I don't know about you but I am noticing the difference. The forums I
belonged to are either dead or dying. Since I started my blog I have noticed a huge
difference.
I see far more traffic in my stats from Facebook and Pinterest then I do
from Bloggers. There are so many Blogs I "Follow" where people have not posted for months
and YEARS! I personally don't like the changes. I would hate to see blogs become
a thing of the past.
Please feel free to express your feelings and opinions here.
Pienso lo mismo que tú. Creo que tambien voy a intentar recuperar el espiritu de los blogs!!!!
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo
I think the spirit of blogging is sharing. It sure helps to inspire me.
DeleteVery true Catherine, I too see quite a few bloggers "have moved" to FB for good. Maybe it's because on blogs one has to write something longer than just a sentence plus photos.;)
ReplyDeleteHugs
I try not to be too wordy when I post in my blog. I know people are busy. And...I don't want to read someone's blog post equivalent of War & Peace either. I do want to contribute something to their effort (when I can) by way of leaving them a comment. :-)
DeleteWell, you already know how I feel and how I totally agree.......so sad.... so true...when you have 100 views and one comment...HUH??? I remember a while back when yahoo wanted to turn "groups" into a facebook clone. There was a huge uprising and they backed down. Hope that we can rally around our blogs and continue to share, as you said---
ReplyDeleteRight now I'm trying to resurrect my blog, but facebook is faster to use (I refuse to use twiter)
ReplyDeleteDo not know if it's the place where I live, but I find it increasingly slower upload photos to blog and I have to spend so much time on the PC stealing time from my work (dolls and miniatures) which is what I do for a living!!!
I am new to blogging; I just started blogging at the end of January. Personally, I love to see other people's creations and the thought process behind them. I feel like the "miniature" blog people are like kindred spirits- I love reading the comments from other parts of the world both on my own blog and other people's blogs.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Jennifer... Welcome to the world of blogging. I will be sure to stop by your blog and see what you are doing. :-)
DeleteBLOG&Blogger Forever!!! Absolutely!!! No Fb, no Twitter o Pinterest! Sono veloci, sì, ma sono senz'anima. Il blog si apre come un diario, mostra tanto di te, fa capire agli altri chi sei. Ruba molto tempo, questo è vero! Forse alla fine rimarranno solo i migliori, quelli che ci credono davvero. Amen!
ReplyDeleteI have notiched the changes too, and I have to admit that I´m using Facebook a lot now to promote my miniatures for sale. But I love the post and comment sharing on blogs, it far more personal, and I prefer to have the personal touch of the blog layout. I still haven´t got the clue on how and why to use twitter... I pin at Pinterst, I blog at Blogger, I post and comment on Facebook, I promote and sell on Etsy and now I have also made a wordpress blog weloveminiatures.com together with my husband...
ReplyDeleteI guess that too many places to share and mingle makes the blog post and comments more rare....
I am so glad you came in Annie. I love the things you make and your style. I need to stop by your blog more often. :-)
DeleteSo, I read this post early this morning (from my bed, through smartphone!) And I felt the usual inner churning that always gets me when I have to think and talk about FB.
ReplyDeleteThen I went out to accompany the child to school and now I have a better idea of how to condense my thoughts here.
I turned on my pc, I prepared a nice cup of coffee, I had a look to the updates of my favorite blogs ... According to me it's all the difference here: FB has attracted and attracts people who do not want to communicate, but only to be one of the many "faces" on the book. Perhaps the blog will be affected initially, but eventually there will be a natural skimming between those who have something to say and whos not ... The blog itself is a natural filter, because it attracts people interested in that topic, while FB attracts everyone indiscriminately and is a constant source of annoyance. I want to emphasize that I am not on FB and I speak from what I see around me: I've seen friends die for comment shared with dogs and pigs on FB! Then I said no, thank you :-)
I prefer to be free :-)
Frees you from having to be part of the mass, just to say, hey, we are too!
Prefer neglecting my blog for other reasons, but then come back more enthusiastic than ever, with sincere friends to share my feelings or my frustration or my work and read the comments of people really interested, even if they are ten instead thousand writing only "I like".
I have so many other things to write about but I will not bore anyone and take advantage of your space.
Only, know that many people love the blog, and never leave it :-)
Lovely hugs from Italy and have a nice FREE FB day :-)
Flora
Te doy totalmente la razon, a mi me gusta muchisimo mas los blogs, puedes seguir paso a paso los trabajos,transmitir una parte de tu caracter y tu manera de ser, las opiniones de los demas, es mucho mas personal. Claro que facebook es mucho mas rapido pero tambien mucho mas impersonal y demasiado publico. Me guataba mucho mas antes.
