Will I follow you if you follow me?
76I'll give you the short answer first: probably not.
So, if you were hoping to up your follower stats by following me, that's probably not going to work. I don't follow very many people. I MIGHT follow you, but if I do, it definitely will not be because you followed me.
If I follow you, it will be for one reason only: I want to read more of what you have to say.
That's the only reason you should bother to follow me, by the way. If you read a few hubs and liked them and think you might like to read more, yes, click that "Follow" link. I'm happy to meet you and flattered that you liked my writings enough to want to see more.
Doing that will cause me to take a look at your profile at the very least. What happens next varies.
Do you have any hubs?
No? Why would I follow you? It would take one heck of a profile page write-up to convince me to follow someone who hasn't written a single hub.
That is a bit unfortunate, though. You might very well be someone I would want to follow. Maybe after you have written a little you might want to leave a comment at one of my hubs - if the comment is interesting, I often go look at the accompanying profile and I might decide to follow you then.
No promises, though.
Do you have any accolades and feedback?
I like to look at accolades and feedback, too. You know, those "Useful, Funny" things? If you have a good number of hubs but very few of those, I have to wonder why. Sure, that doesn't mean I won't like your stuff, but it sure meant not many other people liked it much.
Oh, you hid those so they don't display? Hmm... I have to wonder why. Sorry, you might just be bashful and shy, but you've made me suspicious.
Do you write well?
Of course you do.
That's great, I'm glad that you do. Honestly, sometimes I will follow people who do not write well, because I think they show promise, but writing decently doesn't hurt.
It may not help, though.
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Are you interesting?
I mean are you interesting TO ME. This is about me following you, remember? So if you are writing truly beautiful and mesmerizing prose about things I just don't care about, well, what do you think is going to happen? Am I going to follow you because you obviously are a great writer and may even be famous someday even though I have absolutely no interest in your subject matter?
No, I won't. Yeah, I'm a shallow person in some ways. Certain subjects are simply not on my reading list. For example, I do not read fiction. You may write incredibly good fiction, but I will not read it. Why? Because I have too few years left and there is too much history and science and other factual material I still haven't read. I read fiction in my youth; I have no time for it now.
I won't read poetry either. No interest, probably because I don't feel rhythm. I have very little interest in music for the same reason- my brain just isn't wired for it. You shouldn't feel badly about that; it's not your fault, I'm the one with the screwy brain. Other people will read your poetry and music posts.
Did you ask me to follow you?
Whoa! Major gaffe!
Recently someone left me "Fan mail" saying this:
Very informative .. So i have voted you up and followed. Please do the same.
I deleted that and although I did go look at her profile, I was already set against any possibility of following. This isn't tit for tat and if you've read this far, you know that.
She didn't. I don't want her as a follower and I will not be following her. She didn't have anything I wanted to read anyway.
That's the whole of it
So there you have it. I'm going to put a link to this in my profile and ask people to read it before they follow me. No doubt that will prevent me from gaining some followers. That's fine. I don't need 'em.
Do you know someone who should be reading this? Click the Share button below to send it to them easily or to post it to Facebook or Twitter.
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Well, it certainly isn't going to make me any money :)
But I hope it does cut down on people following me for the wrong reasons.
I am looking at your hubs now, by the way. I found the Jihad hub quite educational.
(I did end up following Valeed. He is an Islamic moderate and I found his pov very interesting)
I'm not following, I'm stalking and there's a big difference.
Yes, and I know that. But I have tin foil under that wig, so you cannot read my thoughts and cannot make me harm myself. i am safe.
I just upped your latest hub. Please reciprocate
:)
Sure thing. I will get right on that :)
Funny you wrote a hub about this. I was just thinking about this. I received fan mail from someone, however I noticed that on the profile hub activity that everything was about following people lol...
But, this person was the only one to leave me fan mail. I wonder if the mail was truthful, or this new user just wanted to gain followers?
