A couple of months ago, I learned a new blogging term via Christine, who had learned it via Mike. I thought today might be an appropriate day to introduce (or re-introduce): emedoutlet.com
Blurker (BLUR-kur): n. 1. One who reads many blogs but leaves no evidence of themselves such as comments behind; a silent observer of blogs. 2. One who reads many blogs but has no blog of their own; a blog-watcher or blog voyeur.
My referrer logs tell me that a lot more people visit here than leave comments. Some people truly have nothing to say. Some people have a few thoughts to share, but are too shy! Some people think whatever they say may make them seem dumb/ignorant/mean/etc.! You need not worry about that here.
Unless you're a troll, of course. :P
I love it when my blog entries provoke discussion, like my "Is it Art" entry the other day... I am still enjoying that one! I love hearing from you folks out there in the Inter-web thingy. I'll let you know that I also visit the sites of people that comment here pretty faithfully. It's all about the communitiy. So if you just want a new reader at your blog/site/whatever, try me!
Even if you have nothing to say right now, let me know you're here. Chime in and let me know how long you've been reading and how you found me! I'm just curious!
P.S.: I realize a lot of people are here today because of the GnomeReport... Welcome! Say "Hi" if you may!
There are tons of blogs I lurk and read but never feel a compelling reason to comment.
Then again, none of us really have anything to say of any value. Do we?
However, I can fill your need of pooping dachshund videos should you have a hankering for them!
transmitted by Naladahc on January 17, 2003 11:43 AM*snif*
Well, umm, I spend most of my time in teh fr0um. I come by here from time to time to see if you wanna go out for virtual coffee, but you're always hanging with your new blogging friends ... *snif*
;)
transmitted by zorgon on January 17, 2003 11:46 AMConsider me as another hand waving hi!
I generally try not to leave comments on other people's bandwidth unless I think it's important - or funny.
But I do read your blog often, and enjoy it when I get the chance.
Thanks,
Ewan
I agree with you total on this one. I know I have people coming to the site. Not a ton, but some and no ever leaves a comment.
transmitted by Tom on January 17, 2003 12:02 PMOk I admit it I tend to lurk about on blogs, but I do contribute from time to time when I feel I have something worth saying.
transmitted by Dave on January 17, 2003 01:12 PMI'm here (again).
I'm living vicariously through other Mac users.
transmitted by Lance on January 17, 2003 01:14 PMI too tend not to leave comments, but I like to read them - which is why I only visit some of the bigger blogs (USS Clueless) once or twice a week, they pulled comments because they had so many or were collecting trolls. Danger, Will Robinson!
See, I'm the opposite of Ewan and others on this - I happily drop comments all over the place! I love to get comments, and I figure if people didn't want them they would pull them from their site! Otherwise, everyone is a victim of my mindless chatter at some time or another. ;-)
Proud to not be a blurker!
transmitted by Christine on January 17, 2003 03:14 PMI am visiting due to clicking the link in Chris Pirillo's Gnome Report. Just thot I would say hi from Hamilton ON Canada ...situated between Toronto and Niagara Falls on Lake Erie - across the lake from Rochester NY. I wanted to share that I met my wife on IRC (Efnet) and we've been married almost 4 yrs ... she moved from our west coast (British Columbia ... 5 hrs from Vancouver in the interior on the slopes of the Rockies overlooking the Fraser Canyon). We have amalgamated two families into one very successfully - five offspring too.
transmitted by lestatlioncoeur on January 17, 2003 06:12 PMRight. So, I usually blurk. Thanks for compelling me to break the streak Courtney.
My guess is that most blurkers are like me, we like to observe. We're the geeks in the corner of the coffee shops pretending to be immersed in the novel but really scanning the room and eavesdropping on any conversations going on. We're pensive creatures that glean more from observing discussions rather than partaking in them. We're more liable to ask for input rather than give it. Chances are we do have a lot to say, but consider it more prudent to be asked for an opinion rather than volunteer it. Tact is our greatest asset, and silence is our greatest virtue.
Or maybe we're just "reely reely" shy.
The first one sounds better. What'dya think?
transmitted by Hitesh on January 17, 2003 09:11 PMHola!
transmitted by Tommy on January 17, 2003 10:25 PMBeen a tech / geek / internet junkie / digitally enhanced person for some time and have heard the term "blog" but never paid much attention. So yours is the first one I've seen. Fascinating. I'll likely become an avid blurker and I have you to thank for it
transmitted by Broo on January 17, 2003 11:05 PMi have no blog of my own but i leave comments...so that make me a clurker right?
anyway, this is the only site that i read thats a blog. you like macs, weezer and are a good designer...how could i not come back? ;)
transmitted by Jack on January 18, 2003 07:13 AMhi! I've been reading for a few days now, just haven't commented :)
transmitted by mike on January 18, 2003 09:43 AMi'm a blurker! i really love jumping around on blogs, finding ones i like to read (which doesn't happen very often). (this is to your last entry >>) wow meetups sound pretty cool! i went there and found that 6 people in my city have signed up! i haven't decided if i will join them, yet... ~ anyways, keep up the great blog!! :)
transmitted by jane on January 18, 2003 12:48 PMsometimes, like right now, I just don't have anything of interest to say. well except for the fact that I wandered into your site via lockergnome and that today I'm watching rented anime. fun fun fun.
transmitted by james on January 18, 2003 01:59 PMEver notice how many Macs are on TV shows? But they usually put a piece of grey tape over the apple logo. Anyway, I have a few blogs a regularly read and occasionally leave a misspelled comment. I would like to attend a blogger meet-up, but I think I am the only blogger in western Kansas. I guess I could have my own very small meeting. haha
transmitted by randy on January 18, 2003 09:14 PMFunny you mention that, Randy. I was *just* noticing how prominent the FP iMac's are in Dawson's Creek. (I get paid to watch it - it wasn't by choice. Seriously.)
Anyway, yeah, a lot of folks like to be invisible. Nothing wrong with that. If you want to lurk, lurk. (Er, blurk, or whatever.) That's one of the reasons I don't make mention of interesting things that show up in the access logs (on the rare occasion I look at them) - don't want people to feel like I'm "tracking" them or anything.
transmitted by Mike on January 19, 2003 01:22 AMThanks for the responses, all! It's great to know that there are real people out there. I'm of the school that loves the whole idea of creating community on the inter-neat.
Don't think your comments are ever unsolicited, I invite them! Thoughts and opinions are always welcome here, 24 hours a day. I've thought about Hitesh's comment, and will try to actively ask for your thoughts more often.
Now continue blurking if you will. ;)
transmitted by courtney on January 19, 2003 12:14 PMI blurk, therefore I am. :-)
(Great word, by the way!)
Sorry I didn't warn ya ahead of time. Hey, where'd you get the turd wallpaper on Deux?
transmitted by Chris Pirillo on January 21, 2003 02:12 PMI'm Mike's Mom. This is the first time I have visited your site. I like it. This is also the first time I have ever left a comment at a site of someone I don't know.
transmitted by judi on January 29, 2003 04:55 PMThis is not your average site, I don't know what I am doing here, but I do know who I ended up here.
transmitted by Quan on March 16, 2003 09:21 PMwhat is a blurk and a blog?
transmitted by phil on May 5, 2003 12:55 PM