I started in 2010 in order to meet like-minded people and I have attempted to take part in the LAMB blogging community over the last 5 years. I appreciate those readers who have stuck with me over the years and I will keep in contact with a few of you.
Recently the blog has become marginalized. This has happened on other blogs as well. I realize it’s a time issue, people have busy lives and commenting is not a high priority compared to work, family, and other daily activities.
Despite my attempts to attract new readers by commenting on many blogs over the last 6 months, I feel these acts have not been reciprocated to the extent I wanted, which is disheartening. Comments that excite me are rare and the only discussions I remember this year were on my Weird Science review , New Year Resolution post, and Books read in 2015 round-up. (Most of the online interaction I had happened on other sites)
New features such as Tuesday Short Film have not been welcomed with the interest I had hoped. If you want to see my top 50 short films you can find the list here. 80s Thursday only has 2-3 regular commenters I am aware of and will continue as a sporadic project on YouTube where I will share lists for best songs from 1980, 1981, 1982 and so on.
I may post year-end lists on the blog, so keep an eye out for that. I like to keep a diary of what I have watched/listened to, and I'll continue to write my observations on film and music at letterboxd and Rate Your Music, which you are welcome to follow and comment on.
But at this point I don’t want to spend time writing blogposts every week for only a small number of loyal commenters. Many who used to comment on my site seem to have moved on.
My site won’t be deleted and can still be used as a reference for previous posts. Sorry if I sound bitter. The goodbye is positive and liberating for me, because now I will have time to pursue other interests.
I'll still follow a few blogs and you can always send me an e-mail.
Sorry to hear that, Chris, having only just come into contact with your excellent blog. I do understand how it is, though, and sometimes the feeling goes, and perhaps it's more difficult to attract new readers now because blogging does seems less popular generally these days!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting posts and views on things, I'm not a film buff but I was grateful to you in particular for the introduction to the Bear Story which has really stuck in my mind.
Thanks and all the best!
@C: I used to receive longer comments and I miss those kind of discussions. Maybe I’m too demanding of others. At some point many of the comments I received became just a few words, which was still nice, but not as fulfilling. Seems I will have to seek out discussions elsewhere. I’ve started in a book club so that’s a start.
DeleteThanks for checking out my posts. Bear Story is a wonderful short film and based on what you recently wrote about the loss of your friend I can imagine it would strike a chord. All the best.
Hate to hear this, Chris. I completely understand, just hate to hear it. I know it can feel like an underappreciated effort when you pour so much into your blog and you don't get a desirable response. We all seem to get to that point, sooner or later. I, for one, will miss this place and hope you do occasionally drop something new on us. I'm just glad I learned as much as I did from you. Good luck in all your pursuits!
ReplyDelete@Wendell: As you say, I do pour a lot of time into listening to albums for 80s Thursday. You can still follow along as I will update my YouTube channel regularly.
DeleteThanks for the kind words and I will miss your comments. I might drop year-end lists just for the sake of summing up my year in film, music, and books. We’ll see!
Yep. This is pretty much how I feel all the time.
ReplyDelete@SJHoneywell: I appreciate your comments over the years on The Decalogue, music, and film.
DeleteI know I haven't posted in a while on your blog for a while but I wanted to take this chance to say goodbye to you and wish you the best. I found blogging to become a chore after a while and wasn't as excited as I was before. I hope that the time you used for blogging will be used with even more interesting and cultivating activities. Thank you for all the support in the past years and wish you best. I suppose I will see you on letterboxd. Take care!
ReplyDelete@Cristi: I shed a tear last night about stopping but I can feel I want to think about other things and use my creativity in other ways.
DeleteI hope you are doing ok in your job and life in general. Maybe see you around on letterboxd. You’re welcome, take care also.
Sorry to hear that, Chris. Comments are the spice that makes blogging fun, yet at the end of the day I think most of us blog as a personal project for ourselves. If it grows dull and boring there simply is no point any more and no amount of comments can save that. Don't feel bad about it, but know that if you feel like writing again we are some people who would like to read it.
ReplyDelete@TSorensen: Yeah, the personal project for myself will go on, in terms of lists on YouTube and letterboxd. I felt I was repeating myself in my reviews of film which is another reason why I felt like quitting.
DeleteGood to know you will still read if I come back. I left the door ”på klem” by saying in the title ”for the time being” just in case I feel like returning.
That's a shame to hear, but you have thought long and hard about it. Was really getting into you short film movies, so shame that won't continue. I've been following you blog for a long time and still remember creating that logo for you. Wish you all the best and hope that your new endeavours will give you the same energy blogging gave you.
