Lurking.
Kind of a sinister word, isn't it? It's what robbers and murderers and cave dwelling monsters do. It's what danger does.
It's also the term used for dipping in and out of websites without actually waving your virtual arms in the air and yelling 'Coo-ee! I'm here!' Now, I think there should be a different, less creepy word for this - just plain browsing, for example - but hey, I didn't write the Dictionary of Online Activity.
So 'lurking' it is, and Thursday 10th November (just next week!) is 'Love Our Lurkers' day. This annual event, now in its 6th year and organised by the redoubtable Bonnie, is the spank-blog community's way of celebrating the silent majority of people who waft in and out of our sites while giving the Post Comment button a wide berth - and encouraging them to go ahead, click on it and say a quick hello.
So on Thursday I and lots of other bloggers will be making our special LOL posts, and I hope as many of you as possible - both the regular commenters and the shy types - will stop by and leave a message. We would love to hear from you, and you can be as anonymous as you like - no need for an account to post here.
This will be Underling's Humblings' second LOL year, by the way. Here's last year's post to give you a feel for it.
Finally, apologies to Bad-Penny for using her comment from last year as my post title. It was too good to pass up.
See you on Thursday! :)
Cheer Up
3 hours ago
I'm guilty of this myself sometimes, I'll look at a blog, and enjoy reading it, but fail to leave a comment.
ReplyDeleteI also find the same with my blog, people come and go but most of the time say nothing. I guess people just don't have much to say. But it's all the views that keep us posting, and them coming back.
Thanks for a great blog, and great artwork.
James
Lol, I love your take on the term "lurking."
ReplyDeleteI'll be making the rounds on that day too. Perhaps we'll bump into each other on a blog or two.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Hermione
Love your style Underling, and your imagination. When you're drawing up a 'to do' list how about adding in something retro? A 1940s look Underling creation would be quite something.
ReplyDeleteLil, thank you. I noticed a few other bloggers complaining about the term too!
ReplyDeleteHermione, our paths crossed here at least. Sadly I spent most of LOL day up to my eyes in work, so I didn't really manage to do the rounds myself. However I plan to do some catching up over the weekend.
Old Fashioned Girl, great to see you in here! I'll keep your request for a 1940s scene in mind. I think that would work well.
And James, we're all guilty of reading blogs a lot more than we comment on them. I guess that's what's so great about LOL day - it gives up chance to redress the balance a little.
Actully the a big difference between browsing and lurking.
ReplyDeleteBrowsing you are just general reading, going were your interest takes you (often down the rabbit hole of Wikipedia and TVTropes!)
Lurking is a ore decanted following of a particualr site were commutation is expected, like a Blog, Forum, or Chat room, and only reading.
Take a mall for comparison, if you window shop, look in then move on, your browsing, if you go in and actual buy stuff (the only equivalent of posting) then your participating., but if jut just sit in the food court do buy anything and watch then you are lurking.
First time here but have always loved your stuff. Thank you and keep up the great work
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anon. Glad to hear you've been enjoying my pictures elsewhere, and especially glad that you've found your way to the 'source'! :)
DeleteI do try to keep things interesting here by including the animations and stories that don't tend to make it to other sites. Thanks for stopping by!