Regardless, I do not care, I just hope people realize they are not following people in hopes of getting huge traffic from the search engines as this is not true .
No, it sure is not. But if you give people a number, they will work t increase it, no matter how meaningless it is to their real goals.
I see that lots of hubbers have more than 500 followers. Imagine trying to respond to all of their comments--you'd never get anything done, even though we are suppose to be gracious, according to those who write about commenting.
Well, if they are really followers and read the hubs and if each left comments..
But most are not readers and most never comment.
I like the stalking comment :-)
The hub was fun too.
One of many things I admire about you Pcuniz, you cut right to the chase and I commend you for that. No pussy footing around in this hub..either you follow or you don't and I admire your reasons. Why waste your time reading fiction, poetry and prose that does not tickle your taste buds. All the best..I rate this Hub Up..because I can:0))
Pcunix
I also wondered about connecting with everyone who follows. I follow a small group because I like interacting with these hubbers. Tough to do somedays, as there can be some very active comment writing. When my daily email of "hubbers you follow" comes in, I want to read what they say. That already takes up to an hour, a fun and interesting hour to be sure, but I'd feel I was not being honest to simply knee-jerk follow all my followers.
Thanks for this hub, once again you have put down in words something that has been at the back of my mind...
Chris
Very, very good! I like your style, sir! And I agree with you.
Love and peace
Tony
Whenever somebody chooses to follow me, I check out their Hubtivity to see if they're engaging in a following spree. Many are doing so, and I've never followed anyone with this silly agenda.
Yes, a string of "is now following" in their Hubtivity is an instant back arrow.
Same here. I couldn't agree more. When I see a new follower - especially one who left fan mail - I like to check their page, primarily o see what they are about, but also to note if they have pages and pages of 'now followings', which seems mostly all they've engaged in on HP in a a day or so of being a member. What is appalling is that they'll get more reciprocal polite "followers" from this mass "throwing of some stuff on and wall and seeing what sticks" than many received who weren't even aware of what following was all about when we came aboard, after weeks of actual writing many hubs. Of course statistics show that one needn't be deserving to get one out of 5 or 10 of anything just for the effort of initiating 5 or 10 what-evers. I actually try to keep up with people I follow, and I have more than I can keep up with among writers who do have something to say and share!
Yes. I don't read every hub by every person I follow because sometimes the title tells me that it's nothing of interest, but I do read most.
If I've enjoyed an interesting or great hub,I generally follow. I don't subscribe to facebook or twitter and I Know many hubbers who do and aquire an almost instant fan base when starting out here from having done so,and so a large fan base doesn't necessarily reflect or imply that their hubs are good. I find it too time consuming already here to keep up with new content;there are simple not enough hours in a day to be able to read what you want to!
It's nice however to see an organically grown following to your site and for the right reasons:)
Pcunix,thanks for a thought provoking hub that many of us think about but just don't have the balls to discuss.
Loved your direct to the point writing style and your content reminds me of my husbands' sense of humor (wicked!).
P.S.Although I've just followed you,I'll save you some time in saying that I wouldn't even bother checking my bio as WARNING:A brief amount of poetry might lurk there and the other stuff is probable just not up your street:)
Oh, no, not poetry :)
This makes sense..I am not all that popular with only 190 followers, but only a handful of them are my genuine followers and read and comment on most of my hubs..I tend to focus on them more..they have become more like regular friends to me...what is the use to have 1200 followers and only 5 of them could take something with them, a nice memory, a helpful hint, a knew understanding into something difficult..?
The 5 that gets something from my hubs will come back, I don't need to trick them.. :)
Right you are. I often wonder how many really are readers rather than just "followers".
Ha Ha
Oh so very true. If only everyone followed this rule on every social community website, they would be so much better. I find it SO ANNOYING that people are so hung up on how many friends or followers they have on certain unmentioned faceless websites.
