Oh heavens, why on earth did I follow that blog?

On By Mick CanningIn blogging, discussions, opinion

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Every now and again I get unfollowed. And every now and again I unfollow a blog. Is it a big deal? Should it be a big deal?

At first, it can seem hurtful to find that someone has unfollowed you on any sort of social media, but really it shouldn’t be. Somehow, I find that I now follow a huge number of blogs, most of which I love, and I do wish I had more time available to read them more fully and comment on them, but I don’t. This means that every now and again I sacrifice one for the common good.

But, never without good reason.

First up, one thing that does irritate me, is when I visit and read a blog, leave a response – sometimes a quite lengthy one – and never receive any sort of reply. One blog that I initially followed was like this, and when I had left several comments that were never even acknowledged, I went through their comments strings and found that they could not be bothered to reply to anyone.

Instant unfollow. I dislike rudeness.

What other reasons?

Okay, so maybe I was attracted to your blog initially by the posts about cuddly kittens and home baking, but now the focus of your posts has shifted to motor vehicle maintenance and origami, and I feel my interest is waning. It’s time to move on. Don’t take it badly – what we had was good, but we all grow and develop and change over the years, and what was once right for both of us now leaves at least one of us empty. I wish you well, but I’m leaving you for another.

A little like the above, perhaps I found your blog through a particular post that interested me, but since then it seems that every post is on subjects that don’t. I’m sorry, I gave it a few months, I gave it a good try, but it’s just not doing it for me. Bye bye.

I unfollowed one blog because every post was a long moan about other people. Sorry, there was no pleasure to be had in reading that one.

Perhaps I notice that where your blog was originally full of carefully argued points and good language, it has become home now to foul-mouthed polemics and crude language in general. Hmm, perhaps you should take this one personally. I won’t be the only one to leave.

So, every now and again I see that my own number of followers has fallen, and that I’ve been unfollowed. My reaction? I do wonder whether I have written something boring or offensive, and occasionally re-read a few of my posts in that light. That’s okay, it’s constructive and encourages me to think about what I’m doing.

Perhaps we should all hope to get unfollowed every now and again, just to make us focus constructively on our posts.

 

160 thoughts on “Oh heavens, why on earth did I follow that blog?”

  2. I always feel a little bad when I unfollow a blog, although it doesn’t happen often. Like you, I follow a lot of blogs and try to be as interactive as time allows – I also like to follow back people who follow me. But, as you say. we can’t expect to find interest in each and every blog and – let’s be honest – there can be an awful lot of dross out there. I don’t watch my own figures closely enough to know when I have been unfollowed, but I realise that not everyone is going to be enthralled with my outpourings. Your blog is one of my very favouriutes, Mick, so I am afraid you won’t be getting rid of me anytime soon!

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  3. Mick, I must say, I feel honoured every time you visit my blog and make sure to look out for your posts in my reader. Now, I feel doubly honoured that your attention has been this well thought out. Thank you so much for your warm support. It is true that focus changes now and again but at the very least, a blog is about the blogger and the reader is an invited guest. A few minutes before reading your post, I received an email from a blogger congratulating me on being smart enough to find her awesome. Blogs are about self promotion but that kind of self praise is really grating. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I wish you all the best.

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    1. And thank you, especially for your kind words! Yes, that is a very neat summary of the situation. We are about self-promotion, inevitably. No matter what we are writing about, or how self-effacing we may try to be, we want to be read. but the way to do that is by trying to put up consistently interesting posts, not by sending out emails like the one you mention.

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  5. I follow your blog as I’m interested in your writing and experiences and I know you. I like hearing about your wanderings around the world. I also like that you reply to your comments, as you say, not everybody does and it makes you wonder why you bother. keep up the blogs Mick.

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    1. Thanks, Colin. Yes, that’s a good point. The blogger I mentioned who seemed not to reply to anyone’s comments, or even acknowledge them, was presumably just interested in putting out their opinions, and not in what anyone else had to say on the matter. Why bother reading them? I thought.

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  7. It is really good to note that you are really reading the fellow bloggers..many a time I have seen people following me just for a follow in return.. . and never was i bothered on the count of followers. or may be I miss to notice the reduction ..

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    1. I’m sure I miss the odd reduction, because I only get a notification when someone follows me. You don’t get any sort of alert if you are unfollowed. I think that is probably true on all social media, though. Perhaps that is to spare our feelings, or to try to avoid unpleasantness!

