No, not for the Palouse Wargaming Journal. Still much to chronicle on this front.
We have, however, seen a casualty on the blogging front. This week, Norm (Battlefields and Warriors blog) announced that he is suspending service on his fine blog. With constraints on time and other priorities, Norm reckoned it time to cease operations. For now.
Norm has been a stalwart of the blogging community for many years. His easily recognizable long-form blogging style with in-depth reviews and battle reports will be missed. If his writing content, alone, was not worthy of praise and support, Norm's engagement with the wargaming blogging community was second to none. Always a positive and insightful comment from Norm's keyboard. For me, his absence leaves a vacuum in the blogosphere.
OK, this is beginning to sound like a eulogy. Enough of that!
Over the last year or two, those following Norm's blog saw him first pare down his board wargaming collection to a few, core, series titles. Last fall, he jettisoned all of his miniatures' collections with the exception of a few 28mm collections. These moves all seemed headed toward simplifying and reducing his wargaming footprint. In a seemingly, natural evolution, suspending service on his blog does not come entirely as a surprise.
Is this a sign of the times and an indication that blogging as a media form is dying out? Big Lee at Big Lee's Miniature Adventures recently published a video on just this topic. Big Lee's conclusion? It depends!
In a bit of irony, just as Big Lee laments the decline of blogging, one of his fellow Group-mates starts a blog! Richard's blog can be found at, My Wargaming Habit. Go on, show Richard some support as he strikes out on a new venture. Tell him, I sent you.
I recommend popping over to Norm's blog to read his last post and then following up with Big Lee's video.
After that, I would enjoy seeing your thoughts on the demise of Norm's blog in particular and the future of blogging in general.
Will we see a return to active blogging on Battlefields and Warriors? I would not place a wager against it. Norm still has much to say and contribute to the hobby.
Norm, best wishes! Your presence will be missed.
Jonathan, thanks very much for the kind words.
ReplyDeleteThese words are well-deserved, Norm. Take care!
DeleteYes, I'll second all of the above.
ReplyDeleteOf course sometimes, I can't help finding myself feeling like I've again drifted off into obsolesce, much like when I was maintaining a website, then occasionally contributing articles to a magazine then started blogging when it seemed to be 'the thing' .......
If I have to tweet 2 line battle reports or haikus on wargaming or snapchat pictures etc etc or any of the whatever the latest thing was last week or will be next week, I'll just play with myself errr by myself or with friends and write it up for myself to read when I want to be nostalgic and remember.
Haikus on wargaming? Ha, Ross! You must have missed one of my contests from early on. I received some great Haikus in response.
DeleteBut NOT from ME! :)
DeleteNo, not from you. Perhaps I ought to run that contest again?
DeleteYes, very much agreed with all that. I have got a lot of inspiration from his blog over the years and I will miss sitting down to a really in-depth, enjoyable read about a game. Hopefully he will return to it in the not too distant future, but whether he does or not, I am very thankful that he did spend that time and effort on such a great blog.
ReplyDeleteNorm's work provided inspiration to many. He posited in his "final" post that he doubted if the absence of blog presence would be noticed. I hope that he sees from responses here the answer.
DeleteEvery so often I find that I just don’t feel the motivation to blog. It is usually due to illness or pressures on the time I have available … and sometimes because I don’t have anything to say.
ReplyDeleteI think that Norm has made a wise choice. His blog is always excellent, and well worth the time spent reading it … and I hope that he will restart blogging again sooner rather than later.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob! Hope you are recovering successfully from your recent bout of illness.
DeleteI can understand temporary blog motivation lapses but not something that rarely afflicts me since I tend to pace myself with postings about every third day.
With your postings on most days, I hardly think you have nothing to say!
Let's hope Norm returns one day.