ReplyDeleteUn beso
Hi Catherine, that is exactly why I won't ever use FB or Twitter: it is too superficial and you can't share the creative process of making a miniature. I really don't like it and I refuse to participate. I stay on my blog, moreover blogging takes me a lot of time and energy to write my posts in English too, but I now can reach more people/miniaturists. If I only used the Dutch language on my blog it won't be much fun for me!! I like foreign languages, but writing :((!!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Ilona
Hi Catherine,i think our blogs are individually personal to us in ways that face book could never be, Pinterest is a great idea yet so simple it could be incorporated into our own blogs with a little knowledge of layouts and such, i have made some great friends since i started blogging and hopefully will continue to do so for foreseeable future.
ReplyDeleteI love blogs. I think we do them as much for ourselves as our readers and I just love the sharing of ideas and inspiration. It is so amazing that you and people on the other side of the world can almost instantly share ideas and photos about a similar interest. I have only a few friends on facebook which are largely local people I like to keep in touch with e.g. other 'dance mums'. I use Pinterest for inspiration and as a planning tool for projects, not as a way to share what I do. I'm definitely a blogger and a blog reader - it's addictive and good for the soul.
ReplyDeleteI love blogs because many people with their creations inspire me. A blog is like a diary. People are more involved. With my blogs I knew true friends with the same interests. And I like comments.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Faby
I do have a FB account. But mainly to keep up with relatives or people I don't see much. I love reading blogs so much more. It is a more personal way of communicating. I mean how much can you really say on FB? Plus all the eye candy that are on blogs. So much to be inspired with. Be it miniatures, life, crafts or whatever, I will go with blogs over FB anytime. I have found many new friends blogging. This is just such a friendly way to connect to other people with your same interests.
ReplyDeleteMost of my thoughts about Blogspot and Facebook are already expressed in the reactions above. Though Blogspot is a bit inefficient in use (one has to follow lots of steps in order to be able to leave a comment) it's a great way to meet others around one topic (that is: Miniatures) without having to filter a lot of information coming towards you that's not about our miniature hobby.
ReplyDeleteIn this way; Blogspot is much more efficient so I'll stick to it. But I must admit; I am not very used to Facebook, perhaps I overlook possibilities....
I prefer my blog and I don't use Facebook or Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI am always happy about comments and I like to share links, tutorials.....
I found a lot of my photos on pintrest so I startet to write my name on the photos.
I found also a lot of new friends around the world which are my blog followers.
I write my blog in English (German is my native language) and sometimes I am fighting with the correct vocabularies..but nobody is perfect.
I love blogging.
Have a great day
Hug
Sonja
Hi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting topic I am glad you have bought up. It is something that has been on my mind for some time. I had FB a long time before I had a blog and I found I have left Fb behind because I can't be bothered with it. I like it to keep in touch with family and old friends but by the most part I find a lot of people use it as a brag book and I find it quite boring. So many people posting and reposting unoriginal quotes and photos. I love blogging because I feel it is so much more creative, at least the ones I look at are, we are all sharing creative works no matter how diverse to inspire and help others and share ideas. I have a pinterest too, and it is something that has bugged me for a long time, I love the fact that it is a very convenient way to store and share inspirational work but it is conflicted with people just collecting the original work of others and collecting more and more followers for "Pinning" things so well.....Bizarre!!! I guess the positive to it is it has stopped people posting the photos of others without giving credit, at least now you can find your way to the original source. All in all, blogs are best, i love to see all the beautiful creativity out there!! Thanks for opening the forum!!
ML Fi xx
I agree wholeheartedly with the opinions already expressed. FB is not for me. Blogs are friendly and bloggers are nice people. Long live blogs!
ReplyDeleteInteresting subject Catherine.
ReplyDeleteI have been blogging for about 8 years and I still enjoy it. I like the way it lets you create a personal space with your own choice of colours. layout and content. Now that I'm writing this comment I feel I am visiting your space as you chose these colours, this layout and content.
Yes it takes me a lot of time to write a post on my blog, but I see it as part of my creative process, keeping an online diary if you like. I love the contact between bloggers from all over the world!
I love blogs from other people who spend some time on taking a good photo and writing interesting content. I love following the progress of other people and reading about how they've made something. I try to leave two to three comments on other blogs every day (in that respect I'm glad the frequency of posts is not too high as I can barely keep up now!)
