… there are a few – only a very few, mind you – things that I suck at.
The list is as follows:
1. Being a girl
2. Not being a bitch.
3. Having OCD bookshelf, toy poodle flu, GAD (Genre Attention Disorder), SSF (Sex Scene Fatigue) and randomness.
4. Internet stuff.
It’s re: #4 that I now need some help.
Basically, I’m a Kris-come-lately to the blogging and interwebz worlds. It’s always been a research tool for me when it comes to my work as opposed to a social networking thing. I’m one of those people who’ve avoided Facebook, IMing, etc like the plague. Quite frankly, I don’t want to talk to people who knew me in Grade 1 if it means it will interrupt my reading time. (See #2 above.)
Also, and to be honest, I’ve always been a bit scared of stumbling my way through this verse because I’ve an abject – albeit slightly irrational – fear of my computer exploding. Technology tends to hate my guts and no, it does NOT have ANYTHING to do with operator error. It’s Gremlins. I’m sure of it.
Anyway, amazingly I’ve yet to fail badly with Blogger, but there are a number of things that (a) I’ve no idea what they are or what they’re meant to do, (b) can’t really work out if it’s something I should to be doing or if it’s something which would simply add to my awesome skillz of procrastination, and (c) can’t be arsed working it out for myself nor do I want to join a bandwagon just because.
So, here’s what I need you all, as peeps who prob’ly know a shit load more than I, to tell me the pros and cons about:
RSS feed (it sounds like some sort of protein diet food for animals)
Good Reads and that other one (all I know is that I quite like seeing those things which show what people have on their virtual shelves)
GLBT Bookshelf ( I can understand the benefit to authors, but I’m not sure I get how useful it would be for reviewers and readers)
NOT Twitter (it would be shiny for about 3 days before it would piss me right off)
I’m also interested to know whether any of these are things that you, as a blogger and/or bloggee, take any notice of or do you just ignore it all, as I’ve basically been doing, as extraneous stuff. If it’s the latter should I really waste my time?
HALP ME!!!!
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
Honestly? I read about 95% of blog posts via Google Reader, only popping in if it's something I wanna comment on. So I don't pay attention to the layout of anyone's blog. I won't see it anyways most of the time. All those cool gadgets and stuff don't go through to google.
RSS – Umm, I know what that is in theory but never use it on any blogs I visit.
Good Reads – no clue, no interest
Bookshelf – not my thing since I don't review
Twitter – HAHAHAHHA, pass thanks.
I'll add Facebook. You should be on there so we can be friends. 🙂
I read all my blogs in GReader as well. I do have an RSS tracker on my blogs, but never check the stats – it's just not that important to me. I do have to use it for work, though, so I'm all about the analytics there.
As for Good Reads, Library Thing, or Shelfari, I would have to be better at tracking my books, and while I vow to be better every year, I never am. So no go for me.
I do have a twitter acct, but I went a year without posting on it cause it's too addictive. So I still hardly go there.
And while I'm on Facebook, I hardly have any friends from the blogging world as friends, mostly because I don't give out my full name to too many people. Also, I'm firends with some high school, college, and adulthood friends, and it gives me a chance to reconnect with cousins and the like whom I haven't seen in a long time.
No clue on RSS, I've seen it on sites but never used it.
I usually go to the sites instead of Google Reader just because I've got all the shortcuts on my browser toolbar and I just click from one to the other. Plus I forget to check GReader.
I just joined Goodreads a couple of months ago. It's pretty fun actually. I've only listed about a third of my books on there but I've met some nice people. It's always nice to find out what others are reading and talk about it.
I did a page on the GLBT Bookshelf but I've only posted a few of my reviews there. Hardly ever go to that site.
Twitter I use but not too much.
Facebook I use to keep in touch with a few family members and friends and to play games. I am totally addicted to a few of the games on there.
Emmy: I've seen a lot of people say that they read posts through Google Reader, but, since I don't do it myself, I didn't realise that basically all you do is get the post and not the entire blog.
So, if more people are using this, I'm kinda wondering why bother with too many gadgets. Hmm, something to ponder.
Thanks for your 2c.
