The recurring theme of Norm's Thinking Aloud post centers on the tension between pouring significant effort into creating thoughtful, detailed blog content and seeing minimal interaction or feedback in return. This one-way communication leads to questioning whether maintaining a wargaming blog (two in Norm's case) continues to be worthwhile. When compared against simply enjoying gaming without the increased overhead of writing about gaming, the answer to this question, to some, becomes clear.
This diary entry argues that blogging has evolved from simply a means of sharing our enthusiasm for wargaming into another hobby of blogging about wargaming. This sub-hobby demands time, energy, and emotional investment often without reciprocal engagement from readers. This lack of encouragement may lead to a sense of fatigue and a recalibration of priorities.
Norm concludes that disillusionment about the current state is not the major driver of these reflections but one of reorientation. Perhaps reorientation allows a reclamation of the undistracted joy of gaming, itself? There may be times in which each of us asks similar questions. The answers may be different for each of us, but the theme may rhyme. Responses likely depend upon why we share our wargaming adventures through blogging and what motivates each of us to continue.
In the end, should wargaming be a private pleasure rather than a public performance? Do you share Norm's concerns and frustrations?
The floor is open for discussion.
"In the end, should wargaming be a private pleasure rather than a public performance?"
ReplyDeleteThat depends on you; I set up my blog as it was all the rage, then singularly failed to use it for many years! Mostly, I struggled with how to do things.
When I returned to it in earnest, my aim was to catalogue my progress, mainly on the Soldier King project - it was primarily for me and has provided considerable motivation in tracking progress and being a handy source for how I did things. I never really expected to gain an audience.
I now seem to have around 44 followers and perhaps up to 20 occasional and regular commentators. Some topics seem much more popular than others.
I try to comment on others blogs - not being able to do so except via laptop is a major frustration.
I think what Norm is experiencing is the exciting frisson of being noticed/ making a connection with someone / receiving the gratification of a response to his posts; the frustration comes from the tumbleweed reaction after sharing something.
It probably doesn't help that he's turned off comments! Many will assume he doesn't want to engage....some may be unable to comment due to Google.
I think it's easy to fall into the trap of seeking rewards or positive feedback from such things, much like social media "likes". Personally, I stop myself whenever I find myself waiting for a response to my posts or comments - get real- it's a tiny blog in a niche hobby! Should I care whether others respond? Does my self-esteem depend on it? Maybe to some extent but it's not why I started....
Some of my early posts had no or one or two comments - does it matter? In some cases I know others have looked back through my blog (and said so in comments) and when I look back I occasionally find a comment posted some time (years even) after the post. I know I have looked back through others blogs for inspiration.
"Do you share Norm's concerns and frustrations?"
No, not really. Like "blogging is dead" I kind of ignore it. Blogs are a great source of inspiration, wkth posts long after they were written being of interest and especially photos. I do mine for me. That others find anything inspiring or useful or even want to follow and comment is just a bonus.
Neil
Thank you, Neil! You tackle each question in great detail. Good job! I agree that blogging is a personal choice and how you approach it differs, individually. For me, it is a journal of my wargaming journey. I am delighted when others choose to comment but I make no requirement to do so.
DeleteAs you say Jon I’m sure something we have all considered on occasions. I have a couple of rules with my blog……which I try to stick to. 1. Don’t blog for the sake of it, ie I only post when I have something specific to share this means the number of posts has reduced over the years. 2. Don’t save stuff just to create more ‘content’ that is why I often combine posts with battle reports and stuff I have painted, for me it is first a record of what I have done and second a way to share with others who might be interested. Primarily the blog is a record for me not for others. 3. I try to avoid blogging anything not specifically related to wargaming/ military history (this does get broken of course when sharing railway pictures or mountain pictures) 4. Keep it brief, this is in my nature I guess. 5 and finally, I only blog when I feel like it and often I prefer to paint or something else that is fine as for me it isn’t an independent activity more a way of recording what I have done. Of course everyone to their own and it depends why each person is blogging…..
ReplyDeleteThanks, Matt! Like you, I blog mostly for my own entertainment and record keeping. Having thoughtful reader feedback is a terrific motivator to press on. Brevity is an important attribute, I reckon. As in the old Zork text adventure in the early days of PCs, my writing often has "Max Verbosity" turned off. I find replying to combined posts with multiple themes more difficult to respond to than single-threaded posts. That may just be me, however. Good feedback!
DeleteI blog about wargaming because it’s a comfortable way for me (being socially VERY anxious) to engage with other likeminded individuals wherever they happen to be in the world. I view it as a way to have a lot of arms length friendships - without the stress of direct commitments.
ReplyDeleteI don’t have a lot of followers because I started blogging long after it began to be superseded by the likes of Facebook but I do have a very high percentage of comments and interactions with those that follow it. In truth it’s those interactions that keep me blogging and focussed on the hobby. I suspect that without these interactions I would spend less time painting and gaming rather than more and eventually I’d probably drift off to do something else entirely. I may be a bit of an outlier but I suspect that my blog drives the hobby rather than it being the other way around.
Mark, you are not alone! I came into blogging late in the life cycle as well. The camaraderie gained through the blogging community is priceless. Interesting perspective that your blog drives your wargaming rather than the converse. I wonder how many others of us fall into that same bucket?
DeleteLike you Mark I feel my Blog gives me those long distance friendships, some of whom you might meet at a show if you're lucky. Would I still game if I didn't Blog? For sure, but it would feel like eating a meal alone in a restaurant rather than with nice company to enrich the experience.
Deletedo keep it up, Mark, yours is a great blog! We promise to keep commenting..
DeleteI do think that quite often the blog drives the gaming and painting etc, and that's no bad thing. I've often seen it said that one of the big benefits of the internet is for anyone with a niche hobby, who can connect with fellow geeks across the world - this is a great example.
oops sorry, that last one was me..
DeleteBack in the Top 10 DB!
DeleteI think I'm in Matts camp, in that I try to post when I have something and don't feel it necessary to post unless I've got something worthwile and also it's primarily a record of figures painted and I'm more a painter than a gamer in many ways. Unlike Matt I like to keep AARs and painting seperate so I can refer back to posts when I need to, do I like comments? Yes but they're not essential as I said above ,it's a record for me, everyone else is a bonus! I remain disappointed Norm has turned off comments as I enjoyed the discussion but if it causes him grief to have them it's fair enough he's turned them off. His posts are always polished and considered, whereas mine are at best slapdash and rapidly knocked up, so maybe I don't value my posts as much as him?
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
As I mentioned in my reply to Matt, above, I find replying to multi-threaded posts more difficult than single themed posts. Perhaps it is hard for me to have more than one thought on a given post? I agree that Norm's post are well polished as are his comments here! Like you, my posts tend toward hammering something out and letting it rip.
DeleteThanks for your comments, Iain!
