December 21, 2010

  • The Reader Is Dead

    EDIT: Want to get an email when I do new posts? Sign up! http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=GreekphysiquesXanga&loc=en_US

    I find myself musing lately a lot on the need for a recipient in social networks. For every writer, there must be a reader. For every vlogger, there must be a viewer. For every singer, there must be an audience. Creative works constructed for their own sake do exist, and many of us dabble in creativity merely for our own enlightenment. However, for most the appreciation of the audience is the fuel that makes it possible to stay in studios and apartments for hours at a time, churning out our best efforts.

    However, what worries me now is that my belief in the Reader (capitalization intentional) is shaken. As our society gets busier, as we grow ever more selfish, no one wants to be the active listener anymore. Getting a lengthy reply (or giving one, for that matter) becomes more and more scarce over time. I laugh a little as I see Formspring and similar sites start to fail. Those sites depend on people being unselfish enough to ask other people questions as well as waiting to be asked questions. Meanwhile self-centered sites like Youtube and Dailybooth grow rapidly; they have no need for an audience and are self-erected monuments to one's own legacy. I see Xangans pleading and begging for people to ask them questions or give them comments, while never dreaming of proactively asking questions themselves and being interested in others.

    It depresses me. The glorious Reader, the intelligent and witty observer, the friendly and caring confidant, seems to be on life support. I go to my old favorite blogs about sports, about romance, about pretty much everything, and I see ghost towns filled with white space where thriving comment communities once existed. It's not just a Xanga problem, I'm afraid. You may argue that the Reader was always a being on the verge of extinction. What does one person's opinion matter among millions? Why take the time to write a response or send a thank-you when you've already gotten what you wanted? But I fear that such attitudes represent a descent into sheer commoditization of entertainment, where soul and mystery is distilled into units and utility. For an interactivity junkie like myself, who loves the connections created by creativity, this is where I begin to have withdrawal pains.

    I love the Muse, with her sudden inspirations, her moments of white-hot creativity and fervent knowledge. But I've grown to love the Reader even more, with his ability to see new things from the rock that is higher than I and from his kindness to look past the words I write into my soul and then make the journey back to report what he has found, paying no attention to the disarray and still finding beauty. He may just be sleeping or away on business. But I fear he is dead. I will miss him.

Comments (49)

  • Interesting thoughts...

  • I agree.  And I'm going to add my own rant.  I don't think this is just a blogging problem or a descent in technological networking alone.  I think its an epidemic in our own interactions with one another in all aspects of life.  When was the last time you picked up a phone and actually listened the the other person for an hour?  When was the last time you've gone out for coffee and lost track of time because you were listening?  I find we're so very quick to reply or offer advice we forget how to really listen.  We forget that sometimes the questions and concerns posed are not the real source of anxiety.  As an attentive listener, we can help the person discover this while it will remain a surface level conversation without any discovery when we cannot listen any longer.  Perhaps this is why counseling and therapy is gaining popularity (including my own)--perhaps we have to pay people to love us in the ways we used to care for one another?

  • I was reading a survey that showed that blogging and reading blogs are much lower on the priority list now for people.  We're a rare breed!

  • that, and people have either a) run out of content to write for Readers to see, because blogging took up too much of their lives; and b) they're moving from one social networking site to another as new ones come up. they've got no roots, now.

  • I know that I used to be all "Give me comments!" when I wrote on my Xanga...or, more accurately, whenever I posted. But I started to noticed it produced the opposite effect. Begging for my readers to show me the love actually made them ignore me. I also used to simply look at other people's posts and just move on. Now I attempt to comment on something, even if it is just a "That was blah blah blah..." type comment. Hopefully you know that you still have some Readers who comment. :)

  • People have shorter attention spans nowadays! Too much going on, too much stimulation! People are very self centered- though to me society has been that way since the beginning of human civilzation.

  • I think it's in general - it's really hard to find somebody to listen to me today "in real life" without them venting about something that applies to them right after. I have one or two friends who are good listeners. One of my best friends, he used to listen to me all the time when we were younger, but as we aged .. he just stopped listening. He got too busy. It was all about him. I find that most of my conversations with people these days are asking questions about them - especially with guys - because people love to hear themselves talk, and I am always a lover of conversation, so I have to steer it about them in order for it to even exist. 

