Fans and Followers: Are You Respecting the People that Follow You?

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  1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
    Shawn May Scottposted 12 years ago

    I am still new to Hubpages and have been enjoying a rather successful start. Thank you to those who have voted my articles up and those few of you who have begun to follow me. But I have noticed one thing of late and maybe it is the way it goes but I think it is disrespectful. I have commented on a number of other peoples articles and some of you have commented back with your thanks but when someone starts to follow you as a "fan" do you not think that you should mutually follow them back? Especially if they write mostly in the same topic you write in and are an actually good writer?

    I saw Marina Sirits (I thinks that's right????) Troy from Star Trek the Next Generation on T.V. the other day talking about her fans and how important it is for her to aknowledge them. Also that she would not be anywhere without them. She took aim at stars that ignored their fans and went about life with their noses in the air. It seems to me that there are some Hubpages stars if you get my drift. I have followed everyone who has followed me and I think that is respectful and that it aknowledges that person and their contribution to this community.

    What are your thoughts??? And how respectful are you???

    1. SomewayOuttaHere profile image60
      SomewayOuttaHereposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      hubpages people follow for different reasons...some may read what you write and others may not...i think the term 'fan' is not accurate

      if your question is should you follow someone because they follow you? - no, it depends...some folks follow many with the hope i think of getting a certain % to follow back...i'm still not sure why, but that's what happens sometimes....not always though...

      as for your question about being respectful, i'm not clear about what it is you think is 'disrepectful'...do you expect everyone who follows you to comment on what you write? or do you want followers to read what you write because you commented on something they wrote?  ...or maybe you are unsure of following someone because they follow you...

      there are a few threads around with this same topic...you might find your answer there...not sure

      anyway...Welcome!

      1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
        Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Thanks for the Welcome! No I do not expect everyone to follow or comment I have just noticed some snubs where I have commented on several articles from one particular writer or another and the writer will comment back to other people mostly the same people but will not comment back to me or certain others. It just seemed very cliquey.

    2. Dale Hyde profile image81
      Dale Hydeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Before I follow someone back, I view their hubs to see if they are writing anything of interest to me.  Quite a few write about things I would simply never read and to follow them would be unfair to them and dishonest on my part, to my thinking.

      As for comments on a hub, I respond on my hub comments, each and everyone.  Sometimes, if I have time, I will go and check out the hubs of those that leave comments.

      1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
        Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Dale you are one of the good guys!!! And yes in following you I have noted that you do what you say. Of course fair enough it only makes sense to follow someone if what they write interests you and they are a quality writer. I think I mentioned that in the first thread. smile

        1. Dale Hyde profile image81
          Dale Hydeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Nice to be a "good guy"!  I do try to be. smile Thanks for the kind words!  One thing that is still a mystery to me is our hubber score, however. I swear that the more active I am, the lower my score goes!  I miss a day or two and come in and my score is higher, lol.  One day I will figure that one out!

          One thing to remember in reference to what Izzy mentions about search engine traffic is important most true! However, this is tied into comments as well and responding to them.  Many will find your hub in a search engine hunt and actually "become" a member to comment on your hub...so not all is about just members who may comment...it could well be one coming in, new, that your hub drew in! smile  Just a meandering thought there.

    3. IzzyM profile image87
      IzzyMposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      We write here for search engine traffic, not for other hubbers, unless it is a 'how to hub' type of hub.
      Following too many people is not a good idea either. You can't possibly keep up with all their hubs.
      I sometimes follow back, and sometimes don't. It depends on the hubber and if I have time. I also check out their hubscore. It reflects on your own if you follow too many with low hubscores (as in very low) which of course a lot of newbies start out with.
      And some people end up with, especially when they go on fanning sprees.

      1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
        Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Okay, that makes sense. The fanning spree is obviously not a good idea and not somthing I'm looking to do anyways. I have been watching scores and reading Hubs to look for quality writing and writers as I enjoy reading as much as writing. Are we really writing for just search engine traffic or is there more to it than that?

        1. IzzyM profile image87
          IzzyMposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Remember the platform we are writing on belongs to Hubpages Inc. They are a business and their aim is to make money.

          They make their money through sharing the affiliate links they put on our hubs. In return, they optimize the whole site for search engine traffic and keep things ticking over.

          As writers it is relatively easy to get ranked here, just by writing and letting them take care of the technical details.

          So yes there is a lot more to it than that.

          As an open writing platform, all sorts of writers and poets are encouraged to write here, for many it is their first time publishing on the web.

          Its a huge learning curve if you are writing to make money. Equally it is fun whether you write for money or not.

          The interactivity of the site, the forums, the commenting, reading and following is all designed to up the site's rankings, and to up the individual writer's rankings.

          So its a win/win situation no matter how you look at it, for both writers and Hubpages Inc.

          But yes that search engine traffic is what brings in the money.