There are probably as many points of view as there are bloggers.
ReplyDeleteI think it's nice to leave a mark on another blog – out of gratitude for the time another creator has dedicated – through painting, playing, and writing about it.
Personally, it makes me happy and motivates me to continue blogging.
It's a sacrifice – home, children, work, other activities.
In my case – unfortunately, for many years, it's been a dilemma – whether to play, participate in wargaming events, or paint (for pure pleasure!), edit photos, and publish.
There's no time for either...
I agree with you Michal! There are many ways in which to slice this pie. There never is enough to do accomplish all we wish. Tradeoffs must be made and any content should be savored.
DeleteI blog therefore I am...
ReplyDeleteGood one!
DeleteFor me, blogging is as much about recording my hobby endeavours for my own enjoyment as it is for others; much like a journal or public diary. It doesn't really compete with my time gaming as games are few and far between due largely to the fact that there are few historical wargamers within 100Km of me. It is a shame that blogging has been left behind in the wake of other forms of social media as it is a great platform for documenting our hobby.
ReplyDeleteYep. Blogging is about archiving our individual journeys. For me, blogging still holds a center place in My Wargaming Life. Thank you for your comment!
DeleteI shall comment on this from a slightly diffrent angle, as I don't blog (I'm not reliable enough to keep it going, tbh) - though I'm a forum moderator, one of whose duties is to keep a flow of "chatter" going, so I empathise with some of the issues.
ReplyDeleteOne mistake that some bloggers make (not, I think, anyone here) is being unclear what they are doing it for. Are you wanting to share learning or experience? Do you want to build a virtual friendship group? Do you intend to try to be interactive, shaping content based on reader demand, or simply just to express yourself? If you don't think about this, you won't produce something that will develop a loyal following.
As to comments, the dull thud of a well-considered post which you have spent time crafting going live and no-one seems to notice is a killer. You challenge yourself - am I that dull? Or is it just more random what does and doesn't catch the attention? So, like throwing the dice, you get ones and you get sixes and, no matter how much it feels like it, there is no eternal conspiracy. Pick up and go again.
Final vaguely connected comment. I don't often comment on blogs, even Jon's. I know folks have said about it being polite to say something and I have admitted being miffed when I think I'm being ignored, but I do like comments with content. If I can make a suggestion, or, even better, engage in conversation on the blog topic, I happily will. But I feel being artificial and saying "Great brushwork" or similar every post (and, frankly, given how jealous I am of Jon's painting skills, this could happen a lot).
I'll leave it there - probably the longest comment I've ever put on a blog as it is. : )
Anthony, great response full of your own observations from your moderator's experience. Whether one chooses to comment or not is a personal choice. I am always grateful when someone takes the time and effort to reply to a post. I am doubly grateful to see a comment from you, a self-confessed lurker!
DeleteLast year, I made an effort to stop taking pictures of every game I played (and writing, in my head at least, a draft for an accompanying blogpost). I felt I was too caught up in creating posts and thinking about "the audience". The result has been a greater enjoyment of the games, with more immersion - much the same as when I began wargaming (2005, well into the internet age). That said, I am a chronic journaler, so I started an offline Google doc for my hobby thoughts. I still post on the blog, because I like seeing the pictures and text laid out together and being able to pull it up easily to read it on my phone, compared to the Google doc which is over 100 pages, with no pictures and loads like molasses.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of my phone ..
A quick search of the web suggests that the vast majority of blog readers do so via smartphone. I certainly am one of those - and leaving a comment via my phone is neigh impossible unless it's a thumbs up or an emoji. An actual comment typed on my phone is a doomed enterprise.
I can't recall, but I'm fairly certain this is why Facebook added the "like" button way back when (2009). Sadly, Blogger does not have a "like" option built into its posts (and there's no widget available to my knowledge. WordPress users can install a third-party plugin that does it - the Lone Warrior blog has one such plug-in installed - if it's not already native to the platform, but Blogger users don't have that luxury.) Now, I'm not convinced people desiring comments would find a "like" any more satisfying than no response at all - for me, "likes" were probably the 1st nail nail in the FB coffin - but it *is* a way to express appreciation and to do so via a phone's screen easily.
John, I am happy to see that you have found a sweet spot for your blogging activities. Writing battle reports takes a lot of effort. Effort that I have brought up more than once. Keeping an archive of your battles offline is a good solution. I recently found software that allows me to archive my entire blog for offline search and retrieval.
DeleteI agree that commenting via phone is a difficult ask especially for me since I am not a frequent texter. I would much rather see even a brief comment than an almost automatic "Like."
Thanks for your feedback, John!
Try again :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jon for bringing the topic to a place where it can be discussed. I hope your readers want to add their thoughts and would add that I don’t need to be handled gently ….. i might be talking a load of old tosh (again) :-)
I would like to be clear that my post was NOT reflecting a ‘need’ for people to comment on my blog or to stroke me, the fact that I have comments turned off for so long should attest to that ….. rather, my disappointment is that there is a widespread sentiment amongst the internet audience that they do not themselves see the need to offer a quick thank you or comment and that applies across the board to things like YouTube etc, where there is relative low engagement. I.e. I feel the creator and their work is generally taken for granted and that general internet etiquette is lacking.
Thank you, Norm, for taking a second swing at commenting here!
DeleteI figured most readers would have already read your post. I left the link as a reference for those wanting a refresher. I encourage readers to follow the link to read your original post.
My summary and take-aways from your post may have been influenced by your earlier writings on lack of feedback. One take-away was that you were redirecting your efforts only partially due to disillusionment in the current state of etiquette and low reader engagement.
Thanks Jon, yes I think the Forum entry just brought those things you mentioned back into immediate focus for me. I rather connect with John Y’s first paragraph above.
DeleteAs a fellow Chronic Journaler, I agree with John's comments above too!
DeleteI view my blog as a form of record-keeping, or cataloguing my progress primarily i terms of painting output. I do wish though I had recorded more AARs as I play upwards of forty or so games each year and so many have either been totally forgotten, or vaguely remembered by just one or two of the participants. The trouble is though that we become so engrossed in the game that I either forget, as happened with a recent game of Midgard, or I am reticent to keep stopping the action to take photos especially as none of my other gaming friends maintain a blog and are just not interested in recording things for posterity.
ReplyDeleteI am constantly surprised how much effort goes into writing an AAR in the few I have done, which makes me appreciate the output of others such as yourself even more.
I find other people's blogs a great source of inspiration and motivation, so approach the viewing of them with a different mindset than I do in the maintenance of my own.
Yes, I view my blog and blogging in the same light. Writing AARs is hard work, indeed! I would like to see more of your 40 games per year chronicled if only briefly. Blogs are a good source of inspiration, motivation, and camaraderie. Thank you, Lawrence!