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  8. One blog I unfollowed posted several times a day, including a lot of re-blogs of other blogs I was already following. Too much – although he had some very interesting content so now I follow him on my reader – when I have the time. Otherwise my inbox was flooded. I also unfollow people who never bother to reply to comments or ever take a look at my blog. For me, blogging is about the interaction and sense of community – making virtual friends. Having said that, it’s a free world! 🌹

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    1. Yes, the bloggers that post several times a day are best followed on the reader, as you say. I follow some that do that, and wouldn’t unfollow them for the world. Much easier not to get a lot of email notifications, though. And, yes, the interaction is the important part of the process. Communication – it’s a two way thing!

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  9. I broadly agree with that list (and it’s a very carefully thought out one at that). I would add one more category, the blog spammer. I have unfollowed people I initially followed because I liked a post, later I realized they were posting 30-40 (even more in some cases) a day! That amount of noise was crowding out the blog posts I would like to read and it reached a level where I occasionally deleted all post-mails from my inbox because I felt so overwhelmed…..

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    1. I’ve been very lucky, up to now, in that all the spam comments have been caught by the WordPress fairies and dumped in the Spam Pit. So far, I have not followed one of those, although my luck will probably run out eventually.

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      1. Akismet does a good job of culling out the spam, but instead of using the WP reader I’m used to going to blog posts from my gmail inbox, and seeing 35 posts from one person in the span of half a day does something to me….:D

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    1. I hope so, Geoff. I’m sure there are plenty of others, but I think these are the ones that influence me. I do tend to glance at the figures each day, mainly because I’m so amazed that my followers seem to keep increasing, but I don’t think I’m too bothered by the numbers. I do admit to a childish delight when I ‘gain’ a new country flag, though.

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  11. Interaction is what blogging’s about for me, so I gravitate to that kind of blog whether or not the author subscribes to my own. I’m not interested in plagiarised and spun regurgitations of the mainstream media, or solipsistic reflections (unless they’re amusing), and like blogs such as this that present me with something new, and on which there’s a sense of reader interaction – even if I do end up discussing the respective merits of gin brands with Jackie. Yesterday, I had six ‘follows’, all of which had not commented on a single post. I rarely ever look at the follower stats, because they’re meaningless to me. I reckon at least half of those who subscribe to my blog never read a thing. I see blog author’s proudly proclaiming they have 2,463 followers, and yet whose posts get about 7 ‘likes’ and 3 comments – usually things like “just wow!”. That tells me that they’re juking the stats via Facebook or whatever. It’s like friends in the real world, you only really have a few true friends – the one’s who’ll go into bat for you when the chips are down (mixed metaphors, tsk!) – the rest are just friendly acquaintances.

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    1. Ah, yes. The massive numbers of followers and no comments thing. I discussed that with someone on a comment thread a while ago – I don’t understand how someone can have (and this was the case I had in mind) over 10,000 ‘followers’, yet still put up posts without attracting more than a couple of likes and a comment. It wasn’t even as if there was anything wrong with the post; I think I read it through, felt I had nothing to add, and ‘liked’ it. Perhaps they never replied to comments, and so no one commented in the first place – although even then you might expect a few comments up. Perhaps there is some site or group where you can go to garner ‘followers’. I don’t know. Beats me.

      I do think that the majority of people who follow my blog comment at some stage, and I get a fair proportion of ‘likes’. I like to think it’s because I reply.

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      1. Mick, if people have added Twitter and Facebook accounts, those followers are also counted. Perhaps that’s the reason for inflated numbers? I myself have added my Twitter account, but I don’t think even one tenth of the followers there read my posts. Lol.

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      1. Well, I suppose digressions between commenters can appear to be disrespectful to the blog author, although they can serve the purpose of fostering a sense of community amongst the site’s readers, it seems. I don’t think Jackie knew what to make of me at all during our initial exchanges, but following a few interactions has come to see that I’m harmless enough. She still thinks I’m overly-fixated on what constitutes the correct style and appropriate usage of ellipses . . . but she may have a point (or three evenly spaced ones), after all.

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  14. Great post as usual Mick. I don’t even check my stats to be honest. I do get notifications of new followers and then I wonder what is it that attracted them to my boring blog. And I question myself whether I should follow them back out of courtesy. But I only follow those that have content that speaks to me. Content that makes sense to me and moves me in one way or another. But you are right, being unfollowed isn’t a big deal. I only care if it’s from someone I cherish their thoughts. Apart from that, there’s plenty of fish in the sea 😀.

