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

[stephbg.livejournal.com]

I only became seriously interested in lj after Swancon 2007. I'd seen you around Swancons over the years, and heard you speak as the Fan Guest of Honour last year, so I friended you to check out your journal in convenience. I stumbled into the middle of the 100 days posts and an incredibly intense period in your life, and had to do some catch up reading to get the full (or at least a bit more) context.

I continued to read because I am fascinated by the honesty and rawness of your posts; I am familiar with the people if not the individuals you write about; I like your pictures; and you're occasionally amusing. When you wrote that you're obsessed with lj comments I recognised that and was happy to feed your addiction :-)

All this has made me post in my own lj far more openly than I might have otherwise. Yes, you have Influenced Me.

I don't obsessively read every word you write, but I do tend to read almost everything on my flist, so it works out much the same. LJ is my new drug (and home page), a drip-feed of the fascinating conversations and personalities I used to only get to enjoy once per year.

You can show this comment if you like.
Yes

[dalekboy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my Friends List is my homepage. It's the only way for me to hope to keep up. I don't read every word of most other folks LJs. And I tend to have the choice of either reading a bunch and maybe commenting on one or two, or reading none and commenting on a bunch... or posting! Just don't have the concentration for lots of text.

Comment addiction is a terrible thing. "It's been up for nearly half an hour and no-one's replied!"

[dalekboy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, missed you at pancakes, but totally get the need to rest :)

Over the years, because I tended to do a lot of stuff on stage for a crowd, I've had a lot of people act like they know me well, and it took a little while to realise that it was because I was up there in front of them, talking openly, so they felt they knew me. It doesn't bother me, most people are good, and it makes it easier for me to get to know them if they already feel comfy with me :)

The odd thing I have now is that people have been reading 100 days, and while I know what they're reading and what I'm writing, there's still that bizarre, self-conscious moment when they say "I read most of your stuff" where I go "Oh God, they know all about my cock!" and want to hide. Happened at Conflux, too!

You're one of those people who, over the years, I have meant to get to know better. Between time management, trying to catch up and make time for the people who are already firm friends, and in the more recent times, having to balance concentration and energy, I haven't done a good job with you and others. Though I am working on it a lot more actively now, since... well... I could have woken up paralysed a year back - life is too short to fuck about.