I don't want to step on anyones toes here, but being a seasoned blogger, I just wanted to offer a few suggestions
If someone makes a comment in your blog, you have the ability to accept it or reject it. If you accept that person's comment, it's always nice to mention your appreciation (or just aknowledge) that that person came by your blog and offered support. It's also nice to visit THAT person's blog as well. That's the point of support, right? Give AND receive?
Writing in capital letters - OK it's only MY opinion, but I do believe that the general consensus out there is that posts written in capital letters are at the very least painful on the eyes! I'm less likely to read a post written in ALL capital letters. Same goes for comments. It's like "netiquette" - generally speaking emails, for example, written in all caps are seemed to be SHOUTING at you; same goes for blog posts.
If you start a blog, please post in it. You don't have to give any personal information away - that's the nice thing about a blog, it's YOURS you can do anything you want and remain as anonymous as you want! I absolutely LOVE the fact that 3FC has blogs now, but man, there are SO many out there now with no posts. Again, this is just my suggestion, so please don't pelt me with rotten tomatoes for posting it.
If anyone needs any help at all with 3FC / Wordpress blogs, please contact me. I'm very happy to help!!
Again, I don't want to step on toes here, please know this just comes genuinely as trying to be helpful from my heart
Hi . . . . . . Hope you don't mind if I pop in here with a little question?
First off, let me say that I'm not a blogger. I guess I really am confused about 'blogging' and the reason for doing it. I sort of think of it as 'keeping an on-line diary' but giving everybody the key. If it is a way to express your inner-most thoughts, why would you want, or expect comments. If you do hope to stimulate discussion, why blog? Why not just use the forums?
Please realize that I do not mean to be either rude or disrespectful with this query. Obviously I'm missing something here and I hope some of you experienced-bloggers can clue me in.
Yes it is like an online diary and yes everyone (at 3FC anyway) has the key.
Blogs have the options of commenting, but I personally don't EXPECT comments. However, because it's available and if I go to someone's blog that I find I have a lot in common with, the same struggles, the same goals, that sort of thing, then I will leave a comment for then. Some support or understanding, same thing that you can get on the forum. When you leave a comment for someone, it's nice to either be acknowledged or to have them come and read your blog too. There are also options of making entries totally private. There is also simply asking "Please don't respond" if you really don't want a response.
The purpose of the 3FC blogs are specifically for our weight loss journeys. They are anonymous enough as well that you can write whatever you want on there and make them as private or public as you want. Maybe you meet a friend that you later can email more private stuff too as an extra support. Maybe you see what someone else has written one day and you have a huge A HA moment!
It's not for everyone. Some people just don't like being exposed. I don't find posting in the forum as helpful. I like to support people in the forum, that is for sure, but I feel a little bit lost as to where I fit in on the forum. I've had only a positive feeling about having the blog and I'm so happy 3FC is providing this for us (I had a weightloss blog on blogger, but I was pretty much just talking to myself and I admittedly NEED more than myself to get through this).
Thanks Renee, yes it made sense. I'm going to go read a few blogs (starting with yours - hope you don't mind ) Who knows maybe I'll even start one of my own.
I just started blogging and I really love it. I absolutely agree with your suggestions, especially about the SHOUTING and the visiting each other's blogs. I love it when people visit my blog and leave comments so I assume most other people like it too! lol
Regarding the link not showing up properly, I had the same problem. I had pasted in the WHOLE URL iin the control panel, and the directions say just to put in the name of your blog (in my case, bloomer). When I made that change, it worked!
Thanks Renee, yes it made sense. I'm going to go read a few blogs (starting with yours - hope you don't mind ) Who knows maybe I'll even start one of my own.
of course I don't mind I'm out there documenting things to help myself AND others... and if I help only one person (besides myself ) then I feel really good about that!
I had one of these issues before. Maybe it's not proper online etiquette or whatever, but I don't like feeling obligated to mention people who comment on my posts, nor do I like feeling obligated to go look at their blog. I don't have a blog here on 3FC, but I sort of had one on a smaller site. When I posted comments on other people's, I NEVER expected them to acknowledge my comment. It's THEIR blog--it's basically an online journal, and it's about THEM, not me as a commentor.
I don't know--I guess I feel like it's there as a journal, and most people are likely looking to use it as such. I use the forums for discussions, not blogs. If someone were to ask a specific question in my blog, of course I would answer it, but beyond that, I use the forums, and I wish people wouldn't get so easily offended in not recieving mention--I know I never expect it. It IS possible to offer support without expecting something in return.
But, from past experience, I know not everyone feels this way, and this is one of the primary reasons I DON'T have a blog.
I tried to start a blog here months ago and found the whole thing really really clunky. I think a lot of people may start them and give up because it's not very easy to use - or possibly I'm an idiot. But generally, that's not the case. I found it very frustrating and after one post I thought - ok, forget this. Not worth it. So that may be why there are so many with nothing beyond the first post.
Ok, I just went and did a little reading. I'm thinking I tried it before the change over. THAT? Was madness. All the "one big blog" thing. I couldn't follow and there were no useful instructions (I hate to sound so negative about a free and mostly amazing and wonderful site).
Jill, I just want to say I personally am not offended if people don't leave a comment for me... but it IS proper netiquette. And I understand what you are saying and respect that that is your opinion. Personally I would love to use the forum for discussion but I seem to be a thread killer (even the ones I start!), so the blog works better for me. It's a personal thing
Nicole - that's why I didn't have a journal/blog here before either. But now that it's on wordpress I think it's a lot better. I even tried journaling at other places (dotti's being one of them) and I got no responses. It's not like I HAVE to have responses, but man it's nice to have some feedback, don't you think? Anyway, again, I know it's not for everyone, and I just wanted to offer some help/suggestions if there was anyone out there who needed it.
A Couple of Suggestions: RE: 3FC Blogs
. . . Hope you don't mind if I pop in here with a little question? 
I sort of think of it as 'keeping an on-line diary' but giving everybody the key. If it is a way to express your inner-most thoughts, why would you want, or expect comments. 
If you do hope to stimulate discussion, why blog? Why not just use the forums? 
But the one in my signature works!