Laughing out loud! I love that you get to openly admit to not reading poetry. Amateur poetry is uaually a very difficult thing for me to sit through. It's very, very uncomfortable, I never know what to do with my face. My brother and I wrote one called, "Emotional Spill." It's an anti-poetry poem, born out of my confession that I really don't like poetry readings. Poetry, yes, emo girl/boy with a notebook, no. Great hub.
I seem to have almost no natural rhythm. I can't keep a beat, can't dance and I do not like poetry. No offense meant to the poets; it is surely my loss.
this is great, and so true. I often will look at someone, and see that they have either gone on a following spree or a commenting spree. Either one is not so great, but I avoid the ones which you have mentioned.
Love this hub. this is why I follow you =)
I love your honesty!
It's human nature to look for the easiest way to accomplish any given objective (short cut), although all too often it's doing things the hard way that gets you real results.
Whenever people start following me I go into "investigation mode" and want to know who they are and what caused them to follow me. I'll read their profiles from top to bottom then check out any of their hubs they have written. If they have more than four articles I found interesting chances are I'll follow them back. If the articles are in broken English or just all over then I just move on.
Ohh well Pc,
I guess I don't need you to join my growing follower list anyhow.:) I am happy to follow you and read some of your work. I enjoy your honesty and your sense of humor. Oh wait! I think that does make me a stalker and not a follower like Mark said. :)
Actually, Whikat, I would have bet money that I was following yu. I see that I would have lost that bet, however, so I will fix that
;:)
I use similar means of deciding whether I want to follow someone or not. Like you, I do not follow anyone whose profile activity consists of a long line of following hubbers, or who ask me to follow them.
Whenever my profile score is at 100 I get followed by many newbies who, I suppose, think it will help them in some way. They should read your hub first!
It's the "please return the favor" ones that make me wish for a negative follow :)
I so wish they hadn't changed the name from "fans" to "followers". At least when they were fans, it was more obvious that the purpose was to show your admiration for someone's writing.
When I first joined HubPages, when the question of "fanning etiquette" came up, I'd say - if you become a fan of Beyonce, do you expect her to become your fan in return? I can't say that now, because the word "follower" comes from Twitter where reciprocal following seems to be normal, even if in practice you never even read what you're following!
I've never sought followers and I never react to that awful "please return the favor" message either!
I do react. Not in the way they wish, usually :)
What I have been seeing recently is the spam followers following me, then probably reading this hub and then unfollowing. I find that very amusing for some reason :)
Loved the hub. Don't bother looking at my profile, it doesn't say it in the profile, but I like fiction and my writing style isn't particularly engaging. I only wanted to say I liked the hub.
I totally agree with all of your thoughts . . . at least on this particular subject. Perhaps that's why I'm already following you, and have no idea if you have returned the favor. It is not consequential.
I especially don't care for people who invite me to follow them just because they have been silly enough to follow me.
I think I followed surf traveler because of his live-in boa constrictor.
I agree with so much of this hub that I had to follow you. Like Marisa however, I do wish 'fans' had not been changed to 'followers', not least because it conjures up visions of zombies shuffling after hubbers in a very unnerving fashion!
I have recently become more selective over whom I reciprocally follow back, mostly for the reasons you state. If someone 'follows' me, and I check out their hubs only to find ten hubs all on buying a certain brand of mobile phone, I use the 'back button' double quick.
I also now make a point of periodically checking out the list of hubbers I follow, and if they haven't published anything in the last year I 'quit following' them.
Yes, product focused hubs are usually not of much interest to me either, though that can depend on how well they are done. But a string of "Five best..." probably isn't going to lure me in.
LOL, this is useful, funny & instructive. In short it is awesome.
Thank you again for your comment at my hub. I just thought I'd point out that although many of my hubs read "5 New Words", you might be interested in, or tickled by some of the sentential examples I provide below, thought I'd mention in case you skim over them thinking that they're sensless drivel, which some of them assuredly are, but ssshhh...don't tell anyone!
Catch you later mate.