DeleteI must admit that my blogging activity has been in a slump lately, and this has caused me to think about it. Frankly, I have been enjoying "hobbying" without the added weight of taking pictures and thinking about putting a report together. Some of this probably has to do with the flow of life in general: sometimes, there just isn't that much energy or free time (has nothing to do with enthusiasm). Having said all of the above, I do think blogging as an extension of the hobby still has value for me, but like other bits of the hobby, there are periods of burnout when you need a bit of a pause to get going again .
ReplyDeleteYour blogging efforts may be in a slump now, but it may be only part of a downcycle. I always enjoy your sword collecting posts and seeing your thoughts on 19th Century wargame design. Keep it up and post when you are moved to do so!
DeleteFor me, blogging has been more about cataloguing my own progress on various projects, which helps motivate me to keep going sometimes. My post count goes up and down depending upon my enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteAny games I've enjoyed are normally just given a quick report and a few photos, I'm often too immersed in a game to make detailed notes, preferring to just roll the dice. But I can still look back on them at a later date and reminisce.
Thank you for your feedback on your own blogging adventure, Neil! You are in good company!
DeleteJon -
ReplyDeleteInteresting conversation Norm has begun. Seeing his post the other day, I was moved to comment and discovered his blog wasn't accepting them.
I like to receive comments on my blog, and years ago I formed the habit of responding to them. I sometimes think my comments are really beginnings of a new posting - and very occasionally have indeed led to a follow-up posting.
I began the 'Archduke Piccolo' blog as a convenient record combining word and picture. In more recent years it has been mostly chronicles of campaigns and battles, though 'army building' projects have now and then featured. I don't 'do' padding or 'fillers' (though I have done, early on). I find myself with ideas for presentation without actually following through on them (and right now have two postings that have been months 'in draft', and a couple of pic essays in my files that were supposed to fetch up as more postings.
These days I'm a bit more sparing with my comments on other posts. There have been a lot of occasions in which I have thought about commenting - occasionally got off a sentence or two - and then decided I really had nothing interesting to say. A 'good work' comment is as nice to give as to receive, but there are just so many way to convey that. I will make some such comment is I'm looking at something eye-catchingly new and interesting!
And if the topic is especially thought-provoking, I like to get conversational, even if the exchange is just 'read and respond'.
Cheers,
Ion
Thank you for YOUR comment, here, Ion! Even if an occasional "Good job" may seem superficial as a response, it is encouraging to the author to know that someone is actually popping in for a visit. A comment does not necessarily need to advance the discussion materially.
DeleteHave to agree with Ion, I feel I've run out of ways to say "I like your Blog Post" - perhaps a YouTube style Like Button 👍??
DeleteI get that!
DeleteIt is clear that the blogging moment has past but I find Facebook or Instagram are not the same and it is also impossible to ever find anything again on those platforms. I have thought about Youtube but it just doesn't seem the appropriate medium for my wargaming. I would find learning all the tools to do the videos a pain as well.
ReplyDeleteMy blog posts are written to diarise my efforts and also to help "up my game". I find that when I am writing a scenario for a game that will go on the blog I put in more effort and as a result the game itself is so much more enjoyable. I have blogged all of my 16th century games and am very pleased I have done so as it forms a great record to look back on and also to think about what to do next.
I try and do one post a month, which is normally not a problem as I paint pretty quickly and normally do at least six games a year. I have found the blogging a great addition to the hobby and have made some very good friends through it.
I guess I will stop as soon as it becomes a burden.
Oli, I really enjoy your in-depth posts on the Renaissance and learn a lot from reading your posts on both history and your wargaming. May you long continue adding to your fantastic Renaissance wargaming resource. Your efforts are always inspirational.
DeleteCheers Jonathan, you have reminded me of another reason why I keep on with the blogging - I love to share the things I discover about renaissance warfare with likeminded people and the blog is still one of the best ways to do that.
DeleteOli, you do a masterful job in sharing your knowledge and discoveries. Your games look great too!
DeleteThe question of whether the effort put into maintaining a blog is worth the return is a very personal one. For me, as a solo wargamer, it serves as my own “show and tell” space. A place for me to record and share painting projects, game reports, rule tweaks, and campaign progress.
ReplyDeleteWhile I don’t receive a large number of comments, the ones I do get are encouraging and can provide additional ideas or some sage advice. Since I started blogging in 2015, it has become a useful part of my hobby. It encourages me to finish painting an army I have written about or see a campaign through when it has perhaps gone on a game or two too long.
Just as importantly, the act of writing a post often helps me clarify and better structure my campaign or rules ideas, which in turn improves my overall tabletop experience.
The question is a personal one, for sure. Reasons for blogging regularly are personal choices as well. Tapping out our thoughts on the keyboard does help to bring clarity to our ruminations and planning.
DeleteDo solo gamers have a different use for blogging than club/F2F gamers?
It’s a useful online avenue for “show and tell”.
DeleteIt sure is!
DeleteBlogging is the best format of internet wargaming content, but given the workload involved, I think it can only work if you do it for yourself first and foremost. My blog is a record of what I've been doing for my own purposes mostly, and if I get readers and interaction that's a bonus.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Thank you for dropping by!
DeleteWhat a fascinating post (and Norm's) and set of comments in response. This is a great example of what blogs can do!
ReplyDeletePersonally I blog for several reasons. Most have already been called out by other commenters. One stand out for me is that in posting about my thoughts and plans (e.g. recent campaign posts) elicit good suggestions from others, which helps me. Hopefully I can give something back.
I was intrigued by JBM's reason for blogging.
PS. Thank you for raising the topic Jon!
DeleteGlad you enjoyed this post, Chris! The commentary has been useful and enlightening. JBM's reason for blogging intrigued me as well.
DeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteI started my blog to record our games mainly and also figures, terrain and vehicles painted. I don't post photos of everything I paint though, I do post the bulk of the games we play. Except where I neglect to take any photos🙄 It is an added bonus if my posts entertain and inspire folk and of course comments are much appreciated and encourage me to post and not give up when Blogger plays silly beggers.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Phil! Your fine painting and gaming always elicit a comment from me.
DeleteLots of interesting comments Jonathan so obviously great posts by Norm and yourself.
ReplyDeleteMy reasons for and my frequency of blogging have changed over time. Initially I thought that I would get lots of hits but then did not even get crickets or tumbleweeds 😂. I quickly moved to just blogging for myself as it became a record of what I had done and a way to amuse myself when I was unable to engage in wargaming any other way.
Now with a grand total of 31 followers I feel I should blog regularly just to keep the blog ticking over. This provides the incentive I often need to get moving and do something hobby related. I find the comments that I receive on my blog and both kind and useful. My recent French Napoleonic army being a good example with kind comments on my painting as well as useful information on unit uniforms and organisation. These push me to complete projects.
