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When popular bloggers suddenly drop out/gear down

  1. maidiebike
    Member

    It's their private life/reasons, but too bad when popular bloggers suddenly drop out of their blog or drastically gear down on the number of blog posts /different direction.

    Sometimes it's just a cryptic explanation to the world that they can't continue on with the blog or they have to change. I noticed this for 2 quite popular foodie bloggers, who each had a terrific audience. However I always wondered with all that cooking so often, even if healthy. Or spending money at restaurants to churn out more restaurant reviews.

    The blog I need help with is cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com.

  2. raincoaster
    Member

    People's lives are more complex than you might imagine. I know you're not a simplistic person, but what I've said still stands.

    Several people in the forum remember Ella, and she geared down as you say just as things hit the ground for her. I wish we'd had the opportunity to help her, but we didn't know she needed it.

    Sometimes, though, like with MadV on YouTube, the reason they go dark is that they got a sudden mind-boggling amount of money to do it.

  3. kymleemurphy
    Member

    I'm just throwing my 2 cents in because I can relate even though I'm not nearly as popular as those people, I dropped off the face of the earth a couple of times... I used to be here everyday ALL day for a good yr and a half, networking etc, and my blog readers and commenters reflected that, but I went away for awhile for no other reason than life got pretty insane for awhile and among health and at a point, an abusive relationship going on, not only did I not have the time I used to spend here, I also lost the drive and the desire. So of course it's circumstantial, but people really go through a lot in life, a lot they don't share even on their blogs, and that probably has a lot to do with it. You never know what's going on behind the scenes, but if you really enjoy someone's work and you haven't heard from them in awhile, it's never a bad idea to reach out. :)

    Kymlee

  4. fluzie
    Member

    My "tuppence worth"... Life does consume you sometimes, I have three public blogs under different names here, two were very popular, but for my own reasons I haven't been to them in a long while because I don't feel ready to do so yet and this one which is my stepping stone back into blogging and my words which I miss very much.
    People might miss you when you drop out/gear down, but they have to respect the fact that you might need to.
    It's not always easy to tell people why though, is it. x

  5. rooktopia
    Member

    This happens a lot with comic bloggers, mainly because your reach a point where you've said everything that's you've already wanted to say, and to keep going would be redundant.

    One of my favorite blogs, The Confessions of A Superman Fan, took a fun and very respectful look at the Silver Age Superman stories. But once you've talked about how much you loved the art, how goofy the stories got, and how inappropriate some actions look to our older, more modern eyes, what more can you say?

    As Q once said, "All good things must come to an end."

    (Wow, that was nerdy.)

  6. maidiebike
    Member

    So of course it's circumstantial, but people really go through a lot in life, a lot they don't share even on their blogs, and that probably has a lot to do with it. You never know what's going on behind the scenes, but if you really enjoy someone's work and you haven't heard from them in awhile, it's never a bad idea to reach out. :)

    Of course, one would be prudent not to share lots about one's personal life to a bunch of strangers. Room for imisinterpretation is great.

    But agree to let blogger know that you've always enjoyed their blog.

    rooktopia: Talked on a blog? Time to explore other horizons if blogger has the inspiration and drive.

    Maybe a new term: blog-out .

  7. timethief
    Member

    @maideiebike
    raincoaster said: "People's lives are more complex than you might imagine."

    That's very true. Aside from doing my contracted work to make an income, I have a major issue going on in my offline life. I don't wish to discuss it on my blogs as it has nothing to do with blogging. It's such a big issue that I can't focus on creating blog content right now. I just struggling to get through every day.

    @kymleemurphy
    I have missed you and it's good to see you active again

    @raincoaster
    I'm heartbroken over what happened to Ella. :(

  8. rooktopia
    Member

    @maidiebike: That would be ideal, but there's the challenge that your followers came to you blog for that first reason (Superman comics) and not for the second (like, say, if the guy also loved classic cars).

    I guess another example I could cite was this one guy who took images from Slylock Fox and crafted them into a film noir narrative. (I think Bob Weber, Jr., the creator of the Slylock Fox comics, was a bit of a fan.) The blog got a bit of a boost when popular comic humor site The Comics Curmudgeon featured it in one of their posts. (Heck, for all I know, that's exactly what he did, but he didn't post anything on his site indicating he'd started a new blog or something.)

    But you could tell he was getting burnt out by the later entries, so he rebooted the blog into a poetry one. That one didn't last long. I think it was partly because the fans of Slylock Fox-related humor weren't coming back, and it was probably difficult operating in that vaccuum when you're used to having a community built around your earlier material.

    You could argue that the blog belongs to the writer, and that he should have a right to turn it into whatever he wants to turn it into, and that would be true. But after a while, you also forge something of a relationship with the readers, and to not deliver the content that they keep coming back for feels a little like betrayal.

