Here is what you would see me do if the activity on my computer screen was broadcast to people in the US (and parts of Canada) and you could view my internet surfing habits while sitting in the comfort of your living room:
Check email
Check Site Meter
Check blog for comments
Check Bloglines and read what’s been posted
Make comments on posts
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat
Repeat, ad nauseum
I mean, y’all. I know we’re creatures of habit, and heaven knows I like me a routine – but I am in a rut. An interrut, if you will. There’s a whole “wide world interweb” (as my friend Buddy calls it) out there, and I’ve reduced it to five steps. With an occasional viewing of people.com thrown in.
And it occurred to me, as I was going through my internet routine for the fifth time the other night after A. went to bed, that I don’t even surf the ‘net anymore. I just surf blogs. I don’t even know what’s “out there.”
So, I’m curious. Am I alone in this tendency? Do you find that your time on the internet is primarily dedicated to blog reading and blog writing these days? Or are you still surfing with abandon?
And if you ARE surfing, what in the world are you reading? What one site (family friendly, of course) would you recommend? What are the rest of us missing?
Just trying to broaden my webby horizons. In the interest of personal growth and development, of course. :-)
Love the Designing Women quote! I say that one all the time.
I do pretty much the same as you, except I have my comments e-mailed to me so I combine two of the steps. Sometimes I go to Plugged In and check out the movie reviews.
Am I the only one not seeing your recent posts on your homepage? The last one showing up there is Grace Like Rain.
Okay, if you got the quote, you’re rock-solid in my book. :-)
Whoa, wait! It finally kicked in. Nevermind…
Well, I’m a very news-oriented person (and keep it off the blog) who lives for a great dialogue about current events, as well as historical events. So I surf various news sites worldwide. It’s interesting to compare what the drive-by media of America (ie CNN et al) reports vs what the world reports on current issues (and what doesn’t get reported here at all).
And that- is my surf world- and I will take my soapbox and go back to the corner.
I read the news a lot, as we don’t have a television and we don’t receive the newspaper. I do check out Christianity Today quite frequently. I used to be part of a forum focused on stay-at-home-moms, but found that it was really repeating itself a lot and was spending too much time on it. I like blogs because I can read them in my own time and by using bloglines it’s really easy. And the really good ones have so many links to other interesting things that I find myself finding new content all the time. And on those nights when I think I just want a laugh, I read the archives of BooMama!!
And now, for the assignment- DUH!
timesonline.us.co (London Times)
ireland.com
dailynews.com
cnn.com
washingtonpost.com
afr.com (Australian Financial Times)
Well, I think you get the idea.
Well I do basically the same as you, pretty much in the same order lol, but I love the world wide web as well. I am very much into politics, and missions so I do go to several different places on line to keep up with everything. I am always wanting to be into the know on the Iraq war as well. My favorite news site is C.N.N.
I am also an Artist, so I search out alot of Art and Photography.
You know if you are interested at all, community colleges offer some pretty descent online classes as well, you could do one just for fun.
In His grip..
I always check MSNBC.com–that’s where I get all my news. When I have some reading time I love to scroll through byfaithonline.com.
Yes, but mostly I just blog.
Mostly I just read blogs. And Bible Gateway. I find a lot of interesting reading here: http://thirstytheologianontheweb.blogspot.com/
Yep, it’s another blog, but not one I comment on.
You are not alone!!! And I know that because this is the second time I have been to your site and commented today….
No, you’re not alone. I cannot walk past the computer without checking what’s going on-if anything. I still surf the web quite a bit, especially at nite if I can’t sleep. I see what’s going on at my Alma Mater, the GA Homeschool Assoc, Ebay and Overstock.com (even though I hardly ever buy anything, but just in case I find something I’ve been looking for), recipes, and educational instruction for little ones. I don’t sit and “read” a lot of news stuff on the web; I mostly use it to find out more info on what I’m thinking about doing or trying to find or needing help with something.