          1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
            Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I suppose the artist/dreamer in me was wishing for a slightly different ending to your comment but, I get it. So I'll ignor the snubs and stars and make my own way. Thanks!!!smile

            1. Barbara Kay profile image73
              Barbara Kayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

              It is impossible to read the hubs of everyone that follows you. You'll see after you've been here a couple of years that you can get a lot of followers. Mine is 696 at the moment. So, I go through the hubs and  read and comment on each one that interests me. If I read everyone I'd have to read as many as 50 per day.

              I follow everyone that adds me, but go through my lists of followers often and delete those that haven't been active for a long time. I only follow everyone to encourage new writers. I've heard this is a very bad idea, because your hubscore can be lowered if you follow too many people.

              I do try to answer every comment I get on my hubs.

              Welcome to Hubpages and you'll find it is fun.

              1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
                Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                Thanks for your welcome!!! Your kind advice is appreciated. I am starting to see from all the comments here how it is done and yes when you get that many followers it would be difficult to keep up.

                I am enjoying Hubpages very much!!!

    4. darkside profile image65
      darksideposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      No.

      1. WryLilt profile image90
        WryLiltposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        What he said.

      2. Shadesbreath profile image79
        Shadesbreathposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        This.

        Also, as has been said, you can't possibly read everything from everyone after a while, so then "following" becomes an empty promise.

        I think respecting your fans means replying to their comments if they are genuine remarks. At least as long as it is possible to do. If you get so many in a day you can't, well, then even that is subject to reason and practicality.

        1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
          Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          I am slowly finding this out and finding that I am overwhelmed and now need to pick and choose what I comment on and follow. I just thought I was being disrepectful, now I see I am too busy.

    5. moonlake profile image81
      moonlakeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      There are some people on here that will not answer comments. If I'm following them than I stop following. Yes, I have also noticed where some hubbers will answer only certain people. That comes from them thinking certain people will get them further on hubpages and they don't bother with other comments. You can't get your feelings hurt. That is just the way it goes.
      It is impossible to comment on everyone's hubs all the time.
      No, you don't have to follow everyone that follows you. I try to but many times miss some that are following me. I also go through my followers often.
      I always answer my comments.

      1. IzzyM profile image87
        IzzyMposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Sometimes I don't answer comments made on my own hubs.

        There are only so many times you can say 'thanks' to someone who comments something inane like 'great hub' before Google picks up and thinks your hub is about something else entirely.

        I certainly would not want to follow hubbers who can't think of anything intuitive to say.

        The comments are read by the search engines.

        Help your fellow hubber out by mentioning the main keywords in his article in your comment.

        Every time someone comments, they are getting a link back to themselves. Your hubbername is a hyperlink back to your home page.

        It's all about SEO but its dressed up as socialising.

        1. Pcunix profile image91
          Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          I don't even let people leave useless 'great hub" comments.  I delete those.

          As to replying, it depends on what they said.  Some things need no reply.

          And no, I don't automatically follow back either -  I follow if I want o READ and only then.

      2. Shawn May Scott profile image61
        Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Okay so the search engines picks up on the comments as well as the main text. So it would be a good idea to repeat key words from the text? I'm starting to see what is going on here, now that the dirty is showing I can start to play the game with out so much emotion.

        Thanks for the clairification from all of you. I am really going to enjoy Hubbing now!!! smile

        1. IzzyM profile image87
          IzzyMposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Right, so long as you know what keywords are. Don't copy any of the text someone has written. Understand their keywords, and write a comment along those lines.

          The hubs is about a chocolate dessert recipe, for example.

          Then use words like dessert, pudding, sweet, afters, you know the sort of thing, synonyms of dessert. This helps Google understand what the hub is about.

          Bring something new into the hub. ie My grandma made the best chocolate desserts ever. Strangely enough that one comment could bring traffic from those searching for 'grandma's best chocolate dessert'.

          That is intuitive and helpful commenting at its best.

          1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
            Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Okay I am all over this. I get it and that is probably more compliment than anything else to help someone out like that. smile Makes me smile again!!!

    6. Jason Marovich profile image88
      Jason Marovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'd keep in mind that if you follow someone who's been on HP for a long time and has hundreds of followers, they're probably very busy bees, not only here but elsewhere, too.  As much as everyone would like to help everyone else by following and reading, there just isn't always time.  I imagine some of the top hubbers are quite selective about who they follow back.  I wouldn't take offense from not getting a follow in return.

      1. Pcunix profile image91
        Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Exactly how do you think it "helps" someone when you follow them?

        1. Jason Marovich profile image88
          Jason Marovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Well, in theory, they'd gain another regular reader. smile

          1. Marisa Wright profile image86
            Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Not really.  If you're just following someone back out of some sense of politeness, how likely are you to actually read their Hubs?

            1. Jason Marovich profile image88
              Jason Marovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

              Most of the time, when I'm looking for something to read, I check out my feed.  I don't look at following someone as joining their fan club (well, maybe Mark Ewbie!), but rather, I think of it as bookmarking.  For me, it's more like bookmarking writers. 

