Thursday, May 21, 2009

Commentary

To lurk, or not to lurk? That is the question.

When I started this blog it wasn't because I wanted to meet people. I wanted to do something to get the news business out of my head at the end of the day. I remembered that I used to be a pretty good writer, and able to craft entire paragraphs without once using the words "Iraq," "allegedly," "deficit," or "homicide charges." I mean, I do use those words on this blog, but in a totally different context, and usually not all at once. I meant it to be a way to make my family and friends laugh, and keep them up to date on the child I was sure we were about to have (oh, the sweet, painful irony).

Over time I started going out and reading other people's blogs, but never commenting. I never really saw a point. Most of the blogs I was reading had thousands of people commenting, and most of them were doing nothing except fawning over or disparaging the writer. And the writers of these blogs didn't really seem to care about the commenters, unless they were offering free stuff, or could be held up as and pilloried for saying something mean. They weren't conversations I wanted to be a part of. Well, actually, they weren't conversations at all.

Then I started branching out, following links, and eventually, I guess, found "my people." Yes, they are out there, and not all of them are under the strict supervision of a doctor. Out of the millions of blogs out there I found people who write interesting, funny, intelligent, and bizarre things that sparked my interest and made me want to speak up. So I did. And now I worry that I should shut up.

You see, I have become a kind of "comment junkie" in recent months. I say something about everything, and some times I comment before I have even finished the post (I think in the blog world that is the same as cutting someone off mid-sentence, oh, except then the comment just looks dumb, especially if they have addressed your remark in the rest of the post that you didn't read). There are posts that I have even commented twice on. Now, of course, I think that every comment I leave is an absolute gem, filled with humor, and maybe just a little bit of wisdom. However, now I am beginning to worry I am like the party guest no one invited, and just tolerated with a nod and a grimace.

Do I have any reason to believe this? No. Has anyone politely asked me not to comment on their blog? Or to only comment after taking a breathalyzer? No. Still I worry about it, the same way I worry in the summer that my deodorant has stopped working and no one wants to tell me because my stench is keeping them at arm's length.

Of course, now that I out of the lurking closet, I can't go back in. No one can delurk. They can pout, and take their ball and go home, but they can't delurk. While I can pout with the best of them (really, ask Ryan, I DO hold my breath) I think pouting on the Internet, where no one can see me is probably pretty pointless. Of course, I could set up a webcam, and buy the domain name Libbyispouting.com, and maybe become the next Internet sensation like David at the Dentist, or porn. If I took my top off I bet I definitely could. I mean, I've never really blogged about it, but my boobs are magnificent. Really, my best feature.

I lost myself. What was this post about? I know it was serious at one point.

Oh yeah! It's time for all of you out there reading and not commenting to delurk! I did it, and now you have to do it too. Let your people know where you are. And make me feel better by leaving comments so unabashedly banal, obscene, or nonsensical that I feel like Dickens! Better yet, leave a comment you wanted to leave on someone else's blog, but couldn't (if they are mean just let me know they aren't really meant for me). I declare this comment freedom day!

Go!

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

OK...I'm delurking but I just got here so I wasn't really a lurker. I mean, you commented on my blog which is how I found out that you even exist and just from this post I can tell that you should totally be an internet sensation with or without your top off. Not that I want you to take your top off and wow that totally sounds like the annoying fauning you were talking about, doesn't it?

Anyway, I'm here, I'm Queer and we don't want anymore bears.

Logical Libby said...

Wow. A comment and a Simpsons quote. I might be in love.

She Said said...

Hey, you could set up a webcam, and buy the some domain name like Libbyispouting.com, and maybe become the next Internet sensation! Like David at the Dentist! Or better yet porn! If you took your top off you undoubtedly could!

Thanks for the shout! ;)

Tristachio said...

Comment Freedom day eh? Then in spirit of it I say: POOPITY POOP POOP PEWP POOP POOP BITCH WHORE POOP!

See? There, I totally stopped reading your blog once you announced comment freedom. I pulled a Libby.

Yellow Trash Diaries said...

Okay, I'm worried we're going to get on the same cycle next. I was just thinking about this- and the sad thing? I physically do a little tiny jump for joy whenever I see a new comment. And I too comment on other people's comments about my comments on my blog. There, I said it.

Logical Libby said...

