Indulgence

On By MeghaIn Personal Growth

I read a lot of blogs. So many, that sometimes I jump from one post to other without stopping to scribble a comment if whatever is on my mind has already been said in the comments. I am sure many of you can relate to this habit of mine. But, there is more to it.  For me, reading a blog is like reading a book where every post adds a new chapter.

I might not remember the precise details but I always remember the story from the start. This brings us to another trait of mine. I am a slow reader. I read books at a slow pace though thrillers are an exception. I like the information to seep into the cracks of my brain and be absorbed to become an inseparable experience of my life. The very same process goes on when I read blogs.

My mom doesn’t read blogs but she knows the details of about 80% of the blogs ( the other 20% are either on technology or my field of study and the like) I read. I regularly discuss with her the happenings, events, memoirs, recipes, crafts and even inspirational stories I read at the blogs I frequent. I no longer possess a photographic memory like I once used to (blame it on the billion worries buzzing in my senile brain) but my mum remembers everything precisely.

The outcome being, on many occasions my mum asks me whether X from Bangalore made this Biryani this way? or was it done the way we made last time. I am sure you get the drift. So all the stories I read actually exist as inseparable part of our lives for we talk about them as if we knew all bloggers personally.

A few days back when I had written a post on Pari’s emotional outburst, I received many e-mails and comments suggesting wonderful tips and sharing personal experiences. Mum and I actually had a lengthy talk about all of those. A learning curve for me and a revision for my mum as to what all mums do in today’s day and age unlike what she used to do when I was a baby.

Each time Pari reaches a milestone, me and mum talk about how it was when I was a baby, or milestones of my nephews and nieces and even about the blog babies (babies and kids of bloggers) and then we marvel at the diversity and enjoy telling our comparative study results to my dad who half the time fails to understand who is this Uma, Seema, Vidya, etc that we are talking about. Though with time every person he can’t recognize he believes him/her to be a blogger.

This is why, I do not believe in the famous concept of ‘I scratch your back and you scratch mine’ as far blogging goes. I do not give up on reading any blog just because the blogger doesn’t visit mine or doesn’t comment on my blog. I can’t give up on a blog midway, I have to know what happened next.

I sometimes think my fascination with blogs is similar to the way people are addicted to soaps on TV, whether interesting or boring but after following for a while you just can’t give up on a story.

Everything isn’t pleasant about this blog-addiction story. For my Google Reader now has so many subscriptions that at times I struggle to read all blogs I’ve subscribed to. This makes me cringe inside and then I read all the posts in a jet speed without bothering to comment. Though I rarely read a blog without leaving my footprints behind. I love comments and I enjoy leaving my two cents on other’s hard-work too.

If I read your blog, once in a while ( if not often) you would surely have heard my views on your posts, but be assured, all your posts are archived in my mind for sure.

So in case I have missed on commenting on your blog, please don’t worry for I have surely been lurking around.

The song on my mind: Kya yehi pyar hai ~ Rocky

55 thoughts on “Indulgence”

  1. yes I am also suffering from the blog bug.. It has bitten me so strong that I spend hours every day in the reader. If I can’t comment right away then I will leave the post open in one of the tab and come back when I get those 2 mins btw work.. But, most days make sure that I clear all readings before eod.. Its like a critical task at work.. 🙂 Its like reading newspaper in the morning. I clear my reader in the morning and for rest of the day reader will always open in my browser tab that I visit, revisit every time there is a new post…

    About commenting there are certain bloggers whom I know. I comment on their blogs right away with my thoughts.. I am a lurker in many blogs too.. On them I comment if the post triggers some thoughts in me otherwise I just read the post and move on..

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    1. Wow! I like your determination to read all posts for the day by the end of the day, I so wish I too could do the same despite being at home full time.
      It’s fun knowing the strategies different people adopt towards blogging 🙂

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  2. so does amma know about Adi and Ani? 😉 It ish okay if you say no ***insert puppy face*** Now, run to amma and enlighten her about Adi & Ani 🙂

    I also talk about my fellow bloggers and their posts whenever I get a chance.. It has become a part of life..