              And yes, I actually do read someone's work before following back.  If it's very thin content, or a niche that I have no interest in, I don't follow back, since it won't do the person any good if I did.

              I read a ton of material on HubPages, probably more than anywhere else online these days.  I read far more than I write.

              So, I don't recommend anyone to follow people unless that person's work interests them.  Still, I've found new interests from reading material I wouldn't have found if the person hadn't posted a comment on one of my articles, or on one of those created by someone I follow.  I haven't gotten into Hub Hopping much, so I'm reading mostly what the people I follow put out.

              1. Marisa Wright profile image86
                Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                Actually, for the first two or three years of HubPages' existence, "followers" WERE called "fans".  That was the original intention of "fanning" - to sign up as a fan of writers you admire.  I guess we old hands still see it that way but the world has moved on...

                1. Jason Marovich profile image88
                  Jason Marovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  There's merit in your concern.  But, people like me anyway, will follow people that interest them.  It's the way of Facebook, Twitter, etc.

                  Speaking of Twitter, I was on there one day and many posts were about celebrating authors instead of their written material.  That is, celebrating how 'fabulous' someone is.  A small voice, among the thousands of posts, said, "Wait, it's not about the author, the work should stand on its own."  Needless to say, he was ignored.

                  Popularity is just as important as what you create.  Sorry, I didn't make the rules on that.  I get that people that are only going for inhuman search algorithms and writing for that.  But, there are millions of others that are making it or failing by how much they're willing to expose themselves.

                  For me, following someone is my way of saying, "Thanks for saying something interesting, for making an effort to expose yourself."

                  Don't get me wrong, if I see someone's name in my face all the time, I'll tire of them quickly.  But, I admire tenacious people, always have. wink

      2. Shawn May Scott profile image61
        Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        I find I use the feed more than anything to read other authors articles. Also I am interested in the Twitter issue. That guy is right is about the material and not always about the author. the material needs to stand on it's own before the author can be celebrated.

    7. relache profile image73
      relacheposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Absolutely not.

      The majority of my followers don't interact with my Hubs in any way, shape or form.  Also many of them don't write anything or seem to be active on the site anymore.

    8. Marisa Wright profile image86
      Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Acknowledging someone and following someone are two different things. 

      For instance, if you became a fan of Marina Sirtis, would you expect her to become your fan in return?  Of course not.

      Unfortunately we have no way of thanking someone who follows us (it would be nice if we did). To thank someone by following them would be over-the-top - it  means signing up to read all their Hubs.  That's a long term commitment that I won't make unless I really admire someone's writing.

  2. Lisa HW profile image61
    Lisa HWposted 12 years ago

    Shawn, enjoy writing and welcome.   There's something besides just "the dirty" when it comes to commenting and following, though.  So, for you or any other newer (or not-so-new) people (you're far from the only one who has ever interpreted things this way  smile ) who may think some behaviors seem disrespectful....

    People on here all do things for their own reasons, according to what they think is right (for them, in general on a site like this, or for their own aims).  Some reply to comments on their own Hubs because they think it's polite.  Some don't because they think it's not professional or because they think it's more polite to let the reader have the last word. 

    People who've been on here a long time and, maybe, following new people only once in awhile, may find they've built up so many people they're following that they can't get around to them all.  It doesn't mean they've lost interest - only that they haven't chosen to delete some of the names that they're following.

    Another example:  I'm on here in my skimmed time (although for the last couple of weeks there's been no particular need to "skim" since I haven't had much going on during the workdays).  Anyway, ordinarily I skim time to be on here and do "HubPages business" (write and/or read Hubs).  When I'm in the forums it's my "do-nothing" time, which is different.  I'll always vote up all good Hubs unless I rarely forget).  I'm very careful, though, about whether I think what I comment back with really ads anything to the person's Hubs.  So, while I'll read x amount of Hubs and vote them up (and vote on one of the extra things, like "useful" sometimes), I only comment on x percent of them.  In other words, I have a high bar for what I think "offers something" to someone else's Hub.  So, sometimes what can look like one thing is really something else.

    Having said all that (and forum time-wasting in "down time" aside, although even in the forums I often get ideas for writing), a lot of the side, real-HubPages-business" activities on here can take up a little time here, a little there and really add up.   People often have to find ways to streamline.  (That's the main reason I've disabled further comments on my own Hubs, even though I know there's a good chance they could lose some "punch". )

    Whether it's this particular "issue" or some other one, people so often tend to assume the worst in other people when, so often, it's just a "harmless" matter of people doing things differently or thinking "what's right" is different from what someone else thinks is right.  hmm

    1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
      Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Lisa,

      Thanks for your input it helps. I am not thinking the worst of people I do believe that I was truly snubbed for one reason or another. And without naming the person it is difficult to discribe the behaviour further as you would need to track it as I eventually did. I understand what this site is about and how it works from my discussion with IzzyM and I know what you are saying about too many followers and too many following. Sometimes there is not enough time in the day!!! Thank you again you are well organized and that is how I need to be as well.smile

  3. rebekahELLE profile image85
    rebekahELLEposted 12 years ago

    I don't follow everyone that follows me, and keep in mind that a small percentage of followers actually read hubs.