  • RIP, Reader.

    In all seriousness, though, you may be onto something here.
    The good news is that reading seems to be alive and well for actual published works. I'm not sure what it is about blogs and the like that estranges the thoughtful readers...or simply invites their silence. I read far more frequently than I comment — mostly because I feel my input is inadequate to the writer's thoughts. What I have to add is sometimes along the lines of "I agree." And when it's not, it's along the lines of "I disagree, and here's why you're wrong," which of course can be off-putting for many amateur writers. So I try to avoid that.
    I can't speak for other readers, but that's why I'm so quiet :)

  • The people who beg for comments are those least likely to go out and give their own. When someone doesn't return the favor for me, I know I'm less likely to go out of my way and give them a lengthy, thought-filled comment. It's nice to feel appreciated, and it's even nicer to feel like people are actually taking the time to Read and See what we've written.

    That said, this is something I've been considering for a while. I'm guilty of expecting comments when I don't give them often enough myself--but I'm working on changing that =]

  • This is a good post.  You are right the world has very few who are 'slow to speak, and quick to listen.'  It is the listener's that keep the world revolving.  It is the listener's that we crave.  My relationship exists with my mother because she is such a listener and I am working on outgrowing my childish habit of always being the speaker.  It is my turn to become a listener.

    I have always been a reader but I do fear the world has too few of those.

    We do live in an 'it's all about me' kind of world, sadly.  Pay attention to me, "Me, me, me" seems to be the cry of the day.  I believe it comes from the loss of God... of following God... of filling ourselves with God.

  • One more comment...
    Yeah, I never understood those people who beg for comments... how that ever served any purpose.  If people are moved by what you write they comment... If they're not, they don't.  Not everything means something to everyone.  And yeah, if they paid any attention to others then they might get some attention back.  It's about building relationships... You care about me... I care about you.

  • Well, I, for one, am not dead yet.

    I've, literally, spent at least an hour a day on Xanga for the last few weeks, in groups and communities and my own subscriptions, leaving comments on every single blog I've visited. Yet my footprints remain at a pretty steady level. I'm wondering if it's a matter of Xanga simply slowing down, or if it's a more universal problem of lack of human contact.
    Either way, people definitely seem, I'll be generous, simply too busy to read a whole lot anymore.

  • Very sad but I kind of agree with you. I think the whole interwebz has sort of fed into the "it's all about me" mentality.

  • Great post.  I don't do my part as a reader half as much as I should!   

  • I think you have a really good point here. In spite of my attempts to boost my readership, inspire discussion, and interact with people, there are so many times when I just cannot get any sort of response out of people. Whether through writing my own blogs, or commenting on the blogs of others, I often find myself looking for feedback that just won't come. I don't want blogging to become a series of one sided conversations - I prefer so much when it is a discussion.

  • @GermanWrench - I can sympathize with what you're doing. My footprints have been on a steady decline for months now in spite of the fact that my rate of posting has remained about the same, and my attempts at socializing outside of my own blog site have risen. Nothing seems to be helping.

  • It's very easy to fall into the me me me of the internet.

  • I read. I just have very little to say I think.

  • We've been fed a steady diet, for generations now, of aggressive marketing aimed at instant gratification. We expect to skim a masterpiece, achieve enlightenment, and then immediately be honored for the accomplishment by adoring fans. Everyone is a special snowflake, but as an unique individual, I am the most [insert self-appreciating adjective here] of them all! It just makes sense that we communicate in sound bites and text speak to shorten the length of time that we have to listen to others speak.

    I thought it was just me, naturally; over one hundred views, but only twelve comments. Clearly, my content is lacking. Obviously, I need to be funnier, smarter, wittier, and a better writer! I'm getting there, I think, and screw the bastards that look at my walls of text and think "TL;DR"!