Tam: Weez already friends. Why do I need facebook?? ;)_
In all seriousness tho I get enough messages that come to me via my brother's my space thing. I don't want to deal with that because I have a page of my own.
Also, my understanding of facebook is that you basically use your RL name?? I like the anonymnity of blogger, etc. Like Lori, there are only a few blogging people who know my last name and I trust them not to go blabbing. Perth is too small a place for me to still be myself online and not have it impact my professional reputation. It's a poo, but there it is.
Wave uses RSS on her new page. It´s the only way to keep track of new comments. It´s a tad irritating, the notices in the mail were much easier.
I don´t have facebook and twitter. In NL you have Hyves wich is similar to Facebook. But I am not very active on that one.
I do have a GLBT account just out of curiosity and being early means you can use the login name you want.
Lori: Pretend you have met the stupidest person in the world and then explain to me- err, I mean them what the hell RSS is and why you should/n't have it. I srsly don't get it. I tried looking it up, but…
You mentioned stats, which is a nice segue to something I've also been meaning to ask bloggers and bloggees about; that is, what are stats actually meant to do other than ego stroke? I kinda like the ones that show where people come from because that's interesting to me, but I'm not sure why people do the numbers thing. Can anyone (ie you, Lori) answer that for me??
Lily: I also use bookmarks to go from site to site.
Re: Good Reads, but what is it?? Is it something like blogger, but instead of posts you list all the books you read and also rate them and stuff?? And how do you talk to people on it?? I told you I needed HALP. I don't understand anything. LOL.
Ingrid: So RSS is a comment tracker and not a post tracker?? I'm soooo confused. 😦
The GLBT Bookshelf seems to be essentially one big yahoo group thing, which lets you have your own profile/page. I checked it out a little while ago but thought the discussions seemed similar to what I've seen at Wave's Kassa's, Val's, Jen's and even here.
Since I read genres other than m/m I'm also not sure it's really suitable for me to be listed there. *shrugs* Is there any benefit to it for people like me?? I just don't know.
I haven´t done anything more then putting my name down.
RSS is a track thing. You can also use it to track news from CNN or the BBC and such.
*pulls up a chair and sits down next to Kris*
Me know nothing about all of this so it planning to take notes 🙂
So it's like Google Reader but tracks websites etc as well as blogs, Ingrid?
Orannia, come join me at the 'let's reveal our ignorance' table. LOL.
I've been wanting to ask these questions for a while now so I thought I'd throw it out there and also get people's thoughts on what they use and what works for them.
Yup, it tracks everything. You get a new bookmark or new favorite and there you can see new updates on the site you have choosen to track.
IE on Waves site, you can track the whole site for new comments or individual posts.
I have a couple of Facebook accounts, although I use one more than the other.
I drop in and out of Twitter and have had some really interesting discussions with people from time to time.
I haven't done the LibraryThing or GoodReads sites because I don't have the time to set these up.
I do have a GBLT bookshelf page and I'm (very) slowly adding to it. It takes an absolute age to add the reviews though because you have to put all the photos of bookcovers onto Flickr before you can add them to your page, cut and paste the reviews from my site, add links to where to buy the book etc. I do wonder why the people who have set it up have made it so difficult for reviewers to do all this. It takes me an hour to put up 5 reviews and I often don't have that hour to spare. Then the longer it takes me to do, the more reviews I'm writing and I can't see that there's a time when I'll be able to get on top of it all.
As far site stats go. I check mine to see which of my posts have been popular and to see where in the world people have come from. I don't have them displayed on the blog cause I'm not sure anyone is actually interested in that kind of stuff.
The reason you should be on Twitter is because I am there. That is enough.
And I have to say that Google Reader is a god send. Before I was adrift not knowing where to go.
Kris, mind if I join you and Orannia at the “let's reveal our ignorance” table? I don't even know of this Google Reader thing of which everyone is speaking. Must go look that up.