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    1. I always go and look at a new follower’s site (assuming they have one), and I’ll follow them back if it looks as though it will interest me. I don’t, now, just follow automatically. It saves the anguish of deciding whether to unfollow them later.

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  15. Mick this is probably one of the post that I really enjoyed reading. We all have reason to follow or not to follow. Apart from subject / pictures that interests us or style of writing I feel that bloggers are also big reason for following. How? The interactions! That’s what I like about WordPress! That’s the whole point of blogging. if it’s read by thousands without two way process of interaction it sounds dud!
    I have unfollowed some bloggers because as you wrote they never bothered to revert to my detailed comment. I never wrote comments for their entertainment. after discounting them few times I had no options… I had to discount them completely!

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    1. Sounds as though we are in agreement there, Arv. It is about the interaction, I agree. If I put up a post and no one comments, I feel as though no one has seen it. And I love the conversations; as someone has already pointed out earlier in this thread, we do have a community. We bump into each other on other blogs, too, and stop to chat.

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      1. Exactly Mick.
        I guess for some bloggers blog is all about dumping your thoughts or experiences. That’s why they don’t like interactions! Their job is over once it’s published.

        How about writing on various types of bloggers? Classification.. Sounds interesting as an idea!! 🙂

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  16. The blogging world is fascinating, and I’m afraid I’m a lackluster participant, even though I admire the community aspect. I started out posting stories for family and friends as a way of staying in touch while living out in the wilderness with no phone (or Internet–I had to go to town 1.5 hours away to post). So I’ve never really been part of the WordPress community. There are a handful of blogs I follow, but my satellite connection (upgrade!) is so slow out here it’s a major ordeal just to post a response some days, depending on the weather. And then of course I’m frequently out of the country, busily collecting new stories to write about. What’s my point? There are all kinds of reasons why a reader doesn’t respond, like, or follow. But they don’t necessarily pertain to the quality of the content. If one enjoys writing, then let the process itself be its own reward. Blogs can feed the voracious ego, and that’s a slippery slope, in my opinion. Thanks for the great post, Mick!

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    1. Point taken, but you do comment, Monica. We all go periods when we can’t or won’t comment, but then we go back again and pick up. And you always reply to your comments, which was the main point I was making. Thanks for the comment (as always!)

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      1. The best reply I ever got was from one of our comical interactions. I actually spit my coffee while reading what you’d written in response to my comment. Love your humor! And it’s amazing to make that connection over so many miles and different cultures. 😊

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        1. Ooh, I’m delighted about that! (well, not the coffee spitting, perhaps). I do vaguely remember you saying that at the time – I’ll have to go back and remind myself what it was. Yes, it’s the connections. The communication. that’s what makes the whole process worthwhile.

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  17. Mick, I was having this conversation with a friend and fellow blogger the other day. As we gain followers, we cannot possibly follow everyone back. Whenever I follow a new blog, I visit their about page or their latest post, say hello and introduce myself and tell them why I appreciated their post and so forth. I don’t even mind if they don’t follow back as long as they respond to my comments on their posts. However, when new followers don’t make the first move with me (just follow, no introduction, etc) I don’t usually follow back. I only have so much time so the blogs I really want to read must take priority. Those are the ones I follow by email. Everyone else gets a glance in the reader. And periodically, I review those blogs that I get through email and make changes! An excellent post, Mick!

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    1. That’s fairly similar to what I do, except I don’t usually go and introduce myself. Normally, I click ‘follow’ once I’ve ‘liked’ a few posts and left at least one comment (although not always!) which I see as an introduction. I think your way is far better, and much more polite! Thanks, Meg.

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  18. I do the same, Mick. I have almost 1,500 followers and try to be a good follower myself. I try to read and comment to the best of my ability but just can’t get to every post, even if that’s all I did all day. If I take the time to comment, I hope for, at least, a “Thank you,” and I like reciprocity. Blogging for me is about relationship and rarely do I stick with someone who never visits despite my attempts to engage. I’ll give it a 3-4 months, and if there’s no effort at all, I unfollow. It’s not personal, just trying to give more time to those who engage. 🙂

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    1. You have to. As you say, you’d spend all day, every day, replying otherwise. I obviously wouldn’t expect a reply to everything, or for someone to visit all the time, but there is a balance. As for followers who never seem to comment or ‘like’, I’m sure there are one or two who visit occasionally, read a post or two, and then move on. That’s how they follow, and it’s fine by me. I possibly unfollowed them, but there you go.