    I am just as guilty as anyone else of failing to respond. Unfortunately, my failure is a lack of social grace, not a lack of attention span. My ineptitude cannot be cured by Ritalin.

  • If you put me in a group of people IRL I will be the one generally quiet. I listen but don't often speak. There are most often plenty of speakers. The difference when it comes to a blog is that while I generally read what I sub, the "speaker" doesn't have any visual clues that I have read and understood or agree or disagree. Therefore it seems that I have ignored the writing.

    @SecretNeverTold - I agree with much of what you've said. Some of it doesn't apply to me or I'd agree with all of it.

  • Love this.  I have been thinking of exactly this thing lately.  And I wonder if our attention spans are truly at fault.  Even as I type this brief comment, on your wonderfully written and thoughtful argument, I have already stopped to look up something I can make with lentil soup.  Serious lack of focus.  It is a sad, sad world.  We are totally self consumed.  And I wonder if any of us can escape.  Do we even treat God that way??

  • When I first came back to Xanga in October (after a 3 year hiatus), I would get annoyed that I would write and nobody would comment. I was hoping to connect with new people and was failing. So I began reading other peoples blogs and got to know many. I make sure to always try to leave a comment no matter how short or long. If I take the time to read it, I like to say something to let the writer know. But what you write here is so true. People just don't seem to have the time or want to make the effort. So now I blog just for me and if I get comments, then cool. And if not, I move along. :)

  • @Roadlesstaken - @TheBigShowAtUD - @ItIsAllGravy - I think overall that medium-size blogs are declining. I've seen blogging become much more professional; the individual "blog-apreneur" if you will is becoming extinct. I blog on other platforms/ways as well, and I've noticed the trend elsewhere. I think also, as TBS said, got to keep it fresh. We shouldn't be surprised if our content is dropping if we're doing the same old thing same old way. I try to mix it up with different themes, even if some are a little stupid--I think you have to try some new stuff and fail, you know? May even help your audience appreciate the old stuff more (New Coke, if you will...) I think, though, it's really tough to reply to every single comment. That's something I usually won't do; I think it keeps me from writing new stuff, and besides, I'd rather leave the person fresh comments on their own page, you know? What do you think about this? I know all 3 of you have different approaches to it all.

  • I felt that there were two interesting thoughts that led me to respond more here in the comment section. Admittedly I usually don't respond to comments; I find that it's very easy to spend all my limited time in the comment sections instead of writing. So I have my own commenting flaws!
    @smiling_spunk - @JstNotherDay - @GermanWrench - @TheCheshireGrins - @TheSecretLifeOfPandas -
    @Automaton_Emotion - @unshakeablekingdom -@AmeliaHart - @xx0behindthesmile -   I think that you all explored the selfishness angle very well. I was fascinated to read article explaining that email usage is down for texting: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/technology/21email.html?_r=2&src=tptw It's true that some of our commenting and reading was a waste of time, to some extent. I remember when I was trying to finish my degree, I loved to leave 4 paragraph comments, ha. (What a glorious waste of time that was!). But I also do think that there is some selfishness and instant gratification at work. I see too many people expecting to get without giving. Quite honestly, I went back and unfriended some people who did this too much. I have a bad habit of commenting a lot without realizing I'm not getting anything back. I am TOO much a Reader at times, ha, to be honest, and I'm trying to tame that. Also, I thought behindthesmile made a very true (but sad) point that people seem to demand that you talk about them before you can have a nice conversation. I've seen this before, and it bothers me. But in some ways, you have to show you care before people care to show up for you...I suppose.

    @JUST_ME_1984 - @BrEnHoLtZ - @Automaton_Emotion - @Lost_In_Reverie - @GermanWrench - @jmeLove_x -  I think there's a great point to be made that begging for comments just make people ignore you more. But you all seem to be trying to get comments and feedback the right way--by commenting on other people's stuff--and still aren't getting it. What to do? Well, I think one thing to do is work on our own writing. I know that when I take the time to proofread my posts and shorten them, I get a LOT more feedback. And I do have some tips on increasing readership here: http://greekphysique.xanga.com/726321294/crazy-top-ten-list-on-increasing-traffic-to-your-blog/ (see links there as well). But sometimes, I think it's all about forging 1-1 relationships with people who will reciprocate. I intentionally cultivate good readers, targeting people I like and hopefully developing an honest, feedback-rich relationship. I also notice that photos and videos really seem to help. Those don't get comments necessarily by themselves, but it can help people get to know the real you better.