I noted Norm's last post, and understand very much what he said (I think). A blog entry can be laborious (more so than many may realize), and recording/reporting on the hobby can take over and detract from the actual engagement with the "game" itself. I must say I'm guilty of visiting Norm's blog (regularly, I might add) and not dropping a comment as often as I should expressing my appreciation for his reportage. I think a break from blogging to recharge may find him back again in the future. At any rate, I hope he still remains among "the usual suspects" visiting the "usual suspects" among the bloggists. If Norm is reading this, I hope he understands that we have noticed. Thanks for the post, Jonanthan! It provided a nice platform for the issue.
ReplyDeleteEd, thanks for weighing in here.
DeleteYou make good points. We must keep in mind our motivation for blogging. While each person's motivation may be different, we all welcome the encouragement offered by an occasional comment or two.
I started blogging pretty late, beyond the curve as it were. I try to remind myself that it is more for my own interest and record, but there is something to be said for being part of an enthusiastic community that keeps you going.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jennifer! Your blog offers a wargaming perspective not often seen. There is something special about being part of an enthusiastic community.
DeleteHi Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteI saw Norm's news. I hope this is only a temporary blip and a bit of time off will be a tonic. I always look forward to Norm's wise words.
My own blog has been dormant since last autumn purely due do to other pressures. The time away from it has done me good as I have much to ponder about. One of the things that has kept me fully engaged has been other people's blogs, your own very much included.
Come back soon Norm, I want to see what you do next with Into Battle!
All the best
Jay
We all must wrestle with demand upon our time and our priorities. I certainly understand Norm's decision. In fact, I have had a blog post in draft for a long time titled, "Is Blogging Worth the Effort?" I wonder if I ever finish that?
DeleteI expect to see norm continuing to support his rules on his COMMANDERS website.
Pleased to see that you stop by here, Jay!
I too have pondered of late a similar post on as to whether the effort is worth it or not. The jury is still out on this for me...
DeleteSteve, as seen from the comments and commenters, take solace in knowing that many more read our writings than we know. Look at the number of commenters here who rarely leave a comment on this blog. I guess we simply need to strike the right chord for everyone to join in the sing-a-long.
DeleteI have always enjoyed norm's thoughtful comments on your blog Jonathan, so I hope his absence is only a short one. I find between work, family, friends and study I don't have as much time to devote to following blogs as I should, but it is an area I plan to invest more time in once other commitments subside.
ReplyDeleteGood to see that I am not alone in enjoying Norm's insightful commentary here. Also good to see that readers read the comments!
DeleteActively participating in others' blogs does not carry with it an obligation or social contract. We are free to pick and choose from the buffet as interest and time allows.
I am grateful to have regular contributors such as yourself.
Thanks for the heads up Jonathan. I was just thinking I hadn't seen a new post from Norm. He is always a good read.
ReplyDeleteI hope we might see more from him in the future should he be so inclined.
You are welcome! If I can perform a small public service among my ramblings, so much the better!
DeleteNorm may return one day, refreshed and ready to tackle the world again.
It's always a shame when a blog stops publishing. Unfortunately it is happening more and more
ReplyDeleteA shame, indeed.
DeleteTo everything there is a season... I have to echo Jennifer's comments about coming late to this blogging lark. Basically, to have arrived earlier would have been wrong for me at the time. So I can understand why Norm, or anyone, might come to a point when other priorities/pressures become paramount. As for blogging, I believe that all things are cyclical - when CDs came out back in the 1980s who would have thought that vinyl records would be so popular again in the 2020s. People will try a range of tech/platforms to express their interest and find a community, until they find what works best for them. There is an audience for all these forms. I like to ramble a little, and enjoy reading the longer and thoughtful posts and reports. I guess age may play a part... I don't like to live my live or hobby in sound bites or snippets. To each their own, and in the season. I hope that makes sense!
ReplyDelete... by the way, thanks for the mention Jonathan.
DeleteThanks, Richard for your insightful comments snd your fresh perspectives as a newly published blogger. It is a pleasure seeing renewed hobby enthusiasm from both you and Jennifer.
DeleteFor some of us, vinyl never fell out of favor…
You are welcome! I noticed you picked up a few, new followers today following this post. That is great! The power of community!
DeleteIt is sad to see the ... temporary? ... suspension of 'Battlefields and Warriors'. I hope that once the batteries are recharged (or reloaded), Norm will once more be back into the fray.
