#814: The Great Mofo Delurk 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007 
While twittering a couple of days ago, Sweetney, Jenandtonic, and I lamented the recent drop in comments we have each had on our respective websites, and it seems that we are not the only ones who have noticed this. I have been up and down this internet over the last few weeks and found that there seems to be a drop in comments everywhere.
And I do mean everywhere. From small twenty-hits-a-day weblogs to ones that receive thousands of visitors before noon, people are falling silent when it comes to entering text into the small, white comment boxes, and quite frankly, no matter how many hits you get on any given day, it is a little disheartening to have your comments drop from three to one or from 500 to 250.
In a way, I am kind of glad that this is a widespread problem, because I was about to start checking my armpits (yep, I'm wearing deodorant) and my shoes (nope, no animal dung) and testing to see if I had been using my outside voice too much again (I don't think I have). So, it is not just me! And it is not just you!
It is the commenters, (which are also you and me), who have been falling down on the job. There has been a sharp rise in mofo lurkers around this here interweb, and they need a great big shove into the light of day, because it is not healthy for anyone to leave them, (which may also be us), hiding behind the bushes underneath our respective windows.
All of the above is why Sweetney, Jenandtonic, and I are bringing The Great Mofo Delurk 2007 to you on Wednesday, October 3rd. It is time that all you lurking mofos delurked, and we have given you six days to prepare yourselves (and ourselves, ahem). On October 3rd, delurk you mofos! Say hello! Share who you are! Put an end to your m*th*rf*ck*ng lurking and leave a comment!
We want to hear your voices in our comments, and we will love you mofo'n lurkers for it. We really will.
If you would like to participate in The Great Mofo Delurk 2007, feel free to use one of the following 135x135 buttons. Simply copy and paste the code below the buttons into an entry or your template and bring those mofos out of hiding next Wednesday. Remember to retype the word "colour" in the code below as the colour of the button you want to use. The available colours are: purple, red, pink, orange, grey, green, blue, and black.
the metablogging
Reader Comments (241)
Nobody comments on my blog anymore either. I'd like to think it's because my wit is intimidtaing.
Henceforth, I shall comment moreo n your blog.
I'd use your fancy button, but I don't think wordpress will let me.
Facist.
I am guilty of not commenting on your either, Uberfrau. Mea culpa.
I think it's because most writers are writing better and readers are awed into silence.
That would of course explain the increase in my comments.
Can I delurk today?
I don't know what my commitment level to delurking will be like next Wednesday. But I can commit to it today.
and yeah, it's quiet out there these days. Like the calm before the storm.
Maybe algore is going to close the internet for cleaning or something.
Anyway, I am now officially delurked.
Have a good weekend.
i must admit that commenting has become a little frustrating for me of late. most of the good sites that i read tend to be more "popular" bloggers (which makes sense...duh...they are popular because they are good)...and many of the popular bloggers dont reply to comments or emails because they get too many. now, i'm not faulting them for doing it, i totally understand, but sometimes it makes me think twice about commenting. like the blogger doesn't really care about my comment...or something.
so maybe other people are feeling like that too?
Because I am one of the worst offenders, I put one of your cute buttons on my site and pledge to leave a comment for everyone on my reader list including you. MOFO no mo'!
Ali, I get that feeling, too, and then I remember all the comments I've never responded to on my own site but truly enjoyed, and I know that it can be difficult to have so many conversations in one day. But look! I'm responding!
This is actually something I'm trying to work on, so thanks for mentioning it.
Wheeeee! I shall post your button this evening! If those mofos don't delurk, I will tell their mommies.
I never thought bloggers thought much about comments from readers they don't know personally. I follow about 25 blogs daily and I don't think I've commented once on any of them. You guys seem so untouchable. Even smaller bloggers seem to know the blog celebrities in the real world. It's like you're all part of the cool club but you let us less cool people listen in on the fun. I guess thats why I've never delurked before. The less cool aren't supposed to interupt the club's conversations...
I'm not worried about leaving semi-incoherent, offtopic comments on blogs, so I leave "good post" or "I agree" when I have nothing witty to add, or don't want to pick a fight. But I'm a Commenter, and a confirmed non-lurker. Most web users are lurkers though, and us Commenters just have to accept that they are different and aren't mofos. Although I think your idea is funny, it's realistically misdirected and definitely egotistical :-) I wish I'd thought of it.
Becky, I do care about comments. It's nice to know that people are paying attention and that I'm not just whistling in the wind. Plus, it's an excellent way to find new blogs to browse through.
Also, the "cool kids" aren't even commenting on each others' blogs that much.
Saskboy, did you just call me egotistical? Well, I never!
I think your buttons are pretty.
A delurk request, with buttons yet, is a great idea, and here's why: Notwithstanding the Dooces of this world, most of us bloggers do it for free, or maybe for coffee money if you've got ads on your site. Conversation and comments are the real currency of blogland. Every blogger feels it, some mention it, but only Schmutzie goes out of her way to create buttons and build some entertainment into the request. If I were having this conversation at work, I'd be using terms like 'value added', but I'm at home, so I'll just say it's awesome.
The above from my spouse makes me go aawwww.
I am an offender. And offended against. Count me in.
I'm not an always lurker at your blog, just a mostly lurker, and I'm always early. To every party, just waiting in an anxious vapor of sweaty fear and uh...probably vodka.
I've noticed a drop in comments too, and I'm going to blame it on google reader. It's so easy to breeze through posts that aren't set to show just a partial. Of course, that leaves me with NO excuse about your blog. Your blog which inspires me to examine my own thoughts and words just a little more closely.
It's a combination of bloggers going mainstream and reading like womens magazines plus the fact that lurkers are now reading more people's blogs and not wanting to write themsleves.
Tone will provoke comment, asking for help on an issue will provoke comment, sounding less authoratative will provoke comment, empathy with the reader will provoke comment. The MOFO delurk will provoke comment.....
Boy, I would love to participate and post one of those little buttons on my blog, except for the heavy emphasis on the word mofo! I'm a relatively new blogger, but I'm guessing swearing at the lurkers isn't going to make them want to write more comments.
Jen
No one ever comments on my blog but then, I think it's got to do with the writing. Anyway, I'm going to take one of those cute little buttons and see if it'll make the comments go up from 0 to maybe 1 or 2.
*waves from lurk-land*
Lurking is the people-watching of the blog world, and I am very good at people-watching.
*blushes*
*attempts to think of something to say that isn't 'gee i wish it were lunchtime now'*
*retreats, defeated*
this is the main reason i am a contented lurker. i blame years of television. however, your buttons have inspired me to attempt to become a better blogger.
Delurking, since I know I may not do so next week.
Me love you long time. Keep doing that thing you do.
Dear Schmutzie,
I'm still pretty new to your blog -- so I hope that gets me a pass on lurking?? :-D It takes me a while before I comment -- don't want to just say something fluffy to hear myself (or see myself, as it were) speak... ;-)
I came to you by way of Citizen of the Month and have been enjoying quietly, but no more! This wheel is gonna squeak from now on. I am a staunch supporter of de-lurking -- as evidenced by my own "Don't be just another blog-lurking bitch..." banner on my own blog. Of course, it's only mildly affected my lurkers -- they still lurk, but I do get a comment once in a blue moon. ;-)
Love the buttons -- I will definitely sport one on 10/03/07! Also, I added a link to you on my "Friends and Links" list on my blog...and made you a twitter friend! Now do you feel loved or what??
;-D vanessa aka the_butterfly
So much delurking already! This makes me a happy individual. Just remember to come back on the 3rd!