I do like pretty pictures so I a while ago I did open a Pinterest account. I like to see what others have found on the Internet, but get very annoyed when the link to a photo doesn't work. When the links do work they very often bring you to someones blog!
A lot of traffic on my blog comes via Pinterest. I find it interesting to see which of my photos get pinned as you get a good idea of what others are interested in.
However, a few weeks ago I read about the copyright implications of pinning. We all tend to think that you can pin to your hearts content as long as you credit the original owner of the photo. This turns out to be NOT true. Long story short, when pinning you basically claim the pinned photo as your own. This can lead to financial claims as some pinners have already found out to their quite considerable cost! I am now in the process of closing all of my pin boards, saving all of those photos to my own computer (a lot of work!).
As for Facebook, I opened an account a few months ago as I noticed a lot of miniaturists only show their work there. But I am not a fan. Although I enjoy finding old friends, I don't like the impersonal aspect of FB. I hate that almost everything you do on there can and will be seen by all of your 'friends'. When I am on your blog writing a comment, I am writing to you, not to you, my family members, old school mates, friends, aquaintances and fellow miniaturists (as you would when writing a comment on FB). I'm sure you know what I mean.
I don't get any traffic to my blog from Facebook, maybe because I don't have many friends (oh poor me) or that I have not linked my blog and my FBpage ;-)
Anyway, I don't think blogging is dead or dying, just the truly interested are filtered out from the fleeting masses.
Hello Catherine,
ReplyDeleteI am a blogger all the way. I just do not like facebook. First of all, anyone and his uncle can get on your facebook vs followers on blogs are there because they share an interest. Secondly, blog comments are usually friendly, and about the people and the work they do or their interest. On Facebook anything goes and everyone is in your business. Even if I lose most of my bloggers, I will still keep at it because I love it and I love following other artists blogs. I also think people on blogs are encouraging and take time to write intelligent, helpful or encouraging comments. On Facebook people feel they can write anything they want no matter how rude, vulgar or innapropriate. I love free speech, but I do not think you should express every opinion that goes through your head...Sorry...this topic got me going ona rant.
Blogs forever!
Big hug,
Giac
I can agree with my fellow-bloggers, I never liked FB or understood its appeal (everytime I tried to view something because it was the only place to see something I got frustrated because of the inlogical layout, I find it messy or something. Like others say: a blog is so much more than posting something, it's a personal resume of someones work shared with anyone interested. Although I love it so much more WITH (!) followers and people that comment, I would still blog if no-one ever looked, just to keep track of my own progress and finish things.
ReplyDeleteAbout people that hardly ever post anything or haven't posted anything for a long time (like a year or longer), that might very well be because of FB or other social media that they prefer for whatever reason. But another reason might be they're simply to busy or something else from real life that keeps them from working (and showing) mini's? I know this is the case for a few bloggers, who just don't get to it anymore, because of their miniature-businesses they try to maintain and develop new designs and objects for (and always run behind) or other personal reasons?
No contest in my humble opinion. FB is just to broad based and in an odd way impersonal. I started with a blog, then opened a FB account. I have since deactivated FB as it found it - boring and do not believe that people really want to know everything I do, see, think etc. Strangely most of the people who were 'friends' on FB never visited my blog because my blog relates only to a specific area of my life - the creative side.
ReplyDeleteI am one of those whose entries have dried up a lot but that is because I am waiting for my miniature making desire to respark (My wrist was in cast/splint for many months durin the last year and I couldn't use my tools...)
Blogs are wonderful. I closely follow a good few - chosen with care - and know that I will never be disappointed with what I find. Strolling back into these blogs is a joy because the subject matter is not diluted. It is almost always still on topic. There is a constancy about blogs which FB cannot match because it is too broad. I would hate for the blogs I follow to disappear.
Great topic to bring up for discussion and I have enjoyed reading everyone's opinions which are generally the same!
I've seen a lot of bloggers switching over to FB too and it's disheartening... because I'm not going to follow them there.
ReplyDeleteWhy?
Because FB is confusing as heck... and it rearranges my timeline all the time in ways that make no sense, and doesn't show me everything... aka, a real pain in the arse.
I'm not saying I'm not willing to GO to FB... but the blogger is going to have to post a direct link in their blog for me to see that they have something on FB in the first place, LOL.
I don't really think FB is easier to use than blogger, for the above mentioned reasons, also, I wouldn't want my personal/family FB connected to my blog one. The crazy junk I do on blogs is not something my real life friends want to see constantly on their FB pages, LOL!