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    1. Oh yes she does. In fact you were the first one to start the rainbow cake baking amongst the blogs I regularly read. though I had been eyeing the cake for years, but to be honest the real push came when you did it. Then we loved your tales about your school and college days. I guess you did that around last year, I had loved it and my mom had enjoyed hearing it over from me just like I used to narrate tales of my hostel days 😀 😀

      You are right Ani we all are a close knit blog-family 😀 Hugs!

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  3. Bikramjit Singh Mann

    Yes mam got the point I am lucky I guess you aalways read what all I write.

    I am actually trying to lessen down especially not going to blogs that have not bothered replying to my comment where they have replied everyone else.. maybe they did not like my face..

    Actually reading this makes me think pari is so lucky she has you and your mother so much experience to see her around..

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    1. That’s the reason I shared my take Bikram, for i often wonder what other bloggers do and think about the blogs they regularly read 🙂
      Take my word, you are a very good human being for it takes a lot to be there, say your mind with your real picture and real name. I respect you for that.
      Aww…that’s so sweet of you to think that way for Pari 🙂

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  4. I used to be like you when I started reading blogs. Things have changed a lot now because of lack of time. The total number of blog posts in my reader scares me every time I open it. Added to that I got even get time to reply to most comments on my blog itself which makes me feel real bad. I am trying to get a little better at managing my blog and keeping in touch with the blogs I used to follow but it will take some time. Let’s see where I land up in the end. 🙂

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    1. I can totally understand your position Comfy. Take your time buddy, but am glad to see regular posts from you for I love reading about Buzz & Bugz 🙂

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    1. Thank you Jazz 🙂
      Me and mum many times crack up when dad says that the person whom we are talking about must be a blogger when in fact it is about someone he knows well, just has forgotten his name 😉

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  6. Hello ME,
    My hello to your Mom too. Good to know your Mom is also interested in blogging.
    Was it Bikram’s recent post about commenting that led you to come up with this post?
    I like reading blogs too but these days I am so pressed for time that I jump from one blog to another and only just read the posts and leave without commenting.
    There are so many wonderful writers in the blogosphere and I can understand that readers are bound to be pressed for time. That is why I am not too disappointed if my readers don’t leave any comments, but if a reader leaves any comments, then I appreciate it and cherish the reader’s company very much.

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    1. Dear Always Happy,
      Well Bikram’s post was quite an interesting start to this debate but this post started taking form in my mind while I was discussing a recipe I had read in one of the blogs with my mum. At that time I wondered the way we talk about blogs on our dinner table do other do it too?
      Offcourse, despite everyone’s different circumstances one thing is common, we all love comments!
      Love from mum and myself.

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  7. You have written everything that is on my mind, in fact I think all the bloggers will be thinking the same like you.. I also read a lot of blogs, so much so that I am always in hurry to jump on some other person’s update. I think we are very curious to know what happened next??
    You know, like your Mum knows about everyone, PK also knows mostly about all the blogs I read, he does not reads the blogs at all but will surely ask me – so how is your that blog friend? you know what I mean 🙂

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  8. Its about time management as well. Sometimes you really really want to sit and read all the blogs in your list but you are actually running here and there fulfilling life’s demands. We are all sailing in the same boat, balancing our interests and the rest of our lives. 🙂

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    1. You are right Amit. In fact I admire the way so many bloggers actually blog and comment from work. I can never do that. One for the kind of work I do and second, workplace environment makes me an altogether different person whose mind loses all creativity and can think of nothing but work 😦

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  10. I can so very much relate to what you are saying. I am like that, too. I don’t stop reading a person’s blog if he/she does not comment on my blog – I read it because I like reading it. I love comments on my blog too – they keep me going, but I understand if someone can only read me off and on, or doesn’t want to read me, too. I do not like the ‘I scratch your back, you scratch mine’ philosophy too – that is marketing, and not blogging. You blog because you want to share your story, exchange ideas, learn and build a community – such activities take away from the real purpose of blogging.

