Procrastinate like there's no tomorrow

[queenbarwench]

There were plenty of things I could have, and indeed should have done with my day. Have I done them? No. What have I done instead? tvtropes and cracked.com. These are deliberately not real links, so as to save you from my fate.

~x~

followfriday popped up on my reading page and I've been browsing some of the comms and people listed there. I now have a number of tabs open that are causing me some consternation.

Subscribing to communities is easy; I'm interested in the topic or I'm not, and I can always unsubscribe if the comm turns out to not be my thing. Subscribing to fic writers is also easy. I've found them because of their fic, I've left a comment to say I liked the fic and then I've subscribed. No particular mystery there.

But journals of people who make random and witty observations on their own life? I am not sure. I can be very passive on the internet. Even in RL, I'm bad at starting a conversation with a stranger. If they start the conversation I'll be fine and can hold my own on a range of topics. But online there are no visual cues, no common ground or observation about the late train and would the Tories be any better.

I sit here, with my self-doubt, wondering if these people are happy with being linked on followfriday, what their opinion is of random strangers subscribing to them, how I'll be viewed if I randomly chirp up in the middle of a discussion thread when they don't know me from Adam.

So, I'm curious. What's your position on adding random people or being added by them? Us shy and retiring types want to know.

~x~

In totally unrelated news, I really have to clean my oven. I can smell burning cheese (that presumably fell off one of Paz's pizzas), but what is supposed to be cooking is baking potatoes. Definitely time for the Mr Muscle.

Comments

[celandineb]

So, I'm curious. What's your position on adding random people or being added by them? Us shy and retiring types want to know.

I tend not to friend back until/unless I know someone; so if they start commenting occasionally and we get into enough discussion for me to feel there's some common ground, then I may add back. But I always have way more people/comms on my list than I can ever hope to read, so don't automatically friend back, and I have to filter, besides.

However I never mind being added/followed, and I don't mind new people commenting, assuming the comments are reasonable/relevant and not trollish or spam.

[queenbarwench]

This seems to be the general view. I've decided it's up to me to be less shy and retiring :)

[blnchflr]

It's my distinct impression that in fandom, people generally love comments :o)

(That doesn't stop me from often not commenting, because I assume people I don't know well couldn't possibly care about what I have to say. But try polling - I betcha the vast majority will say they love relevant-to-the-post/non-trolling comments even from people they don't know!)

[queenbarwench]

A poll is a good idea. I may consider that :)

[pionie]

I'm shy too, so it takes a lot for me to randomly add someone; they tend to be fic writers, cos then I have a reason to add them! And I'm more likely to do so if their profile is encouraging of new people. This explains why my list is small but select! I love people randomly adding me and will always start commenting on their entries, as long as they have something in common with me. Like you say, it's hard without any visual clues, this social interaction thing!

[queenbarwench]

Indeed! I suspect I shall have to be brave and leap right in. *takes deep breath*

[archersangel]

all the people i've added were random. of course i lurked for a long time at their livejournals, so i felt it i "knew" them well enough to add. it's also a good thing to look at their friending polocy either in a sticky post at the top of their journal or in their profile page.
as for random comments on someone's journal; like half of the comments i make here at DW & over at JL are at somewhat random journals that i found via the comments of people i've friended. i figure if they don't like it, they can delete it.