I think the difference is that it's really easy to click "like" on FB... and that kind of positive reinforcement makes people happy, "OMG, someone looked, someone cared" ... when really, it's not much of a commitment at all on the viewer's part... where as, to leave a comment on a blog, it's more involved, especially if people haven't turned off the capcha code junk, which is getting harder and harder to read. How are we supposed to prove we're not robots if we can't even read those stupid numbers and letters they post???
I agree with a lot of what has already been said, I do have a FB account, I like it because it helps me to keep in touch with family that lives overseas.
ReplyDeleteI love blogger, I have build many friendships here, I must say though that I do choose the blogs I follow carefully, mostly because I simply don't have time to follow every blog out there, so I tend to go for the ones that loves the same kind of miniatures as I do.
I also think we sometimes forget that bloggers do have real lives out there too, right now I am going through a difficult emotional time with my mom's health and often just don't have the energy to comment on each and every post, although I do read them all.
As a last word, I treasure every friendship that I have made on blogger and each and everyone is special to me in a unique way.
I like that my blog is an online diary, that I can show tutorials which include pictures and that my readers are generally other miniaturists/miniature lovers and not members of my wider social circle.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a Facebook/Twitter or Pinterest account for two reasons --- I don't have the time to maintain them and they seem so utterly impersonal.
I'll stick to blogger
I would not want to see the end of blogs. I think they are much more real as a community.
ReplyDeleteYou are right! Facebook, the more of your friends you have, the less real human contact. The blog formatting to your own taste that reflects the people's real. More opportunity for self-expression. Blogs may not be down the drain!
ReplyDeletehugs
Hola Catherine ¿facebook?? ¿twiter?? yo no tengo ninguna cuenta en ellos, me resisto.
ReplyDeleteCuando abri mis blogs era como crear una casita, les fui modelando, personalizando y aumentando habitaciones en las que compartir toda la información que tan desinteresadamente otros comparten por la red. Me pareció que recopilarla podria ayudar a extender esos trabajos tan geniales e imaginativos.
Hay muchiiiisimos... es verdad y es dificil comentar en todos ellos; quizas ese sea el problema que al no recibir comentarios parece como que no le importas a nadie y entonces vas perdiendo la ilusión y buscando otros caminos pero....
I Love My Blogs.
Podriamos intentar darles más protagonismo pues a mi me parecen una fuente muy fuerte de información y divulgación; podriamos intentar comentar más en ellos para que se vea que nos visitamos aunque solo sea un saludo breve.
¿lo intentamos??
Besos
Catherine, I don't have a blog, everybody knows that. I would not be able to handle it and I need to respect my boundaries. However, I have a huge respect for people who do blog and I enjoy reading and leaving comments, sometimes to share, sometimes to applaud them, and sometimes to just simply encourage them. Also, I am so very grateful for everything I have learned from talented bloggers who have shared their precious knowledge on their blogs.
ReplyDeleteI joined facebook a few years ago just to be able to see my children and grandchildren's photos. But, let me tell you, I don't like it. It's better not to go into the reasons as I don't want to offend anyone. I've gotten to the point now where I'm simply exhausted and I even have trouble reading my blogs and commenting. It seems like the computer has taken over my life and has almost become a necessity, an obsession, an addiction. Perhaps it's because I am an aging woman living alone, I don't know. I need to get out more and walk more and take fresh air. I need to start being more with real life people, not just people in my computer. I just need to bring about a change in my life. I know all this sounds drastic but I have reached that point and I don't even have a blog, I just read them and leave comments. Nevertheless, I do prefer blogs to facebook. There is more sharing on blogs, especially when the blogger responds to us. It's nice to have a response. When the bloggers respond, there is a feeling of caring there!
You are a valued 'follower' of mine Lucille. I so much appreciate your contributions to my blog and this discussion. :-) I have never cared that you don't have a blog. :-)
DeleteHi Lucille! I also enjoy your comments and I am distressed to hear about your exhaustion! You are a valued member of the blogging community so PLEASE take care of yourself, physically as well as emotionally. You are our friend.
Deleteelizabeth
Catherine...confessions ...I have facebook and twitter but give me blogs anyday.....new to the blogging world mine has taken off slowly but surely.......I say hooray for blogging!!!
ReplyDeleteyes, my dear Catherine, I also, I have noticed a slow but radical change, including with regard to the people who followed my blog. I get much less comment on it, for some time.