ReplyDeleteI don't always comment upon blogs I read - I simply don't have the time, and often don't really have anything to say. But one does like to see comments, if just to show that someone is taking an interest as much as for any affirmation they offer.
Having said that, I wonder if there perhaps isn't a dropping off of interest in blog readership. I noticed a while back a slight decrease in the 'follower' list on my blog - and it had been static for a fair while before than, too. Possibly it's just my imagination that leads me to suppose there has been a slight drop off in readership.
I have noticed, though, that my blog entries turn up in other places e.g. 'Pinterest', whatever that is. For the moment I take that as 'added interest in the blog' but would kinda rather the blog get regular visits...
I don't know whether Norm has had similar experiences, or is simply weighing in general the 'return on investment' in time and effort. I sympathise.
Cheers,
Ion
Ion, one of Norm's critiques is that many of his posts seemed a lot of work with not enough return from the viewing public. I can understand that position.
DeleteTypically, most of Norm's posts garner great support by way of reader commentary. It does not take too much of an acknowledgement to let the author know that the post is being read or the blog followed. Each must balance the level of interaction given the often crushing constraints upon our time. I, for one, ought to do a better job on commenting on your posts especially with your recent concentration on exploring 3x3 grid wargaming.
On loss of Followers, some those dropouts could be simply a result of technology. I know when Google did away with Google+, I lost a number of Followers who were signed in as Google+ users.
I appreciate your thoughtful feedback.
It is hard to think a blogger won't be publishing ( I hope Norm's hiatus is a short one.) for some indeterminate time. I personally came close to that several years ago, having said most of what I wanted to say on the hobby. I found more to talk about these last couple of years and so I am indulging myself. If Facebook and twitter become the standard to communicate, then I would probably go back to emailing a very small group of friends and leave it (hobby effort) at that. Rationalizing collections, cutting back on projects...these are signs you have figured that the 'core' interests deserve the attention you can give a hobby and the space & energy you thought to apply to side interests just is not going to happen. I am smiling as I say 'no new' when I have three new rule books, a possible new Nappy army and an expanding scope of the imagination campaign. But then things do change-figures can be printed in a machine at home, games can be played via cameras and internet hook-ups; it means what really is important is this merry band of brothers (local or internet) sharing however they feel comfortable.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, does anyone out there have a use for 6 painted 15mm High Elf Dragon riders? ;-)
Joe, you raise an interesting perspective. Once we have been at this for any length of time and are accustomed to sharing our thoughts and activities, I imagine it is very difficult to stop.
DeleteI derive much pleasure and satisfaction from sharing my view of the hobby. Not everyone listens or is interested but that is OK. Cutting this facet of the hobby off would be like lopping off a limb. I would adjust but I reckon I would feel a loss if only phantom.
Thank you for another thoughtful comment.
I hope you find a recipient for your High Elf Dragon riders!
I saw that Norm had gone to radio silence and that's too bad. I regularly checked in on his blog and enjoyed many of the articles. He's more into board gaming than me but I would often read those too. So I will miss his efforts.
ReplyDeleteBut it is his choice and I realize it is a lot of work to make a good (and regular) blog. Something I don't wish to do even though I have thought about it on occasion.
Perhaps I should have commented more on Norm's posts as I only did on rare occasions. But that didn't mean I didn't enjoy his efforts.
Maybe some day he'll come back. Either way, best of luck to him.
Thanks for your comments, Joseph.
DeleteHaving a foot in each of the board Wargaming and figure Wargaming worlds, I enjoyed Norm’s mix of content. It is interesting see from the comments on Norm’s blog that almost discrete division between the two groups.
One observation from my own blogging content is that even within the figure wargamers, some readers are most likely to comment when the topic hits one of their primary interests.
Maintaining a blog with regularity takes effort, for sure. One’s heart needs to be in it. As Norm states, it must not feel like one-way traffic.
