A silly little blog for me to drop the excrement of my mind.
-or- like flies to, well, you know
Published on December 18, 2004 By BlueDev In Blogging
A blog along these lines has been kicking around upstairs for a bit. I thank iamheather for providing the catalyst for its creation with her article you can read here

JoeUser is a great blog site. I have had other blogs, but they just never interested me in the way JU did since I started blogging here. Why? I suppose because, deep down inside of me there is a bit of a drama queen (er, king?) that enjoys attention. Not a lot, I have always preferred to be a steady one, chugging along and remaining constant rather than exhibiting explosive, dramatic behavior. But I enjoy attention now and then. Who doesn't?

I actually have two Blogspot blogs. One that was sort of a general purpose blog and one that was for me to drop some of my creative writing. I posted there a few times but felt like I was screaming into the storm. Sure, I wrote some (what I feel to be) decent articles, but in the drone of electrical impulses that comprise the net they were lost just as quickly as they were posted. Each blog is quite effectively insulated from the next, and knowing the URL or stumbling across it by accident is often the only way to find it.

That just doesn't work for drama queens.

Those who are going to put on a show and prance off to set up shop elsewhere love the attention. No, they crave it. I would go so far as to say they need it. It is an addiction for them, and they simply aren't going to get that at any other blog site. Sure, there are services like Blog Explosion, but they don't do anything that even remotely comes close to the exposure you get here at JU with the top articles, featured articles, forums, recent activity in the sidebar, new articles in the sidebar, and syndication to sites like Politicalmachine.com and Wincustomize.com (that is the only reason one of my recent articles now has over 50 replies, that is a record for me and only happened because my article was syndicated to Wincustomize). That doesn't even take into account the easy of browsing the directory of blog sites and users from the sidebar.

All this comes together to equal blog readership unparalleled by that of any other site (unless it is one of those blogs that has been around and received a lot of attention and notoriety). I mean, seriously, look at some regular Joe Schmoe like me. I haven't even been doing this for a year, have only written slightly over 150 articles, yet have a respectable amount of comments, a fair number of other blogs that link to mine, and actually what I would call some "regular" readers (and I really do appreciate all of them, and enjoy their writing as well). This kind of attention simply is not existent at any other blog site I have seen.

It leads to a level of blog success that attracts those drama queens. In fact, I think the enhanced readership offered here can lead to the drama at times, for those who are already prone to acting up. Of course, it is also a boon for us who try to be regular users. And so I think we just have to put up with a certain level of theatrics. It is a necessary evil to the amazing amount of readership we have offered to us here.

I love the fact that I can write something and know someone read it (by seeing how many times it was selected) and perhaps even thought enough to leave a comment. There is no way I would have stuck around as long as I have, or enjoyed myself as much as I do, if I didn't think, no, if I didn't know that there are people reading what I write. So we can bear the drama, because while it may drive us nuts and make us more than a little sick, it is a part of the visibility each of us has here.

Thanks to all who have and do read what I write here. I try to do the same for you, and I think we can all enjoy our time here and avoid becoming casualties to over-exposure.

Comments (Page 1)
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on Dec 18, 2004
I love the fact that I can write something and know someone read it (by seeing how many times it was selected) and perhaps even thought enough to leave a comment. There is no way I would have stuck around as long as I have, or enjoyed myself as much as I do, if I didn't think, no, if I didn't know that there are people reading what I write.

I CLICKED ON ARTICLE YOU'D WRITTEN AND LOVED IT! AND THE ABOVE "SELECTED" SENTENCES ARE EXACTLY HOW I FEEL TOO!!
AFTER I FIGURE OUT HOW TO "MAKE" A FAVOURITES LIST, YOU'RE NUMBER ONE!
THANKS FOR GREAT ARTICLES TRUDYGOLIGHTLY
on Dec 18, 2004

"deep down inside of me there is a bit of a drama queen (er, king?) that enjoys attention"

As there is in all of us. You are not alone.

"It is an addiction for them, and they simply aren't going to get that at any other blog site. "

Why can they just not acknowledge the brilliance of JU? Why must they attack the owner that provides the addiction fix and attention they crave?

"And so I think we just have to put up with a certain level of theatrics"

Theater is not all bad. It can be amusing and fun. After all, some people pay large sums of money for theater tickets to dramas the likes of which we get for free at JU.

"There is no way I would have stuck around as long as I have, or enjoyed myself as much as I do, if I didn't think, no, if I didn't know that there are people reading what I write"

That is a wonderful thing about JU. Even if no comments are received, we know that we are being heard.

Great article, BlueDev. I enjoyed your insight.

on Dec 18, 2004
There is no way I would have stuck around as long as I have, or enjoyed myself as much as I do, if I didn't think, no, if I didn't know that there are people reading what I write.