Hello? Why do you think I asked people to comment? I am a needy ball of slime right now.

Ever notice smile and slime have the same letters?

BeeBee said...

Hey, you also can't spell slaughter without the word laughter. :-P If it's comments you're looking for, I'll do better to comment more. *wink*

Princess Consuela Bananahammock said...

Can I cut and paste your blog into mine and pretend I wrote it? It'd save me the time and pains of trying to re-word what you wrote, and it'd be awfully convenient since I FEEL THE EXACT SAME WAY.

*sigh*

What gets me even more miffed is when people will email a comment about my blog to me on Facebook. DUDE. Just leave a comment!

Ok, I'm done. Sorry, I think you struck a nerve. But it's such a relief to see that other people feel the same way I do. :)

MomZombie said...

I'm delurking and unstalking and pounding on your window right now. I found you once before and lost you. I remembered the fish. Then the fish was gone and some fancy stationery took its place. Then the fish was back. I know I'm on cold medication right now but that's no excuse. You visited me first, I think.
How is that for a comment?

Sandi said...

Well, first off, Thank you for the link. The fact that you have called me intelligent just caused you to lose some credibility though. I was shocked I wasn't the bizarre read.

I love when you comment on my blog. DONT YOU DARE STOP! But only comment when you feel like it.
I vacillate back and forth between, "Do they really want to hear from me again?" and "What does this blogger what me to say? I can't comment on every damn thing they write....". I'm with you, comment or not?

Greg said...

I hereby promise to write a comment for each magnificent boob you show me. Looks like I have 1 credit already. I just can't wait, FREE BLOGPORN!!!

gretchen said...

You are right... I lurk.. and laugh. I think it is officially a lurgh or would that be a laurk?

But, I have to say, I stopped wring in my blog because there was a commenter that had to comment on everything I wrote, and it made me so crazy that I just stopped giving her the post to comment on. (whew! got that off my chest and no I will not be removing my shirt to show you that indeed it is off my chest.)

so please keep writing and making me laugh (selfish aren't I). I look forward to your daily epistles. Especially when it includes your amazing family.

And to your commentors...please keep commenting because you all make me laugh as much as Libby does! And maybe, I will be able to post again... (terrible self promotion... should I delete that part?)

Jessica and Reece said...

I live for Libby Logic. Just thought you should know.

Aunt Juicebox said...

I like comments. Especially since I have like 40-50 readers but only like 5-10 comments per post. I didn't used to comment either, but once you get started you can't stop. Like potato chips I guess. I use commenting also as a way to reply to the comments I receive. I don't always comment back in the comment section, because a lot of people don't go back to them. So I just go to that person's blog and leave them a comment. Of course, then there's my whole list of daily blogs that I read and comment on almost every day, whether they comment on me or not. See? You CAN have a huge comment conversation, even if it's with yourself.

Miss Yvonne said...

I don't always comment on blogs because I'm afraid I will say something offensive. Because that's kind of what I do. Usually it involves a "your mom" and swear words.

Anonymous said...

I don't get very many comments on my blog yet, but I hold out hope! (I'm very strange, I think, and that scares people. LOL.)

I still heart your fish.

Amanda said...

I don't think you are funny at all. Actually the only reason I read is that cute kid you are always talking about - what's his name? Luke? Yeah, he's funny.

Plus, my Mom makes me read.

::::wifemothermaniac:::: said...

Well here I am, there's some funny ass shit here! And not just cause I've been drinking~

kadler said...

Even if comments don't really add a whole lot to the debate, they're a good way to let the writer you like the shiz they're doing.

Anonymous said...

I don't know if I'm technically "delurking" because I do comment on occasion. I stay current on all the posts, but only have enough time in the day (week) to comment on about 10% of them. But I'm always here, baby!!

::::wifemothermaniac:::: said...

btw, thanks very much for linking to me. I didn't realize all those dots garbled the link so weirdly in lists, so i just tried to reduce them, not sure why it's not showing on yours, unless you unfollow and then follow again. That's if these nit picky details bug you ;)

Gina said...

I do the same thing - I worry about commenting on other people's blogs, and yet I love comments on mine.

Snotty McSnotterson said...

I, personally, love your comments - they make me laugh! And that's my job, to make people laugh, so curse you! I'm also really honored you included me in your blog post. :)