    I read hubs of those I follow and hubs that interest me. But I don't have time to read all that I would like. I wouldn't classify someone a snob just because they didn't comment back. I guess maybe that's one reason for the vote buttons. If I don't have time to comment, I can always vote up, etc. And I do.

  4. profile image0
    Arlene V. Pomaposted 12 years ago

    After you've been here on HubPages for a few months, you'll know what works for you.  I've been here for nine months, and it's best for me just to write and publish a Hub once a week.  But only if I have the time.  I follow a handful of writers, but I'm not a fanatic about it.  If I get to their work, I get to their work.  And if I don't, I don't.  Anyway, most of what I read is taken from the feed.  It all depends on what gets my attention or if the article gives me the information that I'm looking for.

    You are not obligated to follow or be a fan.  I am retired, so I have to prioritize my time and activities.  If I spend too much time online, nothing gets done around my home. 

    If you want to make money on HubPages, then treat it like a business.  Write and learn the ropes of marketing your articles.  Go for the traffic instead of trying to please other Hubbers by playing nice and following them.  It's not that you're going to meet these people for drinks and dinner.   

    HubPages is also a creative outlet for writers and entertainment for its readers.  It also can be a combination of all these things.

    You decide.

  5. paradigmsearch profile image60
    paradigmsearchposted 12 years ago

    "Are You Respecting the People that Follow You?"

    Yep, I spam them on average less than once a month.

  6. WryLilt profile image90
    WryLiltposted 12 years ago

    The only time I think followers are important is if you've earned enough and learned enough on Hubpages to write any type of Hubpages guide. Otherwise, I'm personally only interested in search engine views, because that's where my money comes from. smile I do appreciate comments from other hubbers but they aren't something I couldn't live without.

    1. Shadesbreath profile image79
      Shadesbreathposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Not if you write comedy. Not all of us have anything valuable to say. Some of us  are just full of korn. tongue

      1. WryLilt profile image90
        WryLiltposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Ok "Or if you write creative content that you do for pleasure not money". Better? big_smile

        1. Shadesbreath profile image79
          Shadesbreathposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Yes. Now I won't have to do mean things to the family pets.

          1. Pcunix profile image91
            Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            A friend  of ours insists that there is no point in having pets if you are not going to torment them..

  7. rebekahELLE profile image85
    rebekahELLEposted 12 years ago

    I almost always read one of their hubs if I'm not going to follow them, and vote it up, give it a tweet or share on the feed. Sometimes I may comment. That's my way of saying thanks, even if they never know I did it. If it's a random follow from someone on a fan spree, I don't.

    1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
      Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Okay, after reading all the posts so far, thank you to everyone who contributed with respect. Those of you who didn't well... I see that everyone does this very differently and after you have too many followers it is difficult to keep up. I will still do my very best to reply to comments and graciously follow people that have aticles that interest me.

      1. Pcunix profile image91
        Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        That fact that you say "with respect" indicates that you don't understand the purpose of following.

        This is not a matter of manners, of "please" and "thank you".  This is a matter of INTEREST.   If you actually want to READ what I write, you should follow me.  If you don't, I'd rather you did not. 

        Of my current followers , I bet less than 50 actually read anything I write.  What's the point of their "following"?  It's meaningless nonsense.  A number at the top of the page that means absolutely nothing at all.

        I READ the people I follow.  Not everything they write, of course, but I do check the feeds and click through to items of interest.  Why on earth would I bother to "follow" otherwise????

        1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
          Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Well, I do understand following and everything is a matter of "please and thank you" as I think manners are very important. I actually read and want to be read so that being said, like you said, don't follow if you're going to waste time. Follow only if you are interested. But do it with respect, vote and comment. By the way the cowards who vote you down, who never leave comments, I'd like to read one of them just once to see what they are all about!!!

  8. Greekgeek profile image78
    Greekgeekposted 12 years ago

    I have been writing articles for the web since 1993. For the first 15 years, one did not have space for comments or feedback from readers. I, personally, did not start posting articles on sites that made money until 2007. I just posted articles that I hoped would be useful to someone, sharing my interests. I posted my writing, hoping someone enjoyed it.

    In the past five years, I've posted about 400 formal articles and thousands of blog posts and forum comments. I get about 300 emails a day. My Twitter feed is about 1000 messages a day. The comments I get on Squidoo, Hubpages and my blogs add up about to 20-50 a day. And then there's the personal, private communities where I keep up with old online and RL friends -- not Facebook or modern social media, which tend to shred distinctions between friends and contacts/acquaintances, but old sites like Livejournal and Dreamwidth, which attract writers that write long, thoughtful posts -- that's another 100 or so posts a day. So I have to pick and choose what I respond to.  I respond where I have something to contribute, and where the conversation engages me. I can't respond to all of, or even most of, my web connections.