Having a blog lets me keep a list of blogs I follow and this also gives me a reason to keep it as I have found a lot of inspiration and interest in others' blogs. I think that the combined output of the various blogs I follow easily exceeds in both quality and quantity the output of the five wargaming sites I visit as well as the occasional wargames magazine I buy. The blogs provide new views of the hobby that I have not thought of, armies and campaigns, modelling and painting tips, project planning, rules and scenarios, figure and terrain manufacturers, background information, etc.
In terms of commenting on blogs I think that any comment is nice. If the blogger does not respond I assume that they do not wish to have comments and so after a few attempts I no longer bother. That does not stop me visiting their blog though. As far as "likes" go I take the optimistic view that any visit = 1 "like" so as of today I have had 128,734 likes 😁Not as many as most but enough to keep me blogging.
Blogging for yourself seems the path to sanity. Then, if you develop a loyal readership who interacts regularly, well, that is icing on the cake. Receiving comments is nice!
DeleteBlogs are always my first stop for Wargaming content. Besides the Society of Ancients’ forum, blogs are my only stops.
Jonathan,
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting thread to read. The stellar group that responded with insights is deep and varied. The blog is a great way to share your ideas and experiences with like-minded people. . Dang battery warning just lit up. More later.
Thank you, Joe! The readership here is first rate. None better anywhere.
DeleteI don't think I can add much to this question except that living out in the boonies and having most of my old wargaming friends move away or pass away, the blog has made virtual friends who share the miniature wargame hobby, though not necessarily exactly in the same way and gives me the feeling of belonging.
ReplyDeleteThat said, .there is another value in the blog, my memory has always been a wee bit weak and isn't getting stronger as I age, so, at times, I will go searching my own blog to see how I did this or that, or what a certain toy soldier officer had been named etc, or for a source of inspiration for scenarios or just to go back and bring a past game to mind whether solo or with friends. A bit like looking at old vacation or important event photos.
Thanks, Ross! Using a blog as an archive and reference source is one of the top reasons to begin chronicling your wargaming journey.
Delete:) I started in 1970, pre-internet, pity I didn't keep a wargaming diary back then! :)
DeleteI wish that I would have started record keeping earlier too!
DeleteInteresting post and discussion, although I think by now most of it has been said. I mainly blog to record what I've done and it is a useful place to upload my game photos for free (!). I would be the first to admit that it has possibly become something of a "job", particularly since I retired, but I think that is just how I am. Hey, I'm a digital Wargames content creator!
ReplyDeleteBut I enjoy doing it as I find it motivates me and I've always enjoyed writing up game narratives. Bringing history to life and all that. I'm always very grateful if people do comment, and I try to respond to each one.
I think in general however, feedback on the internet has declined, particularly on eg ebay. It is part of the evolution of the Internet from a fun, sharing community to ruthless digital value extraction as large corporations mine our attention. It is great that non profit driven groups still exist amongst all the slop.
I'd particularly like to thank Norm for all his posts over the years, really inspiring stuff and I even recently bought a boardgame after seeing it on his Wargames diary.
Thanks Martin and it should be said that that you are someone who puts a lot of hours behind your own output.
DeleteThanks for your response, Martin! As long as you continue to enjoy blogging and the results are useful to you, why stop? You ought to mention the game Norm's recommendation spawned. That way, Norm can collect his commission.
DeleteWow - that has been a mammoth conversation - when I looked at it 12 hours ago there were only about 4 comments! As Martin and other above say, most of it has been said - from my perspective, I like to see the comments on my blog - I don't really care about or count "views"- only comments. I certainly would NOT want to just see 30 or 40 thumbs up emojis! It's always odd to me, what garners the most comments - generally, mine have been what I would consider a pretty innocuous, standard post about some newly painted figures, rather than an AAR that might take 30-60 minutes to create - I have given up trying to figure out why a few of my posts get up to a count of 40 (including my replies) but most only get in the mid to high 20's.
ReplyDeleteI do think Norm might have a point that blogging is a sub hobby in its own right - I don't mind that either - but I can understand why Norm, after spending hours thinking deeply about a subject and then 1-2 hours actually writing his post, would wonder if it was worth the effort when he gets 8 or 10 comments. I never put that much effort in, so am not affected in the same way, and as I say, some of the highest comment counts are for a PBJ post that takes five minutes to do - go figure!
My blog has no real purpose apart from connecting with like-minded people around the world - I don't use it as a reference or a diary or to motivate me to paint X number of figures etc - so, in that context, it works fine as long as a few of you keep leaving nice comments about how great my painted figures are, even if they are really only bog average!
Now, I am off to the painting desk (when I should be doing an AAR of the ACW game I played on Sunday!)
I think many Blogs get more hits or comments on PBJ posts than anything else, which is true of my Blog too. AAR's much less so unless it is for a popular period and/or battle; ie Waterloo.
DeleteThank you for weighing-in, Keith! Predicting which post will garner the most comments is a bit of a crap shoot. PBJ posts showing figures painted are quick and easy to leave a comment. Longer BatReps, more analytical or thought pieces require more attention and much more effort to formulate a reply. Still, comments are robust across all types of posts without any one type standing head and shoulders above the others.
DeleteOne or two hours to write a post? Often a battle report takes me half a day to crank out, and an analytical piece can take days to perform the analysis and write up the results. I find no shortcuts.
Well, I did say I don't put the same amount of effort into my posts, Jon!!
DeleteYes, you did!
DeleteI think I want to compare things with the old days...as far as I can see, wargamers, or at least a decent proportion of them, have always wanted to share, hence the letters, magazines, journals etc. from the very beginning of the hobby. IIRC, some writers recommended journalling and campaign diaries etc. as a way to increase the interest and pleasure in one's hobby. So if I use your blog as an example Jonathan, unless I happened to go to the same club or be in the same group, I would probably know your thoughts at best from a magazine article or two, whereas now I get your thoughts a few times a month. Expanded to include the set of all the blogs I read, I get a much greater amount of what I might call relevant inspiration now for my hobby than I ever used to in the 80s and early 90s. In theory, they are part of an eco-system which includes magazines and forums. I like all the current crop of magazines, but any magazine is going to suffer from, to the POV of any individual reader, 'irrelevant inspiration'; and forums can be good and contain the most relevant inspiration, but also contain a very large amount of nonsense, so the signal to noise ratio can be very poor. Club and person-to-person games, and discussion of them, is great - but perforce the most limited in time and opportunity. My writing or reading of blogs or other media is not generally competing for the same time slots or attention as actual games, so I don't find there is much actual trade off for me. Insofar as one person's wargaming content can be relevant inspiration to another, blogs might be the best form.
ReplyDeleteWhat I worry a little about in my own blogging is redundancy, that I am not adding anything that isn't covered better elsewhere. I think that is not quite true yet, but if it were I might stop for that reason. And when I think about the blogs that I follow, I don't actually see that amongst others. There are lots of unique voices there, whose interests and talents and constraints give them diverse challenges, and lead them down different paths.
