Society for Aesthetic Deletions

Been meaning to do this for a while, just haven't had time.

the tiny blog survey

Ethics/Personal Life:

Has a blog post ever got you into trouble?

In trouble? No. But some friends have indicated I have a TMIblog. Hey, if you don't like it, don't read it. Or read it for the quizzes. You can even go right here and just get the quizzes alone.

How many people do you know face-to-face who read your weblog?

Oh geez...well...(counting)...some? I don't know everyone who reads my blog. I know Anne and Paula and Michael, and Ian. I think there are a few others that read it who don't have blogs or web pages, like Jack, and Betsy has said she's read it (and feels like a voyeur while doing so...hi Betsy!) I know some of the Ann Arbor crowd have read it, and I've met some of them at Ambercons. So, let's say 10.

Have you met any of your regional (or even remote) bloggers?

See, the thing is, many people I know on the 'net I know from online, and I've met them at gatherings, like AmberCons or Feng Shui (Ian and Jeanne). So yes, but before they blogged, not since.

Do you modify or delete posts? How often? Why?

Modify - all the time. To fix errors. Occasionally to add in something I forgot, or to give updates. I've only deleted one post, and that's because it was double-posted.

How much is your weblog a part of your personal identity? Do you feel like people who don't know about your blog don't really know you?

Two parts. Second first. No, I don't think so. My husband doesn't read my blog, and he knows me best out of anyone.

Now, part of my personal identity? Not really. I could still take it or leave it. Maybe I'm just used to it at this point, or am just busy. I'd miss it, but I could deal without it.

How has blogging changed your life?

My friends know more about me than they wanted to know. I find myself sometimes looking at things or experiencing things (like the drive back and forth to NH), and going - "I have to blog about this," or find myself composing part of a blog post in my head.

I don't read my online comics as much as I used to. My morning routine, when I got into work, was to start up email, fire up a browser and hit the three comics I was hooked on. Now, I do the same, but I fire up my blog page and hit all the links.

If I linked to my comics from my page, I'd probably hit them daily.

But other than my husband hearing about what I've blogged from other people, nothing's changed significantly.

Technical/Design:

Do you know how to code at all? Did you learn how to code by blogging?

I've done HTML since very early on. Not pre-images, but back when you'd browse using Mosaic. So I know how to code.

Nothing database-y (tried php...there was a reason why I didn't go into programming in college, even though my mother wished me to desperately), but I can html and stylesheet with the best of 'em.

What weblogging tool do you use and why?

Movable Type. I started out using Blogger, back in the day, then stopped blogging. Started up again last year, using Blogger, then decided I wanted a more reliable tool, something that didn't depend on other's servers for posting. Looked at Greymatter, but it just wasn't intuitive for me.

And I work hard at converting others to MT. Two and a half converts so far. Half because Ian tried, but his host was screwy, and he hasn't bothered after he moved, because the space is only temporary. He says.

Does the design seem like something that is just something that has to be dispensed with in order to be able to write publicly, or is your design an integral part of your writing and presentation?

Design is cool, but not enough for me to spend hours on it. Color schemes are important; I need to play with those some more. And I do have a design in mind for this site that's not so basic Movabletype template-ish. I need to get back to it, though.

By the time I'll do that, I'll want another design, I'll bet.

How many times have you changed your weblog design entirely (or nearly so)?

None, see above.

Readership/Motivation:

How many people would you guess (educated guess based on hit counts/logfiles) read your weblog on a weekly basis at least?

No idea. I'm not a StatHo. I love to look at the referrals, though. I could go look it up, I have Extreme Tracker and SiteMeter, but I'm too lazy.

What have you done to get more people to look at your site?

Nothing other than post.

What one or two characteristics make a blog really popular? Are there things that you could do to have more people read your weblog that you consciously do not do? Why?

There are tons of things I could do, but I'm not blogging for the world to read. That's not why I do it.

I think humor and thoughtful posts are what make a blog really popular. And not humor as links to funny things, but humor in the posts themselves. Like what Doyce often does with his posts, like this one.

I could try to be funny, but it's not me. I could try to be more political, or current-topic active, but I'm not a discussion board. While I love getting comments, I've dealt with the fact that I rarely do.

What really popular weblog do you think most deserves it...and/or least deserves it?

Hrm. I don't read a lot of popular blogs. I read friends' blogs, or acquaintences. People whom I know through mailing lists, mostly the Amber Mailing List, which I'm not even on anymore, or through games.

I think Wil Wheaton's blog is great, but maybe overrated.

And I agree with ***Dave that Doyce deserves to be more popular.

How do you feel about your readership? What makes for a quality readership to you?

Good lord, I have no idea. I love it that people want to read what I have to say, even if they say nothing back to me. I love it that people read quizzes I've posted, and then go off and take them and post the results on their own site. I must admit, I get a little thrill when someone links to me from their blog.

Influence of Other Bloggers:

What other blogger is most responsible for you starting your own weblog.

Urgh. No one. ::sighs::. I think reading articles on blogging back in the day was what got me going the first time. The second time - this time - it was 9/11.

Who was the first other blogger (that you know of) who put you on their sidebar, and how did you feel? How did it influence your blogging?

***Dave, I think. I was thrilled, excited, shared the moment with Anne, and was a geekgirl for a time. Loved it, someone wanted to link to ME, and I was thrilled.

It made me want to write, and better posts. But then I got over it, and relaxed.

What other blogger do you most admire for her writing skills?

Huh. Just realized this says "her", as does the following question. But I must say, it's MT Fierce, though as I was typing this, that changed. I was originally going to say someone else. Huh. Funny how the brain works sometimes.

What other blogger do you most admire for her design skills?

Paula, hands down. And she can write too, when she gets around to it.

Who is a blogger that you think is really good but doesn't get nearly the attention they are worthy of?

Oops, I answered that above. Doyce.

Do you feel obligated to have people on your link lists/sidebars that you never read?

Nope. Those links are there because they're the ones I check daily, or multi-daily.

I really should take Cassie Claire's link off. She's not updating until later this year, and I've got her on my friends list on my LJ anyway. But it does up the number of hits I get from search engines (heh).

What one or two characteristics define a really quality blog (in your humble opinion, of course)?

Didn't I answer this already? Humor and thoughtful posts.

Bonus Question:

Do you fear The Booge?

No, should I?