    And some of us spend more or less time creating content and writing, as opposed to interacting. I submit that both approaches have their place.

    My articles, my hubs, my lenses are for my readers... not simply those on the social community, but people interested in the topic. Therefore, while I appreciate encouragement and like to see that people are getting something out of m articles, I respond only if I can clarify a point, further the discussion, or add to the topic the article is about. It's not just a matter of being relevant for the sake of search engines (although that's a factor). It's a matter of being relevant for the sake of my readership.

    When someone posts an article on the New York Times or National Geographic or Searchengineland.com, we do not see a bunch of comments saying "good job" or "nice work" or "pretty good article, keep it up." We see people engaging with the article. (Or, sometimes, readers sniping at each other over politics, but that's another issue.) I think a TIME magazine author would be a little puzzled to get a "nice article, keep up the good work" comment, don't you? I know I'm not always that professional, and that much of my content is not good enough to deserve the readership response I see on big-name journals and magazine sites.  Some days I write silly throwaway articles that probably deserve no more than a "nice job," if that. But in the bigger scheme of things, I want to earn reader engagement in the subject, not a response to me as a writer. I engage with fellow travelers of the web; I'm not used to this new concept of "follower/fan" vs "content producer who caters to fans."

    And maybe that's the difference. For me, thanks to the early days of the web, it's all about the content. I want to be judged on what I wrote, not who I am. When someone says "nice job" in a comment, they're responding to me as a writer of web content. When someone argues with me about a point made in my article, they're responding to what I wrote.  I tend to answer the latter more than the former.

    That's just me, though. Everyone's writing on the web for different reasons, and enjoys different aspects of what the web and web communities have to offer. There isn't one right way to respond to comments or followers. I think we just have to keep in mind that people are coming to the web for different reasons, with different expectations, and that in the vast spectrum of "publishing in a new medium" vs "interacting with people online", there's a lot of variations.

    1. Marisa Wright profile image86
      Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Jason, GreekGeek has just written the definitive response. I agree with it 100% and can't improve on it.  Maybe when you have a bit more work out there, you'll find you adopt the same approach.

      1. Jason Marovich profile image88
        Jason Marovichposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        That's a possibility.  I learn something new everyday.  Especially from her, lol.

        We'll see where this thing goes, content is king or not, I'll adjust accordingly.  For now, nothing geared towards ad rates, I refuse.

        1. Marisa Wright profile image86
          Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          But at the same time, you talk as though you're cultivating other Hubbers specifically to gain readership for your own work, not because you're genuinely interested. 

          I regard the HubPages community features - following, commenting, forums - as a welcome break from my online work activities.  I don't see it as having anything to do with promoting my articles or sites. 

          I guess it's akin to being an Amway rep.  I could never do it, because I don't want to feel I'm using my friends and family to make money.  Hubbers are my online "family", so my interaction here is for fun, not for gain. 

          For that reason, I never ask anyone to follow me or to comment on my Hubs.  If they feel like it, that's their right, but I haven't asked them to and I haven't promised them anything, so I feel no obligation to reciprocate.

          That's just the way I see it. Everyone has a right to use HubPages the way that suits them.

    2. Shawn May Scott profile image61
      Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Greekgeek,

      Thanks and I understand about the amount of input you are recieveing. As for the pats on the back you were talking about it not that that I am looking for and a writer for Time is again not looking for that type of comment. I just see snubbing and other behavious that I would call disrespectful and it is behaviour I would not participate in, in any medium. smile

      1. Marisa Wright profile image86
        Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Can you clarify what you mean by "snubbing" in a HubPages context?

        I think you're learning that if someone doesn't follow you back, that's not "snubbing".   We all get too busy to follow everyone!

        Likewise, not responding to a comment is not "snubbing".  Some Hubbers see the comments capsule as a place for interaction, and they'll say thanks for every comment.  Others see the comments capsule as simply allowing readers to vent their opinion - and those Hubbers won't react to a reader's comment unless they have something meaningful to say. 

        So when we talk about "respect", it really comes down to respecting the fact that different Hubbers use HubPages in different ways.

  9. Xenonlit profile image60
    Xenonlitposted 12 years ago

    It's not easy, because I write elsewhere every day, but when someone follows me, I try to read an article of theirs and always follow them back.

    When I get time, I try to read and comment on some articles by longer term followers, that seems to be the best way to give them some value, show support and to show respect.

    1. racksjackson profile image56
      racksjacksonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, @Xenonlit : I am totally agree with your point because your same activity i do when i free from my tight office schedule .

      1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
        Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        I am starting see a pattern in the answewrs and it all has to do with time!!! smile

        1. Lisa HW profile image61
          Lisa HWposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          The person (for example) who has been on here a couple of or few years may have been writing Hubs in some fairly limited amounts of spare time that's divided up between HubPages and other stuff (writing or anything else) that must be done in one's spare time.    With something like five or six uninterrupted  hours of spare time a week (for example), the person who uses up two or three of those hours on his Hubs doesn't have a whole lot of time left.

