I have just spent the first couple hours of 09 reflecting on the good from last year and all the idiosyncrasies that occurred from my Active Rain Blogging. After over a year and a half I learned some things yesterday that made me think. And think I did...Who Follows us, and why? Why do they choose your Blog to read, especially if you don't have one of those glaring Subscribe to me buttons, and they have to actually make some effort to do so :)
This Post might just have a little bit of this and a little bit of that to it. Sort of like my friend Jason Sardi, where he knows what he's saying and some of us just shake our heads and say he said what.... LOL :) Anyway, I have some random things that I was thinking about a Blog.
- Who are Your Subscribers-Once or twice I have gone to the page that showed who they were. At first when they made this available, I wasn't sure I wanted to know. I saw people on there that I didn't really know, and wondered what they saw that made them want to come back. But most importantly I wanted to make sure I didn't change my writing to fit one person or another. I did feel somewhat guilty that I didn't visit all the blogs of the people on this list. And I saw many people that are no longer on Active Rain...so much for those subscriber numbers :)
- Why do people Unsubscribe-I learned that someone had been "following me" but one of my now several "Pot stirring" Posts ticked them off, so they unsubscribed. This person (I don't put names for this type of stuff) told me they were so angry that they read a little longer after that Post, but they just couldn't get past the anger my Post created. Anyway...after a year I found this out, and what a revelation it was. See, I never even knew they were subscribed, so I sure didn't know they had unsubscribed :) That was before AR made the list available.
Would I have done anything different, probably not, that's not me. Do I ask people why they unsubscribe? No, that's not me. I figure we all grow and change and when we started AR we subscribed to whoever gave us attention at the time :) But do we even like them anymore?
- Is it OK that I don't really like you - I have read several people that a particular Post was good, or even great. But the more I read I realized I don't like that person for one reason or another. It might be a comment they made on someone else's Post, or how they treated someone else. It could just be that their Philosophy doesn't match mine....but whatever it is I know I don't like everyone here on Active Rain. Is this OK to say? I would never say it Publicly...to say I do not like that Agent in City A, or Town B because they are a real jerk, or they lie too much, or they don't have an original idea in their bones.....everything is regurgitated from others :) Whatever it is I figure if I don't like someone that's OK.....just be as respectful as possible, and never burn a bridge unless you absolutely have to. Heck no one likes everyone, but we do have to work together, and blog together :)
- Why shouldn't we write whatever we want-How do our words effect other people? Do you really know everyone that reads, and what issues they may or may not be having? Let's say that you write that you are having a great year, but someone that knows you personally knows this is an exaggeration.....what does that do to your reputation? What if your Broker has totally different views than you and you insist it's your right to say whatever you want.....is it worth the hard feelings that might arise. What about clients...why would you want to alienate people just to prove your right to say something? Is it really worth it? Freedom comes with responsibility, and we have a responsibility as a community member to have as harmonious a community as is possible. That means keep your prejudices to yourself, and your biased views as well. Yes, it's your right to say what you feel, but think about the goal...does it benefit anyone besides YOU? Remember that case with the mother and what she said that drove the teenage girl to Suicide....words can and do hurt other people, so think before you post.
And then I have this question: Is everyone doing as well as they say they are :) If you're not doing so well you are not alone.......it has been tough for so many, the experienced, the new, the vendors, everyone. Being Positive doesn't mean we are doing great. But then again we don't try to fool others either :) Part of the Lessons learned with blogging...not everyone is as they appear :)
Hopefully everyone of us is truthful in our Blogs and comments, and don't leave people worse off for getting to know us. I have met some wonderful people on Active Rain, and also some real jerks. I can honestly say there are people on here I don't like....but it isn't my place to change them. For me, I just want to be a good community member....and share what I can, that is what I do with my Blog, and look for on yours.
By: Kathy McGraw- CELLing Realty in Riverside County ,CA Real Estate in Cabazon & Whitewater
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