Excellent assessment of the current state and our role in the wargaming eco-system. As for redundancy, we each lay out our thoughts with each post made. Having followed many of your blogs for years now, I have a sense that I know each one of you. Not only do I know but I get to watch personalities, trends, and preferences evolve over time. This, to me, is fascinating.
Deletethank you to everyone for putting so much down in writing. It does highlight my point that the same small group of kindly souls, notably all bloggers themselves, are minded to comment and support other people's blogs.
ReplyDeleteOverall, my main point is generally being slightly missed in that I am not particularly bothered about getting comments, but rather that in general, in our modern connected world, the wider internet audience themselves do not feel the need to recognise the efforts of a blogger; rather, our modern way is simply to consume and move on without regard for the source—perhaps it is the ultimate consequence of 'free internet'.
Perhaps a sticking point for me is that servicing the main blog consumes hours and hours and I mean hours of my time. The posts there are typically very long (that may be its own problem), but often they do provide the sort of detail and deep read that browsers want if they are thinking about buying a game or breaking into a system or want a coffee break with a detailed read etc., and it is that sort of thing that I think is worthy of two-way exchange... and I mean exchange by those in the wider audience that have gained something from the post, not just the group of bloggers who regularly support each other.
We should all be seeing on our blogs, the names of people in the comments section that are new to us, where perhaps we have pressed a button of interest.
Regardless, thank you everyone for your thoughts to date and also to the two new followers that have joined my Battlefields & Warrior Blog, together with the several who have joined over recent weeks. I rather feel like I don't want to disappoint!
I must say, I was 110% convinced that my last post on the Commanders site would be my last use of wargaming social media and now I am less certain, so thank you all for bringing some perspective.
Thank you, Norm, for the inspiration to pursue a topic that seems to touch many.
DeleteAs for slightly missing the point, I reckon I summarized the post fairly when I write that,
"The recurring theme of Norm's "Thinking Aloud" post centers on the tension between pouring significant effort into creating thoughtful, detailed blog content and seeing minimal interaction or feedback in return."
I agree that seeing the names of first-time commenters is a joy. Even better when they become regular commenters. There is a common core of about 20-30 readers who often speak up on each post. Those viewers are highly valued. May they continue to contribute!
A great post, Jonathan, and well done to Norm for inspiring it. All the comments have been incredibly interesting to read. I don't really have much to add.
ReplyDeleteI came to blogging only 2 or 3 years ago and my reason for continuing has changed since then. I thought, rather big headedly, that I might have something to add to the hobby. However, what I quickly realised was that I don't! Instead, it's been all about what others have added to my hobby experience. Comments on my posts are small in number but have a disproportionately large impact in encouraging me and my endeavours. That someone has simply typed "great paint job," is amazing. It means that they have gone to the trouble to contribute. This is not a superficial response in my view.
Now, the blog is purely a wargaming journal.
Thank you, Richard! You undersell yourself, my friend! You and your blog offer much to many. Your posts on wargame design, scenario design, playtesting, book reviews, and battle reporting offer so much of interest to a broad wargaming audience. I, for one, am certainly happy that you stepped into this ring!
DeleteAs always plenty of great comments already and so much food for thought. Norm and I have 'talked' about this before and I certainly have had a love/hate relationship with Blogging this past few years, wondering many times is it all really worth the effort? So some points from my perspective in no particular order:
ReplyDeleteI've been Blogging for probably 15 years plus now and first started as a way to show my games of BKCII and Pendraken 10mm figures to the wider World, or at least I think that was the reason. It's so long ago I could be completely wrong! Looking back at some very old posts, I maybe had 1-2 comments or none at all, but that didn't bother me then, as I would post on various forums and get feedback there. Naturally the Blog morphed into different areas, but essentially it was still a way to record me games, ideas, thoughts etc.
But then I found it was taking so much of my time to record an AAR for example, which took longer than the game itself. Taking photos etc also disrupted to flow of the game, so I began to wonder why bother, when it was taking up so much of my limited free time and for 'little reward' in terms of comments. Also I was spending at least an hour each morning catching up on the Blogs I followed, which just seemed to be getting longer each day!
So a year or so ago I drastically cut down the number of Blogs I followed to try to free up time for other hobby related stuff. I found this had a positive effect on my free time, but even then I did still ponder giving up posting completely.
But being a solo gamer and full-time parent carer, Blogging is the only way I really keep in touch with the wargaming community, which is very beneficial on many levels. This and the decision to post when I feel I have something to share, rather than posting for posting's sake, meant I decided to carry on but very much on my own terms.
I've never been worried about the number of hits etc, as when you look at your stats, who knew my Blog was popular in Iran, Brazil and Indonesia? But those who do comment do make it worthwhile, even if it is a simple single sentence.
Finally when I did look back over the blog last year, I found plenty of scenarios and campaigns that I had forgotten about, which I might revisit in due course, so it is a nice repository of my gaming ideas these past 15 or so years.
Steve, the interactions with reader commentary is what makes blogging a success in my book. sure, i would likely still chronicle my journey with no comments but a comment offers encouragment to continue. You are not alone in wondering if blogging is worth the effort. I reckon I have mentioned this topic more than once and contemplated the result frequently. I am very happy to see that this blog made your cut in your culling out blogs! I look forward to your comments and insights with each of my posts. Thank you!
DeleteI started blogging over 15 years ago and it was originally to keep a record of the 54mm range of toy soldiers I was creating for my own entertainment and to discuss 54mm wargaming and playing little wars.
ReplyDeleteWhen I decided to stop paying for expensive web hosting I decided to stop blogging and managed about a week until something that Norm posted brought me back and I started a blog to continue the discussion!
Nowadays I use the blog to record progress on projects such my recreation of Dendermonde, things I have painted, occasionally games played, etc. it is encouraging to look back and see the progress I have made on various projects.
I don’t really expect anyone to comment, I have 30 or so people following the blog and a few regular commentators ( almost all bloggers)
But, as most people have said, I use blogging as a journal more than a discussion platform
Thank you, Mike! Using a blog as journal and discussion platform is perfect!
DeleteThe comments to this post are an example of what I like about Blogs. It is a space where a measured post and response can be crafted and shared. This is unlike the other social media spaces where things are much more immediate and often a touch 'Knee Jerk' if not outright trollish. I like the permanency of blog posts they don't disappear as soon as they are posted so I can re read those that are useful.
ReplyDeleteI blog because I don't have a lot of like minded individuals close at hand. I was last a member of a formal wargaming club over 50 years ago. Real life (TM pending) got in the way of being able to put in the commitment required so I just didn't bother. I found informal groups from time to time but moving with my job meant they didn't have the longevity other wargamers find in a club membership. Blogging filled that lack by giving me a place to chat and share what I learned over the years.