ReplyDeleteperhaps because FB is faster and chat much closer to the people, and contacts are more real.
but in fact it is a shame to miss the work of the blog, in which we express our feelings and our creativity.
for me personally, however, is difficult to comment on the blog of some, like yours, where the window opening of the comments below the post, and not pop up.
In fact, I struggled to write now, this keeps me from many blogs where it is difficult to leave a comment, and with time, I do not write more, but I will continue just to look.
it is hoped that there will be a return to the blog, where you can publish much more photos than on FB, which is in my opinion, however, a more cold and superficial.
I use FB mainly to advertise my work for sale and, I confess, to play free online, too.
but the blog remains my great love.
kisses from Italy
Caterina
Thank you for your comment. Maybe if you try writing it some where else then copying and pasting in to those comment boxes you don't like to type in it would be easier. ;-)
DeleteAt first I thought I would answer each one of your comments. Now I see that it would be terribly redundant and I am not out to bore the bloomers off of everyone who reads this discussion. I have read and will continue to read every one of your comments and translate the ones made in other languages. A great big thank you for taking your time write them.
ReplyDeleteThese are my feelings about Blogging about miniatures.
In my life time I have been involved in several arts and crafts. Professionally and as a hobby (I hate that word hobby but I can't think of another word at the moment). Professionally there are arts that are as competitive and vicious as it gets, down right nasty in fact!!! BUT... I have NEVER found a nicer group of people then those that are involved in the miniature world. Whether they are selling their work or just sharing it. I mean that sincerely!!!
The best friends I have EVER made have been those I met through my interests. Now thanks to the internet and blogging, I have made some VERY dear friends. True, they are friends I have never personally met but someday I will meet them in person. Through emails and telephone conversations I feel I do know so many of you.
I have never had Facebook or Twitter. I did open a Pinterest account because I wanted to store various things I found. And because I kept finding my work with no reference to who made it.
From what I have heard and now from you too. Facebook is not a good format to share the process of making miniatures. It is too brief and impersonal. I think a blog is the only way to share what we do.
Someone said to me... "I can't believe you were willing to show that cat/dog in progress without fur on your blog." "No one does that!" I am happy to do that, flaws and all. I'm learning and sharing that fact.
Without you, your contributions here and your blogs my interest in miniatures would fade very quickly. I would bet there is not one person in my city or for 200 miles, making miniatures. Your blogs inspire me. It is true, I tend to read and comment on the blogs that have similar interests and tastes to my own.
I will be here (in Blogger). I hope you will be too.
Please save me from Facebook! I think it is a disingenuous massive marketing effort that invades privacy while swearing otherwise. Accordingly, is this Onion "expose" of Facebook satire or true? http://mashable.com/2011/05/22/facebook-onion-cia/
ReplyDeleteYo lo tengo muy claro, los blogs me gustan mucho más (tengo face y entro poquísimo), es mas cercano, tienes que elegir donde más cómo te encuentres. Hay verdaderos artistas que no tienen inconveniente de mostrar y enseñar todos sus trabajos, compartir también sus secretos y experiencias , eso es muy importante.
ReplyDeleteY como en todas partes no se puede estar, no hay suficiente tiempo , yo me quedo en los blogs:)
I use my blog, facebook and twitter, but all for very different purposes. Facebook is where I connect with far away family (I joined it to share photos with my sister who lives 6,000 miles away from me), some friends and a couple of work colleagues. I block and avoid all the rubbishy games and ignore the adverts. Twitter I use for work purposes and I never tweet about my doll hobby because my online doll hobby identity is something I do not wish to share with my colleagues in the world of higher education. My blog I started as a cathartic way to reconnect with my long held interest in miniatures and dolls and I've met lots of interesting people online this way who are amazing artisans. I've even been lucky enough to meet a few doll friends at a doll festival as a result of my blog activity. I do comment on other blogs and I really do appreciate it when others comment on mine. I don't always manage to update my blog regularly - on everyday life, work and volunteering commitments often make this difficult, however I do try to keep it periodically updated. Keep blogging - I love your work.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI am so glad you came in to voice your thoughts.
I love reading blogs and could waste too many hours doing so but am embarrassed that I don't always comment. That could be my insecurity - thanks to my rather awkward sense of humour if something can be phrased to be read the wrong way, that is how I'll phrase it!
