January 10th-12th. They’re big days in the blogging world. They are officially National Delurking Days.
(Actually, there seems to be some confusion as to whether National Delurking Day is January 10th or January 12th, so I’m just declaring it to be January 10th THROUGH the 12th.)
First, a definition. According to Urban Dictionary….
Lurk – To read without commenting or contributing, therefore effectively invisible to the rest of the group or community.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m quite thankful for my lurkers. According to my stats, over 80% of my readers actually fall into the “lurker” category, so don’t feel bad if you’re one of them. I love you guys!
However, one of the reasons that I do this whole blog thing is for relationships, and that’s kinda hard to do if one person in the relationship is “effectively invisible”.
So….what better day to de-lurk than on National Delurking Day(s), right? It’s a day to celebrate you!
But why de-lurk?
Commenting is a very crucial part of the blogging process. It’s kinda like tipping your waitress…it’s appreciated, the value of the service offered is measured by the amount given, you get better service if you do it, but if you don’t do it, someone might spit in your food.
Okay…I won’t spit in your food. But you get the point.
Anyway, say hey. I like you for reading my blog, and I like knowing who I like. I also love reading my reader’s blogs, so be sure and let me know if you blog.
So join the fun – because lurking is something that you do in dark alleys, not on overly-patterned and nearly-neurotically-colorful blogs.
If you’re new to blog commenting and don’t have a Google login, once you click on “# comments” or “post a comment” , you can either select “Name/URL” and just put your name in (you can leave the URL blank if you don’t have a blog), or “Anonymous” and sign your name within the comment.
Yup, I'm a lurker (I blame it on Google Reader). But I love reading the blog! It's so fun to see the folks I heard so much about at BlogHer.
Lurker #2. I totally second the Google Reader being at fault. Ali totally had a better birthday than me. :)
Rachel, I LOVE YOUR BLOG! It is part of my morning routine!
National de-lurking day is pretty sweet.
PS, did I tell you that one of my New Year's resolutions is to blog more?…because it totally is.
Thanks for being you and having an absolutely adorable THREE year old!
It's hard not to stay a lurker when I read through a feed reader. Thanks for the invitation to delurk. :)
So stealing this for tomorrow! :)
I always search to find the dates of this and I can never find it and now here it is! Goody, now I can post it too.
I'm so NOT the lurker!!!
Fine I won't lurk today. But I can't promise anything for the rest of the year. :) :)
Just saying, Hi! If BlueViolet and MamaHen are stealing this, I might too. :)
May I borrow your post to repost on my blog? :) I write for me but it's nice to know what others think from time to time. People usually "lurk" on my blog too.
Cara – hi, Blogher friend! I was thinking about our fun last night…the Greek restaurant, the taxi ride… (sigh)
Lucy – Hi – Nice to meet you! Thanks for saying hi! Sorry your birthday didn't rock – I'll send you a Ice Cream Cone Cupcake!
Laura – Thanks so much – you're too sweet! I can't wait for your blog to "start a new season" – that's what it was – right? I season break… :)
Leslie – I know – feeds make it hard to comment. I struggle with the same thing.
Gina – aren't you kind. ;)
Mama Hen, Blue Violet, Marie, and Poet4Him – Of course you can all celebrate the day on your blog too! It's a national holiday, for goodness' sake! :)
Love you Rachel! I'm definitely not a lurker, I'm always ready to put in my 2 cents!
I too am a lurker :) And blaming it on Google Reader! I love reading your blog – thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks, you're the best!
Haha, funny post. I'm glad I decided to de-lurk last year and comment. It has been really fun getting to know you and yours is definitely my favorite blog, so I promise never to lurk. :)
hey im on facebook more than anything and xanga and my myspace, but i have so many friends on blogs and all that that i try to keep mine updated .. i am new to your blog and lots of others from mkcmama:) your blog has caught my eye and heart. so i decided to stick around. my names beth :) im from missouri. i have 3 kiddos myself
7year old girl, 4 year old boy and 2 year old girl
JASMINE, jack and Ali :)
if you wanna add me on facebook its beth davis :)
the above should say *my charming kids*Mckmama* sorry for the spelling error
Love the post! Since you've already told 3 other people that they can "steal" it for their own post tomorrow, may I also?!? ;)
Don't worry, I'll make sure to give you all the credit!