          The person who has hundreds (or even over a thousand) Hubs on here will be getting comments on all of those, and the person who's been on here for years will have picked up quite a few followers.  No matter how much someone truly appreciates comments (which can help a Hub) or followers (at least the ones who have followed for "the right" reason), it can pretty much be impossible to do what one might even think would be the nicest, most respectful, way to do things.

          Because I've seen how all that can work, I don't expect anything back from anyone I follow or any comments I make on others' Hubs.  When all is said and done, a whole lot of people discover that it has to be pretty much all about the Hub, the writing, the information and/or the ideas - not the individuals who write the Hubs.  hmm  I'll admit that's how I prefer it, so I'll admit that's why, when I'm dividing up what's left of of spare time on here I lean towards reading x number of Hubs a week and having to be OK enough with that.  Besides that, though, there's always the thing that we tend to expect from others what we think/do ourselves (right, wrong, or otherwise).  I've just always kind of assumed everyone else operates the same way I do, so I haven't worried much about who may feel slighted or not respected.  hmm

  10. Mark Ewbie profile image81
    Mark Ewbieposted 12 years ago

    I'll add a bit of bluntness.

    I get followed from time to time, and often those people will unfollow a few hours later.  Because I don't follow back I guess, but I couldn't care less.  I only noticed this when I used to be slightly concerned about it in my earlier days.

    The vast majority of my followers don't read anything.  They certainly don't comment.  So what the hell was the point?

    I'll tell you.  It's the meaningless follow me follow you game played on social networks everywhere - so people can spam you with stuff you don't read... and vice versa.

    Followers who aren't reading, sharing, commenting are not really doing anything.

    Now.  Politeness.  Wtf?

    If someone follows me I am supposed to drop everything, go check out their work, and make a decision as...  I don't have the time or frankly the interest.

    I didn't join a reading site.  I joined a writing site.  Neither did I join a HubPages version of  FaceBook, the most hideous waste of time there is.

    I appreciate there is a social side to HubPages, and that is brilliant - as is the feedback and the commenting.  But I'm happy with those people I feel I know in a small way, and I would say they number less than 10% of my 'followers'.

    Enough from me.  I could have drawn a stickman instead of writing this, but hey, that's the pull of the forums... another of those "do anything but some work" places.

    1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
      Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Okay, so you are one of the people that really do not care. Yes, we all joined a writing site not a reading site but it is part of writing to read other material. I enjoy reading as much as writing so maybe there lies my delema.

      1. Mark Ewbie profile image81
        Mark Ewbieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Certainly to be a good writer you need to read stuff.

        Fortunately I have set my sights a good deal lower than that.

      2. Randy Godwin profile image62
        Randy Godwinposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        LOL!  I love to read, but not everything written by those who follow me.  A quick look at their profile usually causes me to consider whether I may, or may not, follow them at a later time.  I seldom reciprocate immediately.  But then, I'm a snake sometimes!  lol




                                     http://s1.hubimg.com/u/6186572.jpg

        1. IzzyM profile image87
          IzzyMposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          I'm like that, I often intend to follow hubbers and forget, because I am busy at the time.

          I never used to reply to all (hub)comments like I am more or less doing now. I felt pressurized by people saying it was rude not to say thanks or something pointless.

          If people have something insightful to say, I envy them because I totally lack insight when reading other people's hubs, unless they are writing on a topic I am really interested in. (I will still vote up and stuff, but don't always comment; in fact, I seldom comment, I'm not even very sociable!).

          I try to encourage writers who make a good attempt, who write well, who don't write a 300 word blurb, unless it is a BRILLIANT 300 word blurb.

          But I already know that the commenter gets the SEO benefit of just commenting, while only insightful and related comments will help drive traffic to me.

          It's nice to be nice, I like having online friends as well as the next person, but Hubpages is set up to be a mixture of both.

          There are some brilliant writers on this site, who I am not following simply because I postponed it when the opportunity arrived, and then forgot.

          I follow some people who are not brilliant writers, in fact they shouldn't really call themselves writers, but they have a great forum personality.

          That's my choice.

          I would hate to think that someone thought me rude for not replying or for not following them back.

          1. Marisa Wright profile image86
            Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            ....and those are the people who are showing a lack of respect for you!  They are your Hubs, and you are online because you have to make a living, so you have to use your time wisely.  GreekGeek explained it very well in her post - if you didn't read it, it's worth taking another look at.

            This is one good quote but it's all good:
            "My articles, my hubs, my lenses are for my readers... not simply those on the social community, but people interested in the topic. Therefore, while I appreciate encouragement and like to see that people are getting something out of my articles, I respond only if I can clarify a point, further the discussion, or add to the topic the article is about. It's not just a matter of being relevant for the sake of search engines ... It's a matter of being relevant for the sake of my readership."

            http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/94795?p … ost2027165

            1. IzzyM profile image87
              IzzyMposted 12 years agoin reply to this

              Yes, I did read that, we need more people like GreekGeek around in the forums these days to remind us of what is important, and what isn't.