ReplyDeleteAs for the feeling, it is familiair. I've been spending a lot more time on the Dutch version of the blog as my English one seems to become, like you say, marginalised as well. The numbers have dropped to 10% of what they once were. Luckily the Dutch one is growing and getting lots of comments, keeping me engaged and making it worth it doing so. If I wouldn't have that I'd probably consider the same thing you did. Wish you all the best Chris!
@Nostra: All the best to you too. The logo definitely helped and made my site look better. Glad your Dutch movie blog is growing and noticed your review of Soft (2006). I can e-mail you my notes for the shorts I was planning to blog about. You are welcome to review as many of the short films in my top 50 as you want:
Deletehttp://letterboxd.com/mas365/list/favorite-short-films/
Thanks Chris. Yeah, I thought it was a good idea to write down my thoughts on it and share it with others. Would very much welcome your notes for shorts as I've not looked into them much yet. You can mail me at myfilmviews@gmail.com.
Delete@Nostra: Sent you an e-mail with the short film notes 3-4 hours ago. If it’s not in your inbox, check your spam folder.
DeleteWow, Chris. This is a surprise because you're one of the loyal commenters on my blog. I'm sure you know I am the one who've been absent a lot these couple of months, so the idea did come to my mind also. I'm also in between though.
ReplyDeleteBut, I can understand. I think blogging is also a phase of life. Early days you have that passion alive, but keeping it up need extra factor. I noticed some bloggers also stopped blogging like kidinthefrontrow and others.
Yours still have lots of commenters I think. Noticed that you prefer to post about music more than movies. Sorry if I haven't comment as much as you. I don't always have time to open the music clips you posted, although when I do they can be a nice surprise.
Will you post the best of 2015? Thank you so much for your comments, I really really appreciate it.
@Andina: I can imagine it’s a surprise. A tough decision but I can still enjoy films and music without blogging about them.
DeleteI know you are busy with pregnancy and baby preparations so don’t feel bad about not commenting on everything. Totally understand you have other priorities. You still commented on the monthly recaps which I appreciate.
I have many friendly comments on this goodbye post. Yet on a week to week basis I didn’t think there were enough people promoting discussion and challenging my opinions. Glad you appreciate my visits to your site.
Best of 2015? Hmm. I doubt it. You can read my yearly lists here:
http://moviesandsongs365.blogspot.com/2010/04/yearly-top-10.html
Sad news, Chris :( Though understandable. We all change over time and how we express ourselves is bound to change too. Blogging has changed a lot over the years.
ReplyDeleteGot used to coming here for new music recs - I'll have to find those on my own now ;)
Thanks for all the blogs, movie & music recs and countless shout-outs!
@Jaina: Thanks for supporting my little blog for so long. I think you were there for longer than most.
DeleteYou’re welcome. I’ll keep adding to the YouTube channel so there’s still new music from me. Just added 130 songs yesterday to the 1980 playlist.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCirD9GbFc3HvHPb_6Ik4gYw/playlists
I completely understand. My site has been on minimal activity for months now because it just felt like homework to keep writing the posts.
ReplyDelete@Chip: I did notice you were not posting as often. You have watched a hell of a lot of films so understandable you too are feeling a desire to do other things
DeleteHey I totally understand Chris, though I'll miss you! It seems that people have decided to either blog less or quit entirely recently and activity on my blog has decreased in recent weeks. Well, I wish you well in whatever venture you decide to take on, and hope to see you around in the blogosphere from time to time. Cheers!
ReplyDelete@Ruth: A few months ago I was tidying up ”Sites I Visit” page and realized many of the blogs (both music and movie blogs) had stopped (or slowed down), so it seems the online community I once knew has changed quite a bit.
DeleteCommenting is time-consuming so can’t promise I’ll be around in the blogosphere as often as before. Thanks for the kind thoughts and supporting my blog.
As an occasional visitor, I understand your decision (as it's one I made myself a few years back). The blogging community is not what it was and people have so many distractions on their time these days, you do sometimes feel like you're shouting into a vacuum. In the end, I changed the nature of my blogging (from once a day to once a week) and accepted that I was probably not going to enjoy the reader response I had five / ten years ago. There was a part of me enjoyed the process (the listening, writing, compiling) enough that it didn't matter if no one was reading it anymore. But blogging does take up a lot of time (that could be used more productively elsewhere) and if it no longer gives you satisfaction, then a break (at least) is probably the most positive thing you can do. Best of luck - I'll keep my (occasional) eye out for if you do return.
ReplyDelete@Rol: Thanks for being an occasional visitor. I know what you mean about distractions. There's a fear of missing out. So many websites and twitter accounts to follow, so little time.
DeleteYes, blogging/commenting eats up time and I think I would rather just listen to music and watch films without the responsibility of having to blog. I can see how it’s pleasing to write/share once a week no matter the size of the audience, and I must say you have unique ideas for your top 10s. I might return for year-end lists. All the best to you too.
