Saturday, December 17, 2011

My readers

Vikki commented on the previous post, asking me if I ever get second thoughts when a reader asks me for my address.  
Any readers who have asked so far have been long-time readers and commenters, and I was very comfortable sharing my address.  Honestly, it isn't all that hard to find somebody's address on the Internet if you know her name, and most people who regularly read my blog know my first and last name.  Zabasearch is the easiest method of finding someone's address, but I removed our names from that years ago.
I've had surprisingly few problems with readers of my blog.  Back in the old chat room days, a mentally troubled woman somehow got my phone number and called to "straighten me out".  She was attempting to straighten several people out at the time, as I recall, and even caused considerable problems in one lady's career.  That's probably the most uncomfortable Internet experience I've had.  
I don't get many negative comments on my blog.  Let's see, one was left by a guy from the old chat room: I had mentioned a gay blogger friend in an entry, and the guy said something like  "You call yourself a Christian" or something on that order.  I guess he thinks Christians aren't supposed to have gay friends.  (By the way fellow, if you are still reading me, I have a couple more gay Internet friends than I did back then.  As far as I can tell, it isn't contagious.)  


Then last winter after one of our heavy snows, I shared a picture of our house, snowy front yard, snow on the roof, and captioned it "my home, in the snow".  Some Kansas City reader who, of course, remained anonymous (coward), commented, "You call that a home?  It's a f***ing double wide!"  
Well, first of all, it isn't a double-wide; we couldn't afford a double-wide.  Second, anybody who thinks "home" has to consist of a fancy dwelling is not worth worrying about.  Remember the corny old poem that begins with the line, "It takes a heap of living in a house to make it home"? 
So, in eight years of blogging, that's about the extent of my negative experiences.  Two of these came from old chat room folks, so I'd blame those incidents on the chat room, not the blogging experience.  Meanwhile, I've "met" some wonderful friends online who enrich my world.  
Blogging is a perfect medium for me.  I don't make friends easily, I'm a loner.  I'm too lazy to put forth the effort it takes to maintain longtime friendships.  I'm not after fame or a huge readership, because again, I'm too lazy to put forth the effort it would take to keep things interesting.  I sit at the keyboard, type as the thoughts come, and usually publish the drivel without proofreading.  I'll read it later, or Cliff will read it, and discover all the errors I've made; then I go back and fix it.  
Because I'm lazy.  
Anyway, Merry Christmas to all my readers.  Thank you for sticking with me through thick and thin, and for not judging me for my weaknesses.  

17 comments:

  1. I promise never to say anything mean to you... however, your headers are fair game :)

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  2. I've probably been reading what you write for most of the 8 years you've been doing it and I've loved all you've had to share with us. I remember sitting at my desk at work eating my lunch and enjoying your horse ride for the day. Sure did make my long work day a lot brighter. Anyway I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your life with us and I wish you a Merry Christmas from my home to yours!

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  3. I, for one, am happy to be here. I love to catch up on you and your posts.

    As for the nastiness, sometimes--too frequently at that--people out here just get (then stay) mean. I don't get it. Honesty is one thing but they just assume they have to be "honest" or really honest, if they even think about that.

    At least that one woman you write of above had the reason or excuse she was troubled. That and she's gone.

    Have a great weekend.

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  4. I haven't had any trouble for a while. One guy used to leave annonymous comments and he even wrote annon, letters to churches in our town about our local paper's editor. He quit all of his clandestine activities after I found him and his blog from another state. I didn't even leave a comment but the fact that someone from our town had found him, made him shut up.
    I haven't seen anything on your blog to get upset about. If I did I'd quit reading, not leave nasty comments. btw, I like your home.

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  5. Anonymous8:59 AM

    KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK--AND MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

    FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE

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  6. Merry Christmas to you and Cliff. By the way if I didn't like your blog I would not read it. I also like you home. Some folks don't know what being thankful means. Helen

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  7. You do seem to have very nice readers. My blood boils at the negative comments you've gotten. You handled them well though. I laughed at your comment that being gay isn't contagious. :) I've given my address to some blogger friends, which my kids gave me some trouble for at first. I explained to them that just because I had never met these people face to face didn't make them any less friends. I've been very fortunate in my blog friends. P.S. I have some flesh and blood friends that I would trade in sometimes.

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  8. Wishing you and Cliff a nice Christmas and a good New Year. I don't think we would be christians if we judged gays or anyone else for that matter.

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  9. I'm just grateful for all the friends I've met from blogging. I don't think I could collect a more diverse group of troublemakers as associates in real life if I tried. I always appreciate the fact that the exchanges usually amount to just enough fire to keep everyone warm without burning their toes.

    HA! My verification word is "hoonspop."

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  10. Great post! I'm sorry you've had to deal with negativity, so far I've been lucky in blogging. Everyone seems so nice. I'm lazy, too, about keeping relationships going and blogging suits me to a T. I don't always get around to everyone with comments like I should, my goal in the new year is to do better. I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!!

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  11. I commend you for hanging in there. Some people quit after the first bad comment. I have enjoyed your writing.

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  12. I LOVE hearing what you have to say. That's why I tune in. You're so personable that I guess I feel inclined to comment honestly about my feelings here. Truth is Blog buddies are the best. I guess you have to take the good with the bad, though. Sounds like you've had your fair share. People shouldn't be throwing barbs. It seems you handled the negative folks well.

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  13. Anonymous10:09 PM

    Donna, How did you remove yourself from Zabasearch?
    Karen

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  14. "diverse group of troublemakers" made me laugh out loud.

    If I had to pick 10 blogger friends to be my real life friends, you'd be on that list!

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  15. We were just talking about negative chat room experiences last night - when my dog was younger I was having issues with her being scared of walking wooded paths and being a little agressive. the self made dog trainer in that chat room publicly declared my dog was not saveable and announced i should put her down. When I tried to make some humorous comment the rest of the room jumped all over me - that was the end of chat rooms for me!(Pearl obviously got over it!)

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  16. Karen, back when I had mine and Cliff's named removed from Zabasearch, all you had to do was send a letter... directions were somewhere on the zabasearch website. Nowadays it isn't so easy, and they say it's impossible to get off the list, since they only use public records. I'm surprised we haven't found our way back on there, but so far, so good.

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  17. nerves05 ( Nancy)6:33 AM

    I Love reading your blog. And i love just who you are. Who you are is why i have stuck around for so long.
    :-)

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