Hi Jonathan, with my own comments section turned off, I would just like to thank you for giving people a space here to comment. Also thanks to everyone for the thoughtful and patient words of understanding, I am reading them all and am inwardly appreciative.
ReplyDeleteMy own involvement aside, it is in any case a really interesting post that gives a chance to discuss generally what we want from blogs, whether a reader or a blogger, which we surprisingly seem do very rarely.
You are most welcome, Norm!
DeleteAs seen from this comment stream, many more read your efforts than you know. I suppose many are lurkers by nature. Others may have barely enough free time to read or keep up with the variety of content in the numerous blogs.
This has been a cathartic, introspective exercise that helps everyone gain some focus.
My hope is that your role as influencer does not prompt others to follow you in your decision to suspend service.
Yet another interesting post Jon, I suspect we have all gone through (and Norm if you do read this we know what effort is required) phases where the balance between gaming, painting, blogging etc doesn’t quite balance. Like many when I set mine up it was to start simply a way of recording what I did, but it has become much more a link into that wider community, especially for those of us who live quite remotely from lots of other gamers. My wife is surprisingly adverse to discussing the finer points of Fredrick’s tactical blunders at Hochkirk ? For my part and I am sure people notice this , I keep my reports simple and fairly short, I don’t have the inclination to write long articles but prefer to let the pictures do the talking, sometimes there are a few too many of course. I don’t intend to change and will continue to blog roughly twice a week which is my average. On a wider note I am increasingly finding there is a total overload now in terms of media, information, books available, and I guess blogs are part of that. There simply isn’t enough time to digest all of it and picking up Norms thoughts part of this for me is about the figures, the painting and the gaming as soon as the rest starts to impact rather than enhance that aspect it’s time to rebalance 👍
ReplyDeleteAs often is the case, Matt, reader comments are much more interesting than my original post!
DeleteI see no need to change your blogging style. For me, your battle reports hit a good balance of clarity, conciseness, and entertainment. Having played in many of your games, I know that the story has been told providing the general battle flow as well as the extraordinary situations that make the game unique.
Media overload can be a heavy burden. We each must find that balance that works for us.
Thanks for your thoughts and personal insights, Matt!
How was your camping trip? Are you shopping for an RV now?
I completely get where Norm is coming from on this as so much of it resonates with my own situation. So some thoughts from my Blog perspective as it were:
ReplyDeleteI have just over 100 Followers, which is not bad and at the lower end of the average as it were. Yet I only get about 5% of them commenting regularly and 10% on a good day. Maybe the topics aren't of interest, hence the low comments count? I know I'm not alone in feeling that after all the effort put into say an AAR, I wonder whether it was really worth it, given how few replies I receive?
The time it takes to put an AAR together is on average 3 hours or more. I could be doing a lot of other gaming related 'stuff' or spending time with the family or on my other hobbies instead. I could even get another full on game in! Despite this I do enjoy putting together my campaigns, AAR's etc as it does enrich the experience for me as in the absence of FtF gaming, at least I can share this with other gamers and friends. But again I do often question the return on the effort involved.
This Winter I certainly spent too much time on the laptop looking at 'stuff' rather than painting or gaming. A lot of this came down to being a full-time carer for our neurodiverse son, which has its own challenges, meaning it can be hard to get in the mood to paint etc as I never know what each day might bring. Some days are good, others less so. Often I'm too mentally exhausted to do anything other than read Blogs, forums etc.
Of late the pressure I've put on myself to keep up regular Blog posts has come to the point where enough is enough, and I'll post as and when I'm ready. I feel better for this but still have that nagging doubt in the back of my mind that I should come up with a post! Why this is the case I'm not sure.
I can see why others have moved over to Facebook et al because you can pop in a pic or two, a few sentences of text and then sit back and wait for the Likes to come in. Minimal effort for both poster and reader. But it is ultimately unsatisfying IMHO. I want content that I can savour, like reading a chapter of a book, rather than a simple paragraph or two, if you get my drift. Norm's posts did this in spades IMHO, along with some others that I follow.
Enough from me and to paraphrase a tv series from the 1970's, "Why don't I just switch the laptop off and go and do something less boring instead?".
