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ARE YOU EVER GOING TO WRITE THE DEFINITIVE PRIMER ON BLOG COMMENTING ETIQUETTE, LIKE YOU SAID YOU MIGHT LAST SUMMER?
I don’t know. I suppose it depends on how much I want to call out other bloggers on their less-than-stellar behaviors. I fear that my natural honesty and snark could easily sound passive-aggressive— and that would never do. So I hesitate.
WHY WERE YOU SO EASY ON THE PAINTERS WHO PAINTED THE FAMILY ROOM THE WRONG COLOR?
I forgave the painters, two guys who are partners, because they’re good men who we’ve had paint other rooms, and their work is perfect. Yes, perfect. Our interior designer told one partner what color to use to in each room, but he got the colors mixed up because he was on his way to “the old country” [in Europe] where his father was seriously ill, subsequently passed away. Mistakes happen, you know? And they re-painted the family room the right color, so all’s well that ends well.
WHAT’S BECOME OF YOUR NEIGHBOR, CRAZY BIRD LADY?
Crazy Bird Lady has calmed down over the years. No more banging metal pots to scare birds away. I saw a man from the HOA in her backyard pulling down all the shiny streamers, talking with her as he did so. She no longer shouts obscenities at the birds & the neighbors who feed them, and all her weird flower pots are gone. Now I only hear her when she’s talking to her dog– loudly talking, but saying normal things to her puppy.
WHAT WAS MIRABELLE’S REVENGE?
Mirabelle waited. She knew her mother hated it. Feared it, even.
She heard the shriek, her name being called. Mirabelle tried not to smile but she knew this revenge was perfect.
Mommy was vain. Without her make-up, flushed down the toilet by Mirabelle, she’d have to go to work barefaced.
You were going to write a commenter’s guide! Wow! Maybe your neighbor is back on her meds! 🙂 (Am I using too many exclamation points?)
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No, Kate!!! You aren’t using too many exclamation points! It makes your message look like a kid sent it!!! ❤️🌈🐝
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I love being a kid!
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Me too. 😊
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I remember Crazy Bird Lady. Ha!
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Susie, she’s character unlike any other. I still don’t know who she is by sight, but I know her voice. 😉
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Oh my goodness. I hadn’t actually wondered these things, but I like the conclusion of Mirabelle’s story.
Blog commenting should be much easier for people than it apparently is. I could rant. Oh how I could rant.
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joey, these are actual questions that people have asked me, so I decided to answer them here.
Your response to my idea of writing a blog commenting etiquette guide is exactly why I’m afraid to write one. I suspect I’d rant too much, inform to little. 🙄
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The thing I notice the most, not even as much on my own blog as elsewhere, is that even online, people misread the room.
Tells us a lot more about them than they can imagine.
Maybe one day, I’ll rant about it.
I think it’s groovy to answer the questions I never even thought to ask. Inquiring minds and all 🙂
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joey, that’s a good point. I figure that most people are distracted while reading/commenting on blogs or FB or twitter, so anything that seems “off” is par for the course. I hope you write about that. It’d be interesting.
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I am often distracted in the evening. The people, you know. 😛
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I do know. We all get distracted by one thing or another…
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It turns out that’s what I’ll write about. First, anyway. 🙂
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Sounds perfect. Go for it. What’ve you got to lose?
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Thank you for your support 🙂 I shall!
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and now, you have saved me the trouble of asking the question, “Are these real questions?”
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Maggie, yes, every once in a while a reader will ask me something about something I’ve written. If someone’s taken the time to read and remember what I wrote, I feel obligated to answer, you know?
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A commenter’s guide would be very helpful! 🙂 I always seem to respond to just one part of a post, and sometimes it’s not what most people would consider the important point.
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Margaret, I do the same thing when it comes to commenting. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that because I’m responding to what was written. I mean, when I write something here I’m pleased [and fascinated] to see what resonates with readers. My issues with blog commenting etiquette revolve around reciprocity, more than reaction.
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I LOVE the ending to Mirabelle’s story.
BTW – I would very much like to read your ‘Comment Guide’! 🙂
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Donna, thanks on both points. I figure that Mirabelle deserved to get her revenge published here. About the commenting guide, I’d have to write it, then carefully edit it so that I didn’t come across as too whiny– or whatever. 😟
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A comment guide ??? Sounds fascinating…you should do it. I’d respond with my own observations.
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vanbytheriver, I’d love to hear your observations. I imagine that every blogger has experienced some [shall we say?] questionable comments from people who could use a bit of guidance re: the how-tos of commenting. Just saying…
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I’ve been very fortunate, comments are gold to me. It’s the conversations that make this blogging thing so special.
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I totally agree. That’s why I keep this blog going– to talk with people around the world, get a new lease on life, learn things. I enjoy comments, but do notice that some people don’t quite have it together on this topic.
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I am so glad you shared Mirabelle’s revenge. I was having sleepless nights. Comment guide – good idea. I am just grateful people say anything most of the time. Let’s me know at least one person is really reading. I didn’t know about crazy bird lady. Sounds like a real interesting character.
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Janet, Mirabelle deserved her revenge, don’t you think? The blog commenting guide was a passing fancy that seemed to get people interested [which surprised me]. I think crazy bird lady was before you started reading here. She was memorable, and I fear a little bit off her rocker back then.
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Hi Ally,
Popped by because I saw your tweet. I’m glad the paintwork got fixed and that you forgave them. I too am glad that Mirabelle got her revenge, although I do wonder if her Mother got off too easy? You have a talent for this, and I for one hope to see more of your short stories in the future!
David
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Hi David, thanks for stopping by to comment. I couldn’t be upset with the painters. They were forthright about their mistake, which makes me like them even more.