I didn't expect it to create the kind of virtual friends it did. People I have never, and probably never will, meet in the flesh have become people I know as well, and in some cases know better, than real life friends.
I started blogging because it was a way to record what I do and pass on what I know. I continue blogging as it provides a focus to continue to learn more useless stuff about things that interest me and to have a creative outlet. The fact that a small, select group of people seem to like what I write is a totally unexpected bonus!
I agree! Reader commentary allows us to connect in a way that our individual blogs with no commentary can. It is this exchange of dialog that pulls us together. Like you, I did not expect to create a group of virtual friends either when I began. I have even managed to game, remotely, with many of my readers. Now, that is cool and unexpected!
DeleteRespectfully submitted,
ReplyDeleteI wonder about the either/or nature of the question. It's rather binary. Wargaming is this or it's that . . . Could one's involvement in the hobby contain aspects of both?
Without futher preparation or research, I wonder about the overall history of the hobhy and its growth. The arly journals and magazines were a way of sharing ideas and perhaps getting some feedback. The evolution of conventions and shows also gave like-minded individuals a chance to meet (network?), exchange ideas, and see what's out there, what others are doing, and what's new or coming up in terms of new products, etc.
The arrival and now omnipresence of the internet and blogging seems, in some regards, just another step or milestone in this journey.
Going back to your original question that provides no option, apparently, for a middle ground or a gray area, unless one is a confirmed solo wargamer, it seems that even the friendly club meetings involving 4-5 members are a kind of public performance. It seems, too, that there is also a kind or level of performative art to be found in wargaming that is not shared with the wider wargaming community. At the risk of trying to be philosophical - if a wargamer or group of wargamers play a game and no one blogs about it, did the wargame actually take place?
I cannot speak with any real authority or experience to Norm's concerns. However, it occurs to me that comparable examples might be found in real life outside of wargaming. For example, one could spend a lot of time and effort on a project in the office or whatever and when all is said and done, there is no comparable recognition, etc.
In summary - though I acknowledge that this response could have been organized much better and written more coherently, it seems that wargaming could be compared to a religion or religious practice. Some of us prefer to pray in private, but there's much to be said about being surrounded by a like-minded congregation that shares your view(s). Others might find it more to their taste to go out in the wilderness and preach to the heathens and so forth, as they enjoy the engagement. They want to educate those that have not yet found what they are looking for.
Hi, I think that magazines and clubs etc is an excellent point and perhaps makes for the best analogy that I was trying to articulate.
DeleteFor a magazine, as a consumer one pays the cover price to enjoy the content, for a club, one pays club membership fees to enjoy access, for a wargame show, one pays an entrance fee to gain access. These are accepted principles
In all of these cases, there is an understanding that the consumer has an onus of responsibility one way or another in getting to the thing that they want to access …. For blogs and open wargame forums, that sentiment does not seem to apply, one can simply consume and move on and by implication that seems to suggest that internet creators have become under valued for what they do ( to be clear, I am not suggesting the blogger should get money or a knighthood, but the odd ‘thanks’ or observational note doesn’t seem too much to expect).
I would not want every passer by to feel they should throw a sweetie out to someone who has posted (the poor content author would spend their entire life responding :-) ), but doing it now and then seems fair and at the moment it seems the case that there are just two group of blog consumers, those that generally offer the courtesy of comment and those that don’t, a bit of crossover there would mean a great deal.
Again, I would remind readers that my post did not arise out of blog comments (or lack of), but rather a wargame forum post that has had over 466 views, with just one comment and I am still returning to it daily to see whether any new comments need servicing …. The ongoing service seemingly being my part of the obligation!
I was going to mention the club and magazine combo that Blogs give me too, as I was thinking about it today on the drive back from parent/carer duties. I think it was Matt Crump who summed it up nicely, as he sees it as a way of keeping in touch with some chums scattered across the globe, who have similar interests etc, and that vibe I feel too.
DeleteIn terms of engagement from viewers, I noticed that our son (nearly 26) is so used to scrolling through endless content on his phone, only pausing to give the odd 'thumbs up' emoji or whatever. I wonder if this sort of engagement has become the norm as many people are used to this, so feel it's OK to browse and not really leave a comment? Personally I think it good manners to at least make a comment on a Blog I follow, even if at times it can be somewhat short, other times longer and more involved.
I mentioned this whole thing to my son (non-wargamer in his 40’s who uses his phone a lot) and he said I was expecting too much and that things are just the way they are! Probably a sad truth.
DeleteAnon, thank you for your feedback.
Delete"if a wargamer or group of wargamers play a game and no one blogs about it, did the wargame actually take place?"
Good question! For those of us who regularly and tirelessly document each battle played, the answer might be "no"!
Norm, your son's comment may be an inconvenient truth.
DeleteSteve, your comment reminds me of my travels. When in Egypt, our small group would enter a tomb. Often there were many others in the tomb as well. All but only a few never even stopped to study the artwork. They all breezed through the tomb with their phones held aloft videoing down one side and back out the other. I doubt they even saw anything behind their camera lense. Sad state of affairs, for sure.
DeleteGood topic! For my part I mostly blog to keep a record of past battles, my Temu version of the Bulletin of the Grande Armée :) If I uncover a forgotten ruleset or some interesting modifier; I mostly write about it in wargaming forums, where indeed I find more interaction.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the topic and the robust discussion, Morris! Which wargaming fora do you most regularly share your writings?
DeleteI enjoy the vibes at leadadventureforum. Recently had a discussion there about if a modifier penalizing firing uphill (musket era) is justified.
DeleteThanks! I rarely visit because I find it difficult to find/follow threads but will make it a New Year's resolution to stop in more frequently.
Delete“In the end, should wargaming be a private pleasure rather than a public performance? “
ReplyDeleteIt could. I mean, the ultimate senses of enjoyment and “fun” are ours to experience, but also ours to share if we so wish as well, or not.
This is a social hobby, so even with solo play as an option, it’s always seemed best enjoyed in the company of others. Blogging about our gaming and hobby is just an extension of that I think, to reach a wider audience and make connections with folks we’d otherwise never meet in person.
“Do you share Norm's concerns and frustrations?”
A bit I guess. With readership numbers dropping significantly with the encroachment of social media, blogging seems to have been pushed almost aside in lieu of the easier “post a photo for views and likes” option. And it really IS easier to do just that and I am a member in several hobby groups on Facebook and Discord. But I really do prefer to read about the author’s thoughts and journey that went into their models and games and one just can’t get that with a photo and brief description at all. So for me, blogging about our hobby will remain important and viable, but perhaps be more personal than it ever was as we, the blog-writer/blog-reader are forced to tailor our enjoyment opportunities from what it available in our blog rolls, even if it means beloved blogs we’ve followed from the past have gone silent along with the voices of their authors in our comments sections.
