AKMA's Random Thoughts

November 13, 2002

On [Blog] Absence

Margaret says:

When someone who blogs regularly stops for a few days, I always wonder what the best thing to do is. If you write and say, where are you? you might be bugging someone who just wants a break and doesn't want to feel pressured to write all the time. If you don't say anything, then someone who is deathly ill or who is feeling unloved might think that noone cares. I wonder if it might be good to establish a little e-postcard checklist that could be sent out to someone who has lapsed a bit, just to ease (or alarm) the minds of the rest and to clarify the situation to everyone's benefit. It might
include some of the following:

I have not been blogging recently because:

I am really sick and can't even focus to see the keyboard.
   Please leave me alone.
    Please send flowers and lots of email.

My inlaws/old college roommates/IRS auditors are here.
    Please leave me alone.
    Please distract me with lots of email.

My dog/cat died.
    Please leave me alone.
    Please send flowers and lots of email.

I am having a nervous breakdown.
    Please leave me alone.
    Please send flowers and lots of email.

I have lost my internet connection.
    Please send money.
    It's pointless--I can't even get this email.

I have lost my job/spouse/house/lover/therapist.
    Please leave me alone.
    Please send money/spouse/house/lover/therapist.

I hate blogging this week and never want to blog again.
    Please leave me alone.
    Please blog why I am right.
    Please blog why I am wrong.
    Please send Tim Tams.

I had a birthday/anniversary/blogging anniversary/great blog entry/conference and no one noticed/came.
    Please leave me alone.
    Please call me on the phone, everyone.
    Please send chocolate.

No one understands me anyway.
    Please leave me alone.
    Please just pretend I'm Chris Locke and don't try to understand me.
    Please just pretend you understand me and leave clever comments.


Honest, when I was offline for a few days last week, it was cause of server problems. But if you want to send Tim Tams or chocolate, that’s fine with me. Just don’t pretend I’m Chris Locke. I leave that to Halley. Or was that Tom?

Posted by AKMA at November 13, 2002 04:31 PM | TrackBack
Comments

I thought about hanging up a sign on my blog for the last few days that said, "Gone sickin'," but I couldn't even muster the energy for that.

Not to mention it sounds kind of nasty.

Posted by: steve at November 13, 2002 10:24 PM

What if it's all of the above?

:-)

Posted by: Euan at November 14, 2002 01:23 AM

You know, that blog was beautiful. I'll have to tell all my friends!

Oh...please send a therapist and money. Thanks.

Posted by: Tripp at November 14, 2002 06:58 AM

And what if a person is silent and no questions their silence? This would only re-affirm what the person suspects in that no on truly cares.

Posted by: Shelley at November 15, 2002 04:38 PM