              I'm all over the place, when the backlinking guys were here, I backlinked. Now they are gone, I don't.

              But you know I am learning how to find my feet. I have learnt a huge amount in the short time I have been here.

              Google took away more than just my traffic. They took away my confidence in myself, and in my writing ability, as well as my earnings.

              I am finding my feet again, in my own way, which I couldn't have done a couple of years ago.

  11. Alastar Packer profile image72
    Alastar Packerposted 12 years ago

    Shawn May, R. Gs.,  been known to shape-shift into a snake in the grass at times; but he always gives a SSSSS warning before he bites so he's really a good guy and alright. Hey Shawn May, I dig some of your writing categories so will follow you!

  12. rebekahELLE profile image85
    rebekahELLEposted 12 years ago

    It seems like it's always 'them' against 'those' here in the forums. Why? Everyone is here for whatever reasons they are here. Some are here exclusively to make money, some don't care about money, some care more about their writing and their followers. All is fine. So whatever works for you individually is what is right for you. Don't worry about what others may or may not do. No one 'group' of writers is better than another. Enjoy HP, it's a great place.

  13. Shawn May Scott profile image61
    Shawn May Scottposted 12 years ago

    Thank you, I will enjoy and yes, it is a great place.smile

  14. Mark Ewbie profile image81
    Mark Ewbieposted 12 years ago

    Eeek!  I have lost some followers since I posted my rant here.

    Come back.

    You bastards.

    1. Linda Bliss profile image85
      Linda Blissposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'm still here yikes) (and I'm one of those bad followers who almost never read any of your work or comment!)

      1. Mark Ewbie profile image81
        Mark Ewbieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Phew! Thanks Linda.  I find the ones who don't read anything stick around longer.

  15. melbel profile image95
    melbelposted 12 years ago

    I would want someone to follow me because they enjoy my writing, not because they felt obligated by polite courtesy.

    That said, I write for the search engines, not for other writers here on HubPages. It's the search engine traffic that makes the money.

    I know there are people who get upset with hubbers that seldom comment (I rarely leave comments), but I usually spend my time writing hubs.

    When I do read a good hub, I'll vote on it, but I usually can't think of anything to say other than "nice hub" which I won't write. In fact, when I get "nice hub" comments, I delete them.

    smile

    1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
      Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Okay, fair enough but comments improve your search engine status when people use keywords in the comments. I would delet the "nice Hub" comments too, they do not improve your search engine status. smile

      1. Marisa Wright profile image86
        Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Ah, maybe I've been missing the point, Shawn!  Are you complaining because commenting and following should be a matter of courtesy and interaction with fellow Hubbers, or are you complaining because you want others to play the "you follow, I follow" game for financial gain?

        RebekahELLE said it.  Let each Hubber use Hubpages according to their needs and preferences.

        1. Alastar Packer profile image72
          Alastar Packerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Hmmm, still at 366, must of missed the point too.

        2. Shawn May Scott profile image61
          Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Marisa,

          I am not complaining, I am inquiring. I have also learned a few things about Hubpages since I posted this forum question 6 days ago. My understanding and expectations have changed. As for courtesy I still speak of the snubbing Hubbers and aknowledgement of your followers. It is only polite to at least say "Hello" but as we have no other way to aknowledge our followers other than following them back how else do you say "thank you"? Could Hubpages add some sort of aknowledgement of our followers without have to over load our feeds? Or would that just kill the whole idea and the way Hubpages works?

          1. profile image0
            EmpressFelicityposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Why not just let them follow you and not worry about reciprocating?

            Speaking for myself personally, it makes me feel awkward if I follow someone and they follow me straight back. And if someone follows me, I'd prefer it to be because they wanted to follow me anyway for "selfish" reasons*, and weren't bothered about getting any form of acknowledgement from me.


            *i.e. because they actually enjoyed reading my hubs.

            1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
              Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

              Because edicate tells us to aknowledge when someone compliments us and when you follow someone that is a compliment. Does one not say "Thank you" when one is complimented? Hubpage does not give us away to just say "Thank you for the follow" you must follow that other Hubber and leave fan mail to boost their ratings. So in my eyes I see this as disrespectful, because of edicate.

              1. profile image0
                EmpressFelicityposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                In real life, you do indeed have the opportunity to say a face-to-face "thank you" when someone says something nice to you. And it is of course a polite thing to do.

                But this is the Internet, and HP doesn't give you a "thank you" button. So you can hardly be accused of disrespect for not using that button, because it's non-existent! And if people are expecting you to follow them back as a way of showing respect, then that's their problem rather than yours.

                But then again, I was very much at the back of the queue when the etiquette genes were handed out lol

                1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
                  Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  At least you can spell it!!! Etiquette that is. smile

              2. melbel profile image95
                melbelposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                I disagree. I think the writers are more in the position to say, "you're welcome" than "thank you."

