How did it go, lovelinks virgins? Out of the 33 linked blogs, 14 were first-timers. Thanks thanks thanks to the veterans who brought friends with them this week. It’s so cool that all we had to do was ask.
It looked like everyone was having fun whenever I popped in to visit everybody’s blogs. What I like most about lovelinks commenters is that no one ever leaves the following comment on a lovelinked blog:
Hi! I’m leaving a comment from lovelinks so please come leave a lovelinks comment on my blog!
Those drive-by comments make me want to punch my laptop screen. We’re not collecting comments, we’re building community. Some people think those things are interchangeable. They are not. I’m glad to be surrounded by bloggers and writers who understand that. What’s even better is how supportive of the lovelinked blogs each comment has turned out to be. You guys are good people.
When I first started blogging on Blogger in 2006, I was blogging under a pseudonym halfway out of not really understanding how the Internet worked. I figured using my real name would bring directly all kinds of criminal intent toward my kids. Same with turning on moderated comments. I’d seen flame wars ignite on other blogs, so I figured it could happen to me with my exactly zero readers. Flood, my second reader ever, told me to turn off comment moderation because it hindered the free flow of conversation, and isn’t the free flow of conversation the reason we blog? I turned it off because she made sense. Just because we think it could happen won’t make it happen. In the name of all things Flood, would you mind turning off your comment moderation on your lovelinked posts? We like to let ourselves in while you’re sleeping or at work and nibble on your Golden Oreos. Sounds dirty, but it’s actually kinda cute.
How voting works: everybody gets three votes. Click the yellow star beneath your favorites. If you’re on a mobile browser, the star may be above the entry. The page will refresh after each vote, and after your third vote, the yellow stars will disappear. That means you’re done with voting, but you are free to campaign for votes by mobilizing your social media army.
There will be two winners: the popular vote and editor’s choice. I can be bribed by cookies, but they must arrive by midnight tonight.
Have fun reading, commenting and voting, you guys.
Voting ends at midnight, winners announced Friday with a thoughtful blog post and a tweet.
Lovelinks #28 is open for voting.
Ya, I’m still not out of the bloggy closet yet! Very few even know my real name out here in bloggyland. And I’ll be honest… I do still fear that a crazy internet psycho stalker guy will hunt me down and kill me in my sleep. {Thanks Criminal Minds} Plus, I kinda like it that no one IRL even knows I do this… well, there are a couple, but very few. I can be 110% honest and not worry one bit about it coming back on me. Who knows… I may one day come out of the bloggy closet, but not now. 🙂
I like The Momalog.
Okay, you have officially made a good point about moderating. I will try to remember to remove my moderation option. It really does hinder things because I’m at work all day with no access to the moderation page, which does limit the whole community building thing – good point! I do wish I could forego the pseudonym thing, but that’s less of an option for someone in my profession – we psychologists don’t want our current, past or potential patients looking into our private lives on the internet and then trying to build a non-therapeutic relationship with us – it has the potential for very unhealthy boundary issues and may have ethical ramifications for us. Plus, my position is a bit in the public profile realm which also makes it important to remain anonymous. All that to say, I must unfortunately hold back to protect the innocent, but what I do choose to share is all real : )
What a thoughtful reply! The pseudonym is personal choice. Your reasons are legit, mine were not. Yay on the moderation!
Never thought I’d say this – but I’m so glad I deviriginized a few lovelinks virgins!
I feel so used… but in a good way. And suddenly craving a cigarette. Huh. I don’t even smoke. I guess you’re just THAT good, Alison. 😉
Hey how do I grab your new fancy lovelinks badge?
This was fun, I enjoyed reading so many of the other posts. I hope I voted correctly…hard to tell if they went through or not.
This has been so fun, Erica! So glad Alison encouraged me to join 🙂
Erica,
I’m so impressed w. the fancy-shmancy “TIME TO VOTE!” email I got in my in-box this morning. Wow, you are going to the moon. Building a wonderful little group here, I’m so glad I found freefringes. PS: I overnighted the homemade organic free-range (!) chocolate chip cookies to you so you *should* get them by midnight tonight.
Loved all these great reads! Thanks for helping me not pay attention to any of the work I’m SUPPOSED to be doing…
I am having more and more trouble voting. Choosing just threes was again so hard today! I am telling you, it has come to a point where I have an easier time choosing the ice cream flavor and you know that usually takes me an hour! Great turnout, excited to meat all your virgins!
Seriously meat?!?! Are my fingers really that chunky?! I meant meet, meet, meet…
So nice to meat you too, dear! ;P