I am definitely in a blog rut, more like a sidebar rut lately. So, sorry I can’t offer any exciting details about what else might be out there on the “wide world interweb” (that’s cute). I think I’ve just about got things set up in my sidebar like I want them. Then I can catch up on my plethora of “keep new” feeds in my Bloglines. Eesh! :)
I am definitely blogaddicted, with the occasion game thrown in, and maybe if I live on the edge some ebay browsing. Bloglines saved my life :) xoxo melzie
My recommendation btw is Joycemeyer.org, or family.org, like them both. xoxo melzie
ha. i typically do the same thing as you. just add in a stop at two message boards that i frequent and that’s usually it.
sometimes, if i am caught up in a good debate, i will research the topic of that debate. today i did get a wild hair though and i just HAD to know all the neonatologists in the area and what the closest NICUs were like. :)
Alrighty then. Since you’re asking us to account for the hours and hours we spend doing this,
I check my email all day long throughout the day. If I can’t be near my office, I turn my speakers up as loud as they’ll go so I can hear “You’ve got mail” all over my house. A lot of my email is from Bev and that is my priority, emails from my sister.
Site meter. I’m about ready to just do away with it. It’s depressing, it’s upsetting and it’s, in my opinion, ridiculous to get yourself in a dither over who stopped by and for how long. I know who my blog buddies are.
Do I check my blog for comments? Absolutely. Because I appreciate every single person who took time to read what I wrote and I really want to acknowledge them. If I know them well enough to know that they’ll be back to check my comments I respond there. If they’re a new visitor, I go see them. If I had 450 comments on every post, I might have to rethink it.
Bloglines. That’s the one driving me nuts because it’s been on the outs for a while. So I do check new posts that are showing, but I quickly click on everyone else too, just in case they posted and bloglines isn’t showing it. My goal? No more than 50 feeds.
Comments on posts? Absolutely. Even if it’s brief, I’d like them to know I stopped by.
And do I still have a life? Yep. Because, you know, I’m organized.
Go throw up now. I know. It’s disgusting.
I check Fox News all the time. I read some financials, I surf ebay occassionally.
Here’s an article that will amaze you that you may have missed.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060811/ap_on_fe_st/mystery_cleaner
“…after A. went to bed, that I don’t even surf the ‘net anymore. I just surf blogs.”
Oh my goodness, this could be me. I was just thinking this the other day, that I hardly know what’s “out there” anymore also. Mostly I do all that you mentioned. But I also check just the major news headlines, which I have on my google page, and I check the news in our upcoming country. Other than that, I’ll check the Project Runway site for bonus footage (yes, I’m that lame), and sometimes our local Craigslist for any good finds. I’m also part of sparkpeople.com, this awesome weight loss site. That’s all I got for you…
I’m pretty much the same way these days too. I actually forget what I used to do on the internet before blogging. I still frequent some of my favorite fourms and satire websites, but thats just about it!
First I found Sarah’s blog, then I found your blog, then I found a whole bunch of other blogs. :) Now, I love to read several blogs. Plus, just started blogging myself. My husband has a website about Rocky Mountain National Park (rmnpforums.com) which I frequent. I also like to listen to broadcasts online occasionally from focus on the family, family life today, and renew our hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. So thankful for my laptop.
this seems like a good time to ask – is there anyway to set up some kind of automated system that will know where you’ve left comments? Because my problem is that I might leave a comment and then forget where so I can’t go back and check if there has been a response (this is particularly important in cases like this, where i’m asking a question). Enquiring minds want to know!
Michele – if there is, I don’t know about it…but there may be a more internet-savvy reader who does. :-)
I pretty much have reserved computer time to blogging. Unless I am surfing for a bargain or catching up on news that my child cannot see on tv. I feel a lot safer reading BooMama than clicking on some unknown website where unmentionable topics and photos may pop up. Although those things are in plain view in the bookstore (today’s post). Pretty much Overstock and JCPenney outlet for me.