That's an interesting project you have there. Vocabulary is power :)
I really appreciate the honesty of this hub. Whether or not we decide to 'follow someone back' depends on our mood. Somedays we feel quite annoyed by messages that request us to follow back - other days we remember when we just started and felt desparate for followers.
We actually do try to look at the work of everyone that we follow - but not very frequently. Also, both of us has a few favourite hubbers and we do keep up to date with them.
We have a lot of fiction hubs, and completely understand that they appeal to a limited number of readers. However, we have hubs on many other topics.
I guess that is the main thing we are looked for when we decided whether or not to follow somebody -diversity. If they have hubs on a wide variety of topics, we will probably follow.
Occasionally if they are a one-theme hubber we will follow, but only if the topic is of interest.
It is amazing how many topics are of no interest to us: teeth whitening, slimming aids, dog toys are good examples.
At least you are honest with your explanation of "to follow or not to follow". I don't usually follow my new followers right away. I'll look at their profile pages and a few of their hubs and decide then. And I do read some of the new hubs by those I follow. Of course, the number of accolades will be low if the hubber is relatively new. I'm about 6 weeks into this and I've already got 6 accolades. The feedback on my hubs are kinda low but that's the reader's perrogative to leave feedback or not.
When I follow a hubber, I don't expect them to follow me back and I would never ask for a return follow. To me, that's rude.
Anyway, I'm glad you explained your position on following hubbers.
I read everyone I follow, although not necessarily every hub they write.
It is very hard with new people - there can be not much to go by.
That's what I meant. I read some hubs of everyone I follow just not every single one. Sorry I didn't make myself more clear. :)
No, I understood. I was simply echoing the idea.
Great idea posting this on your profile page, PQ! Wish I had thought of it. I get so many followers asking me to reciprocate.
Though many of them never bother to read it :)
If you follow I follow you..
Oh, that changes everything :)
229 hubs in 6 months...some of them pretty funny...gonna follow anyway!
Having too many fans doesn't seem to be a problem of mine for the time being - but I like that you are straightforward about it here!
Thanks for all the help in the forums!
Remember that this "followers" stuff is 99% meaningless. You could make a lot of money with no followers and vice versa.
I agree with you man to make your own policy. I am sorry if some of my postings bothered you. Anyway, I like your hubs and I don't care if you follow me or not. I hate to offend others, but sometimes you may be done something that you see ok while the people don't see ok or acceptable. Let me say finally that this is great hub and understandable too.
Abdi
Thank you, Abd. By the way, you write well, but I can see some reasons why your earnings may be low. I hope you will take a hub or two to Extreme Hub Makeover.
quick question: is it just me or is there an increase in teh number of "i follow you so can you follow me?" mails going around?
I ought to take this hub, and paste it on my profile saying that people must do teh same for me....
I think there may be..
Brilliant putting this in your profile! The first thing I do after being followed (I also liked the word "fan" better) is to look at their profile and then read a hub or two, assuming the titles are interesting. If they are all about Bollywood stars...sorry! I pass! If they are following loads of people every other second or two, I pass. Those are not real followers.
The only people I truly keep up with are the ones who comment. I generally go back and read one of their hubs in return and comment if possible. Rating this useful!
Yes, there is no point in following someone you will never read. It's like signing up for catalogs you'll never buy from. The catalog might be really wonderful (or it might not( but if it has nothing I would ever want, why get it delivered to me?
I love this hub. Not saying this so you will follow me. LOL
"Not saying this so you will follow me" :)
The thing about it that most don't seem to understand is the pointlessness of following someone you don't intend to read.
Follower stats are completely meaningless - they won't get you more money.
People who follow and READ might get you money - not directly, necessarily but by recommending things they like to others.
I WANT people to follow me - IF THEY THINK THEY WANT TO READ WHAT I WRITE. Every hubber should want the same thing, but far too many don't understand that.
lol ...love the thread ... agree with you and I followed you because I enjoy reading what you have to say. I have no hubs yet and have just reciently joined so dont bother checking me out as there is nothing there to see.
