A Blog Without Comments

Noted on December 28, 2006, in

‹ Happy Holidays! Ironing Out the Wrinkles ›

A blog without comments is a lonely thing. Somehow in switching from Movable Type to Drupal, probably while mucking around in MySQL with inexperienced hands, I lost all the comments on this blog.

The sadness I feel makes me realize how important the people who comment here have become to me. Our conversations—our relationships—have been lost, and what's left are only my own words, alone. A conversation of one.

In traditional publishing, that's all right. Authors don't expect to discuss a book or article with readers—at least, not while they're writing it. Sure, you hope your work eventually finds an audience and influences a few people. But a book is not a dialogue. It's a monologue. The creative, intelliectual product of one—a sustained, complete and distilled vision of a single individual.

Losing all those comments brings home to me how much I've come to enjoy writing blog posts. Compared with books, composing entries for this blog has been a much richer and more rewarding experience because of the interaction I have with visitors. My thoughts are not mine alone, but the result of and a reaction to the thoughts and opinions of those people who comment on my posts. The give and take of a blog is a dynamic, living thing that has the power to influence not only the reader, but the writer as well. After this experience, writing a book would feel like working in a vacuum, with only my own thoughts and viewpoint to draw from.

I love books. I will always love books. Someday, I may even write a few more. But now I've had a taste of it, I can't imagine not blogging, and I will always cherish the readers whose comments help shape my ideas and teach me new things about the world I otherwise might never know. If you've commented on this blog, please know that I'm deeply sorry and that, even if I can't publish your past words on these pages, your comments were read and mulled over and very appreciated.

I look forward to continuing our conversation.

Contact

x

Don't Like Forms?

Write to me directly at kathy [at] kathymarks [dot] com.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

About

x

According to author Ray Oldenburg, everybody needs a third place (besides home [1] and workplace [2]). In lieu of the local colesium, neighborhood bar or corner store, the Internet has become the third place for many people in America—a virtual hangout where conversation flourishes, friendships are made and citizens meet. Often in our pajamas.

I've been hanging out here since 1996, building web sites, making friends, and learning. This blog is my small contribution to the lively, never-ending dialogue.

Thanks for stopping by.

Kathy