  • @SecretNeverTold - @my_little_niche - @justtesting21 - Ah, you quiet people! Hmm...ok, to be honest, my first response was along the lines of AHA YOU ARE THE CANCER THAT AFFLICTS OUR FAIR CYBERSPACE. :-p However, I too used to only comment if I thought I had something good to say. And I do love people who don't feel they have to talk all the time in real life. So let's see...

    Forgive me for this analogy. But to me, it's almost like being in a relationship where you never quite say "I love you" but do everything else right. Yes, your lover is being a little silly to demand that you say "I love you." After all, you show it in many other ways, so why should the actual words matter? S/he should just "know," right? You're just not much of a talker.

    But, then, look at the other side...the side that says saying "I love you" is such a blessed thing, even if it's said clumsily and awkwardly. That some people really do accept love best when it's verbal. That can your decision not to comment be a sort of withholding, where essentially you won't say anything unless it's your very best and puts you in a good light or lets you feel comfortable? I've gingerly taken the approach that "Comments = Love" and upped my awkward comments by a factor of a jillion or so in the last 2 years, ha. Yes, sometimes I look like a fool, and I wince at some old comments. But I also feel like overall, people know I care a lot more than ever before...even though I cared just as much (more, frankly!) when I commented less. Ok wow, too long. Done.

    @JstNotherDay - I love what you said about your relationship to your mother changing over time. That's beautiful that you notice that! Now I'm thinking about my relationship with my mother.

    @unshakeablekingdom - Mmm lentil soup. You're forgiven. :-p Have a Merry Christmas, Liz!

  • You don't like responding to comments? I love it. I love the conversations that happen in comment sections.

    The article you shared is just a little scary. I don't mind emailing, maybe that makes me old? I'm not, I suppose I'm an old soul...I especially like writing cards and letters. I must be a hundred.

  • You're right. And now have made me think a little bit about how I use Xanga. Grazie!

  • @GreekPhysique - Good point John. I shall keep the "comments = love" thought in mind.

  • @GreekPhysique - In my opinion, if someone leaves a comment on my page that took some time and can be replied, I'll do so.  For me, it's really not too hard to get back with everyone that wants to chat with me. 

    I don't actively think about mixing up my content, but it just sorta happens on it own.

  • Well first of all....get rid of using the reply button. It is a piece of bullshit. It promotes self centered laziness. I go daily to people's sites to read and back in the day, people came back and returned the favor. Some even enjoyed themselves. Now, all people do is click the reply button and don't even bother visiting the commenter/reader's site. It is utter depressing scene. If xanga got rid of the reply button, I can guarantee more site activity for everyone. Enough from me anyways. 

  • Wow, intense and honest. So true to every word. I agree that I have noticed a lot of needy and beggers than willing and givers. Sad. 

  • I fear you are right. I blame reality Tv somehow.

  • Interesting observations. I would say I have noticed the same, except it has been years since I cared about "how many people commented" on such-and-such post. I do enjoy an audience and I do enjoy feedback, but often my writing is for myself. I post VERY LITTLE of what I write on Xanga. I have a Word document with PAGES AND PAGES AND PAGES of writings that will not ever be seen by another's eyes, at least not many others - possibly my best friend or future husband will be allowed to read. However, much of that is VERY personal. Anyhow... I typically leave longer comments on posts (as long as there is an opportunity for doing so - a question posed or I happen to have a lot of thoughts on the topic). I try to comment when and where I can. But, I guess not everyone does. :) *shrugs* I'm an "excellent listener" 'in real life' though (at least...that's what all my friends tell me).

  • Yep. It's a curious thing that it's easier to produce than to consume. Maybe that's just because we're all overeating. 