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  19. Enjoyed the thought process behind this and your decisions ~ logical to think others do the same. It is always great to be able to connect with another, yet sometimes it just doesn’t click. Cheers to a great week.

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  21. This is a very interesting post, including the comments. I bet most of us consider the same dilemmas (dilemmae? nah!) as we stare at an ever-growing list of posts by people we admire. Time management is a tricky thing. I’m weighing up your word “balance” here: how to get the balance between our own creative work and reading other material, between production and absorption? I still haven’t got that sussed but I keep on trying. “Unfollow” from me means any of the reasons suggested above. In most cases I continue to follow (so I see read a random selection of posts, which is fun) but skip the weekly emails except for a handful. Otherwise every morning brings panic.

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    1. Oh heck, Rachel, yes, panic! All those posts! I’m completely rubbish at time management, which is why I need to try and keep a handle on all of this. I suppose we all find our own ways of dealing (or not dealing!) with this. Thanks for visiting and commenting.

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  22. Mick am at your side. You have put forth valid points out there. True even I follow and sometimes unfollow for some of the reasons. But I always think we need to be in good responsive way to the followed blog posts. So I try to read and comment. As you say sometimes it’s too much also. Am sure I won’t unfollow you and hope the same from you. 😝😊

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  24. I’m putting this comment up for Elliesofia as for some unknown reason WordPress isn’t allowing her to comment on here at the moment:

    “I don’t actually know how many followers, I have (not a vast number, I know), but to me, it is more about, as you say, those who interact with me. My blog is only a little fish in a great big sea but that’s ok with me. Naturally, it’s nice to think that people like my posts even though they tend to be somewhat erratic. I do feel there is a sense of community with WordPress and enjoy my snippets of conversation with my visitors who regularly leave comments which are much appreciated. I try and keep up with the blogs I follow although it can sometimes be difficult when I am busy but I do enjoy the blogs I follow and would always try to leave a comment if I can rather than just ticking the ‘Like’ box. There used to be a popular TV programme where I am, which used the catchphrase ‘Never mind the quality; feel the width’; (I don’t know if you knew of it?). I beg to differ – for me, it’s definitely more quality over quantity”.

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    1. All of our blogs are little fish in a great big sea – there are so many thousands of blogs out there!
      I remember the quote, Ellie, if not the programme. And I agree with you. It’s quality that matters, every time. Which is why I follow the blogs that I do, of course, yours included!

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  25. I don’t know what to say now after reading your blog and comments. First of all I thought it was directed only as me as it came in an e mail and I thought, ” oh Damm, now no one wants to read me!” and I welled in self pity and took to my bed even on this glorious afternoon. Now I am not seeing who is reading me or un reading me… ( I, like a fellow blogger) only have a handful so I don’t suppose it matters much. Also I think sometimes I would like to write something about my community ( historically) and sometimes about my holiday but then I think, no one would be interested… ps if you have got to the end of this self pitied diatribe, I thank you.
    Re H – I think he is a bit of a sweetie but yes originally I thought I was ” too think” to inter act with him. Now he loves me and my shonky typos and punctuation. Mick,… just in aw of you. Thank you for letting me play. 🙂

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    1. Oh Jackie, write about whatever you want to – it’s a blog, for heaven’s sake! We all like reading these personal bits – I just try to make my holidays sound like adventures, with varying amounts of success. I loved the ones you wrote about your relatives in India, so that covers community, too. I’m hoping you might have some more of those still to write. So stop your wallowing, woman, and write some more posts! I want to read them!

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      1. I do have more Indian ones, but I fear I might upset Indian people, as in effect my Grandfather was on the other side. I spoke about it with my father last week and he arrived there at 3years old and left at 17 years. That’s a long time to be there…

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        1. I guess it depends how you tell it – diplomatically? I think an awful lot of Indians appreciate that not all of the British in India were ‘enemies’. Even immediately after independence, there were surprisingly good relations between both countries, which seems to endure.
          Interestingly, in my new book, which I have just started, the central character is an Englishman who lived in India until his teenage years.