Well, welcome to HP and I hope you are enjoying it!
I think a lot of people think this is like facebook.
I saw you in a couple of the forums and wanted to see what a man in a rainbow wig had to say. Makes sense to me.
You are a scary man, brutally honest. I like that. Plus any man who cares so much for his wife deserves a mention. lol
Honesty is just the simplest way. Less to keep track of.
That woman I mention now and then? Yeah, I guess she'll do :)
What a great hub! I should link to it in my profile. I'm a newbie around here, and when I first started gaining these followers, I'm thinking, "Golly! They really like me!" It didn't take long to notice that those few thumbnail pix under my followers were the same ones I saw on all the other newbies' pages! Thanks for the hub!
Ayup. Welcome to reality :)
This is a great hub and letting people know where you stand from the onset is a brilliant way to repel beggars and actually attract quality. The comments really do enhance what you say and convey a sad message in that as in life everyone admires a hero but from a safe distance. I notice you have 534 followers and if each of those people are on your wavelength then that is probably the best source of quality hubbers in HP. I like looking for interesting writers and stuff I am interested in reading but it has been very much hit and miss. I will defintely be looking through your list of followers now. Thank you.
This is hilarious. Terse and to the point
That's awesome. Thanks for being straightforward. That can be a very rare trait in this world.
PC...
I liked the biting reality you have embedded into this hub. Enough to engender a follow by me? Perhaps. Well actually... probably...I tend to be easy. Thank you for the brutally frank appraisal of the following process as it applies to Pcunix.
Thomas
Well, I did press your follow button before reading your stuff, but that was because I thought we had interests in common - politics and social issues. My heart is now broken in three places, and I am wondering whether I can stomach the latent criticism of my action in seeking to get notifications when you write something which I suspected might be read-worthy.
To show my displeasure and, indeed, mortification, I think I might write you a poem, just to bore you to death. On reflection, I try not to cast pearls before swine, so I won't.
Poetry is not my thing, sorry. It would indeed be casting pearls before swine.
This is great. I want everyone to read this. I enjoy followers and fan mail -- and I'm with you on people who expect tit for tat. People who send fan mail only to promote themselves just seem desperate -- not interesting. Thanks for laying it out straight.
I delete that type of fan mail, but I do get it often.
Don't make me laugh - In your original blurb, you stated that you don't like poetry. Therefore in my response, I said I would write you a poem were it not for the fact that I wouldn't wish to cast pearls before swine.
And how do you reply? - That you don't like poetry and it would be casting pearls before swine.
Durrr!
I know. It's reflexive because, unlike you, so many people just scan and comment.
Too right - I'm something else!
You are interesting and I did follow you before I read this page...because I liked another hub you wrote about Google +. Just wanted to say that I don't care if you follow me back, I just forgot to put message in fan mail is all. Very Impressive your Hubs are. Thank-you for sharing your information.
Thank you, Tammy.
Great thoughts there. As a (relatively) new hubber I'm still working out that following thing. But currently I am of your view...if I find a couple hubs interesting, I'll click follow.
However, I'm not yet ready to turn away any potential followers. Even if they aren't there for entirely the right reasons. (At least they are potentially reading, right?) :P
agreed, I didn't know you could stop people from following you - I have to figure that one out,
good hub btw :O)
You can't.
Glad I read beyond the first couple of lines. I wasn't sure what to think at first. I mostly agree as I only "seek out" people who write about things that interest me or things that I feel my comments would contribute to.
My subject matter is very specific so I expect there are many who would not follow me based on the info I provide being of no use or interest to them. I do however appreciate every one of my followers and I do follow back because a) they may write something I want to read at some point or b)one of my followers may find them on my list and be interested in what they have to say.
I don't know...maybe I'm a softie, maybe it's curiosity but if someone is kind and supportive enough to follow me then I like to show them the same courtesy, but realize this approach isn't for everyone. I'm sure people appreciate your honesty.
