Saturday 20 November 2010

An Acceptable Repeat.

I must be in the mood for jabbering aimlessly tonight, because I’m now going to repeat myself without apology.

I still find it verging on the incomprehensible that people who’ve never met me keep on coming back to read my latest blog posts. I still get a little thrill every time I see a new visitor appear in my tracker widget. Many of them are identifiable by one means or another, and I have an image of all the regulars. That image is probably completely up the creek in many instances, but it doesn’t matter. The fact that I have an image at all means that every time I read Perth, Western Australia (Joanna just happens to be the most recent) arrived 11 minutes ago – or wherever it might be – it’s like somebody has called in person to say hello. That gives me a lift.

So, I just want to say – again – how much it means to me to have you there. Thanks.

And I don’t expect comments on this post. I had enough the last time I said it. I just think it’s important not to take the company of people for granted, and also to let them know I don’t take it for granted.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You know what is so infuriating, it's virtually inexpressible?

Your obsession with followers. It's amazing how many posts you've dedicated to the person from Russia or China or India or wherever. On top of that, you then self-deprecate, saying "Oh well I have no idea why so many people are reading my blog, it's not as if I'm interesting anyway."

Your self-immolation is nauseating. Please, stop being a martyr.

JJ said...

How interesting. Thank you.

Should I construct a detailed argument as to why I think this opinion is unreasonable, irrational and over-reactive? I'm not, for example, obsessed with 'followers,' as such, just grateful to a few people who have become something akin to friends. And self-deprecation comes naturally to me in certain moods. I'm entitled to be myself, aren't I? But if I continued at greater length, no doubt you would accuse me of being 'defensive,' which you would also label a fault.

What I find most interesting, however, are three things:

Why do you feel the need to attack me in such a personal way? It doesn't distress me, I'm just curious.

Why do you access my blog if you find me 'nauseating?'

Why do you decline to identify yourself? The stats tracker suggests you're from Sydney, but stats trackers are not infallible.

Questions, questions...

Joanna said...

Oh, I got a mention! Haha :D How exciting. I too, feel the same way. It's just a nice feeling to know that someone out there cares even the slightest about the things we say. :)

JJ said...

I find the problem, Joanna, is avoiding the temptation to start writing for an audience instead of for yourself. It's OK now and then. As the anonymous commenter points out, I do occasionally aim a post dircetly at an individual. Why not? Cyber friends might be distant, but they're still individuals. Generally, though, I just chatter away with whatever's in my head that day, and people can take it or leave it.

Anyway, it's good to have you visiting. Thanks.