  • I believe people believe that they are individuals and that they need a form of self expression...I blame reality TV

  • Mmm. Perhaps the Reader has not declined, but the Opinion-Expressing Reader has faded with the rise in Demeaning Attacks Upon Those With Differing Thoughts. I have seen this to be true, certainly more on the -ish sites where traffic is varied and comes from all angles, but even on personal blogs that cover a variety of topics. For every solidly argued opinion, there is a solidly argued counterargument. Whereas it used to be overly popular to comment with your contrary views, instead we (and by we, I mean I) find it easier to identify with the poster when we agree, and express my contentment - "great post, I feel similarly, and in addition believe points A, 2, and thrice" rather than engage in the debate-that-devolves-into-war that happens when you say "but...that's not the case...see exhibits 1, B, thrice..." that quickly earns a response that either contains anger, disgust for difference, or simply demeaning comments that circumvent the true nature of the commenting.

    And that sentence was entirely too long, but there's a reason I'm not an English student. Also, I might add, we (again, meaning I) all enjoy knowing that someone out there is listening, and caring. When they express their thoughts on the subject, they in turn like to know that you, the writer, is listening. So I think ever since the "reply" function was inventing, making the entire process easier, we (I) have come to expect that when we spend our time not *only* reading, but actively commenting, we'd like that action to be acknowledged in some way. The bloggers (with the exception of popular front pagers...who I tend to not read anyway) who fail to actively respond to comments - or only acknowledge a few among many - tend to earn less and less of my comments. Although I may still be reading, I adopt a "they don't care how I feel anyway" attitude and laziness sets in, resulting in zero acknowledgement that I have read the post.

    Additionally, anyone who goes by "view count" (in my opinion) is falsely misled. I'm not even sure how that works, because it never matches with footprints, and I doubt it takes into account that I read -every single post- that shows up in my subscription feed. Every single one. If i don't enjoy reading them, I unsubscribe. So...there's that, as well.

    Now I've officially reached a fourth paragraph, which doesn't disprove your point in the least, but does show that when I have something to say, I say it. I'm thinking it'd be awfully handy if there were little buttons that showed up - whether on the post itself, or in the subs feed which would make life ever-so-simple for me - that say something to the effect of "I read this. Thank you for writing.", "I read this. I agree.", "I read this. I'm not sure how I feel on the subject." because at the very least, you could communicate to the writer "I acknowledge your effort, but do not feel I have anything overly constructive to say right now." ...Maybe I should just start spam-commenting that on every decent post I see....but then doesn't that negate the positive effect of a comment?

    Sigh, Greek. You've forced me to devolve into a 5-paragraph monster. Shame, shame. (Oh, btw - I read this post and acknowledge the effort you expended in composing it. )

  • I think everyone likes comments. I know that I do, but I do read others posts a lot and comment them. And I don't do it just to get comments of my own; I really enjoy logging into Xanga every day and seeing what posts there are for the day.

  • Wow...I really, really love this. But in a way, the Reader is selfish as well. He will listen to what he deems worthy, worth his time, patience and feedback...that is, unless everyone else is doing it. Maybe that's why it seems the Reader is dead. Blogging, especially blogging sites, just aren't popular anymore. They were when everyone else was doing it. But the Reader caters to his own desires and makes new friends quickly.

  • First!! Aww crap I missed it!!! Anyway. This is a very interesting blog entry, because for the most part is true. I've had countless instances where I'm waiting for someone to respond to what i've written. LOOK AT ME LOL. But then again I have to look at how often I venture off the beaten path and read other blogger's posts. Its not that often. And if I want my work to be appreciated that I have to appreciate other's lovely experiences and opinions. 

  • I don't know, I think I disagree - but this is perhaps because I just finished my Victorian Literature class in which I was required to read literature that entered a similar discourse: "We know well enough that this isolation of the individual -- this narrow-minded egotism -- is everywhere the fundamental principle of modern society [. . .] The disintegration of society into individuals,each guided by his private principles and each pursuing his own aims has been pushed to its furthest limits" (Engels) parallels your blog entry in general, but particularly your statements about youtube and the "commodization of entertainment."

