Firstly I'm not good at taking compliments face-to-face like that. I usually end up mumbling in the direction of my feet, "Thanks, I enjoy writing it."
Secondly, when the conversation moves on it can become even more awkward. How much of my blog do I assume they've read? When questions come along that I've recently answered on my blog, do I repeat the stories? I don't want to sound like an out-of-touch old man who just repeats the same stories oblivious to the audience. But if I say, "I've written about that on my blog recently." I risk embarrassing my conversation partner who may have only read the occasional blog posts (I do, after all, write quite a lot of posts). Tricky.Occasionally I wonder if people are hesitant to talk to me in the fear that the interaction might end up here.
But then on other occasions it is a social boon. It's opened some very interesting conversations indeed. I cannot forget the time that I raved on about not liking small talk and someone later that week started a conversation with me along the lines of, "So, Wendy, what's the Lord been teaching you lately?" without so much of a "Hasn't the weather been dreadful lately?"
Do you have any stories that relate to awkward or memorable real-life conversations and blogs?
6 comments:
No specific stories to share but I would like to see if others do...
I don't get many comments on my blog but many people have said to me they've read it (but not commented). So then I feel left in the same position as you...how much have they read? Did I inadvertently offend (this has happened before)? What did you actually think about what I said? (because often they don't say any more than that they've read it and enjoy it). But I'm never brave enough to ask those kind of questions out loud.
no specific stories - I rarely talk to anyone in real life who has read my (now demised) blogs. But, I am a shameless promoter of Paul's blog, and as he's writing about the people he sees every day, yes, there are some funny moments.
I read your blog, and find it fascinating. There is much food for thought on it, as well as the obvious differences in our daily lives.
Having recently had what we believe to be a miracle in our lives, I'd love to read your take on miracles.
Oh I know the feeling!! Especially wondering how much my family have read when chatting with them!! And I just avoid thinking about whether friends have or not - just gets too complicated. I go with "not".
I am just starting to encounter this "problem", I have been blogging some intensely personal stuff for the past 6 months about my journey through child abuse to healing & wholeness.
There haven't been many comments so I didn't think many people were reading it, but in recent weeks I have had our children's pastor stop me at church and tell me how much my blog would be helping others ... and another lady from church took the time to send me a card to say much the same thing! I was flabbergasted as I didn't realise either were reading my blog.
Like you, I don't quite know what to say when people say they've been reading my blog - I'm sure I blush!!!!
Camilla, miracles, now there is an interesting topic I hadn't considered. I'll file it away in my mind and something will surely be written in the nearish future (I'm often writing in my head long before I put my hands on the keyboard)!
I've had the same experience as Karen in that I've had people approach me and tell me they've been reading my blog. When I say to them (smiling), "You should come out of lurking and leave me a comment," they just smirk and say, "Oh I don't leave comments."
To tell the truth, sometimes these interactions give me the creeps. It's a jerking reminder that what I write is on the internet and could be read by anybody.
But on the other hand, what does that say about people who lurk but don't comment. I'm wondering if it's the whole voyeurism thing. It can give someone a sense of power reading someone else's personal thoughts. They know you well (or feel they do) and that gives them a sense of power because you've done all the sharing and leaving a comment would mean they have to share a bit too. I don't know, I'd be interested in anyone else's thoughts on this... :)
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