Dai, your response is a first-rate philosophical summary of the role and benefits to blogging our hobby. Good stuff!
DeleteWow, this has got everyone involved, for sure! Perhaps just by doing so, it's shown the value of blogging..
ReplyDeleteI think I can add one thought that I don't think others have said, which is that a big part of my blogging motivation is that I simply enjoy writing, and it's a good outlet for that. 'Write about what you know about' (and are interested in) may be a cliche, but is certainly true - I also think writing about this hobby revealed to me how much I was interested in it.
Of course, blogging is also all the things others have mentioned - it acts as a useful hobby diary/archive, and it's motivational, if you post your plan to play a certain game, or paint an army, I'm sure you are more likely to actually do it.
Sometimes it can seem that perhaps the tail is wagging the dog - 'I need to put something on the blog this week' syndrome, but that can be motivational too, if it drives you to do some research, gaming or painting.
I do sympathise with Norm, his fantastic posts obviously take a lot of time to compose, and that may become too much time out of actually gaming/research/painting. But please don't give it up entirely, Norm - you really are one of the best, most thoughtful and interesting bloggers!
Comments are a fantastic bonus for me - I didn't realise how important they would be. They are pretty much what drives the 'connection' aspect of it all, by getting people conversing. I've completely unexpectedly made new friends, both on-line and 'IRL', due to their commenting on the blog, leading to in-person meetings at shows and/or remote gaming sessions ( of course including your good self Jon, for which many thanks!) . I was pleasantly surprised to get comments right from the start, the vast majority of which are friendly and supportive, which is great for morale and (again) motivation. I do make a point of responding to every comment, and saying 'thank you' - it's amazing that people take the time to give comments.
Now I've spent a good chunk of an evening reading this post, and all the comments, and writing this comment - and I had intended to write a post on my blog, which I've neglected since the New Year! It's not been wasted time, though - many thanks to you Jon, and Norm, and everyone else here!
David, if you made it through all of the comments then you deserve a medal!
DeleteYou are right in that the joy of writing could be a big factor in why those who blog do so. I am no exception. Maintaining a blog can also be a motivator as self-imposed deadlines creep up. Receiving comments is an important part of (another self-imposed) social contract among friends and colleagues. We want to encourage others as they encourage us.
Sorry to derail your upcoming blog post but I am very happy to see your contribution here. We will get another game on the schedule soon.
p.s, forgot to say, your 'top ten commenters' counter is a really sneaky way of driving more comments..( and this is one more for my score on there ! )
ReplyDeleteI can be a sneaky one! Keep at it and you will crawl back into the Top 10 in no time!
DeleteI wouldn't want to look like I was trying too hard...😀
DeleteDoesn’t mean you cannot try!
DeleteWhile some bloggers do use the medium as a sub-set of the hobby, for me it isn't. Rather it is an integral part of the hobby insomuch that it is really just a digital version of the social interaction that existed before we all got so busy. I have written many times on my blog about how in the old days we would meet up for our Friday game nights and how the first half hour or more would be taken up with 'show and tell' where we showed off what we had just painted or drool over figures that had arrived in the post that week – in a pre-internet times, without the benefit of images of painted figures, this was important because often you had little idea of what you were getting until you held the model in your hands. For me blogging simply extends that 'show and tell' to a larger potential audience. It also helps to keep in touch with gamers I know who have moved to another city or even another country, and creates online valued acquaintances as well.
ReplyDeleteI write a lot of 'stuff' on my blog, from AARs, to new units, stories, historical observations, travel-logs and general drivel. I enjoy writing it and would probably continue to write it even if no one commented. I have learned a lot of modeling and painting techniques from other blogs and hope others learn things from mine.
In a world of geopolitical chaos and a news media filled with sensationalism and often outright lies, reading and AAR or a 'show and tell' from a fellow blogger can be a welcome relief. Equally, in a world where rudeness and crassness is becoming commonplace, our hobby blogs are found in a rare corner of the internet where politeness and encouragement remain the norm.
We probably play less games (Jonathan excepted) than we did before real life stole our time, but we still spend time preparing for battle – painting, reading, basing, etc, but perhaps don't get the opportunity for 'show and tell' as we used to...and we should be proud of what we have done. Blogging fills that gap and that is why it is an essential part of the hobby and not just an add-on for me.
Thanks so much for your feedback and insight, Mark! Like you and many others, blogging has become an integral part of wargaming for me. I reckon we blog because we enjoy wargaming, writing, and sharing our thoughts and accomplishments with colleagues.
DeleteNow that you are retired, we may even see more wargaming goodness from you!
Jumping in as another lapsed blogger, I can say it was never really about pure engagement for me either. I appreciate comments and discussion, but my primary goal was always to add to the overall noise of our hobby.
ReplyDeleteBack in 2011, we had the liebster awards going around and Jon asked us to answer a few questions like "Why did you start blogging." My own answer could be summed up as: 1) Post pictures to inspire other to do likewise and 2) Provide inspiration to get after my own lead pile. Over time it evolved into my painting diary, which I still use from time to time when I revisit old projects.
I still peruse blogs from time to time as they provide a depth of coverage that has replaced gaming magazines. I think Instagram, Discord and other social media have only served to increase the depth of our silos while simultaneously making the content more devoid of context and meaning.
All this said, it looks like your comment section is comprised of about 40 blog posts on its own. My only quibble with blogging now is that it seams that we start to pigeon hole ourselves to certain audience based on feedback which prevents us from pursuing anything we enjoy. $.02
Interesting last paragraph, Jake. Since my content has remained mostly the same, my hunch is that the audience has been self selected to seek the content that appeals to them. That is, if you build it, a certain audience will come. AI asserts that this blog is part of the Old Guard or Old School of Wargaming.
DeleteJake/ Dartfrog.
DeleteI only came across your blog recently but have found the tyw rebasing articles an inspiration that I am copying for my own Epic basing - thank you for those!
Jon: I concur, I just mention the pigeon holing as early on I remember feeling trepidation about changing scales or genres for how it might impact my "impressions per post."
DeleteMike: Thanks, My basing was inspired by Scott's blog "Sound Officer Call" so the value of blog chains is definitely there.
I've enjoyed working through the comments here. Some interesting perspectives, which reinforce my view that blogging is a multi-faceted form. It may have lost out to the short form, instatokky attention seeking style but it is still a valid literary form, IMO.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I rely on blogs for a lot of my impression of the variability and range of modern wargaming. Solo games, air battles, naval actions and a healthy dose of WWII tanks would be very much missed without blogs of many people who have commented here (and others). I may not often leave a comment but I very much appreciate your efforts.
Thank you, Anthony! Working through all of the comments takes some effort, just like blogging.