ReplyDeleteI have a toe in Facebook and find it pleasant seeing what people are up to plus it is easy to click 'like' rather than having to actually think of something that hasn't been said already. I wonder though if conversation is disappearing online? Even on a forum I used to love, there are few twists and turns, just replies of praise to displayed items. (which deserve praise but there is more to friendship than show and tell)
Christine, If you have a twisted sense of humor you have landed in the right place. You can be sure I will appreciate it. ;-)
DeleteIn my case, my blogging slowed down when I had to go back to work. I have much less time for mini making than I used to and, therefore, less to blog about. :-( I think real life just gets in the way sometimes for everyone.
ReplyDeleteHola Catherine, pienso como la mayoría, aunque también creo que algo de culpa la tienen los de blogger, han hecho cambios, por ejemplo nos quitan el "reader" que considero una forma muy eficiente de mantenerme actualizada en las entradas de los blogs que me interesan.
ReplyDeleteAdemás también algunos dueños de blogs, son responsables por los pocos comentarios en sus blogs!
Sí, por ejemplo si tienen "word verification" eso desanima a cualquiera que quiera comentar.
Además, si deseamos comentarios en nuestros blogs, debemos ser más participativos en los blos que seguimos y comentar, comentar... comentar.
Creo que es la única forma de mantener a los blogs "vivos".
Un abrazo.
Obviously you struck a nerve with this subject! I do not have a Facebook account and I do not twitter...but have also noticed a lot of my favorite blogs going under. I heartily agree with your sentiments about the miniatures community and know for a fact that my dollhouse (now nearing completion), would NEVER had been finished without the advice, support and hand-holding I've gotten from all you guys.
ReplyDeleteJohn... You better not disappear from blogland because in terms of my favorites yours ranks a 10. That is between 1 and 10.
DeleteNow that your house is almost finished you are going to have to start making some very special things to go in it. I HOPE!!!!
I feel as though I have found my True friends in Blogland.... the miniatures community worldwide! I would never have had the awareness that anyone else was "out there" making dollhouses and miniatures if it were not for blogs.... and the skills and inspiration I have received from other bloggers is just irreplaceable! I have a facebook account that I mostly use to keep up with my sons and nieces and anyone else I sort of know... or knew... but I hardly ever post anything there and I have not shared my miniatures there. I usually find it annoying to try to keep up with who is posting what and whether I should care! I think I will stick to blogging, as a record of my projects and also as a way of connecting with others who are passionate about miniatures! But as with everything.... life sometimes interferes... and I have "blogfriends" who are no longer posting .... and I miss them and hope they are just off having fun doing other things!
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog today, but I know exactly what you mean. A few years ago I was a very active mom blogger with a ton of followers and a popular blog. Over the last 3 years I watched the traffic dwindle to nothing, and many of my favorite blogs died off as well. I do think Facebook and Twitter are the driving force behind this shift. But I thoroughly enjoyed visiting your blog. I just started a mini blog too, so I hope you'll stop by.
ReplyDeleteI am kind of a newbie blogger and I am really enjoying it. I don't FB or Twitter either. I think so many people here have eloquently said exactly what I think as well. I love reading other people's blogs as they are so interesting!
ReplyDeleteIt's blogs for me! I haven't taken the time to figure out either Facebook or Pinterest and I haven't even looked at Twitter. Luddite I may be but I'm happy with my blog and love to see, by way of other folks' blogs, exactly what they're up to and how they did it.
ReplyDeleteCatherine, just for the record, I must admit that I have met some wonderful people on facebook that I would not have met otherwise, such as Maritza Moran, for one. She now has a blog, by the way. Also, it is a quick way to get in touch with someone. And, it does enable me to keep in touch with my busy, busy, busy granddaughters and look at the pics of their adventures. However, it can never replace blogs when it comes to miniatures and I have met some pretty fantastic people in blogland also.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering the same thing, too. My last give-away only 13 people entered. In past years the numbers were well over 100.
I know I have to partially take the blame for my blog's lack of readership. I've not put in as much effort as I used to. And I rarely comment on the blogs I follow. But I do enjoy reading them.
I use Facebook to catch up with relatives and friends. But my blog is really where I get to talk about my art. And I love reading what others have to say about theirs. Blogs just seem more personal than the quick blurbs of FB and Twitter. I certainly hope they do not go the way of the dinosaur.
