14 October, 2003 9:00 AM
Have you ever had a 'crush' on another blogger? I don't mean a romantic crush where you feel butterflies every time your news aggregator tells you they've posted and where you dream of walking into cyber sunsets holding their virtual hands.
I mean has there ever been a blogger that you've admired from a far (purely as a blogger), that you'd like to get into dialogue with - perhaps even get on their blog roll? You love their style of writing, their witty off the cuff remarks, their blog design or their ability to influence so many readers. What ever it is, you like their style and you think you could be good blogging buddies, yet that you don't know how to approach them?
You've thought about strategies to get them to notice you but so far no good. You've tried leaving comments on their site or have sent them an email or two - but nothing. You've referred to them incessantly on your blog hoping they check their Technorati referrers or will notice your referrals in their stats but it all seem to no avail. You've posted on topics that you think will interest them but THEY JUST DON'T SEEM TO CARE!!!
Errr.... ok.... you know this is all just a hypothetical post.... I'm not talking out of personal experience here or anything....really I'm not.
I just thought it might be fun to share our blogging crushes - get them out of our systems - it might be theraputic. Maybe we could even help each other out in making contact with the ones we admire from a far!?
When we were kids and we had a crush our approach was often to ask our best friend, to ask someone else, to ask someone else to ask the person we had the crush on if they liked us. (Well thats the way if worked at my primary school)
I wonder if it would work if we adopt a similar strategy here?
Post in comments the blog or blogs (up to three) that you have or have had a blogging crush on. Give us a reason if you'd like. I'll post your comments in the main blog in a day or two. If you know the person on the receiving end of the crush (or even if you don't) perhaps you could let them know that you know someone who 'has a crush on them' and arrange a virtual introduction. I'm not proposing a way to climb the 'blogging ladder' here - but rather its about making connections.
You never know - we might see some new blogging buddies emerge...or at the very least we might find some good new blogs.
Or maybe I've had one too many coffees this morning.
Let me start by revealing one of my crushes - for a long time I've been reading They Blinked. I don't exactly know why, I just feel at home there on my morning blog rounds. There is a certain gritty, earthy, humorous quality to it all and I guess I often feel I come away from it feeling a little different to when I started reading. (Dan is currently drawing attention to the predicament of his brothers fiancee who is struggling to be with his brother at present.
Ok, I've bared all - your turn.
Comments
Page:
Actually, I visited Wendy Coopers site for awhile and left comments etc. I think she may have visited my site once or twice but thats about it. Great project, I had to link to you, it is good to help other bloggers out!!!
Beth Sargent » 14 October, 2003 11:52 AM
There's Leslie Harpold...and at the other end of the spectrum (and not for the faint of heart) The Happy Tutor. And on the outer limits of psychosis is Rageboy.
About the last two...I find their social critique to be refreshingly cogent and--how can I say it? Christian. In a decidedly Rabelaisian style.
Phil » 14 October, 2003 12:39 PM
James Lileks! He can take the ordinary and turn it into wonders.
Barry » 14 October, 2003 2:34 PM
I like your blog livingroom.org.au. I also like rudy carrasco's writing. I'm not into reading long posts though. Sargent's is nice too. Of course, we all think our own blogs are worth reading or we wouldn've have them, so i like lbcolors too. We probably like blogs that sound, look, feel like us. Human nature.
David Trigueros » 14 October, 2003 2:43 PM
I had one on Broken Hammock, but I don't know why. Eventually one of it's other readers aksed why I wasn't blogrolled, and then I was.
Christop » 14 October, 2003 2:45 PM
Well, there are the bloggers that everybody talks about and quotes, such as Jordon Cooper and Tall Skinny Kiwi (now blogging at Ballad of a Thin Man). I don't have a crush on them exactly, in fact I hardly read them (I hope that's not a crime!!) but it would be nice to be noticed... like the big important person deigning to notice the little ant scurrying around his boots, you know? :-D Then again, I don't blog about church or pomo stuff, so there's no reason for them to read my blog. It's like we move in different circles, which is why I don't read theirs regularly either.
Of course, it's always a thrill when someone you love to read thinks your own blog is worth reading and blogrolls you or links to one of your posts. At one point I was hoping to get on Signposts' blogroll, because they're obviously discerning people ;-) But I think they know I exist, because Dan has dropped by a few times.
irene » 14 October, 2003 6:43 PM
I once wanted to get on Coops blogroll and did, but fell off somehow. I thought I would get tons of hits being just being on his blogroll but I never hardly got any. So it wasn't that big of a thing.
Sarge » 15 October, 2003 12:24 AM
well i was just genuinely excited to learn that someone else besides my best friend (www.7dayholy.blogspot.com) reads my blog. yesterday http://joshsargent.com/
left me a comment.
http://paradinghisgreatness.blogspot.com
denise » 15 October, 2003 2:08 AM
Hmmmm ...
So I am split about my blogroll. I want the lingering lemon to be a place where someone who is definitely not interested in church can stumble into, and not get turned off. This makes it tough to blogroll most of the emerging/pomo/whatever blogs i read. Not because thety aren't powerful and insightful and interesting, but because they are too churchy.
On the other hand, i feel obligated to point to the things belonging to the people who are my friends.
And so I fuss with my blog roll. Adding a blog, then deleting it after a particularly churchy post. Then deleting everyone except my friends, then letting one leak on that I read ...
I am lucky to be blogrolled a couple of public places, I just haven't figured out how to return the favor to the blogosphere and still have my blog be what i want it to be.
Michael Toy » 15 October, 2003 3:09 AM
Thanks for the blog entry. After thinking about this for a while, I changed my mind about my blogroll, and now it is just the "list of blogs I read" (it was really easy to export the list from my RSS reader into TypePad). I stood back and looked at my blog after the changes, and it was good.