DeleteI am constantly amazed that I find more blogs that I did not know about previously—I have become a follower of four more from the comments above and have added them to one of my separate lists of bookmarks that I now use to try to check different blogs from time to time. Thanks for facilitating this Jon!
ReplyDeleteIt's a major 'first world problem'. I have nearly 600 blogs in my reading list (quite a number—maybe 100?— have gone by the wayside). I try to 'get around' some 200 of them (not that I achieve this). Within this is the 'core group' of some 20–50 that I visit more regularly and are authored by people whom I consider to be e-friends—something that I share with several others who have commented above. All of these blogs to follow, not being prepared to make it my full time raison d'être, plus going in and out of blogging phases means that I check blogs irregularly but it is always enjoyable and interesting when I do.
I always like to leave a comment, which means actually reading the post. Easy with those 'quick and dirty' "I painted something..." posts, but more effort is required with more detailed posts (effort equalling reward in the vast majority of cases).
On the other side of things, for me, thoughtful, encouraging and helpful comments from a small group of people I 'know' are worth more than lots of comments and certainly merely a 'like'. Please no! I join Keith in the campaign to keep a 'likes' button out of blogger!!
Best wishes, James
Thank you, James! I am always happy to see your name pop up in the comments section! Your newly discovered bloggers will be pleased to see a new follower. I am solidly in your camp that meaningful comments carry more weight than “Likes” but likes offer encouragement too.
Delete103 comments … Jon, you have worked like a Trojan in servicing all the replies :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is a heavy cross to bear...but made lighter from all of the encouraging thoughts.
DeleteI blog predominantly for my own project logs on both of my blogs, although at one time I did chase comments and it is still a boost to receive them it is a regular group who now follow or comment. Some pages get lots of views (particularly ones that have been linked by the BBC or Normandy Tourism) I do not expect everyone to comment.
ReplyDeletefind blogging good for my motivation to complete figs rather than let them sit on the bench part finished, I am happy with my new photos with the new phone and at some stage plan to go back and retake photos more for my own satisfaction of a good recorded blog on my painting more than anything.
Cheers
Matt
Great post Jon and great comments from the guys above, I started reading the comments yesterday and have only just got around to reading the last of them today....phew!!!
ReplyDeleteI started my blog 16 years ago, just to keep track of what I was personally doing in my little corner of our fab hobby. That plan soon moved sideways as I added in battle reports and photos of games at shows, like most blogs do. But now 16 years later its bought me so much more, I've either met or played with game with 9 of the people who commented on this post, most of the others I read their blogs and comment and they do the same to mine. My blog has helped me make friends with all these people, without It, I would never have met any of them.
What a great thing blogs are!!!
@Matt, thank you for describing your use of blogging. Doing it for primarily for yourself, is a satisfying approach.
ReplyDelete@Ray, thank you! Yeah, blogging has brought us all a lot of friendships, has it not?
ReplyDeleteNote! My ability to comment using embedded replies seems to be broken. Anyone else having this issue?
ReplyDelete@Jonathon - yes, I noticed that embedded replies is broken
ReplyDeleteAnd so is the ‘Show All’ tab at the bottom of lists for example ‘blogs I follow’. Looks like the Gremlins are tinkering :-)
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Norm! I wonder if all of the comments broke my blog??? Perhaps Blogger figures SPAM is running rampant here and applying the "breaks"? We will see...
ReplyDeleteSeems that removing Steve, the stats SPAMMER’s posted reverted the blog back to normal operations!
DeleteWell, at least on my phone…
Deletetesting :o) I cannot post/reply messages at my blog testing yours Jon?
ReplyDeletecheers!
@Phil! Your comment works here but as you can see my embedded replies do not!
ReplyDeleteI noticed both issues about 6 hours ago...I just tried again now and when I click the "show all" button on your blog Jon......nothing happens!
ReplyDeleteumm hmm ok not working at my blog cannot reply or show all follwers etc. but, rumors are Microsoft was down and working now but had issues with 3rd party companies one of them is/was blogspot (owned by google) fee's payment issues? who knows! :o)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the updates both Phil and Keith. Hopefully these issues get sorted.
ReplyDeleteYes they have been...I am obviously using "reply" here...and I just tested the "show all" too!
DeleteFixed, indeed! Thank goodness, operations return to normal.
DeleteBy now its all been said on blogging, sometimes more than once too. It's been really interesting working through all the replies, lots to think about along the way. For my two pennies worth then: I began by enjoying writing occasionally for Wargames Illustrated while I was still working and found I enjoyed sharing aspects of my hobby with others. Then almost 24 years ago I was able to retire and suddenly had more hobby time, which in turn lead to more writing opportunities. Then almost 15 years ago I discovered blogging and thought it was fun to share ideas and projects, occasionally even thoughts, more regularly. The added bonus to blogging over other forms come from the reply comments and over time evolving friendships with fellow hobby enthusiasts from all over! Wargaming has proved a major plank in my life: interests, friendships, travel, new skills have all grown from this wonderful hobby we all share through blogging.
ReplyDeleteSuperb summary of your wargaming and writing adventures, David! Reader commentary is most rewarding. My sentiments are similar but I have only been retired about five years.
DeleteI will be [fairly] brief as so much thoughtful feedback has already been provided. Like so many others, my first goal is to record my own painting and gaming activities. Inspired by you and Tim (Kingdom of Katzensstein blog), I also use it to track my various statistics, including expenses. In so doing, sharing my passion for our weird and wonderful hobby hobby is a secondary goal. In my case, that includes my enthusiasm for favorite rules sets by means of the occasional detailed walk-through of games. This is time consuming to photograph and write up, but I much prefer it to video walk throughs, which seem more common today. The community of the Blogosphere is great as well - I just wish I had time top read everything that I's like to! I find the ephemeral nature of Facebook posting to be the opposite of what I aspire to, and seldom post there. Finally, I enjoy my Napoleonic Uniform Guide project (which is overdue for an update). Hey, I just realized that this month marked my 15th Blogiversary - 15 years and almost 1500 posts! Obviously, I am not stopping any time soon! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Peter, for offering your thoughts on this topic. Updating your uniform project is a worthy goal. I have been considering something similar for 2026. My figure galleries are horribly outdated as well. blogging for fifteen years shows a wonderful commitment. When I first began blogging, your blog was an inspiration to me.
DeleteCan I just offer a final thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read and comment on this post. As the author of the original post that sort of started all of this, your combined thoughts here have brought some helpful perspective and have solely been responsible for me returning to the blogging fold …… and switching comments back on! :-) thanks. Kindest Regards. Norm.
ReplyDeleteYou may and you are welcome! You owe me one.
DeleteYou and Norm.. and all the others.. deserve a vote of well done.. got us all thinking about why we blog and hopefully gave a helpfull shove to all of us still blogging... 👍👏👏
DeleteThanks, Steve! At least Norm is back on track!
Delete