                As a writer, I feel I am offering a service to my readers. While I do profit from my readers, I hope that my readers profit from enjoying content I write. Gaining new followers and comments is a way of knowing whether or not I'm creating good content.

                And I'm not saying my readers need to thank me... they don't. I just hope they enjoy my content. I just don't feel I need to thank my followers. I thought the whole point of following someone was to get updates when they write something new, so I can check it out... and thus enjoy learning/reading something new. When I follow someone, I do it because I love their hubs and want to read more... and I hope it makes them happy to see they have a new follower... it's my way of saying thanks to the writer.

                If I were to receive a bunch of messages from people saying, "Thanks for the follow," I would be a bit annoyed, personally. Back in the day, a lot of people used to send out an auto-DM to new twitter followers thanking them for the follow. People found it incredibly annoying and thus users stopped using the feature.

                Maybe this is haughty of me, but my etiquette doesn't obligate me to follow or thank my followers.

                I understand there are different views on both following and commenting. I think my views really stem from me being a "not much to say" type person. With that, though, I feel that saying too little, like "thanks" is just kind of fake. Perhaps saying "thanks" is better than saying nothing, but, in order to avoid the problem of saying something that might come out fake, I say nothing at all.

                I fail to see how it's disrespectful for writers to not thank their followers. In fact, I find it disrespectful for followers to expect a thank you. Writers, especially prolific ones (not me, I'm leet fail), shouldn't be expected to take time away from writing in order to thank their followers. They can if they want, but to me, that's an unreasonable expectation.

                As a writer, I'm the more introverted type, and don't prefer to bask in the sunlight that is my readership. I'm glad people appear to like what I write... them liking my writing enough to follow me, enough to comment, enough to share, or rate... now to me, that's them saying thank you to me. However, they need not thank me at all. I'm commercializing my writer. Readers visiting is enough for me.

                1. profile image0
                  EmpressFelicityposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  I agree.

                2. Marisa Wright profile image86
                  Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Actually, I feel the same as you.  The thing is, some Hubbers think they're doing you a favor by following you or commenting on your Hubs, and therefore they expect to be thanked for it.  Whereas in fact, they are the ones who benefit from both actions!

                  I don't often express that point of view because I've tried explaining it to the  "I'm doing you a favor so thank me" camp before and they simply can't see my point.

                  If someone chooses to follow me, it's because they want to read my stuff.  That's nice for my ego but otherwise of no consequence to me (followers don't earn me any money). I would like to say thanks if they leave a meaningful comment when they follow, that's all.

                  Likewise, I never ask readers to comment on my Hubs. They do it because they have something to get off their chest, or because they want to get a backlink.  Either way, that's a benefit to them.  If they write a good comment using my keywords, I do get a benefit - but otherwise, not.

          2. Marisa Wright profile image86
            Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            The only solution I've come up with is to go to the follower's profile, read some Hubs and make a few meaningful comments on them.  That way I feel I've returned the courtesy in some way, but it's not entirely satisfactory, is it? I agree, it would be much better if we could say "thanks!" direct as well.

            1. Lisa HW profile image61
              Lisa HWposted 12 years agoin reply to this

              I got a "fan mail" not long ago, and when I went to check the person's profile to see what I might do as far as commenting (etc.) might go, I saw that there's a "thanks" button on the "send a message" thing now.  I didn't know if that was new or not, but I liked it and used it.    (I have a separate e.mail address that's pretty public for here anyway, so that's fine for using here.)

    2. FloraBreenRobison profile image60
      FloraBreenRobisonposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Most of my followers never, ever comment on my hubs. That has never bothered me. I read when I have the time people whose work interest me, regardless of whether or not those people have ever read any hub I've written.  I would never stop following someone simply because he stopped following me or commenting on my hubs when he did before.

      1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
        Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        You sound very reasonable. I think this is an attitude more should take.

  16. Shawn May Scott profile image61
    Shawn May Scottposted 12 years ago

    I have not seen any comments about collecting accolades. I have noticed some Hubbers posting several non-sense questions or answers to recieve awards. Can we say that posting those very short "nice Hub" comments fits into this category as well?

    1. Pcunix profile image91
      Pcunixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      It does if you let them do it.  I delete those comments as a matter of policy.

      1. Shawn May Scott profile image61
        Shawn May Scottposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Good policy to adopt. I am on that one.

  17. IzzyM profile image87
    IzzyMposted 12 years ago

    The only way that could really be done is with an IM feature, but then you would get abuses of that too - "why are you not following me back?" is one that springs to mind.

    There have been times when someone has followed me and left me fan mail that included a question. That is the only time I have felt a space to say something back would be appreciated.

    As it is, the only way to answer that fanmail or comment would be to email that hubber, which gives away your email address.

    Most of the time that isn't a problem, but it could be. New hubbers are random, aren't they? It takes time to trust someone.

  18. Alastar Packer profile image72
    Alastar Packerposted 12 years ago

    The missed point wasn't missed at all- Capital Shawn May!

 
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