Comments on a postcard;).
Steve, thanks for digging deep to reveal your thoughts and insights on this topic. Others may gain comfort from reading your words.
DeleteMany more read your works than comment. I suppose that is the nature of writing. Unless we have a "Letters to the Editor" page (which we essentially do!), the writer rarely gets feedback from peers on the work.
I find your battle reports exquisite examples both visually and verbally. Your SCW campaign in which Norm and I took part were masterpieces.
As others have noted, these longer forms take some time and effort to digest. Savoring of your writing may not allow enough free time to fully respond. I know that leaving a comment of "Great job" or "Excellent" may seem insufficient given all of the work poured into the piece.
My suggestion is to not put too much pressure on yourself and allow the posts to follow your inspiration, at whatever frequency suits you. I need to heed these words too!
I very much enjoy your posts Steve, and don't comment probably as much as I should. But if I am going to comment, then I want it to be more interesting than simply writing great game! nice work! or some such and I don't always finish thinking about a post for a while after whilst I mull over the idea. Your current solo campaign rules for Op Cygnet are a great example of this - loads of interesting ideas, not sure how to comment or contribute further to them quite yet.
DeleteJWH, you make an excellent observation and a situation in which I find myself in regularly when reading a battle report or a lengthy review. It takes time to absorb all of the material present and for a useful and meaningful response. Sometimes, that meaningful response never materializes. Other times, when I am ready to return to the post, much time has passed and discussion has drifted away.
DeleteI was extremely disappointed to see Norm suspend operations as I have drawn a lot of inspiration and motivation from his blog. However to a point it also came as no surprise. I think it’s all about balance, what’s the blog for? How much time do we wish to invest in it? The problem with social media is that it’s all to easy to get sucked in ‘ browsing, commenting’ etc. and then found hours have passed, all of which could have been put to better use? I also ask myself the question who is the blog for? Some times I feel quite comfortable using it as a form of diary, logging my thoughts and views and on occasions enjoying the comments other people make. But there are occasions I’ve spent time on making an entry specifically for the readers and feel a little deflated when no one make a comment or you only get one or two.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Norm will take a break and come back with an occasional insight into his gaming world. But one thing for certain his final post certainly resonates with me and gives paus for thought
Graham, judged by the comments here, you were not alone in your disappoint at Norm's news.
DeleteI draw inspiration from others' blogs too. A community with common interests needs that camaraderie which I think blogs supply. Comments here suggest we each need that support through an occasional comment.
I suppose we each must decide why we blog. That answer may be different for each of us. We each must wrestle with that decision.
Norm, as he so often does, makes us think a little deeper about our hobby. Hopefully, we will see his words return regularly once more.
I appreciate that you took the time to leave a thoughtful comment!
An interesting post and thanks for the link to Big Lee's video. I am lucky having plenty of time to write my blog and do so first of all for my enjoyment and if other people enjoy it and pop by then that is a welcome bonus and a lift for morale. I also enjoy several YouTube channels and when well done these can easily become addictive but surely that must take far more time to prepare than a blog post. Facebook, I do look at several hobby sites but only now and again does the eye candy inspire me. A well written blog post can make me think.
ReplyDeleteGeorge, glad you found the post interesting and that you enjoyed Big Lee's video.
DeleteLike you, I have more free time since retiring. Time that I can divert toward the hobby.
I do not use Facebook or use YouTube regularly so my scope of social media is thin. Heck, I rarely answer the phone!
I much prefer the written word too since that form allows me to easily go back and review, rethink, and reassess what is on offer. I cannot do that with a video. Perhaps we are "Old School" or simply "Old"?
Thanks for your comments!
Ah, I can understand Norm's decision. Blogging should be not become a chore - if so, just take a break, however long it may be. I've done it in the past. BTW, did join Richard's blog noting your advert. Will be checking out Norm's "farewell" too. Dean
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dean! I agree. Blogging should not become a thankless chore. We all have plenty of those, I bet!
