!!!
I agree with you that it is good that we should read aol blogs with less readership and encourage them. I have done so myself, and have highlighted little known bloggers in Sometimes I Think, for others to go and check out. Also, when I was Guest Editor, all my picks were blogs that were almost totally unknown. So I do understand where you are coming from about wanting everyone to be part of the community.
Yes, we are a community. And yes, everybody should be a part of the community. We are a community of thousands of blogs.
However, each person can't read 100,000 or more blogs a day. That is why we each of us choose who we read. Whether we choose to read blogs with only 2 comments, or blogs with 30 comments, it is our choice. We only have a certain amount of time in each day, and we read what we like.
I, personally, am not "visiting certain journals out of complacency". Nor am I "visiting the same journal or journals most spoken about, which can leave some out, not by intention, but simply through ingorance." I am visiting a journal b/c it fulfills a need somehow. And that includes AOL blogs that are never frequented by anybody but me, and those that are heavily frequented by many bloggers. I just want to say that ultimately, we choose which blogs we visit, b/c it is our time, afterall.
And to build up the communtiy, it is important to take some of our time to help each other. I guess you have to find that fine line. Okay, rant over!
Krissy :)
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink
Kris, you just emailed me your comment 14 & I am a bit confused. You ended it with ~ rant over!
A rant implies anger to me & I cannot really phantom what about this entry or my response to you would bring about feelings of anger, but I am sorry if somehow something written here distresses you.
No other commentors seem to find it to be anything other than an entry suggesting lesser commented blogs. Most seem glad to be introduced to new reads. If it has in some way upset you, I am sorry, but there is nothing constructive I can do about your personal feelings in relation to this. Peace. ~Mary
h
Thanks Mary!
It's always nice to find new journals to read
Hugs
Terri
I might add it takes a little effort on the new journaler's part too. She or he needs to read, comment and leave their link. Nice entry Mary. Also we have to realize different people are interested in different subjects and that is good. Paula
ok Mary your wish is my command...I've been meaning to go trolling anyway...I do that from time to time! rose
Dear Mary, you can call me Krissy :)
Yes, I did email you, I was returning the favor after you had emailed me. I thought it would be proper protocol. :)
No, I am not angry. Using the word "rant" was just a figure of speech, I was thinking it meant "speaking in an impassioned way, for a long time". Perhaps I should have chosen a different word.
No, you needn't fathom what I am angry about in your entry. Because I am not angry about anything in your entry. I am, however, as I have already stated, a little taken aback by something you said in comment #9, which is why I wrote the comment #14 you say you are so confused about. You said in comment #9: "We tend to get complacent & visit the same journals or journals most spoken about, which can leave some out, not by intention, but simply through ingorance."
I am taken aback by this because it has not been my experience. I don't consider myself "complacent" nor "ignorant", as I am constantly finding and commenting in new journals. I imagine many are also. I know they are. I think you made a broad sweeping statement that just wasn't true, by saying such things. That is what bothered me, Mary, not your entry.
It is great to have journals to read! I can't say it enough! Both new and old journals! I am so glad this community includes seasoned bloggers who show newcomers the ropes, and who provide entertainment and good content with their blogs. I am also grateful for the new bloggers. Their journals provide freshness and new ideas, and lots of good content also. Let us all continue to give these newcomers encouragement and a hand up when we can.
Peace back at ya, Mary :)
Krissy http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink
Krissy,
Glad to hear I didn't anger or offend you. I still stand by everything in my comments & entry. ~Mary
I am commenting because I am very interested in this subject. I do think reciiprocation is the key for new journalists. If someone visits their journal and leaves a comment usually accompanied by a journal name I would return the visit immediately, which is the best way to assure the reader their presence has been noted and appreciated. I was lucky to get some readers right away by virtue of being noticed and appreciated by journalists like Nelishia and Sheria. I am appreciative of Mary being conscious of some journals being visited much more than others which might be by virtue of their creator's own reciprocation growing to a larger circle of commenters and readers. I have found most of the new journals by noting those recently updated. If the title of the journal sounds interesting I will go visit them. My readership has fallen off but I believe this to be mostly because journalists who commented have gotten sick or something has happened to take them out of action and I have not added any more to my circle for the same reason. I also decided to add an account to Youtube for videos in order to try to engage a male companion in more action on the Internet. I had to put top priority on this because he affects my life more than others. So I accept the results of my greater inactivity in reading journals.
I wonder if anyone has a list of ALL the journals on AOL - let's say, all those that have been updated regularly in the last 12 months. Can of worms anyone?
I visit quite a few journals myself and have found each one by looking at somebody's favorite journals or an enlightening comment someone made or by pure coincidence. None of us really knew one another when we started. Quite a few "journalers" I would call my friends since I started writing myself. I think it's a good idea to visit someone new....it's a new neighbor so to speak.
When a friend introduces somebody to someone new you can continue visiting or not. So why not suggest a less commented journal I think it is a GREAT idea my friend.....Everyone likes to be told hello....sometimes get a lift up....or even a good laugh. I write for me, for rememberance, to vent, sometimes to cry I do like comments, it's a hug, a laugh, advise and sometimes love.
I am private for a personal reason, but always willing to add more. I love this idea.....and I personally am going to take a peek at each one!
:O)
Michele
Thanks for the links and I will visit.
Julie
Mary- i am finally getting somewhat caught up on journals, so just read this entry. i think it is a wonderful idea....i plan to visit these journals in the next few weeks, as time allows. i know i, for one, (especially this summer having much less time) tend to visit the same journals all the time. occasionally i try a new one.....usually when i am emailed a link. your descriptions, however, have caught my attention and interest, prompting me to go visit. thank you :)
~Cathy
h
Oh, I've never been crabby nor obsessive cough cough (yeah right, my child and boyfriend would laugh at me for saying that!). I'd better go straighten out this poster........ :)
Thanks, Mary. Oh, and I typically don't care if I get comments or not, then again, I'd get more if I WROTE and UPDATED, too.
I don't think journaling is a popularity contest for everyone, that as well was another reason I went private. -Missy
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