‘52 Weeks to Better Genealogy’ series, challenge #25: Blog Comments
by Sherry Stocking Kline
July 4th, 2010
I”m probably a week (or more) behind on this, but this particular blog challenge is something I sure do want to weigh in on. And while this first post isn’t going to mention any blogs but Amy’s “52 Week Challenge” blog, (see the challenge below) it’s something I really want to say.
First, here’s this week’s challenge, authored by Amy Coffin:
Write one good, solid comment on at least one genealogy blog every day for a week. Sometimes we get busy and the genealogy reading we should be doing just piles up. The same thing happens with blogs. This week, take some time to read genealogy blogs. Select at least one post a day and establish communication with the author. Offer a compliment, a question or genealogy information you may have. This challenge provides a little love to bloggers and some new perspectives for researchers. Authors of genealogy blogs can use this opportunity to comment on comments, so to speak.
So, while checking out this blog challenge, I visited a lot of great blogs and left several comments, but this week, I’ll try to do it “right” and visit a blog, comment, and come back here and blog about the same.
But first, I’m getting up on my soapbox about comments! Before I get into the ranting and raving part here I want to say “THANK YOU” big time to each of you who have stopped by and encouraged me with your words. Each comment you leave means a great deal to me and I thank you for it! Especially those of other bloggers, and there are so many great ones out there that any of you who take the time to comment on my blog, well, it’s an honor and I thank you.
Now for the ranting part, and I’m thinking that most of you family tree bloggers have experienced the same frustrations.
Hardly a week goes by, sometimes hardly a day, when someone doesn’t Google one of my ancestor’s names and land on my blog. If they are “Googling” my great-grandfather’s name, then they’re most likely my relatives. You would think relatives would stop for a second, leave a quick comment, say “thanks” for posting the tombstone photo and the picture of the gentleman, AND leave a note so we can share other information from time to time.
Doesn’t happen. For the most part, no comments are left by these searchers.
First of all, just in case one of you reads this blog post, I have a LOT of info I’ve not blogged about yet, and photographs that aren’t scanned and on-line yet. It would be easy to share more info with you, IF I knew who you were.
Second, I can only assume that the info you have, you don’t plan to share with other family members.
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Clap, Clap!! Well said. It always saddens me to realize kin has surfed in, read, looked around, and surfed out without so much as a wave or a kiss.
Thank You! I was a little afraid my Soapbox Stand was a little too ‘much!’ And I’m glad to hear that others feel the same! And oh, my, I wish I’d thought of your “without so much as a wave or a kiss” line! Excellent!!! Thank you for stopping and leaving me a “hug”. Makes this rainy, dreary Monday a great one! Sherry
It is definitely frustrating. I’m starting to see hits that come in from the same search phase which makes me wonder if it’s the same person coming back every week or so but never saying anything. Then there was the recent comment I had from someone who noted our shared ancestor and thanked me for posting grave site photos but left no way to contact them. 🙁
I’ve not so much noticed people coming from the same places, kin I mean. I do see folks coming from the same blogs, and how nice that is. I had a blog roll up, but didn’t do it ‘right’ and so need to give that another try!
Thanks for stopping! I have connected with two family members on my blog, and that was very nice!
Hey Sherry! I love, love, love your entry.
You never know what you’re going to find a connection or a new family member. Look at us!
Hi Sherry! Thank You for this post. I discovered it via Carol at Reflections from the Fence. I have been very fortunate to have been contacted by a few family members with whom I have reconnected, or connected with for the first time; however, I also had what can only be described as an “ugly” contact from someone who hoards documents and photos like an angry squirrel storing nuts. This individual indicated that he/she had been “watching” me for quite sometime, and only made contact in order to criticize the whole idea of family history blogging.
Thank you for ‘stopping by’ Jennifer!
Isn’t Carol’s ReflectionsFromTheFence blog a great blog! I’ve connected with two family members through this blog, (and I need to blog about that!) and I’m sure I will be fortunate enough to connect with more in the future.
I sure don’t envy you that ‘ugly’ contact at all! What a sad, angry little person that must have been, and just look at how he/she is missing out on the fun of connecting with new cousins, and also the wealth of information that he/she won’t be able to add to her/his own family tree. Some of the things we find can only come from other cousins. Thank you so much for sharing!!