Monday, January 31, 2011

On Blog-y Break-Ups

One of the wonderful and strange things about our little blogging world is that sometimes you really start to think of your fellow bloggers as friends. Especially in the small world of Catholic moms, it's been wonderful to be able to "meet" and share thoughts and experiences with other moms who view the world in a similar way. It makes me feel normal and supported and all in all it's been an amazing couple of years.

At the same it's always a little sad when you notice that one of your favorite blog friends has suddenly stopped following you and deleted any links to your blog. You think "did I do something to offend her? Was my last post horrible?... Or did she quit the blogging scene and take down her profile?"

And when it's determined that the profile and blog are still very much there, and your blog is the only one that's gone it's a kind of sad moment.

That is why, on an occasion like this, I end up stopping following myself... because reading the blog would remind me of the whole silly thing (and I admit I'm being silly, but I really do think of a lot of you guys as friends and it's kind of like being dumped by a friend, particularly when it's someone that you appreciate "talking" too... and you don't know why...).

All I have to do is think of how wonderful the experience has been overall though and it makes me smile. And I have been kind of complain-y lately (like this post). I'll have to work on that!

12 comments:

  1. I feel ya! I had someone accuse me of lying and having a big head last week, and I was sick to my stomach the rest of the day. My husband officially thinks I'm nuts.


    And...if it helps...I hadn't thought, "Geez, she sure complains a lot!" :-) I hadn't noticed.

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  2. Oh my goodness! You're blog is one of my favorites! If someone said that to me I would be totally upset too! And Paul would probably think I was crazy (or go on and argue with the person, which usually does make me feel better).

    I felt like I was complaining a lot about the whole singing the Our Father thing because it just drives me nuts! :/ It's good you hadn't noticed though! Hopefully it's all in my head and I think about it more than I rant about it here.

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  3. Hey there Cammie, have you emailed your "ex" to ask why she stopped following? Might work. Might not. Maybe she clicked by mistake thinking it was some other blog to stop following.

    She may have maxed out on blogs to follow and had to delete someone in order to follow another. 300 is max I think.

    Perhaps it is best not to try figuring out who or who is not following. Just reply to comments and be at peace with that. Although, come to think of it, if you stopped following me I would be rather put out. :)

    Take care & God bless! -Cliff

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  4. Maybe you're reading into it to much, Cam. Maybe she's just cleaning up house and refocusing a bit. I've done that. I had a great online community of Christians and pro-life crafters for a couple years. I still keep in touch with a couple of them and hope to continue. But I cut off the rest pretty much totally because I needed to redirect all my energy to my family and growing in my primary vocation. I stopped following some of their blogs because I kept getting drawn in again... not to something bad but to something I just needed to set aside for awhile. Maybe she just needs to streamline and cut out distractions. Honestly, I have stopped following people and really prayed they didn't notice... because it wasn't personal and I didn't want them to think it was.

    Anyhow, just wanted to throw out that possibility. :)

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  5. Hi Cliff- I figure it is best not to know! I don't think it was an accident though since both of my blogs got the axe at the same time. Ouch!

    Hi Melody- I probably am reading to much into it (at least I certainly hope I am). I know I'm being a little silly. I wouldn't notice if it wasn't someone who I commented back and forth with on an almost daily basis up until today. That's why I was surprised I guess.

    It's probably because once I follow a blog I usually follow it unless they shut it down or say something really anti-Catholic... I had to go through and clean out the blogs that had shut down a few weeks ago. There were a couple dozen of them!

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  6. Yeah silly or not that would bother me too. Unfortunately I know I've deleted ones by accident when I was at blogspot (changing stuff and it deleted). Lost some readers when I went to wordpress too. Sad...

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  7. Yikes...I can see how that would be rough!

    But like others have said, it very likely has nothing to do with you.

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  8. I love reading your Blog. I feel like we know you so well. It makes me feel less isolated. Your great to follow. You're my main read to be honest. On a different note. How do I get you to make something special for me? I've got three friends who are pregnant and I want to get them each a St. Gerard chaplet for their baby showers.

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  9. I have been following your blog for several months now and decided to delurk and tell you how awesome it is! I am southern baptist and am considering becoming a catholic. Your blog has really helped me understand alot of things and clear up the misconceptions we are taught. The main thing holding me back now are my grown children and how this might confuse them. Anyway, love your blog and your children are beautiful! God Bless
    Kim Chrisman

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  10. I really enjoy your blog and I can so relate to what you are talking about. Sometimes I want to write, but then I think, no one could possibly care about that! Or worse, I worry that I'll offend someone. In the end, I usually don't end up writing. But then again, oh I have all of 9 followers.... I feel pretty crummy about all of that and know that, for me, it's my pride that needs to have a lesson in humility, true humility.

    For me, this blogging world is sometimes my only form of adult interaction and I know that in moderation it is good for me. For those that don't act like adults, and send rude, uncharitable comments: it's a little reminder that anywhere we are in life, be it real life or virtual, as Catholics, we are going to take the bumps and scratches in pricking our soul awake to see what God truly calls us to do: Love Him above all things and love one another as ourselves.

    Cam, you are a wonderful writer and I'm so glad to have gotten to know you through your writing. I wouldn't worry about the follower that left. She has her reasons and God knows your heart. May God bless you!

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  11. MK- I was so glad when I realized your blog had moved! I still can't believe it took me so long (I plead new baby!) but I'm glad that I finally did notice and refind you!

    Baroness- Thank you! I feel like I've gotten to know you guys too! And if you want a custom order you can just email me here on my gmail account or on etsy and tell me what you want and I'll make it for you and post it as a custom order.

    Kim- I'm so glad you have enjoyed my blog! I was raised Southern Baptist too and appreciate the knowledge of the Bible that my childhood gave me. I think it actually made my conversion much easier and drew me towards the Church as well. I was fortunate in that everyone was understanding of my conversion (probably especially because of my marriage). If you ever have any questions or want to talk to someone who's kind of been where you are now feel free to write me an email or a comment. I'm planning on doing more posts on Catholic beliefs and how I started to understand them and grow in faith.

    Peklet Mom- I love your blog! I couldn't believe what you went through the other day at the fabric store (you're restraint was amazing! I'm not sure I would have been able to keep from going crazy, or just laughing like a lunatic because the entire situation was so crazy!).

    It's one of my main forms of interaction too! In the beginning I was devastated when I got mean comments (I haven't gotten very many this last year, thank goodness) but then I made Paul get a blogger account so he could come on here and respond... he loves to argue and loves apologetics... and come to think about it that may be part of the reason I haven't gotten as many mean comments... I'm not really sure.

    Thank you all for your kind words! And I'm grateful to be given the chance to "know" you all in our little blogging world!

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  12. I just wanted to say that I've stopped following blogs not because they offended me or did anything wrong but simply because I was trying to follow too many and had to cut back. It doesn't mean there was anything wrong with that blog, but that it simply wasn't as useful to me or didn't resonate with me the way some others do.

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I love comments and I read every single comment that comes in (and I try to respond when the little ones aren't distracting me to the point that it's impossible!). Please show kindness to each other and our family in the comment box. After all, we're all real people on the other side of the screen!