The only thing I'm familiar with that you asked about is Good Reads. I've found it a good place to go to see what others thought of a book before I buy it– especially if it's one that you, Wave, or Jenre haven't yet reviewed. Also, when trying new to me authors, I've used it to see which of their books were most highly rated, so I could start with their best work. Many of the m/m authors have Good Reads pages, too, so it's a convenient place to find everything in their backlist. When I first got started with Good Reads, I entered a few m/m books that were my faves and looked to see which other members had those books listed. From there, I sent friend requests to the folks who seemed to have the same taste in books I did. Now I get updates of what those people are reading and their ratings/ reviews. I can also post messages to them (kinda facebook or message board style) to ask further details about a book or comment on their review, etc. As for setting up an acct, it's really easy. To add most of my m/m books, I picked a member who already had tons of m/m books listed and went through their shelf, clicking to add to my library if I had the book too (it's much easier to add books on Good Reads than on Library Thing). I was able to add about 300 books in 30 minutes or so.
Why am responding? It's a case of the blind leading the blind. 😉
I'm just having too much trouble keeping up with all that stuff. Socializing is a good thing, and often enjoyable, but damned if I have the time, patience, or tech knowledge to keep up with umpteen gazillion sites. (And, yeah, GLBT Bookshelf is a total, time-sucking PITA for me.)
Besides, my life isn't all that interesting.
The writing just has to come first. Between that and RL, there aren't many more hours left in each day. Maybe I need a new drug.
Ingrid: Ok, I get it now. So if someone has rss feed option on their site it's really up to the people who read the blogs to choose whether they want to get updates etc this way or via Google Reader. Thanks Ingrid.
Jen: An hour for 5 reviews?? Jesus. Can't you just provide links to the review that you've done? That would seem easier or does that defeat the purpose?
It also seems unlikely that it is something that I will do in terms of uploading all the reviews. I'm just way too lazy.
How do you check your stats but you don't have them displayed on the blog?? Is there some seekrit button somewhere that lets you do this?
KB: Not even the temptation of being kept up to date with the Goddess style antics of your-royal-redheaded-blood-thirsty-kinkiness can possibly get me to be on Twitter.
I'm quite happy trying to curtail my addiction to reading and blogging. Plus I've a feeling that I will very, very quickly degenerate to telling everyone if I just picked my nose or that I need to change my tampon – people with my sense of humour should NOT be allowed on Twitter. I'm quite sure of that.
I must try Goggle Reader. I am getting really curious now.
Nichem: Come join us!
Good Reads sounds as though it is one big community where you each get a page and set up the books you want and get to talk books with others.
Do you have to rate?? You know I HATE rating. Can you just do recommended reads or something similar?
BTW, I REALLY like the idea of stealling other people's stuff to make my life easier. I think I will definitely check this out and see what's involved. The idea of adding 300 books in 30 minutes tantalises. 🙂
K Z: *snort*
Some of the promotion stuff that authors are kinda forced to do, especially if they are eauthors, is just astonishing.
I mean I know that an online presence is needed and definitely appreciated by readers such as myself, but to sometimes have a blog, LJ, a website, Twitter, be part of a joint author blog, do interviews and guest posts, and then on top of that feel kind of obliged to do things like GLBT Bookshelf… BLOODY HELL!!!!
Personally, and as much as you know I love you, I'd prefer you to concentrate on your writing.
Tell you what, KZ, next time anyone asks you to do something send them to me and I will play the part of social secretary (ie tell 'em to fuck off) for you. No, no, it's no trouble at all. It would be a pleasure. Really.
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Pretty plz.
Okay, according to my in-house Facebook expert (aka my kid) you do not have to use your real name on Facebook. You can call yourself Gerald McBoing-Boing and no one can tell if you are lying or not. Its the honour system (hence the reason my 13 year old has a page on a site you have to be 18 to use. I also have very few pictures of myself related to the site and I use a slightly different name than I grew up with so anyone from my past searching for me *shudder* (If I haven't talked to you in 15+ years, I don't want to ever.) who types in my name will find several, a few of them being black women in Atlanta but none of them me. LOL
You could find out all about the interesting stuff in my life like “I have a massive headache” “My kid is being a PITA” “I think I need chocolate”. See? Important stuff. 😛
That's basically what Good Reads is– you get a page where you can list all your books, tell what you're reading now, post messages on your page about new books you're looking forward to or books you recommend. You can also vote on lists of your favorite books and make your own lists of faves (there's already lists set up in all kinds of m/m categories– romance, paranormal, sci-fi, BDSM, etc– so it's really easy to do with just a simple click). When you post or add anything, it's automatically sent to your friends' pages as an update, similar to facebook, and then they can comment on your post if they want. You can also recommend a book to a specific friend instead of the whole group.
