Why do people I know say to me “I haven’t been out to read NewMexiKen in several months”?
What would motivate a person who knows I have a blog to tell me they haven’t bothered to visit it? I mean, why say anything at all?
I don’t expect everyone I know to read this stuff
But I don’t expect any of them to make a point of telling me they don’t, either. What’s that about?
I need a response for this. Something cool, but pointed. Suggestions?
The best I can think of is, “That’s OK, I don’t write it with you in mind.”
Oh, I hadn’t noticed.
Granted, I’ve always been more blunt than pithy, but if it were me, I would have simply asked, “Why would you even bother telling me that?”
People get ruder by the day.
Guilt. That’s the only explanation I can think of.
“Uh, I don’t have time to read your stuff, but don’t haaaate me!”
So if they have blogs, reply “That’s ok, I don’t read yours either”
If they don’t blog…”Oh, that’s ok, I never look at your emails”
Or, you know, as my mentors say, be the bigger person and let it ride….
For the record, I read your blog several times a day. Just thought you should know! 🙂
How about: “I figured you missed what I wrote about you.”
I haven’t read your blog in thirteen hours.
I haven’t commented in over a year, but I trained my dog to type so you’d never know.
I’m sensitive that way.
How about, “Oh that’s OK, I just write it for the people I care about.”
Or, “Oh, I know, it only appreals to an elite group.”
You could personalize it for each person and go with, “That’s okay, its obvious you’ve been busy…(fill in the blank).”
For most women and many men, just filling in “eating” will work.
Ken, if I ran into you I’d say ‘Hey Ken, you don’t know me but I read your blog postings all the time and never post’. I’m the opposite of the friend you describe but maybe just as frustrating.
Love the musings, history, and links though. Yay Ken.
Instead of telling them something, ask them a question.
“What blog do you visit most often?
Would be my question.
Just go ahead and beat the crap out of ’em.
So?
The oddest comments so far: Jill being mean and Ephraim being polite. Tom has the funniest one. The best one is either mine or Mrs. A’s. OH, this isn’t a voting thing!? Well damn!
Ephraim’s comment comes the closest to what I have done.
But that response makes me feel like a wuss.
For God sake, Ken, think of who your family is! How could you possibly leave yourself open like that! I shudder to think…
Take the high road and quote the Buddha, responding with
“Oh well, Nothing is Permanent”.
or
Slide on down to the lower road. Use David Allan Coe’s best reply to being disrespected:
“You don’t have to call me Darlin’, Darlin’….”.
Why should you be the one puzzling over what they mean? Either comment, delivered earnestly with a wry grin, and a squeeze of the arm as you walk away, combines half wisdom, half whimsy, & half wittiness. They’ll be thinkin’, Huh?
I thought Mark’s was pretty good. It isn’t mean, but it would make them stop and think. And you can bet they would visit your site with due haste!
“And you are….”
that’s the best i got.
Cheers, mi3ke
Boring people say the most boring, inane, and boorish stuff. Maybe they ask it because are incapable of just asking, “How are you?” and might realize they would possibly know if they actually kept up with your blog. I agree it is some form of guilt and/or social ineptitude.
I say no retort necessary. A simple, “Hmmmpf.” would do.
At this point, you can say, “we were just talking about PEOPLE LIKE YOU.” // People who don’t read any blogs regularly — meaning none of us — sometimes seem to feel a burden in keeping up. They know they should and seeing you reminds them they haven’t. Out of nervous guilt, they blurt out anything. (@Jill: Thanks.) peace, mjh
You can tell them you’ll do what you did here, which is to blog about it.
Say, “Well, this conversation will make an interesting post on my blog.”
I use, “Why the hell not?” but I rather like the one above that said, “How about: ‘I figured you missed what I wrote about you.'” I might just steal that one.