Michael Toy » 15 October, 2003 6:01 AM
Let's see....I feel especially privileged when a blogger I respect visits my site and leaves a comment. I don't really care so much if I make someone's blogroll or not.
Awhile back I was struggling with ministry crud and Bene left an encouraging comment. That was very cool. Jon, Kevin, Jen, Rachel--I just like it when they all respond in someway. It's nice to know I'm not always talking to myself, ya know?
Missy » 15 October, 2003 7:47 AM
I would have to say yes. I don't write well and could not design (a website or blog) my way out of a paper bag.
Michael » 15 October, 2003 8:15 AM
I guess I fall into the category of those that feel honored when a blogger I admire visits my site, but as for getting on their blogroll or getting more attention.....doesn't matter at all. That said, my heart skips a beat when I see that the likes of you, Sarge or Bryan at Clarity Amidst Chaos has posted.
Stacy » 15 October, 2003 8:57 AM
Missy what's your blog URL again, everytime I click on your name in the comments section, I get a URL error :(...
Rachel C » 15 October, 2003 9:01 AM
There are far too many Blog authors out here that I respect for their writing ability, others for their knowledge and abilities for using HTML code or the software they use to Blog. I'm not even in the same ballpark with them.
I'm "smitten" with The Real Live Preacher and The World According to Chuck purely because of their "persona" and the superb quality of their Blog's content. I've corresponded with the Preacher and believe me...he's for real.
I was shocked to discover that he had the time or the desire to visit my little Blog, read my posts and take the time to comment. I thought I was talking to myself most of the time.
There's so much to like and equally as much to dislike and disagree with. I don't do furious too well so I never return to a Blog that stirs up my ire.
Clarence » 15 October, 2003 9:41 AM
Yes, I soo relate to this... although would never expect anyone really to read mine! I was unbelivably chuffed when Richard H linked me, and occasionally people read but not comment except friends... I Love reading Living Room, Rachel C and Bene (all found through Richard) but wouldn't ever expect any of them to respond... I'm not in your league! Ta for cool post though. alice
» 15 October, 2003 9:58 AM
Yes, I soo relate to this... although would never expect anyone really to read mine! I was unbelivably chuffed when Richard H linked me, and occasionally people read but not comment except friends... I Love reading Living Room, Rachel C and Bene (all found through Richard) but wouldn't ever expect any of them to respond... I'm not in your league! Ta for cool post though. alice
alice » 15 October, 2003 9:58 AM
Rach: Missy's blog is at http://missy.sakamuyo.net/ :-)
irene » 15 October, 2003 2:42 PM
Um I think you were right with the too many coffees thing.
No really, I think it's mostly like a 'celebrity' thing. We all just want to be like, and to be liked by any form of important person somehow counts for double. But hey, I'm no different...so like me!
Luke » 15 October, 2003 6:26 PM
Getting "rolled" by a site that you visit on a regular basis is great (hint) but what I like better is when people comment on my site (hint, hint) especially when it is someone I don't personally know.
Let's face it, we don't necessarily have blogs to entertain people but we like to see people interested in our lives, what we say and think, and it trills us when they share their thoughts. We all crave relationships even if they are virtual.
Mike Utech » 16 October, 2003 12:46 AM
Well, I went to Rachel C.'s blog and tried to help her with my address, but Irene did it for me. Thanks Irene! Seems like I've typed that already once today and maybe I'm making a habit of saying it--Thanks Irene!
Missy » 16 October, 2003 12:57 AM
Why....it's you Darren! But then again, I've also got a thing for Gaven Again and Andrew Jones. So, I'm a bit fickle.
Rich » 16 October, 2003 4:13 AM
No problem, Missy :)
irene » 16 October, 2003 3:05 PM
I have to admit that I have a Blogcrush on my entire Blogroll (I can hardly keep up these days)... And one of the most frequent e-mails I get from people comments on how I read the same Blogs as they do. Go figure...
Blogroll-to-date:
Bene Diction
DJ Chuang
Signposts
John Adams
Jason Cupp
The World According To Chuck
Postmodern Pilgrim
dydimustk
Eternal Fool
Sco Raymond
Cynical Rantings
Scott Evans
Josh Sargent
William Gibson
Katy Raymond
Peder Horner
The Lamp Project
Tim Keel
Real Live Preacher
My (Tim) Photoblog
'Man.ik-di'pres.iv
Rachel Cunliffe
Jeph Hurst
Troy Redstone
Mike Todd
liquid.missions.
Paulo Ordoveza
Emerging Minister
Adam Curry
Eric Hurst
Deanne Pearson
Todd Pearson
Jean Holmes
Doug Pagitt
Wheat
Beth Sargent
Linsay Martens
Darren Rowse
:: my four walls ::
Harvey Pekar
postModern Journaling
Joyce Brabner (Pekar)
Danielle (Pekar/Brabner)
Laura Ogle
Scott Raymond, Gentleman Adventurer
Nick Turnbull
SuperBlessed
timsamoff » 19 October, 2003 12:24 AM
Yeah. I have.
Real Live Preacher was my latest.
I didn't try to get noticed at least not consciously. I left a comment once. He kind of found my blog I think.
There is no pretense. No need to win or be right.
Nothing pompous, no trying to be the top of the heap. He is a listener. He treats others respectfully. He models Jesus Christ in a way I understand.
There are so many good bloggers out there with so many different things to offer that my attitude has changed a lot. I'm less interested in being noticed than in having them get noticed. A lot of really good bloggers don't get much traffic. Blog on!
Bene Diction » 14 October, 2003 10:20 AM