Hi Catherine! Thanks for this interesting post! I am also on FB, regularly thinking about leaving it again as it is not the right place for me to make friends. BUT there are a handful of non-mini-friends to whom I have contact mostly via FB which is why I stay there. For me it was like discovering a whole new world when I found Blogland. So many talented people out there who share their thoughts and work and take time to encourage you with your own work. It is such a friendly "place" and I can also say that I found some real friends here without ever meeting. And it is a patient place :D You do not loose your followers so soon when not finding time to blog. And sometimes people even take care and ask if everything is okay when you don´t write for a while. How kind is that!?
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend!
Sandra
Late but still in time I hope.
ReplyDeleteI cannot add anything to what so many people have so skillfully said.
In short:blogs forever!
I have a Fb account,a much forgotten one,which I do not follow,I do not twit ;o) but I definitely love blogland which has granted me with so much joy and frienship as I could never expected
Blogs are real,are friendly and they are a mirror of the people behind them, you can't lie on blogs, sooner or later real nature comes out.
Blogs will live for good :o)))
Rosanna
No doubt about it then!
DeleteWE ARE ALL HAPPY WITH BLOGGING! :-)
Thanks to Everyone for their great comments.
Comparto todo lo que dices, yo tambien tengo cuenta en Facebook, mas rápido, pero después de poco más de un año, ya me cansa, los que verdaderamente me interesan no se actualizan en mi muro, y solo veo anuncios que no me interesan para nada.
ReplyDeleteEl blog hay que cuidarlo, hay que publicar a menudo si no se olvidan rapidamente, y al mismo tiempo hay que visitar a menudo los otros de compañeros de aficion, porque muchos te visitan porque tu has ido a comentar, cosa que me parece bien, a todos nos gusta que nos visiten y nos comenten nuestras cosas, nosotras estamos contentas, nos visitan muchos seguidores a menudo. Los blogs necesitan dedicación,a traves de ellos se hacen se hacen grandes amigos que incluso hemos llegado a conocer!
Besos de las Malu´s.
I have been on Facebook since january this year, and I think for a miniaturist it will never be as valuable with FB as it is following blogs. It`s blogs that give me inspiration and learn me how I can do/make things. I don`t get that from FB, at least for me it feels like that. It`s very few people making dollhouses here in Norway and around where I live I only know about my sister and I, so blogs has been very importent for me. But of course there are times that real life make you have to do other things than minis and blogs. And writing English take more time for me since Norwegian is my language, so I try to use photo a lot, don`t write to much. And it`s a little tiring to read very long blogpost in another language. I have put a couple of minis (with link to my blog) on Facebooks too, that is to make people aware of my blog. I`m also very happy for the blogfriends I have got :) It`s easy to click the "Like" button but I prefer minis in blogs. Hope you understand my english.
ReplyDeleteMona
Mona.... Your English is WONDERFUL!!! Thank you for coming in to voice your feelings.
DeleteIt was Blogland that opened a whole new world of miniature inspiration for me and I really appreciate the time people take to share their ideas, projects and thoughts. It has definitely changed and many more miniaturists now only use FB but I like writing my blog as a personal record of my collection and projects.
ReplyDeleteI often read posts but must admit because I follow so many I do not often leave comments anymore which is something I must address.
I hope that we continue to share despite FB, Pinterest and the awful Twitter.
Thank you Janice. I am glad you feel that way. I also LOVE blogs.
ReplyDeleteHello Catherine! For years my friend Janine of Minworks tried to get me re-interested in miniatures via the blogs. At the time, I was totally computer illiterate and knew NOTHING about this world except for what Janine had occasionally showed me, on the internet, but didn't think that it was important to me or that it could influence me in any way. Upon receiving a hand me down laptop from my daughter, I started seeing for myself what I had heard Janine talk about for so many years and discovered that there is a world of miniaturists that have done some SPECTACULAR work and that they presented it to the world in an creative inviting and encouraging atmosphere that I wanted to become a part of.
ReplyDeleteI have been actively blogging now since December 2012 and I have enjoyed it enormously. I am still learning the Techy side of all of this and don't know what the FB is all about so I can speak neither for or against it. I do love Pinterest though and I see that most of the traffic comes to my blog through it. I think of Pinterest as Eye Candy and the blog as Food For Thought. What I know for sure is this, that because I blog, My work has improved and my communication skills are steadily improving and this is a direct result of the on-going encouragement of this community of women and men who have shared their talents via the blog. By showing others how and what they are doing, they inspire us all to try what we never knew we could do. When the audience takes the time to leave comments it encourages the blogger to keep blogging. By responding to comments the reader is allowed to participate in the creative process. There is an energy that is transmitted via the blog that generates even More energy! I wish people would realize how IMPORTANT comments are, to ALL who blog and ALL who read the blogs. Perhaps if they did then there wouldn't be this fear that Blogs are an endangered species.