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  26. M – where is your edit button. I must learn to edit and then press “post” rather than “post” and then read. So its, I thought I was to THICK to interact with H and Mick I am in AWE of you.. now awh! Of course I don’t need to worry when I post on H’s site as he always edits for me, even deleting some of my ellipses. ( please note, I only run a Language School, I don’t actually teach in it)

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  27. Where I live, in rural Ohio, it’s not possible to take a walk without nearly every person saying hello or at least waving. A friend visiting from NYC went on a hike with me through our area metroparks. People passing by would comment on my dog or the lovely weather, and if we passed them again some might add another comment as if we were still in the same conversation and some might laughingly mention how slow or fast or tired they were. My friend found this exhausting. She couldn’t imagine micro-interruptions on every walk she took. I thought it was simply natural but she vastly preferred the comfortable anonymity of the city where eye contact was avoided. That, she said, was far more respectful of the other person.

    Just as in daily life, bloggers may see comments differently. Some, like you, respond to every single comment. (I’m impressed that you do.) Many do not. Unless the comments seem to call for a response, they don’t respond. I fall somewhere in-between. I try to respectfully answer comments that disagree and make sure I respond to emotional comments with some kind of support. But honestly, I don’t know what to do with praise. I don’t know what to do with it in real life either. I suspect I writhe around in discomfort while attempting to say thank you. I’m not implying that’s normal, but my problem with praise surely shows up on the page. You’ve given me a lot to think about.

    Actually, you’ve given me something else to think about too. The leaving of comments altogether. I regularly read a lot of sites. I share many many posts a day on social media and links to many posts in my own writing. But I don’t comment all that often. I realize now, after reading your post, that writers probably have no idea who loves their posts and shares their posts if they don’t get comments! This is surely an elementary insight but one I haven’t happened upon until you brought it to mind. I’ll be thinking about this too. Thanks Mick!

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    1. That’s an interesting response, Laura. We live a fairly rural existence, and I’m used to speaking to passers-by in much the same way as you are. Again, I have friends from the city comment on this, but it seems entirely natural and I would feel very disrespectful if I didn’t. I expect this colours the way I interact elsewhere, including on here.

      Do I need to respond to every comment? Possibly not, but I feel it is polite to do so (just in my nature), and so I do. I admit that when I began blogging a year ago, I would never have expected to garner so many comments, and so need to put up so many replies. I’m not good with praise, either, but I find interactions in general easier through a keyboard, rather than face to face (a.k.a. real life), and can simply thank someone.

      I guess it’s safe to say that a few people have read this post, anyway!

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  28. I think the whole “follow and comment” aspect of blogging is a bit of a mystery to new bloggers. It sure was to me…I didn’t even tag my first two dozen posts! But gradually, I got the hang of it, and began leaving comments on blogs that interested me, and follow as many blogs as I can. There are times when I “unfollow” for exactly the reasons you gave, and there are times when my number of followers goes down, and that’s okay, too. The only time I was bothered by it was when a very regular reader who always commented suddenly unfollowed me, and then I did worry if I offended her. I finally just asked, and it turned out to be a wordpress glitch, not something she had done deliberately. She said it had happened to her before, and it happened to me one other time with another regular reader. Now I can’t help but wonder if it happens more than we realize, but we only notice it when it’s a very regular reader we interact with often!

    PS: My personal pet peeve is people who “like” about thirty of my posts, all at once. I get email notifications for each “like” and “follow”, and those emails have the time listed. So when I see that someone “liked” twelve posts at exactly 1:31, and another fifteen of them at 1:32, I don’t both responding at all……I would rather people just read one post, than flip through my blog site, randomly liking posts they aren’t even scanning, much less reading!
    Good post, Mick….

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    1. I certainly agree with you about the synchronised ‘likes’. You also occasionally notice it when you write a long-ish post, press ‘publish’ and it is ‘liked’ before you even have time to take your finger off the button.

      I agree also about the accidental ‘unfollow’ – I know that happens occasionally, although I don’t think had happened to me so far.

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  29. I think you captured perfectly all the reasons people unfollow a blog, and I for sure have made all of those mistakes as a blogger. Like Ann, it took me a while to get the hang of blogging. It was almost a year before I even realized there was a reader section to WordPress and comments I hadn’t read yet that I’d left hanging. Then I thought I was following a blog, then thought I wasn’t, so would keep clicking and unclicking and didn’t know what the heck I was doing. There’s so much blogging etiquette to learn when you start out. Enjoyed this very much. Thanks.

