You try to protect yourself. You take out some low cost blog insurance, you cover yourself with a layer of bubble wrap for those days when follower comments hit you upside the head. You try only to blog when you are in the very best of spirits and you know your words of wisdom will be cherished and shared with others in need of your grand gifts.
But then it happens, and you realize all your preparations were for naught, because how can one really prepare for the loss of a follower.
Yes, it happened to me just three days ago. I wasn't ready to talk about it yet, it was too tender, too raw. One day I had 171 followers and the next day...just 170! Just like that. No note, no card, no opportunity for a make up blog. Gone. Just gone.
Was it something I said? (Obviously Sherlock, this isnt' a blog for mimes) Maybe something I didn't say. Something I should've said? Was it a picture I posted ? One I didn't ? A cause I supported ? A cause I didn't ? Perhaps it wasn't my fault at all. Maybe the follower realized they really weren't a follower and more of a leader and their own destiny was best spent being out in front of me instead of following along in my dust.
I know. I'm not making sense. I'm just so distressed. Do I try to contact them ? Or would I just be humiliating myself? Like the time in 1975 when I asked Mark Bernhard if he would go to the Sadie Hawkins dance with me at Joliet East HS and he just mumbled "I don't go to those kind of things" turning away from me and burying himself in his locker. Really. I am just as distressed as I was then.
All the rejections are coming back to me, rushing through my brain. All the old wounds opening wide, I feel so vulnerable, so frightened, so...so..so...
HEY ! Looky there ! I just got a new follower. Back up to 171 again. Thanks so much to the NEW and IMPROVED follower number 171. She with the wonderful name of Mary Ann. Welcome Mary Ann !
I never liked the old 171 that much anyway.
it stings a little at the time but then someone new comes along...
ReplyDeleteOh yes, don't we all know how that feels. Finally someone out there to step up, step out, come out and blog about it! HERE HERE! Whatcha guess how many I lost over than post from hell where I said it like it is? sheesh. oh well.
ReplyDeleteDig the T-shirt. Mine would probably say: "My followers can beat me up"
I've been lurking lately so I finally bit the bullet and now I'm a follower...#172!
ReplyDeleteI'm a fellow blogger. The Soap Sister recommended your site and I've been giggling ever since.
Haha! Lookee here, you have TWO new followers.
ReplyDeleteIt happens to the best of us..do you know how many drop offs from the way-too-many blogs I have..just drop off?? Besides, your real friends...uhh, followers, are the ones who'll stick around ;)
Why is it those first emotional stings stick with you. I surely can't remember my first bee sting, but my first rejection by a girl...I still remember her name and what she said...just like an old episode of "The Wonder Years"
ReplyDeleteDonna, you're awesome. Thanks for the laugh.
ReplyDeleteRejection is so tough. It stings at first...
ReplyDeleteBahaha. Especially the Cocobong comment. Maybe that lost follower was a vegan?
ReplyDeletenot that there's anything wrong with vegans...
ReplyDeleteUmmm, you sounded like Mom! LOL
ReplyDelete-Maggie
well just think maybe they are giving up blogging and has nothing to do with you personally. Besides it's Quality that counts, not Quantity, lol. You still have plenty of followers.
ReplyDeleteLOL!!!
ReplyDeleteFollower #97 (I think) reporting in for the very first time. I love your blog -- it makes me laugh! However, after reading this post I'm having a bit of a dilemma: I somehow, unintentionally, became a follower of a woman and her blog of life with her two dachshunds. She's very nice and the little dogs' pink coats are adorable, but I obviously clicked something when I shouldn't have. I'd planned on "unfollowing" her when next I cleaned cyber-house...but now I'm having second thoughts. What would Miss Manners say? At this point, I'm thinking I'm her follower forever...
ReplyDeleteMe too! And LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteI get like that on my Facebook page. When I lose a liker I think "what did I do that drove them away?" You can please everyone so ya got to please yourself... da da da da :)
...ummm... that should have been "can't" :p
ReplyDeleteWasn't me! But I have recently crossed a few off my reading list, simply because their owners had not posted for months on end. Maybe they just gave-up!
ReplyDeleteI lost a loyal one a week ago, but they are now back as if nothing had happened. I didn't notice them leave, because a nice Russian lady took their place immediately. Plenty more fish in the sea...
ReplyDeletehilarious! i lost all my followers when i deleted my blog, thinking it was the best thing. now i am back and can't pay anyone to follow me!
ReplyDeleteSo funny! I "think" I may have lost a follower or two, but have no idea why. Possibly because of a political rant (which I try very hard not to do) or a butchering photo. But honestly, I've made the same mistake as Leslie (#97) did. I'm following one that I'd feel badly if I stopped following, but honestly I have no real interest in reading her blog. But I feel so badly that I'll occasionally "make" myself read it just to up her "Times visited" numbers. I'm such a sap.
ReplyDeleteBTW, the "followed, but not really wanted to follow" lady is NOT you! :) Just so you don't get paranoid and have to make another frantic blog post about people following you just because they feel sorry for you! :) hehe!
Laughin' my a$$ off!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove it!!!!
Omg you are too hilarious!!! It truly does sting when you lose a follower, and then you have to pretend it doesn't, but it so does! Yay for new and IMPROVED #171, who needs the old one anyway!
ReplyDeleteI only have a few followers but I do understand your distress over losing someone.
ReplyDeleteOh what a great laugh this morning both from your post and the comments. So where can I send your Hallmark card? I'm sure they make one for follower loss.
ReplyDeleteHey there......whatcha doin'??? You won the blogaversary prize. I'm a little bummed out with this cold today so I will do my best to get it in the mail tomorrow morning.
ReplyDeleteI have been losing followers off and on ever since blogger changed many of its settings
ReplyDeletesometimes they return sometimes not!
I am getting used to it.....!!!!!!!!!!!!
I took it personally at first..... now Ijust sigh loudly!!!
uhhhhh, you just got another one! i am new, hello!
ReplyDeleteleeann here and i just started a blog and following yours cause i like it!! :) i like cocobong too! :)
too funny! we've all been there - and still go there now and again! :)
ReplyDeleteI'd follow twice if it'd make you feel better Mrs. Farmwife:)))
ReplyDeleteWhat a hoot!!! You remind me of my neighbor that moved away.
ReplyDelete