Perfect example...I was a bit miffed by this article after the intro but I read on and ended up both enjoying and appreciating your words. Thanks for sharing.
How on earth could I read every hub written by those who follow me?
Is that question for me? If so, I'm not suggesting that as it would be near impossible.
I agree with all of your points-- and not asking for any more followers.
I like to follow and having followers means "something".
The "something" pales a bit when you hit occasional 100 scores-- because then you get a flurry of followers who are usually new and have never read any of your hubs. They will write fan mail in text-- a language in which I have limited fluency, or just say "great hubs" and add unearned flattering comments.
I look at my numbers and wonder, "who are these people?"
With your numbers - I'd imagine that you're like me, and don't recall having ever seen anything from at least half of them.
I'm with you on the "tit for tat" thing...that's not happening.
The thing you said about music - THAT is interesting! I've got to know two folks well in my life that were like that - they had ...no appreciation for music. Both of them were coworkers in the HVAC industry - the types of technicians that could figure out the most complex problems on the largest equipment imaginable.
I have a hard enough time writing Hubs. Following Hubbers can get crazy. I made the mistake in the beginning and followed too many writers. They say not to drop anyone you follow. Well, you've got to be kidding. Forget that "advice". For my own sanity and keeping my inbox cleared, I am much more selective on who I follow. There ARE Hubbers I won't follow because their work is riddled with errors, and nothing has changed. You should never feel obligated to follow anyone unless youl like reading their work.
I unfollow folks ...all the time. I doubt it matters much or figures in with real relevancy to anything to stop following someone.
HP can keep the high 90's author score - I'm here ...for me, money, and pleasure.
Who's to say when someone is going to just up and start saying things to you that are offensive? Hit the "unfollow" thing and be done with them. I sometime wish that Hubpages had a "block" feature!
I also would love to see "block".
The flurry of followers that arrives ever time I drift into that 100 score is also annoying. Of all the reasons to follow anyone, that's the worst.
I automatically delete any "Great job!" crap - comments or fan mail.
However, once in a while I do follow back. I do so with great hesitation now,wondering how on earth I'll find the time.
BTW, what caused this sudden influx of comments here??
I'm not sure what caused the influx of comments, but this is a well written hub. I don't follow someone who doesn't show their accolades. I only recently decided to increase the number of my hubs for fun. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I'm guessing this is an older hub?
I saw it in my "stream," and as you're one of the more interesting folks here - I've taken to using the "share" thing from the "stream."
I figure other folks that might not know you might find you interesting as well. I'm assuming, of course, that I'm to ..."blame," but could be wrong about that too.
There's no possible way that I can read all of the new stuff by the people I follow....I think that I wind up commenting more stuff by people that I don't follow.
I think I'm more often reading/commenting what looks interesting from my "stream" - rather than using the daily notification emails.
Pcunix...Don't know you, haven't read anything you've written..(yet)....BUT,I think I love you. Is it too soon? I'm not one of those "FAST" girls from the '50's....I just know what I like, big boy....AND I LOVE your point-blank-this-is-the-way-it-is-ATTITUDE. So real, so refreshing, however rare and unpoplular. I stumbled upon you (excuse me) because I happen to note that my friend Wes commented and I am interested in whatever he has to say about pretty much anything. I love him too, but, like a "son," because although I'm "fast" AND able to love more than one man at a time, I am not a pedophile. Sorry if you don't like long comments....I can't help myself most of the time....and per your attitude, you'll just stop reading when you want to anyway. Your profile is interesting and scrolling your hubs, I am certain there are several I intend to read. If I enjoy them (your style), I will follow you....or not. And BTW, I agree with all you say in this hub. The reasons I follow are my own personal reasons and not because someone follows me.....just as I do not befriend every person who happens to cross my path. I READ almost exclusively NON-fiction...always have. Yet, 90% of my hubs are fiction. Hmmmm...strange. Anyway Pcunix...what caused the influx of comments is that you STATED what most have felt/thought....but never had the Kajunas to put in print. I'm done now, aren't you glad?? Oh yeah...I voted you across the board except for "beautiful"..what the hell is a beautiful hub, anyway??
