Who's reading?

[dalekboy]

At Conflux I was chatting with a mate and something got brought up to which I said 'I don't know if you saw my Livejournal post on such-and-such,' and she replied, 'I read everything you write.'

It kind of surprised me, mainly because I figure people have better things to do than read my LJ. Okay, I know I have a couple of hundred readers, but still my expectation is that they'll dip in from time to time, rather than read me regularly. Sure, there are people with whom I try to make sure I read all their posts, but I don't expect others to do the same with mine.

But when I stopped to think about it, I remembered a few comments from various people. A couple of folks who, on discovering this journal, went right back to the beginning and read through the whole thing. The people who commented on how they regularly go back and check to make sure they haven't missed posts. So, even if my friend was not quite that zealous, some people would appear to be.

So, this is a question for that small group of you that go to the extra effort to read most, if not all, of what I write on here. See answering it as a way to say thanks.

Why? Why read so much of what I'm carrying on about?

I have a fair few anonymous readers, people who don't have LJ's, or at least don't use them to comment. So what draws you here? I mean for many folks, we're friends, but that doesn't require you to read every bloody thing I write! For some, we've barely or never met. So what is it that keeps you coming back? Especially for periods like the last year where, let's face it, it's been a bit of a chore at times.

I'd prefer the casual readers, the folks who only bother with it when they just happen to see a post, to not respond.

For those of you who go out of your way to keep up with my written meanderings, no matter when you end up reading this, no matter if you don't have an LJ account, I'd love know why.

All comments screened unless you clearly tell me otherwise or end the comment with a "Yes".

Comments

[shrydar.livejournal.com]

I'll start with my general position, then get a little more personal ;)

To be quite frank, if someone's LJ is not sufficiently interesting for me to read every single post (though the more they post, the higher the bar), it doesn't stay on my Default View for very long. And if you're off my default view, you're not so likely to survive the next flist cull. You post a fair bit, so you must rate reasonably highly ;). I'm also a completist - I don't like doing things by halves. There are only two or three novels I've ever given up on, one movie I've almost walked out of, and I try to get to every rehearsal for a performance.

Friending policies and my own neuroses aside, your candour and self analysis tend to make all of your posts well worth my time. Always thought provoking, rarely dull, and as stephbg pointed out further up - your glastnost can be quite inspirational. You sometimes say things that I've not had the courage to speak out on myself, so in that regard reading and occasionally commenting acts to support views I've yet to make a stand on. (not that you're always right, of course ;-). Your predilection for Doctor Who is another point in your favour, as are your anonymous polls that allow me to influence others conception of what your readership consider to be normal. Reading the results of those is interesting, too.

yes.

[dalekboy.livejournal.com]

Well, if I was always right, wouldn't that be rather dull? :-)

I do like the polls. Though it seems as if I can never cover all the bases on the answers - there's always some bugger who says "You didn't give me an option for..." and then I have to hunt them down and kill them.