Saturday, July 09, 2005

Traveling through Blogspace (finding things)

I remember when I started this blog, I couldn't even find anyone else's page. Then from the dashboard I found, "Blogs of note" from there I would hit the "next blog" button and I could cruise through blogs that way. That's how I found a lot of blogs I regularly read.

But I kept noticing more and more ads, inactive old blogs, and pages of weird crap.

I have found a better way to travel. I click on a blogs comments, pick an interesting one, and go to that persons blog. From there, I find an interesting coment someone else has made and go to their blog. This way, I jump from cool blog to cool blog and I seldom, if ever, come across any junky ones.

It's also fun to follow the "tags". When a person "tags" someone, it's like they are given an assignment to answer questions or something, and then tag someone else. It travels around and around from one person to another and one can follow the tags in either direction. You find a lot of stuff, and you find loops, that take you around to places you've been before. A while ago I followed a tag all the way around to myself! That was cool, things started getting familiar but I was still surprised to see my name and page pop up! (By the way, I tagged Anduin a long time ago but she apparently hasn't found it yet! (scroll down, way far!!))

When I first started my blog, I was searching out to find out how it was done and what it was all about. Now that I have a circle of friends here whose blogs I regularly read, my circle tends to quit growing, maybe even to shrink. I try to always search for a while for new stuff, as well as maintain my regular "rounds".

One pitfall is that this tends to make you spend an ever increasing amount of time online, which I do not recommend, almost anything outside is better than being on the computer. If I am online, it is because it is cloudy and/or raining, dark outside, or (don't tell a soul) I'm at work. Right now it's cloudy and there's big waves from the storm that passed, so no beach, no diving.

Its the same on this island, it tends to shrink with time. When I first moved here, I knew only one person. I went out, met people, and got a circle of friends. Then, having a circle of friends, I kinda quit actively looking. Over the years, people from my circle leave the island and they are not replaced. So my circle of friends slowly gets smaller and smaller. One tends to become more and more isolated. I think this happens in larger communities too, but it's easier recognize it here.

I think it's important to not let this happen. And it takes ACTION!

8 Comments:

Blogger Daisy Mae said...

I know what you mean about your circle growing smaller. The other day I realized I haven't called my best friend since before Christmas. Well I am pissed because she owes me $25, but still!

When I think of all of the friends that I have lost touch with it is amazing.

Maybe I'll start a New Years resoluton to stop doing that.

July 09, 2005 1:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I also understand the problem with a shrinking circle. I never had a large group of friends but what I did have was tight.

It seems that I was the first to break the circle when I moved to Alaska.

I came back to Jersey two years later but so much had changed and people moved on.

My last closest friend moved to Florida almost two years ago. My best bud is in Connecticut which is not very far but we can longer just run over to each others house to unwind.

Why is it so difficult to find new friends when you are an adult?

I know I spend way too much time on the computer. I use Pluck.com to streamline the process and search for blogs and news that would interest me. Pluck is an RSS reader and saves a lot of time.

July 09, 2005 2:22 PM  
Blogger Chris & Cheryl said...

You tagged me??? Geez, I didn't even know it. Imagine how thrilled I was when I read that on your blog. Hehehe, now I have to find it. You'll be hearing from me.

July 09, 2005 2:36 PM  
Blogger Chris & Cheryl said...

Aha!!! I found it! I'm sorry I didn't catch it, I missed a few days of your posts. My husband has complete control of the computer at home so I don't often have the chance to read my favs. Most of the posting I do is at work. I won't tell if you won't. :)

July 09, 2005 2:54 PM  
Blogger blogexpressions said...

see and your blog is just getting better and better. :)

July 09, 2005 4:12 PM  
Blogger Isaac said...

Thanks for all the comments on my blog. I enjoyed reading through your blog since this is the first time that I've read it. Blogging can be a great way to express your feelings and what's going on in your life. May your circle continue to grow. :)

July 09, 2005 7:51 PM  
Blogger Marie said...

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your very kind words you left in my comments this evening. I SO appreciate it. It helps to know that someone reached out to me. Especially when I'm feeling the feelings that I have right now. Thank you. -Marie

July 10, 2005 3:10 AM  
Blogger Southern Sweetheart said...

Hi Mark -- found your blog via Maria (Scorpio M)and thought I'd check you out. Interesting posts...I'll be back! :)

July 11, 2005 12:46 AM  

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