That ought to win an award for something..
@Wesman Hmm.. Maybe somebody shared it.. oh, well. I'm glad I'm not at 100 right now. Too many people follow just because of that so I never trust the motives of those who pile on during those times.
@fpherj48 Your comment made me go read three hubs. Good stuff, I did follow you.. arrgh I hate when I have to do that!
hahahahaha.....lmao!! Oh MY! What have I done? You read 3 hubs?? I better check this out! I refuse to follow hubbers @ 100....that's a PERFECT score. There's no room in my life for perfection. Striving for it can kill ya. OH, arrgh! yourself!
When I saw the title, I just had to read. Glad I did. I agree with you 100%. I must say though that whenever I get one of those 'follow me' plea from a hubber who had just chosen to follow me, I feel really bad, because I often don't feel the need to follow them for all the reasons you mentioned.
It's good to know there are those who feel the same way.
Thanks for sharing.
@fpherj48 - I'm lucky you didn't come earlier in the week, then :-)
@comfortb - I never feel badly. Those people are almost never worth following anyway. I delete their fan mail instantly.
I'm new to HP, and have noticed an "exam" mentality about following, with too many people thinking of followers as their test results. It's great to see an experienced hubber put it under the microscope so well. So, I'm sorry, Pcunix, but I did follow you. And, no, I don't read every hub written by everyone I follow. I look at the title and summary, and if that hub interests me, I read it. But I seldom comment unless I really have something to say about it. I don't know if I'm unusual in that, but I think probably not - people who comment on everything seem awfully chatty. Which, by the way, I'm being now, so I'll stop.
I sort of like chatty :-)
As my wife says about me, "Wind him up and he'll talk forever".
1: No disagreement from me on anything you've said here.
2: Why the sudden influx..? In my case because Wesman Todd Shaw shared the hub.
3: A number of your commenters appear to lack the ability to express an opinion without generalising and being judgemental. Are they all that superior in real life?
To me, as far as writing is concerned, there's no right or wrong -just different. So, as you say, read if you're interested, don't if you're not.
Same goes for commenting. Forget "great hub" of course, but I value the contribution that insightful dialogue between commenters makes to many of my Hubs.
Personally, I feel the Hub Pages site would lose nothing, and potentially gain credibility, if the whole concept of followers was eliminated. It's got nothing to do with real life, more to do with that 'gushy collegiality' that passes for sincerity these days.
@writeronline: I wouldn't want to lose the concept of being notified when people I follow write a new hub, but yes: counting "followers" is pointless.
HAHAHA! thanks! I actually searched this in google and good thing you have this article:D Just started in Hubpages and I was getting confused on why people would follow me when the TWO articles I wrote have slow traffic and not much interesting.
I was wondering if I should follow them too and if I didn't, would I be violating some online ethics that I didn't know about. HAHAHA. thanks!
Hiya Pcunix, I just want you to know that I read this very charming hub before I hit "follow." AND, I actually read a couple of your hubs, and I enjoyed reading them. So there. Cheers!
Have a nice day,
Rosie
Ahh, but I think I had followed you first :-)
So, first, let me say, please DON'T follow me and don't bother reading my bio; I have not much interesting to say for you as a reader! I'm learning the ways of evergreen subject matter, etc. etc. and a newbie on HubPages.
However, I AM going to follow you because, honestly, as an early Internet adopter on The World, back when you really had to know UNIX to get anything done efficiently, I just like your handle/username! And, then, I read your profile, and I like your honesty. I came to this Hub and, again, I value direct people, with a sense of humor. So, I will be reading your Hubs, just probably not all of them. I will also comment when and only when I feel I have something to add to the discussion; so, please excuse me if I go on "comment sprees" every once in a while - like you, I only read what interests me (but, then again, I have a lot of interests, some I know about and some I come to know serendipitously by reading something I wouldn't have thought I'd like). Sue me, I'm an unabashed generalist!