Exactly! In my first experience at JU, I was absolutely shocked when I got a response to an article in which I posed what I thought was a rhetorical question. I couldn't believe people actually read the thing, much less answered me! I too have other blogs (and some I paid for!) I should say HAD because I've all but abandoned them since arriving here. It really is about connecting with other people (sappy as that might sound).
"Even if no comments are received, we know that we are being heard." - Yes, this is also true!
on Dec 18, 2004

seriously, look at some regular Joe Schmoe like me. I haven't even been doing this for a year, have only written slightly over 150 articles, yet have a respectable amount of comments, a fair number of other blogs that link to mine, and actually what I would call some "regular" readers (and I really do appreciate all of them, and enjoy their writing as well). This kind of attention simply is not existent at any other blog site I have seen.


i feel exactly the same way, bluedev !. i still thank my lucky stars that i stumbled across ju when a friend suggested i start a blog. i've seen so many quality blogs on other sites that, as you say, just 'sink' because there is no way for them to be found other than by direct links, etc. ju is unique and it's a formula that works.


great article, i really enjoyed it


mig XXX

on Dec 18, 2004

Those who are going to put on a show and prance off to set up shop elsewhere love the attention. No, they crave it. I would go so far as to say they need it. It is an addiction for them,

I gather from your blogs you are young, but this statement is very wise!  You are doing well my young Jedi!

And you are right of course! Thank you!

on Dec 18, 2004
Trudygolightly: On the right side of your blog is the 'My Account' option. From that you'll want to select 'Manage Site Custom Links'. Then you'll make the section heading and add the links. If you mess up you can delete the links and try again. Hope that helps.
BlueDev: In addition to being read here and the attention that gains you, there is also the scoring system, a way to measure attention. Which would appeal even more to those in search of it. "Ha, I have more points then you, I got more attention." And other similar nonsense. Well written article
on Dec 18, 2004
I've tried blogging in another site but it was pointless if no one at all is going to read it. There's a greater chance for people to stumble on my article here than at blogcity or some other blog site, even if their features are cooler. I admit I need some attention.

I don't mind the threatrics sometimes - and I can usually tell who's acting up, even if I can't, I kinda accept that there are such things. Some of these 'threatrics' fuel my humor articles.

on Dec 18, 2004
Reply By: Danny BassettePosted: Saturday, December 18, 2004Trudygolightly: On the right side of your blog is the 'My Account' option. From that you'll want to select 'Manage Site Custom Links'. Then you'll make the section heading and add the links. If you mess up you can delete the links and try again. Hope that helps.


Thanks a bunch!!! now if I can figure out how to change the text on the favourites list!
on Dec 18, 2004
Trudy: Thanks so much for your kind comments. Like I said, that is the kind of stuff that makes it easier to stick around.

That is a wonderful thing about JU. Even if no comments are received, we know that we are being heard.


Yes, it is. It is that community interaction that we get from reading and being read, from commenting and receiving comments, that make this site something different. I'm hooked.

I couldn't believe people actually read the thing, much less answered me!


I understand that feeling 100%. I posted my first article and BAM, minutes later there were folks commenting. Makes all the difference.

i've seen so many quality blogs on other sites that, as you say, just 'sink' because there is no way for them to be found other than by direct links, etc.


It really is sad, isn't it Vanessa? I mean, there are folks writing really interesting, insightful and excellent stuff, but it just gets lost in the blur of the information superhighway. I'm glad I stumbled across it as well. And the group I have "met" here is just second to none.

I gather from your blogs you are young, but this statement is very wise! You are doing well my young Jedi!


Thanks Dr. Guy! That is quite the compliment. Yes, I am pretty young still (28), but have been fortunate to have a lot of experiences that have helped me become who I am. But to be called a Jedi? That rocks.

"Ha, I have more points then you, I got more attention." And other similar nonsense.


Heh, well that does happen as well. But I appreciate the validation the points can bring. Even though I don't see it as a competition of any sort, knowing you are being read is a motivating factor. Thanks for the comment.

I've tried blogging in another site but it was pointless if no one at all is going to read it.


Yup, same reason I bagged my other two. They still exist, but the just don't see any action.

Thanks for the great comments, everyone.
on Dec 18, 2004

And the group I have "met" here is just second to none

Amen! And how thankful I am for this group.

on Dec 19, 2004
good article...it is quite nice to get feedback and responses from others..and to know that your work has been read...i guess there is a bit of drama queen in all of us now and then lol
on Dec 19, 2004
Great point BD!
on Dec 19, 2004

Thanks Dr. Guy! That is quite the compliment. Yes, I am pretty young still (28), but have been fortunate to have a lot of experiences that have helped me become who I am. But to be called a Jedi? That rocks.

You know you are getting old when you are calling people aged 28 young!  Where's my geritol?  !

You are most welcome.

on Dec 19, 2004
guess there is a bit of drama queen in all of us now and then lol


And I think that is a good thing. It keeps us interesting. We can all be a little theatrical at times, helps makes us more than boring drones. But there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. . .

greywar: Thanks!

Where's my geritol?


Well, age is all realtive.
on Dec 19, 2004

Well, age is all realtive

Yea, and all my relatives suffer from it!

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