  9. kymleemurphy
    Member

    @maidiebike :)

    @TT I have missed you very much as well. I figured it was time to come back now. I am in a much different place now than I was before, but I still find blogging therapeutic, plus I missed reading all of everyone's thoughts and talking to all of you. It was a great support network here, and I know things change as always, but I hope not too much. I have a special place in my heart for wordpress and the forum crew. :) xo

  10. maidiebike
    Member

    You could argue that the blog belongs to the writer, and that he should have a right to turn it into whatever he wants to turn it into, and that would be true. But after a while, you also forge something of a relationship with the readers, and to not deliver the content that they keep coming back for feels a little like betrayal.

    Rather than betrayal, it may be more of the overblown hope of the Internet community. After all a person, only shows certain facets of themselves on the 'Net.

  11. jmcartee
    Member

    Im hoping to gear up again this summer. Since I graduated and Im not going to college until january, ill have time for my blog again.

  12. isadz
    Member

    I'm on wordpress since August 2011. I was gear down for the last couple of months. It was mainly due to personal matters besides studies. But like jmcartee I've also decided to switch the gear and to restart blogging with formal pace. As I'm also free for the next couple of months.

  13. momfog
    Member

    Now I want to know what happened to Ella. It sounds like it was awful.

    I think it's a little much to call a blogger's break or departure a betrayal. Life happens and MOST of it happens somewhere other than the internet. At least it's supposed to.

    @timethief I'm sorry to hear that. Stay strong.

  14. timethief
    Member

    She died.

  15. timethief
    Member

    We were robbed and we are still in shock.

  16. roughseasinthemed
    Member

    @ TT

    We had that a couple of years back. It was not good. Feel for you. I've still not replaced all the lost paperwork - all our ID was stolen as well as cash and what we had with us.

    General comment about blogs - if people want to change direction, why not set up another one? That's why I have more than one.

  17. maidiebike
    Member

    Feel for you folks, this worse stuff.

    I'm actually amazed how some people do want to reveal some terrible stuff that haunts them deeply. But then in a way it can "out" the perpetrator to the rest of the world, provided it really did all happen.

    The double sword of the Internet and open sharing.

  18. roughseasinthemed
    Member

    I never did write up about our theft.

    We made a report to the police station and heard nothing.

    Doubt that would out anyone or anything.

  19. timethief
    Member

    @roughseasinthemed
    Thanks. Working like crazy to re-make the same merchandise again. It happened Sunday and I still feel shocky and shaky. I'm not blogging it and in fact I don't have time to blog now. My contracted work must be completed so I get paid and we can struggle through this. :(

  20. timethief
    Member

    @maidiebike
    What you said above re: The double sword of the Internet and open sharing is what I have observed too.

    Blogging the trauma is what I did in my personal "private" journal blog. http://thistimethisspace.com/2010/11/09/benefiting-from-private-journal-blogging/

    I'm an introvert. I have no desire at all to share traumatic events with the world on my public blogs blogs. I blog for pleasure only and as soon as I feel more balanced and have some free time I'll pick up where I left off.

  21. maidiebike
    Member

    I have no desire at all to share traumatic events with the world on my public blogs blogs. I blog for pleasure only and as soon as I feel more balanced and have some free time I'll pick up where I left off.

    Yup.
    Certainly some other bloggers use their blog as a tool for self-healing by expressing and exploring their reactions to a personal trauma. And not just 1 entry, but in a evolutionary manner for several wks., months.

    That's great. But strangers are not a person's therapist. Nor do strangers have the right necessary additional personal details about yourself to give long-term useful casual positive support at times --especially for major personal traumas that have long-term effects on self.

  22. maidiebike
    Member

    By the same token, I am intrigued that some bloggers don't want any close friends or any family members know about their blog.

    I actually find it/sad puzzling unless the blogger is in abusive relationship(s) or has a "special" position/role in their real person life/personnae.

    For instance, if a well-known lawyer or judge, was a secret Star Trek fan, I guess s/he would want to conceal their real identity as a blogger.

  23. rooktopia
    Member

    For instance, if a well-known lawyer or judge, was a secret Star Trek fan, I guess s/he would want to conceal their real identity as a blogger.

    @maidiebike This is true. This is also, incidentally, why I always have a luchador mask covering my face when I post pictures and videos of myself online. :)

  24. maidiebike
    Member

    I appreciate the need rooktopia for your mask but may at least 1 human being close to you know that you lead a legitimate rich life in many ways.

  25. punkie529
    Member

    By the same token, I am intrigued that some bloggers don't want any close friends or any family members know about their blog.

    I'm one of those bloggers. I have this blog because I tend to be more liberal than everyone I am related to, and they are not the "let's have a nice discussion or debate" kind of people, but rather the "omg you're going to hell." then start yelling at me. I have opinions I try to keep to myself to keep the peace, but sometimes I want to get them out.

  26. maidiebike
    Member

    Oh dear. Glad punkie, that you have blogging as your outlet. :)

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