I'm glad to have made the acquaintance of your writing!
I'm not sure that I should follow your advice. You sound like just the sort I do follow..
Thank you!
Thank you sharing another informative article. When I first started writing on Hubpages I would follow everyone who followed me. Also, I noticed after a time, my Hubber score fluctuated quite a bit. I did some research on the subject and found out if you follow to many Hubbers you having nothing in common with the SPAM filters kick in! Thanks for another great Hub!
I am not sure they care about common interest, but they definitely care about too many too fast.
Pcunix,
I think one of the problems that anyone new here (like me) gets into is the, "No one is reading my stuff, I'll follow people so they'll follow me," mentality. I've got to go and weed out most of the people I followed in my first few weeks because, quite honestly, I don't read anything by most of them.
Like you, I do look at them when they first follow me and try to read what sounds most interesting. Man, these people write about stuff that holds no interest for me. That's not universally true, but I do often wonder if my readers and I came from the same planet.
Then there are the ones from other planets. They're so weird you have to watch them to see what they do next. Unfortunately, that may be why I have followers!
So far, I've enjoyed two of your hubs, but I'm not committed to you yet. I'll have to sleep on it.
Doug
I am one of those from another planet. From the looks of your profile, you may be also.. but that's not a bad thing!
The reason I hide my accolades is because they mean nothing to me :)
I never follow people just because they follow me and never if they beg...
Yet I followed you without accolades :)
Well, I appreciate that :)
Will you follow me, if I follow you?
In a word, no.
No one has expressed it as clearly and reasonably as you just did. I appreciate the honesty and the directness of what you wrote. I have followed you, because I want to read more, knowing full well that does not mean you will follow me. That is healthy and sanity producing for both of us. :)
Actually, after reading several of your hubs, I had to follow. Very well done!
Well, I was not expecting this, but it is certainly encouraging to gain an erudite, thoughtful follower. I appreciate your interest. I don't post very often because I would rather have fewer Hubs of good quality than many Hubs of average quality. Hope you have a good week.
You are meeting your quality goals, phdast7
What an excellent idea to have a specific, written, Follow Policy. I like it. If I ever get hoards of people following me and hounding me to follow them, maybe I'll write one too.
You will and they will :)
Love it! I consider following similar to voting and wearing the t-shirt for your choice. Occasionally I follow simply to see where a topic is going. Generally there has to be something important to me to gain a follow.
I don't really care if you follow me back, it just means I'd have to head over to my hub and approve it anyway. :)
Needless to say, I've kept you busy tonight with 3 comments on 3 hubs, I suppose it is time to go ahead and follow you.
As I just finished writing a hub about migraines before I came to look at last nights comments, I was very interested to see your hub on that subject. I had to follow you, of course :)
I see that I have to follow you. And, I don't care if you follow me back simply because you would be bored to tears. And I forget to check the stats...and don't know how, either.
Life is happening again and my promised second installment of Annie Mae's Farm is still half-written in Word. And I'm pretty sure you don't quilt so that pretty much takes care of that.
I know I won't make any money because I haven't signed up for anything.
One more thing - after reading about your wife's struggle with pain I knew I would follow. Now I have to stop writing. My fingers are pretty much frozen and the pain in my hip is excruciating. Your wife (and you) are in my thoughts and prayers.
I know, you are atheist. Well, everyone has to be something. I don't mind if you are atheist if you don't mind that I'm a Christian. I am not religious, however. I hate religion; so did Jesus.
I am sorry for your pain. As to how I feel about Christians, I cant judge by labels, only actions. Nice people are nice people and the rest are not..
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lol
You just said it all. I just loved your hub since i found it very interesting that someone has bothered to write a hub on the following stuff.
Looking forward for your upcomming hubs and by the way am following you ;) i still have a smile on my face after reading this hub. All i can say is keeping writing and sharing it.