I'm sorry to see you go, Chris! I sometimes become lazy with reading and commenting, but I've always been here! Take a break. Sometimes I'll go on hiatuses and come back when something really inspires me :) The film community will always be here.
ReplyDelete@Courtney: I can see I’ve posted 50(!) monthly recaps which is fun to look back on. Right now I’d rather do something new which brings out the creative side in me. I also have a ton of books I want to read which the blog is preventing me from focusing on. Thanks for following and I hope you keep getting inspired to blog. You run an excellent site.
DeleteSorry you're leaving, Chris. And, again, I'm sorry I haven't been around these parts lately. I've been a terrible blogger/commenter of late, dragging my feet to read blogs and post something on my own. It's a wonder my blog isn't dead, but I'd like to keep it going in some capacity. Plus, I do like engaging with others in the community. Hope to see a few posts from you in the future. :)
ReplyDelete@Josh: Don’t get too down on yourself, better late than never! You have been friendly toward me ever since I stumbled upon your blog a few years ago.
DeleteGlad you still like engaging with the community, even though (for me also) it can be testing at times to keep up with everything and everyone’s feeds. Nice to be missed and great to know you’ll be reading if I return :)
Very sorry to hear you leave man. I do enjoy visiting your site whenever I can. I'm very excited to see what new projects you are working on. Please keep me informed in all that you do
ReplyDelete@The Vern: Thanks for visiting from time to time. I’ve started on a creative writing course and joined a book club. I needed a change.
DeleteThis is a great shame Chris! It's been a pleasure keeping up with your blog, even if I haven't been the most frequent commenter. As you say, busy lives and all that! I hope that we'll still hear more from you yet and thanks so much for all the support of my blog over the years! All the best!
ReplyDelete@Pete: Appreciate the kind words. I’ll still be around in the blogosphere but less than before. You’re welcome and I hope you keep moving up the ladder on your career path. All the best!
DeleteI am sad to hear this, but I understand your frustration. I've really enjoyed knowing you over the years, in my various blog incarnations, and you have terrific insights on movies, books, and other things. I hope you'll stay in touch with me from time to time, via Twitter, and consider returning to your blog at some point.
ReplyDelete@Stephanie: Thank you for the praise and for your friendship over the years. I will try and stay in touch
DeleteSorry to see you go, Chris. Your blog has been one of my favorites to read and visit over the years, especially since you focused on both film and music. You've given me plenty of awesome recommendations, and for that I am thankful. Hope to see you on Letterboxd at the very least, my friend.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a Last.fm account? Would be cool to connect over there, too. Wishing you the best in your new opportunities!
Eric @ The Warning Sign: I’m glad you found a number of my posts useful over the years. I’ve studied to be a librarian, so recommending is par for the course :) Yep, I’m still active on letterboxd. I’m not currently on Last FM. The YouTube channel will be my primary source for sharing music.
DeleteIf you are ever on holiday over in our neck of the woods, I’d be happy to meet and go for a drink. The same offer applies to other blogging friends in this thread. All the best to you as well!
Well I'll be in Iceland in early May :D Though I imagine that would be difficult to get to. If you ever come stateside, you'll have to let me know!
DeleteSadly Denmark is a pretty far from Iceland(1800km according to google). Hope you have a fun trip and don't fall in the volcano ;) Will let you know if I visit Chicago.
DeleteI hear you 100%, as you know.
ReplyDelete@Fisti: Thanks for your understanding. Sorry to see you quit also. Elton John said recently he is on the verge of quitting because he wants to see his kids grow up. It makes perfect sense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgedJgrgy98
DeleteTotally get where you're coming from. The older and busier I get, the less I make time for my blog, and all the blogging duties that come with it. It seemed like our blogging community reached a peak there in the early part of this decade, and it has slowly died down since. Just the natural progression of things, I suppose. Still, I always enjoyed reading your opinions on this site, and was always appreciative of your links and comments.
ReplyDelete@Alex Withrow: Thank you for your understanding and for following my blog over the years. I appreciate the friendship. I still enjoy reading Andsoitbegins and I’ll definitely watch your short film WAIT when it becomes available. I agree our film blog community peaked several years ago with many the last year or two moving on to other things. With only a limited discussion on my blog I decided it was no longer something I wanted to invest hours in. I’ll still be around in the blogosphere, but less than before. Look out for a few year-end lists in Dec and Jan.
DeleteChris, I have no idea if you are going to see this...but godspeed my friend. Thank you for the support for Playground of Doom (which has been discontinued due to a career change on my end). I greatly enjoyed your blog and my apologies about falling out of touch. I appreciated everything you did (and still do). Dusty
ReplyDelete@Dusty: No problem, thanks for reading. I enjoyed your site too, especially for your sense of humor. Noticed on twitter you linked to a book you wrote/published, so well done and good luck with that.
Delete