Most people do rate their books, but you can certainly add them without rating. Elisa Rolle has all her books on there without a rating.
Come join! It's fun! And if you do, friend me. 🙂
You know–don't you, Kris?–it's a sign of pure evil incarnate when somebody offers to impersonate you for the express purpose of telling people to fuck off . . . or telling them their mothers are washed-out floozies or their children are ugly little spuds who are tstl — that sort of thing.
You do know that, right?
Actually, I don't mind at all when I'm asked to “appear” somewhere. It's staying current with all those HERE I AM! LOOK AT ME! spaces that I can't manage. I've fallen behind on just about every one of them except my own blog.
Tam: So what you're saying is that I could create another persona and use that on facebook just so I can see what you're eating etc. Are you TRYING to make me schizophrenic?? And what the hell is your daughter doing with an over 18 page?!
Nichem: It's about books and therefore is HUGELY tempting. Oh God. I just know I'm not gonna be able to resist. Just so you know I'm so blaming you if I end up being addicted!
K Z: “You do know that, right?” Yeah. What's your point.
How many LOOK AT ME! spaces do you have?? Actually, how many does an author actually need more's the point? I don't get why you kill yourselves – when you should be writing! – maintaining so many different spaces. Maybe Wave would be interested in doing a post/poll for you guys about what readers want from an author in terms of an online presence. I'll run it by her.
The “official” rules of Facebook are that you have to be 18 (or maybe 16) to use it, but even my cousin's daughter who is 11 has a page. I'd say a good percentage of users are kids, but you get around the rules by putting in your year of birth yourself. No proof needed. And yes, you could anonymously follow my boring little life. 🙂
Oh and I'm Kristen's “friend” on Facebook so I see everything she posts. Pretty boring really. She's more into Twitter now. Sigh.
“And yes, you could anonymously follow my boring little life. :-)”
Where's the fun in that when I can make fun of you much more directly via email??
Orannia, come join me at the 'let's reveal our ignorance' table. LOL.
Thank you! I'll be there with bells on *grin*
I can imagine that the certain person kept all her pressies she bought on her trip to herself.
I would for sure!
Orannia: As long as it;s not only bells. 😉
Ingrid: I got my loot first. I'm not stoopid!
Oops forgot to check back on this. I must remember to check the box that says to email with follow up comments.
I have an account at StatCounter which keeps a tally on my stats. I go to my account at their site to check on the stats.
The GBLT bookshelf has a policy that states you cannot link out to another site for reviews – everything is on the Wiki, which means more work for me.
Thanks Jen.
“The GBLT bookshelf has a policy that states you cannot link out to another site for reviews – everything is on the Wiki, which means more work for me.”
I wonder why that is?? Maybe it's a Wiki thing.
I think the idea of a Wiki is that you are a 'community' and therefore by linking out you are taking the viewer out of the site which is a disadvantage to other members of the wiki.
So this is why we are supposed to link to other authors in the wiki and not link out to our sites. We can put external links to publishers but only if we use the 'link to another window' button.
The time thing pisses me off though. Some of us have better things to do with our time than spend ages putting our reviews elsewhere.
Can I be rude and ask then why you are doing it??
I don't know!
Actually a couple of authors asked me to do it and I also felt I should support the wiki. I hadn't realised at the time how much work it would involve.
I suppose I've just got this incredibly annoying sense of obligation but I'm taking it slowly at the moment.
Sucker! In all serious tho they asked you cos you have a great rep, give good review and are extremely thorough and fair in that review. Means that you are well thought of, which is pretty cool, Jen. 🙂
As Kris describes it, it sounds like an honour.
Too bad it is so much work.
Aw, thanks guys. You're making me blush now :).