I am totally blog hopping tonight. So I figured I would make myself known. Love the post. I would ask people to de-lurk on my blog, but I think only one would come out! Anyways, love the cupcake post too… I'm totally stealing the idea ;)
oh my there's a day for delurking. that's too funny. sorry i haven't been able tomment lately. barely keeping my head above water. :)
I am a guilty lurker! I found your blog through Nikki Miller's blog(I wish she wrote more often). I went to Samford and met the Miller's though church. I enjoying reading about your adventures with your princess! I am now living in TN and getting married in Feb. maybe I will join the blog community then… we will see! Have a great week!
Hi! I lurk sometimes! Will you comment on my blog, please?
Thanks!
Hello, occasional lurker here. I have my maximum of 300 blogs in my Google Reader so commenting on them all would be a full time job!
Will resolve to do better!
:)
delurking! I love your blog tho, read it everyday! especially loved your the picks you post of Alabama fans who perhaps shouldn't be dressed up for the game. congrats on the big win this week. And happy birthday to Ali.
New reader, delurking!
Hey! I haven't commented in a while, but I have been lurking! Hope you are doing well!
Rachel, I found your blog when you posted about mom jeans a while back and have been a devoted lurker ever since. I sent my mom that post, since I am always trying to get her to dress a little 'hipper' and she emailed me back like "i don't understand why you would send that to me, karen". Suuuure you don't, mom. Anyway, your blog is one of my absolute favorites, and Ali is the kind of adorable that makes one's head spin. Thanks for writing :)
I'm not a lurky-loo too often, so, uh, howdy and stuff. :)
Cute post! I'm such a lurker, I can't help it…but since the New Year I've been trying to get better. And I really appreciate you commenting on my blog! :) Thanks!
I love your post, that was very good. I am a kind of a Lurker, but I will try to change it. I will be visiting and leaving a comment in your blog from now on. I really enjoy it!!! Thank you for your comment on my blog too. Have a great week!!!
hey rachel, i found your blog off my sister's (Christen) so i read it all the time and dont comment…so, i guess im another one of your lurkers! haha! your little girl is precious and i love seeing pictures of her!
-Kathleen Alfano
um…. I love your blog :) That's all I have to say. Just keep on doing what you are doing!
I always read your blog, but I've only commented a few times. I don't wanna be a lurker. I'll try harder. :-)
You're so awesome! So awesome, in fact that I am probably going to copy an dpaste this to my blog!
Hello to everyone!! Wow!! I'm sooo excited to get to check out all of your blogs and say hey.
Just one request for those copying this post – please be sure and link back to the original post. Thanks so much!
I am addicted not a lurker. Your bog is the first one i check in the mornings. I always like to start my day with a good life. You have a way with your words that crack me up. Keep up the good work.
I'm not a lurker by any means, but I'm just like you in that I LOVE getting comments, just as much as I love reading them. They really do add to the fun of blogging!
Well I must still be asleep this morning. BOG should be blog and
Life should be laughter.
Yeah – I often lurk these days due to lack of time and arms available to type. But you know I'm here…
I think this day was invented for me :) Rachel, I absolutely love your blog, I think I've commented once before like over a year ago. Your writing style is absolutley hilarious, thanks for being a very consistent blogger.
Rachel, I read everyday, our children are close in age so I get it, I know where you are coming from :) I have commented a few times, so I dont think that I qualify as a lurker. I blog at http://thedevinemrbaileyjackson.blogspot.com and I am trying to be more consistent with it.
Thank you for my daily dose of humor!
Not a lurker but I can still say 'Hi', right? :)
I usually comment, so I am officially NOT a lurker. I have nothing to say today though, and I don't feel good. I just wanted to be supportive :)
I don't think I can shut up long enough to be considered a lurker, but whatever. I'm totally using that delurking picture.
I'm delurking to say hi and to let you know I love reading your blog. ~waving hello~ :)
I found your blog through Five Minutes for Parenting (big fan), and I've enjoyed your blog. I think I've actually commented once or twice, but I am definitely a serial lurker, an unknown in the blogosphere.
Wow! Thanks so much saying hi, all of you! I've been loving checking out your blogs and getting to know you as well!
~~ Waving Hello back to all of you ~~
Nice to meet you all! :)
I particularly love your blog because I have a son slightly younger than Ali. I'm amazed at how smart she is (name the presidents!?) and it motivate me to spend time in educational activities with my son!!