DeleteIt's a pity about Norm taking a hiatus, although I respect his views on it, his blog posts are often highly detailed and clearly time consuming and I can see how they would take up a lot of time, recently I haven't been able to keep up my comments or visit blogs as often as I used to, due to other real life constraints, I content myself with occasional posts that are often rapidly thrown together on my phone, indeed all my blogging is done on my phone, if I had to use my laptop I'd have given up long ago!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Iain, you seem to be holding up well given your time constraints. If I had only a phone to do this work, I would have thrown in the towel long ago!
DeleteIt's too bad that Norm has stopped his blog but I can relate to his feelings of too much effort and not much in return. His blog was good and he often posted in the comments section of others. I sometimes check the stats on my blog to see how many views there have been, they can't all be bots can they? I wish Norm all the best and know I will continue to use his blog as a resource.
ReplyDeleteThanks for starting this post and letting us all voice our thoughts
It’s a loss, for sure, but Norm knows ehag is best for his situation. I am happy to see that the blog will remain in place since there are so many great reviews and thought provoking posts.
DeleteI think all of Norm’s regular readers wish him the best.
For a second there seemed we were all talking behind Norms back; but I see that he’s left his own comments so I guess it’s alright. 😀
ReplyDeleteFunny enough; I was just entering a comment on Norms Lindy post when comments became disabled. From the radio silence post I took it that Norm was gonna take a break for a bit bc blogging was taking up a lot of time and effort with little return at the moment.
I can relate. I feel like I barely put any effort in my own posts and I still question if the juice is worth the squeeze.
Long form posts like Norm tends to write must take a lot of effort. I actually try to emulate it on my own posts. We talk a lot about hobby mojo waxing and waning and I do think there is a blogging mojo as well with its own cycles. I’ve let my blog go quiet for a couple months now and then (especially when children have been born) so see no big deal if Norm takes a break. Even a long one.
And if Norm stops blogging all together (and how many years has it been?) then I would wish him well but will miss him terribly as I count Norm as one of my bestest online buddies.
Stew, rather than considering it talking behind Norm’s back, I look at this more as toasting his efforts and lamenting the Silencing Of The Blog. In the process, we all consider our own blogging mortality.
DeleteI consider Norm one of many of my bestest online buddies as well.
I wasn’t seriously accusing you of such; just trying to be funny in the start. 😀
DeleteI know...
DeleteA tricky balance between wargaming time (painting, reading, and playing, etc) and blogging about our hobby. Wargaming will always take priority else there is nothing interesting to blog about. Here is hoping Norm gets the balance right and returns to blogging.
ReplyDeleteTricky balance, for sure. I spent plenty of time blogging about non-gaming activities before retirement. Now, I have too many games to chronicle. Norm may rediscover the drive to blog. We will see.
DeleteSorry to see Norm's blog go dark. I popped by from time to time but mostly didn't comment as I had nothing to say. Yet on my own blog I really do like to see the comments come in so I suppose I should have at least said how enjoyable his posts were.
ReplyDeleteI have my own blog but not with lots of followers. I'm comfortable that I'm blogging to remind my self of what I have been doing as much as for others amusement. Because of that there is little self expectation for me to blog on a regular schedule. I post as and when I have something to say that I feel is worth someone's time to read.
I like wargaming blogs as they tend to stick to a theme. While wargaming magazines by their very nature have to spread the nature of their content to appeal to all of the paying public. After all if they don't appeal to enough buyers they go out of business. My interests don't coincide all that closely to the magazines contents. I like small scale figures, grand tactical battles and attempting to create a set of rules which creates a game representing the dilemmas which faced real world generals. These are all pretty high on my list of things i want to read about, along with a side order of the philosophy and practice of warfare. Blogs let me find like minded individuals with content that is tightly focussed on the issues I want to know more about or at least more tightly focussed than a lot of other information outlets.
I don't mind spending time at a keyboard or in front of a screen. I can paint and game when I want (or at least when Mrs E doesn't need me to be doing something more important). Life is about balancing out all parts of your personal corner of 'real life' sometimes things move up or down your priority list. Hopefully for Norm blogging will move up his list again perhaps being approached in a different way. It's Norm's blog and Norm's time. I'll miss the content but as long as Norm is happy with how his time is spent that's what really matters.