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    1. Thanks, Kim. I’m sure we all take a while to get the hang of it. Also like Ann, it took me a while to realise there were tags and categories to use. Like you, it took me a while to realise there was a reader section. And it was several weeks before I even noticed the red markers coming up in the right hand corner – up until then, I had not realised anyone had replied to me!

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  30. Wow Mick, by the number of comments it looks like you touched a nerve. I’d have to say we’re of like minds on this one, although I rarely feel guilty unfollowing someone, probably because I do it so rarely and they’ve behaved as you described. I’ve also gotten much pickier about who I follow as I struggle to keep up as is. As for who might be unfollowing me I have no idea, and am happy to leave it that way. If they start leaving in droves it might be time to look inward, but one here or there is to be expected.

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    1. Quite a comment string isn’t it, Dave? Yes, I admit I actually expected a low turnout for this one, and was surprised by the numbers. As you say, it must have touched a nerve. What can I possibly follow it up with? I think we’re in like minds on this one, not least because I remember we had a bit of a conversation on the number of followers we have, and how we relate to them, sometime in the past.

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  31. Excellent post and responses.What irks me most are the instant ,multiple likes and brusque ,condescending comments. Also ,I start getting jittery if I don’t hear from a regular follower for long.
    This virtual world is a great teacher and leveller.

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  32. Never answering comments is a great pity, I think. It’s rude for one thing, but it’s also a huge missed opportunity for the post writer to interact, share a joke, make friends, and think about familiar things in a new way.

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  35. Hello, Mick! …Generally I do not ‘Un-follow’ blogs, but sometimes when I have done that, it has been for much of the reasons You have stated.

    And, due to lack to time, (and Energy these days), do not go to my ‘Reader’ at all. I keep up with the ‘Comments’ section of the blog, and not only Respond, but Visit the sites of those who comment, and do likewise!

    Regards. 🙂

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  36. I agree with the points you make here Mick. In particular I am greatly irritated when a site owner consistently fails to respond to comments left by me. There is also the issue of bloggers who refuse to allow a comment to appear simply owing to the fact that it does not accord with their world view on a given topic. Of course, as a site owner blogger’s are perfectly entitled to permit only views with which they agree to be voiced on their site. However such a policy stultifies debate and, in my view comes across as a lack of confidence in one’s own perspective (for if one is sure of one’s viewpoint why be so fearful of those who hold a different opinion?) We all can learn from opinions which challenge our own and, on occasions such challenges may cause us to reevaluate our views. I am not saying that people should approve abusive comments (one can disagree with someone without being abusive)! Having said the above I have, very occasionally been embarrassed to find that I have accidentally failed to respond to a comment left by a site visitor. We are all human and sometimes, with the best will in the world comments get missed. Kind regards. Kevin

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    1. Hi Kevin. I was just about to send you this link, but you’ve found it anyway. Yes, we all neglect to reply to the odd comment, but I’m sure that all bloggers would understand that, especially if we normally are quite punctilious with it.
      The majority of the posts that I put up are there with the intention of stimulating debate, so I do expect people to disagree with me at times, and I naturally need to reply to all comments. Otherwise, why bother?
      I have been lucky so far in that I have not had any abusive comments put up; I have had one which was rather aggressive, although not really aimed at me, which I took the time to reply to politely. A few days later I got a follow up saying that the author of the comment had been a bit hasty, and would i mind taking it down, please? So we were fine in the end.

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  37. I follow more blogs than I am able to read. Sigh, I’d like to, but life gets in the way. Anything interesting, I follow. Yes, I have un-followed a few too. I agree with you about losing interest and/or moving on. It happens. No big deal.
    I feel guilty if I don’t answer comments. After all people have taken the time to stop and say a few words. So writing a reply, however late it may happen to be, is on my agenda.

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  39. I try to read as much as I can but it does get too much at times. But lately, I’ve witnessed a drop in visibility even though the number of followers is increasing. Wonder what’s happening. Could it be because I upgraded to a paid membership? But then I did post about the new link. And anyway WordPress is supposed to transfer the followers automatically.
    Thanks for this post. It does make me feel better about unfollowing others or being unfollowed myself.

