Sep 04
They Cry Outrage! (And then they comment)
Remember my post about the DMOZ Blackmail Scandal? Well if you don’t, read it and then come back.
Now look – I’m not in DMOZ, I never was and at the rate that the directory is going, probably never will be. I’m not an editor of it and really don’t have any stake in it.
I say that only to point out that even though I was (in my opinion) only reporting the story, it seems that the whole deal has really got under the skin of some of this site’s commenters.
A Blogging Lesson
I remember reading somewhere way back when that
…as a blogger, if you’re not upsetting some of your readers some of the time, you’re not doing your job.
Now most of the stuff I present on here is tech based so I don’t have many opportunities to upset people because usually blogging tips and the like don’t set people off. But look what happened in this story…
Lure Readers Out of Hiding
Again, if you re-read what I wrote in that post, I really didn’t offer my opinion on the matter. In fact, I essentially regurgitated what was on Shoemoney’s site but in fairness I didn’t put a note of diplomacy on the post either (i.e. “we have to see how this shakes out”). But that’s besides the point.
I didn’t expect this post to compel people like it did, but well…it did. I don’t recall the people that commented on the DMOZ thing ever commenting on here before and even if the commenters found my site through search engines, how often is it that people finding your site that way take the time to comment?
Not very often.
Challenge Your Readers
So I guess the moral of the long winded story is, if you’re looking to get more readers to comment, try to challenge their beliefs. Personally, I have to look for more ways to do that because I think by nature I’m a very “down the middle” kind of guy and I think that’s reflected in my blogging style. But what if I were to one day to talk about bringing troops home from Iraq or why the US shouldn’t have an official language…
I bet people would comment then. (#):)
September 4th, 2007 at 9:53 am
LOL!!
“what if I were to one day to talk about bringing troops home from Iraq or why the US shouldn’t have an official language…”
That sounds like evil on a John Chow level! I love it!
I have actually considered setting aside one day a week for controversial topics, I just haven’t had the guts yet.
Isn’t it fun to draw the lurkers out of hiding though?
September 4th, 2007 at 10:43 am
@Ad Tracker – Ha ha ha. I meant to say that in the bottom of my post! I’m certainly no John Chow (so I won’t be pulling out random topics for commenting’s sake) but I think you still challenge your readers w/o being evil!
If you look at video games for instance (which I’m certainly trying to talk about more). I could say something like, “There is no game out there which will ever match the musical score from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night”. Of course in a matter of minutes, SOMEBODY would bring up Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy) and somebody would bring up the orchestral arrangement from Halo blah blah blah.
In this example I’ve still challenged my readers, but haven’t done so by bringing up pure randomness…I’ve done it by just expressing an opinion that people are sure to disagree with on a topic I already cover on here.
I think that’s not TOO evil. (#):)
September 4th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Bush – That’s called “Provoking Thoughtful Interaction” and there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact I think it’s smart.
I try to do it on my blog. The difference is I try to use thoughtful introspection to promote reactions. That’s about the only method I could think of to stir the pot on my blog. I’ve kind of set the mold for a “nice-nice, feel-good” kind of place. If I made a post about politics or global warming (same thing?) I’m afraid the place would suffer a melt down. (A big pink, cotton-candy meltdown. That’s not a pretty image.)
September 4th, 2007 at 11:42 am
@Ad Tracker – “Provoking Thoughtful Interaction” huh? I like it. And yes, I think your site WOULD melt down if you did that. Now I never figured out what “bet” you’re trying to settle by starting your blog, but if it melted into a big pink, cotton-candied mess, would you win your bet?
September 4th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Yes, I think you really have to “fan the fire” of passion under lurkers to get them to comment. Otherwise they’ll just happily sit back and read your posts without making a peep.
It’s likely though, that if you post something even slightly controversial, someone may misread something in your post or completely misconstrue something (or even invent something that didn’t exist) and personally attack you. So just be prepared.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
“one day to talk about bringing troops home from Iraq”
Click and see why you don`t want to write about that
If you need more details, I can put you in contact with one US citizen who have had “problems” with that “thing” and forced to delete a blog .. full blog ..
@Ad tracker
“evil” in JC style is not to be time to time … controversial.
Mostly because being controversial – aka challenging some peoples`s belifs – is not necesarely evil. While JC is hard to be taken as a model, idol, leader. At least not for a open minded guy as B.M..
September 4th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Congrats on getting some of the lurkers out of the shadows buddy. You know, they might just be shy .. like me heh.
September 4th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Bush – LOL!! You can’t get that sticky pink image out of your head can you? HEHEHE That’s funny!
The bet was won last week! I made a wager that I could build a website and make it proffitable before next spring. I won the bet in less than 2 months. (I’m just not sure if it was worth the win. I seem to have developed a new addiction.) When I made the bet I had no idea how easy it would be to win.
September 4th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
@Teeni – Personal attacks huh? Maybe I should post the controversial stuff w/ a new acct like Mr. FlameWars or something. ha ha.
@Brown – I do what I can, even it’s by accident. *nod*
@Ad Tracker – Hey Congrats! I’m glad to hear you won! Did you have a party or anything to celebrate?
September 4th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
LOL. I’m sure you could handle it well. Just wouldn’t want you to be surprised. – Hey look you got me commenting and you’re only just thinking about doing it!
September 4th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
I did a “Happy Dance”. Does that count?
September 5th, 2007 at 12:45 am
Sometimes lurkers just need that little push to come out of the shadows. It’s good to give it as much as possible.
And writing about subjects such things as the DMOZ debacle is a good way to bring in some new traffic. Even if those readers disagree with what you write, it can be very beneficial to your blog. Like they say, “There’s no such thing as bad press!”
Shine on,
Aaron
September 5th, 2007 at 12:57 am
Btw, Bush…you’ve been tagged!
Shine on,
Aaron
September 5th, 2007 at 10:09 am
@Teeni – (#):)
@Ad Tracker – Hm. I don’t think so. And if it’s not on You Tube, I’m almost certain it doesn’t count. (#);)
@Aaron – Ha ha. It would be funny if one day this little site gets big enough that it starts getting trashed on all over the place.
…
Well it’d be funny for a second anyway. AND, I’ll get to that meme tout de suite!
September 5th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
LOL!!! Sorry, no video. I do have a still though.
September 5th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
@Ad Tracker – And where is this still!?
September 5th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
I don’t know why you won’t allow images to be imbeded in your comments. ;P
click here
September 5th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
OK, obviously I can’t post a link here, so I’ll post it on my blog tommorrow just for you
September 6th, 2007 at 1:19 am
@Ad Tracker – Can’t wait. (#):)