Hello!
DeleteThanks for taking the time to provide your perspective with great detail and depth. Comments offer both support and encouragement. We could use a little of those from time to time.
Blogs are an excellent way to connect with like minded wargamers. It is a loss to us all then one of them slips below the waves.
While I am only a recent follower of your blog, I sm very interested in your philosophy on wargame design. I will be paying more attention to your efforts.
I will miss both Norm’s posts snd his commentary on this blog.
I hope Norm enjoys the time away and in the end yearns to return. I for one will miss his very informative posts, with lots of ideas that I pinch and write down in my little red book, maybe to use myself one day. thanks Norm and I hope you'll be back soon.
ReplyDeleteNice one Jonathan!
I will miss Norm’s in-depth postings too. We cannot count him out yet.
DeleteThank you, Ray!
Only so much time and one has to decide how to invest it, and I understand Norm's dilemma. I've faded off a bit with various other work and life issues over last 6 months, but things like Napoleonics are more of a lifestyle choice than hobby flutter - so until I drop dead (some years hence hopefully!) I imagine I will keep returning and adding to my blog, especially since I have grand plans years in the making!
ReplyDeleteI also find blog posts are on average a much richer format than facebook posts etc, that importantly are also listed in an easy to find manner, assuming the blogger has done at least some basic indexing. When I'm looking for info on some wargaming thing, it is very often bloggers who provide the best info! Thanks again Jonathan!
And also Norm I should say of course, a great collection of articles on his site I was just going back and recognising some of them!
DeleteReal Life can waylay the best laid plans. Reconsideration and reprioritization are normal stages in life’s activities.
DeleteThe written word is my preference too and blogs fill that need admirably.
Thanks for your feedback, Mark!
I return to Norm’s reviews and playthroughs regularly. I do not foresee that changing unless he takes the blog down.
DeleteA bit late to this party Jon, but you know why....vacation as you may call it! Sad to read about Norms decision as I often read and commented on his blog, albeit I have a limited interest in board games....I really did like his Piggy Longton series though... It's a real shame we may never read another report on the goings on in that small corner of England's green and pleasant land!
ReplyDeleteThe discussion around comments is very interesting. I think they are very important, but sometimes worry that is a bit like a teenage girl craving FB "likes"!? I tend to leave comments on blogs I either really like (if the first time ) or from whom I have received comments in return. I must admit, I see a few blogs where I have left several comments over a few months but the writer has never commented on my blog in return. It may be childish or needy, but I feel not returning blog comments is a bit rude, so if I have been to a blog six or eight times, left comments and never had a return visit, I generally think $@/& you then mate, and don't waste my time on any further visits. I have a strong suspicion a lot of other bloggers do the same, as many of the blogs I describe above have perfectly well painted figures, nice game reports etc....yet only have two or three comments in each post ..... I assume because the blog owner never or rarely comments elsewhere.
I look back at my blog when if first started and I often wonder that I persevered at all....I have months of posts with only one or two comments! Was anyone even visiting and reading what I was blogging??? I don't care about the number of "views", if people don't leave a comment, they don't count in my book...which is why I do try to make a comment on all my regular visits, even if it is the rather inane " great looking game" type thing!
Like others , I do hope Norm finds his blogging mojo again and I also hope he is reading all the supportive comments here, so he is aware a lot of people will miss his on line contributions!
Never too late, Keith! Besides, you have an excusable absence. Hope you enjoyed your vacation and that we will be seeing photos of your adventures in good time.
DeleteI agree with your take on comment reciprocity. Only with this two-way communication do we begin to build bonds with readers. I consider regular commenters here as friends. Some I have even gamed with now even though they may be thousands of miles away. We are a relatively small community, and these interactions are important to maintain that connection.
Great post, Keith!