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    1. Thank you TGND for sharing your perspective on blogging and blog hopping.
      I agree, blog world is a big community of real people and not a marketplace where you should be worried of statistics or marketing. Instead, read, share and connect 🙂

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  12. Soo totally true. Though i love knowing that someone is reading my blogs by the comments it doesnt stop me from visotong multiple blogs even if they dont comment on mine
    Also i have this complex that people write so well that i dont regularly comment on so many blogs though i do lurk.i might not even have something significant to say-so wat comment to leave?

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    1. To be honest there are quite a number of blogs where I too find myself struggling to put my thoughts in appropriate words. Nevertheless, I try or else just read and quietly keep reading 🙂

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  13. This post was interesting to read as I’m new to to blogging and I’m finding my way around. It feels good to know that even though people may not comment they still might have read your blog.Those are encouraging words for a beginner like me 🙂

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    1. I am glad you you liked the post Diana …oh definitely, there will always be many readers who read you regularly without ever leaving a comment, so just keep writing. Someone from somewhere is reading you for sure 🙂

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  16. I read blogs because I love reading them rather than anything else. More so I believe it is every individual’s choice as to comment on a post or not. taking it offensively surely seems childish but having said that I also know there are people who behave like this.

    Thanks, am glad to know my posts are archived in your mind 🙂

    For that is how I would want it to be, rather than be read, commented and forgotten the next moment!!

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    1. I agree with you PT 🙂
      It gives me immense strength and satisfaction to realise that there are people who are reading my story and are there to let me speak my heart out without judging me 🙂

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  20. You need not have to give explanation why you don’t leave comments in fellow bloggers blogs. You can leave or not leave comments if you want or don’t want to 🙂 It would be silly for bloggers to expect you to leave comments on their blog just because they left comments in your blog.

    I am curious, are my posts also discussed? 😀

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    1. It’s not about an explanation metherebel, it’s about recording my thought process and what all I do with the information I read at the blogs I read day and night. Someday when my daughter will read this blog, I want her to know how much blogging and my blog-buddies meant to me 😀
      Well, I do remember talking about your post about your grandfather and then that Tetanus scare (I guess it was a cat that had scratched you). Basically yes are talked about Rebel 😀

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  21. this happens to me to dear.. others dont understand my blog friends names, or there are so many post to tead and no time or full day i spend reading blogs and dont update mine.. 🙂

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    1. So true AM. On many days I am so indulged in reading blogs that completing my own posts gets impossible. That’s why I have almost hundred posts in my drafts 🙂

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  22. I think like you too, I read a lot of blogs, sometimes comment, and sometimes not. And I guess it happens with my blog too. But yes, all blogs have a person behind them and one is curious to see what’s new with them which translates into a post, so I continue to drop by. Great you can share blog stories with your Mom:)

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  23. Very true ME, I to try to read when ever I can, but off late I am unable to read all blogs. As you said its very addictive. We get lot of good information reading these posts and good to hear mom is hooked to the blogs too 🙂

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  24. I wonder what do you discuss about me to aunty :mrgreen:

    I hardly am able to read, let alone comment when a blogpost is published. I usually come around when the whole party is over, everyone has gone taking the return gifts 😥 😥 😥

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    1. Arey you do a lot of posts worth discussion, like that quick capsicum dish you once invented, then that rare handicraft belan you got and then that quiz for which i gave so many great replies but you were talking about censored stuff err..*ahem* *cough* hot shower et al 😉 :mrgreen:
      Jokes apart, your coconut laddoo were a great try in the kitchen 😀

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  26. The fact that ur mom & u discuss blogs is really cool :-).
    U write really well My Era!!!!

    p.s: That concept is true u knw…..the ‘ u scratch my back…’one….yup voice of experience speaking 😀

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