People go where the people are, NO comments LOOKS like No people, so No blog.
elizabeth
Elizabeth... You have fantastic writing skills. You have expressed yourself beautifully here.
ReplyDeleteSo many people have said... I READ a lot of blogs but I rarely comment. That astonishes me because a comment is the least I can do for someone who spent heaven knows how many hours making something. No telling how many hours photographing there work and writing a post to share it with me. I say me because if I am one of their "Followers' (and I read the post) they are sharing it with ME.
Speaking only for myself... If I don't comment, it feels like I am taking something from them without giving anything back.
Welcome to my blog and to Blogland. Thank you for leaving such a wonderful comment here.
You've just clarified my own attitude to blogging Catherine. I try to leave comments as often as time permits because I know what a warm glow it gives me when someone takes time to leave me a comment. Miniature bloggers are kind and generous and very helpful to one another. I feel happy that I have this community to share with as there is no-one close in RL who 'gets' miniatures and so, I try to return the friendship.
DeleteI would hate to see blogs becoming a thing of the past, but at the same time I find that facebook is complementary to blogs. I am also on facebook, it helps me to discover new miniaturists and to dixcover new blogs It also has enabled me to make my work known to other people who have no blogs. Facebook is also good for advertisement. Nevertheless I find there is more on blogs, more explanations and pictures. On blogs you can tell a story. For me a blogs is more like a book, facebook is more "a quick view". Many people have both a blog and a facebook account. Concerning forums I don't know as I have never participated to one.
ReplyDeleteGeneviève
This is a very interesting discussion Catherine, I've been watching it from the sidelines off and on for a few days when I've had just a moment to pop on and read but no time to think and comment.
ReplyDeleteI think that the 'role' of each type of Social Media is different and that they complement each other in many ways. I may have missed it but I haven't seen anyone mention Instagram. Artists and crafters are taking to it in droves and I can see why - it's so easy to upload an image directly from the phone it's taken on, complete with a description or comment of some kind, and followers can comment back. It's a technology that because it's so quick and easy really encourages more sharing of work, including 'work in progress' pics (I suspect that mobile blogging may well work similarly). Instagram pics can be added to a blog sidebar and co-ordinated with FB so that it allows you to reach all of your online community groups.
Now I must dash and make some breakfast! After which I was planning on taking pics of the French kitchen but the bright morning sun has disappeared behind a bunch of clouds gosh darn it. It seems to be the story of my life at the moment – if I’m out or busy the sun is shining, as soon as I make a plan to take photos it disappears. I’m beginning to feel like the victim of a cosmic conspiracy LOL
Instagram...Oh dear more reasons for bloggers & blog readers to disappear.
DeleteI can't keep up with all this stuff.
Hi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteI was very keen to look at your beautiful Azaleas but for some reason I can't access the post. I have tried many different ways but no luck. It shows on my blog reader list and when I click on it your face book post comes up instead. I thought I should let you know incase others are having the same problem.
Fi x
Fi
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry! it isn't you. I removed the post.
Catherine XXX
Catherine, I think this is the first time I put a comment in your Blog, although I visit you from now and then, and I appreciate it very much, congratulations for your work
ReplyDeleteI think this is an important matter to talk about, I´ve noticed also less traffic in my Blogs and I thought it was my fault, I´ve been less participative, I loose my self in other artistic activities and I think that I cannot accelarate my work in order to show you new projects, they are in my hands, but they will took some more months to accomplish. I can try to be more participative in other miniature Blogs, and may be go on posting with other matters of interest to me.
One of my problems is that I always use my own photos in my Blog (as many others do of course) and this takes too much time, and I don´t like very much to see my photos without asking my permission, may be I´m wrong.
I don´t use neither FB nor Twitter nor Pinterest, I appreciate very much the Blog wolrd and lets do something to maintain it.
Thank you Catherine,
Ana
catherine, i hope that blogging doesn't ever stop.i'm probably one of the last people under 60 to have (recently) gained internet access,and even though i may make a faux pas or 2 when i comment,it has opened up a whole new world for me!i still don't know alot about facebook,but i do know that the things you and other bloggers share with fellow miniature lovers is priceless!just the comments posted here show what a special person you are and how well thought of,to share your talented gift with us.thank you so much! kat
ReplyDeleteThank you Kat. You are always welcome here.
DeleteXXX
me quedo con los blogs...
ReplyDelete