I am Kieth and thank everyone for what has been said. I put a game on the table yesterday, hugely enjoyed it and actually got a sense of enjoying the game for its own sake and of liberation of not having to photograph and record the game play, though it felt strange to enjoy without sharing, a sort of guilty pleasure - doesn’t that sound strange!
ReplyDeleteBut it is no doubt just the result of sudden disruption to a mindset that has developed over time, which puts the importance and ‘needs’ of the blog as the priority within my wargame setting.
I think I described in an e-mail to someone that the blog had become a sort of sub-hobby in its own right, but then had risen to dominance within what I do.
For now at least that has been put to bed. At this particular point in time, having jumped, I do not have an immediate urge to return, but I obviously feel some sadness at ‘dropping out’.
My thinking is that a return would need to see a very cut down style of posting, verging on the superficial by comparison, I just don’t know whether that sort of change to what it is that makes the blog attractive to some in the first place is a good solution. Certainly on the boardgame side of things, it would be less helpful in making a buying decision.
At least I now have time to ponder :-)
Thanks again to all who have commented in such a thoughtful way. At least I can report that my actual wargaming mojo is as strong as ever, it is only the blog that has taken the hit. Warm regards to all, Norm.
Well sounds like Mission Accomplished then Norm...congratulations! Hopefully you will still have time to visit and comment in other people's efforts!
DeleteIt does sound like mission accomplished. You are able to enjoy a game for the sake of enjoying the game without the overhead and burden of having to chronicle it. Sounds liberating to me.
DeleteNorm, I'm glad you're enjoying your freedom from blogging. I shall miss your boardgaming posts though; in a world of unboxing videos they are among the best, full of detail and insight. Thanks for all of them.
DeleteThanks for leaving your well-wishes here for Norm. I never understood the attraction to unboxing videos.
DeleteHello Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteI too was sad at Norm's post on it blog. Sad that I would not read his wonderful posts. But that was my second thought. My first thought was that I was glad that Norm had prioritised what made him happy and blogging, at least for now, was not it compared to other parts of the hobby. We all blog for our our reasons (me? I tend to the long posts about 20-30 times a year and like comments but not sad if I get none). I am sure we will still see Norm around commenting here and there, and there is still his web page. So he has not gone!
Hi Shaun.
DeleteWhile many of us here will miss Norm's contributions, I think we all understand and wish Norm the best.
I think you are correct. We have not seen the last of him.
Thanks for your comment!
Many thanks Jon for discussing this, and many thanks Norm for your brilliant blog. I'm sure we'll all welcome you back in whatever form you may decide, as long as you are enjoying what you do - that will show through. Happy gaming, meanwhile!
ReplyDeleteYou’re welcome, David. I figured Norm ought to know his contributions since in his post he wondered if anyone would notice his absence.
DeleteNorm's blog is a marvel and he's such a supportive fellow, much like yourself, Jonathan. Hopefully he'll be back when he's ready. I glanced briefly at this post the other day before writing my own when I couldn't comment on Norm's own post. I've just seen I must have unconsciously borrowed the opening sentence of one of your commentators for the title of my own post! Apologies!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Aaron
No need for apology, Aaron!
DeleteNorm’s blog is more of a one-man magazine! I can see why he wants to take a break, though, as screen time does tend to eat into other areas of life. I found this when I first moved to the West Country and my TV broke down. I managed to redecorate half the house before it was fixed… I think blogs will continue because - as Lee says - it depends. Mine was meant to kick-start a malaise after an unsuccessful club attendance and it still keeps me productive. I also think it’s a good format for exchanging ideas. I’m sure Norm will bounce back after a break.
ReplyDeleteNorm published a lot of varied and interesting content. Seeing him return will not be completely unexpected.
DeleteBlogs are a terrific way to remain in contact with like-minded colleagues.
Norm, I understand entirely. I hope you manage to rebalance your life. All the best mate. Mark
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone who has posted here. I am putting wheels in motion for a limited return to the blog. It is explained in this post LINK.
ReplyDeletehttps://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.com/2022/05/green-light-for-blogging-well-sort-of.html
Welcome back, Norm!
Delete