Who’s to say that Mirabelle’s revenge is complete? She’s a smart little dickens so there could be more to the story… 🤔
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Your painters sound like really good guys. And at least they corrected their mistake.
Crazy bird lady must be getting older and maybe can’t even remember why she banged pots together or hung shiny things in the trees😉
Laughed out loud to Mirabell’s revenge. Looking forward to more adventures.
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Beth, the painters just goofed and it looks great now, so no big deal. You may be right about Crazy Bird Lady. I’ve no idea how old she is [or what she looks like] so who knows what’s up over there. Yes, Mirabelle knows how to make her point.
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Funny. I must’ve come too late to the party to know about crazy bird lady. I wouldn’t mind knowing if there were any new developments with the post office guy. Perhaps you haven’t gone out of town in a while, so haven’t had to have our mail held. That was a fascinating story.
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Betsy, Crazy Bird Lady made an impression on those who read about her. Her loud behavior was unique. We haven’t been out of town long enough to need to have the mail held, so I haven’t been to the post office. I don’t go in there often… for obvious reasons.
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Great post. Please read my blog.
Hahahaha! Just kidding! I really do hope you’ll write the comment etiquette guide… I’m sure many of us will have our favorite un-favorites. And, Mirabelle’s revenge is perfect.
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Janis, I only said I’d write the comment etiquette guide as a joke among a few bloggers, but response to that idea has amazed me. Everyone has something that bugs them about how other people comment, don’t they?
Glad you liked Mirabelle’s revenge. There just had to be a conclusion to that story.
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Haha! You should “fill in the blanks” more often! And I, for one, would love to read your comment guide on blogging.
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Thanks, nancy. I figure if people bother to ask me questions, the least I can do is answer. I dunno about that commenting etiquette guide… I fear I might come across as more judge-y than judicious. And that wouldn’t be good.
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Start small . . . and see how hard we laugh. Then, whenever we stop laughing and get too serious, feed us a bit more Common Sense Commenting Etiquette.
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You’ve thought this out, haven’t you? Good advice. 😉
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BTW: Mirabelle’s revenge = perfect! 😀
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Thanks! I just knew that girl would know how to get back at her mother.
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You’ve got the style and attitude to pull off a commenter’s guide (Has to be better than what WP was suggesting during one of their tutorial/classes/sessions.)
“Likes” on a post are nice, but comments are pure gold ( and so much fun) (and I am so out of the blogging loops right now keeping up with small toddler. Gads. But always find a smile on your blog)
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philmouse, thanks for the encouragement. Like I said above, I can inform people about how to comment, but will I sound passive-aggressive? That’s the stumbling block for me. Plus, I’m kind of lazy and writing a guide sounds work-y to me. 😐
I can only imagine that it takes all your energy [plus a little more] to keep up with a toddler. Oy vey. Your lack of commenting is overlooked– and understood.
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🙂 🙂 🙂 … invariably I smile at your posts thanks Ally Bean.
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Thanks Susan. I try. 😎
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I’m sort of disappointed to hear about Crazy Bird Lady being denied her craziness.
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Sarah, I know what you mean. I chose to believe that her anti-bird craziness lives on inside her home, unabated.
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Good call. And inside her own home, she could be doubly crazy.
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As long as I don’t hear it, carry on, Crazy Bird Lady.
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My first reaction was ‘a commenter’s guide?!’ Good grief, how many commenting *rules* am I inadvertently breaking?!! Add my voice to the others that suggest you should toss all caution to the wind and write this post. I’m sure the conversation will be very lively.
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Joanne, I’ll think about it. I’m too busy right now to do anything like it now, but maybe in the future. I only mentioned doing one last summer as a joke, but apparently I hit a nerve because people seem to want one. Go figure.
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I can appreciate being too busy right now. I know the feeling. It feels like every day I slip a little further behind in everything.
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I’m too busy laughing to think of a question. Um, what’s for dinner? Would that constitute as a bad comment? (Uh oh, that’s two questions…) And now I’m off to prepare dinner and pour a glass of vino…. 🙂
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roughwighting, I wish I knew what’s for dinner. [Seems like I should, but I don’t.] I think I’ll start with a glass of wine, and see what I dream up after that.
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Oh clever Mirabelle! And I love that you devoted a post to answering questions. Now mine: How do I carve out more time so I can head into your archives and catch up on all the posts I missed before I knew of your delightful existence?
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Deborah, you flatter me. Thank you for your question. I’d suggest that much of my archive was written before Ally Bean found her voice, and as such is not too interesting. Early on in this blog I was more sincere and dull. Now I’m more wordy and goofy, having evolved into a flapdoodlist! Or maybe I’m a twaddler? Either way, thanks for stopping by to comment.
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Hooray for uncovering and expressing your fabulous flapdoodlist!
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We all do what we can!
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I guess I need to start asking more questions and leaving fewer snarky comments. Nobody ever does a blog post tribute to snarky comments they received….
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evilsquirrel13, you’re right. I’ve never ever thought of doing a “snarky comment” tribute post. While I like me some snarky comments, I think that to do a post on them I’d have to write about the context in which the comment was received. And that’s way too work-y for me. But should I do one, you’ll feature prominently in it. 😉
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Tes, Ms. Bean. I have a question: how is/are the squirrel/squirrels?
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*Yes… typing one-handed due to broken wrist.
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Tara, thank you for asking. Now that Fuzzy has moved onto the great forest in the sky, the squirrels around here [the grandfuzz as we call them] don’t come close the house like he did. In fact, we saw fewer squirrels this past summer than we ever have. I have no idea why.
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The grandfuzz. Hahaha. Maybe more squirrels will come next year. 🙂
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