Saturday, June 19, 2010

On Comments


I hope you all see what is happening here by reading the comments in the post I did yesterday about my comment frustrations. I really wasn't asking for more comments. I needed to hear all your opinions and explanation as to why you thought I was bummed and you all were right. And the fact that you took the time to help me get over this (as you do every couple months when I get into this comment funk) is everything.

When I taught I once came into the staffroom at lunch in a foul mood. I had a bad class and was bitchin' about how the kids were all ungrateful little rodents who didn't have once ounce of appreciate for teachers or the school or their parents and anything else I could come up with.

One old teacher just watched me twist and spin. And when I came up for air he took out his wallet and passed a laminated piece of paper no larger than a business card in front of me.

It was a hand written note left on his desk by a kid thanking him for all the time and effort he put into teaching him all the years he did.

He told me it was the only such gesture he had received in 35 years of teaching and this guy was a legend. He was often sought after by Universities all over North America to speak on his methods teaching high risk youth. The ones LEAST likely to appreciate anything.

I realized the truth right away. You can't do what you love with the hope that you will receive praise for it. It's the wrong way to look at things and life.

Thanks for reminding me about that. Next time I forget I hope you will remind me again and again and again the time after that.

6 comments:

Kelly Sedinger said...

It's perfectly normal, you know. Ninety percent of the time I'm happy as a clam to blog away, but then there's the ten percent of the time when I think, "Eight years of putting heart and soul into this and I still never get more than two hundred hits in a day?!"

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

AND your stuff is a smart commentor's DREAM. It's insanity man. When I find the guy who invented this 'blog' stuff I am taking him out. It's digital crack that's what it is. All the punks out there with their video games and their thumb tweets and their sexting have NO idea what we go through her in the blogosphere. Welcome to the jungle bitches. Here are the REAL fun and games.

(too much?)

M. D. Jackson said...

I work in the media and the one thing they always tell us is that whatever feedback you get... letters to the editor... customers coming in with coupons... angry phone calls... what have you... represents less than 10% percent of your actual reader/listenership.

(at 10% I'm being generous. I've heard estimates as low as 3%)

I'm assuming the same goes for blogs. The folks who stop and comment represent a small minority of your readers. People are reading and thinking about it, even if they don't say anything.

The Invisible Seductress said...

Wait did you just give me permission to spank you again in the future??? You're on!! I'll be here ready and willing next time you get down...

<3

Ps. I was going to write something of great intelligence and social relevance here, instead I opted for the easy way out..ass smackin' humor..My next comment will be full of big words and wisdom. Stay tuned.

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

I hope my butt recovers by then Seductress.

You know I have no problem with working 'blue' so make all the filthy potty mouth comments you want. No, seriously, MAKE THEM. Then repeat what you said slowly with that giggle at the end. Yeh, that will work.

WHAT? (too much again?)

Cal's Canadian Cave of Coolness said...

So, MD, what you are saying is that I ALREADY rule the world but it's a massive conspiracy that is keeping me from knowing about this? That IS what you are telling me right? Damn the MAN. Keeping me down again. I swear I will rise up and with my kitten army and I will crush all who oppose me in a frenzy of scratching and high pitched meowing cuteness!

WHAT IS IT NOW???

(okay, even that was too far for me)