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    1. I know what you mean about the visibility, although I think sometimes it just seems that our posts either don’t interest a lot of our usual readers or, on the other hand, really stimulate interest. I was really surprised to see how much interest this post generated, for example, whilst I’ve posted others that seem to have tripped over their own feet and fallen flat on their faces.

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  41. mandibelle16

    This is a good post. It happens, especially if you follow blogs by email. I just do not have the time to respond to every blog and if I’m deleting your posts all the time because I’m not interested, I only follow you on the reader. It’s a good way to do it. Otherwise, I couldn’t handle responding to so many blogs!

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  43. Pingback: Meet Mick Canning – Story Teller, Writer and Photographer Par Excellence | a cooking pot and twistedtales

  44. Interesting. Came across this after reading your interview on Jacquelines blog. I dobt think i have the guts to unfollow but right now i think i follow what seems interesting. But i dont follow everyone who follows me i cant manage to keep up with it all. Your interview is great

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    1. Thank you. I think I identify with your sentiments pretty much, although I have no qualms about unfollowing, mainly because if I choose to do so, it is because they are either just not interacting, and probably won’t notice anyway, I simply don’t find their posts interesting, or there is some other issue that I’m not happy with. Having said that, I do it very rarely.

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  46. Pingback: Oh Heavens, Why On Earth Did I Follow That Blog? – 2 – Mick Canning

  48. Yeah, a lot of this resonates with me. I’ve been blogging on and off for years, much longer than I’ve had my current blog, and these days when I find a new-to-me blog, I look at the comments section before I read beyond the first post or two… then if I see that the blogger doesn’t reply to posts I just don’t follow the blog because I know I will want to unfollow.

    Unlike you, I try not to follow so many blogs that I’m unable to read them all or comment in them… though ‘real life’ means that I can’t comment on every single post of every single blog, every day. And I never follow a blog just because its owner has followed mine or I wouldn’t be able to read the blogs I really do want to read. There are a few that have the sort of content that doesn’t really require comments (but I still comment occasionally anyway) – like a blog I follow that posts scans of old music magazines from the 60s – but if I find things are becoming unmanageable then I do unfollow, sometimes for good, sometimes just for a few weeks.

    As for the change in content… I’ve had blogs like that and when I’ve found myself going in a different direction, I’ve usually warned people that they might want to unfollow if it’s not what they want to read. But this is in the nature of a lot of blogs – they start off one way and go in another because people change. I have endless problems – that hopefully nobody is aware of – with my current blog, in trying to keep it on topic but also informal. My own blog is rather ‘niche’ but I’m not… I’m just a regular person who enjoys getting to know people, reading their posts, commenting, etc. And no way do I comment on posts just to get them to come to mine… as I prefer people to follow because they enjoy my content than because they feel they have to. And – I want to read blogs that interest me, and I’ve wide-ranging interests and tastes.

    I can’t bear blogs that consist mostly of moans about other people or whining, cursing, etc. Crude language has its place in satire and the occasional whinge, but isn’t good when taken to excess. (If I want to experience Tarantino, I’ll watch a Tarantino movie!)

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    1. Yes, you quickly gain a good idea of how the blogger engages with others by looking through the comments. A whole host of comments that have never been acknowledged or answered by the blogger are definitely a warning sign.

      I always worry that my blog is either too niche or insufficiently so, depending on my mood, the comments, how stuck I am, how I’m feeling…all sorts of reasons. But I am surprised how many of my followers, especially the ‘hardcore’ ones who comment a lot, will follow me down all sorts of convoluted side passages. They are brilliant!

      I do try not to follow too many blogs – it’s just that sometimes I have no time to read them properly, or some other part of life just intrudes. I know I’ll be back properly before too long, and I can then catch up with my favourites, or just pick up where they have got to.

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  49. Excellent food for thought Mick. No wonder this one was so popular. One of my annoyances are people who follow just to boost their numbers then they unfollow. I’ve noticed this more on platforms like Twitter and Instagram.

    When someone takes the time to read, like, and comment it’s only common courtesy to respond in kind. Now I’m off to read the update on this post. Have a good one Mick.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. Thanks, Steph. I’m not sure I get too many follow / unfollows, although perhaps I wouldn’t actually notice if I did. And I don’t do any other platforms other than Facebook, which I don’t go on all that often.

      And the upside of all this is that I have a great core of followers who do comment frequently, and who engage in good conversations. And because of this, I suspect I don’t really notice many of the ones who don’t bother.

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