    However, readers are still here. People are still initiating discourses regarding pressing social issues. People are still telling stories and people are still critiquing those stories. People are still creating and people are still responding, albeit in different ways than before. Our society is in a state of flux, sites will rise and fall, there will be new ways of doing things -- and I don't think this should be translated into the death of the Reader.

    I think the Reader is immortal simply because Readers are usually creators themselves. Take poetry for example - the art of it is still alive and well, even if it is not nearly as popular as it once was. However, (serious) poets and (serious) readers of poetry are often one and the same. The same thing with reading - ask any writer (particularly Stephen King), and they will say that if one wants to write, then one must read. I know that my brother, a recently graduated cinematographer, watches movies and television for the same purpose. As long as people create, there will be a "reader" -- always changing as society evolves.

    If you were talking about blogging and the blogging community in particular - well, things change. It was blogs this time around, it'll be something else down the line. But, in that case, it is blogging that is dying - not the Reader, who is probably simply reading (and responding to) something else in a different medium.

    (P.S. I think you initiate a sort of a paradox - you say that for every vlogger, there must a viewer, and then say that Youtube has no need for an audience. Hmm. Perhaps I am misunderstanding your point -- I am, after all, unfamiliar with participating in a youtube community, primarily using it to watch British shows that haven't skipped the pond yet to the USA. And I have no idea what Dailybooth is, so maybe I'm just out of the loop on this one.)

  • Tiffany Jewellery in 18k gold, for broken ears. Original designs copyrighted by Elsa Peretti. cutting adornment has become a appearance trend for a continued time. No amount in age-old or avant-garde times, women’s adulation for adornment will never fade. I anticipate you will like it. Always in the loop.

  • @GreekPhysique - If you want to build loyal readership, replying too all comments is my philosophy.  Some people that are frequently on the front page have several thousand friends on Xanga, I have under 700 - I've always said people are more likely to come back to read if you reply with them, and get  good dialogue going.  After all, people come on sites like these to express themselves.

  • @smiling_spunk - That's so very true. And it's interesting food for thought..

  • I enjoy reading content much more then I do responding to it. It's difficult for me to write a comment without it seeming forced or arbitrary.

  • @polemicallyinclined - You're obviously well-trained in analysis; you've picked out all the weaknesses in my argument, and I mostly agree with you. Yes, selfishness has always been a human trait, and yes, my comments about youtube were a little contradictory (although I might add, in one context I was comparing Formspring to Youtube as extremes along a continuum of "needs reader"----"does not care as much about reader.", but still, it was unclear. I will say, however, that I'm a bit doubtful that the Reader is as healthy as ever. I've read some articles on how people are writing emails less, and I also see less commenting on blogs. So I'm not sure which medium, if any, the true Reader has fled to? I hope you are right, and now I want to look for that medium, ha. But I have my doubts. Overall, though, major credit to you; an excellent analysis. If you wish, I'd be happy to quote this in a follow-up post--or if you want, make it into your own post and I'll recommend it from your site. Your call, of course, it is fine to just leave it as a comment too.

  • @my0nlyh0p3 - Heh. Yes, I am afraid many people are not willing to enjoy argument. It's a shame, I've made some of my best friends via arguing! And to be honest, I think the problem with responding to comments is that not many people then respond to the responses, you know? Good points and I'm glad I tricked you into 5 paragraphs :-p admit it, you enjoyed it!

  • @GreekPhysique - Well thank you. :) Feel free to use the comment in any way you wish. I doubt I will write my own post because any of my further thoughts are rather hazy and opinion-based instead of solid or factual - not a good foundation for a post, especially since I have no idea what the other medium might be. 

    I look forward to reading your follow-up post if you write one.

  • @GreekPhysique - This is me responding to your response just so I'm not one of those who don't do so. As for me, my best friends are the ones that can DEAL with me arguing. 'cause that happens quite a bit.

  • this is kind of what my webcam experiment is about. i want to write something for an audience and i want to see that audience (hopefully)enjoy it, and perhaps share the enjoyment of readership with other people.

Comments are closed.

Post a Comment