Only in the past few weeks can I say that I have this exact same habit. I use to check my e-mail first, then go to a few websites…but lately I spend more than my rightful time on the computer just surfing blogs. And replying. And writing posts. And checking them. Then checking out the new folks that replied…ect, ect. You’re not alone!
I use to weekly check out Lisa Welchel’s site and journal, poor Lisa has been been put on the back burner…especailly not fair, since her site was got me introduced me to publicly blogging, by mentioning In the Midst of It…then I started reading all the replies and I was completely hooked!
Oh girl, it is just so sad. I’ve become a blogaholic. I touch this computer so many times a day it has almost become an appendage! I hardly ever check sitemeter anymore, I did in the beginning, but now I guess it doesn’t intrigue me as much. I am just now beginning to learn how to make my way around in bloglines – yes, I know, I’m slow! I always try to comment, because I like it when folks comment on mine. Recipriocity don’t ya know!!
Mainly blogs here too, that and checking my bank account to make sure we got enough moolah to make it through the week, urh, I mean checks written out. :)
I also hop on our amcsupport.org website and chat with other AMC mommies.
Sometimes I pop over to a few homeschool help type blogs for ideas.
And of course, there is foxnews.com which all the world would cease to exist if I didn’t have my daily news fix.
That is about it. Blogs, blogs and more blogs. For some reason lately I seem to be reading blogs that make me feel really guilty as a mother. Sigh….but not you BooMama. You make me LAUGH!!! You rock.
I’m still refusing to move over to bloglines just because I like seeing everyones graphics, sidebars, and fun stuff you don’t get with bloglines.
Uh, no….remind me…what is websurfing again?? LOL. I do the same thing. And then when I’ve read all the blogs on my bloglines, I’m lost and don’t know what to do so I turn the computer off. what else is there? Maybe we should start some kind of blogger’s anonymous support group.
“Hi, my name is flipflopmamma, and I blog.”
You mean to tell me that there is something else on the internet besides blogs? I stumbled into this bloggy world a little over a month ago and now have a full blown addiction.
The only sites I check regularly are Fox News and MSN entertainment. Boring, I know.
By the way, the Designing Women quote…one of my all time favorites.
Can’t help ya, hun. Blogs, that’s the only way I roll.
Yup… DITTO! But I must say, I don’t think you’ve been around to my neck of the woods (as old Al would say). I highly recommend it! Hee hee! ;)
Do you know how many people tell me, “You are ADDICTED to your computer!”? No, I am addicted to blogging. That’s pretty much all I look at. Okay, and I do look up clearance/sales stuff at Old Navy and The Gap and search for recipes and maybe play sudoku, but blogging is sooooo much fun!
I mostly just do the blog thing. Never did really surf ’cause I have a fear of turning up something I so didn’t want coming up on my screen. I go to this site frequently to check out movies:
http://christiananswers.net/spotlight/home.html
I have to say that I, too, have become a blog-surfer instead of an internet-surfer. For me, lately, blogs are all there is out there.
My dad introduced me to Stumble Upon. It’s a little tool bar you install (free) and it has parameters you set up for what kind of sites you would like to explore. Then you just hit the Stumble button and away you go. As you explore you can note (on the tool bar) whether or not you like a site. The more you rate the sites the more Stumble refines your parameters.
I have found some pretty cool sites through Stumble.(Like this stupid mini-golf one that is SO addicting.)
Other than that I usually puruse MSNBC and other blogs. Original, I know. But I too am a creature of habit.
Ever since i started blogging..say 3 weeks ago, blogging seems to be consuming my computer time. I think being a stay at home, im looking for something, a connection, something i cant seem to put my finger on. I too, am not “surfing” the web anymore. but when i do, i like places like http://www.focusonthefamily.com and general hospital happenings. Good luck with your surfing.
Until a couple of weeks ago, I had plenty of time to read my books and other websites, but recently Lisa Whelchel’s site linked to Sarah’s, which linked to yours, her family’s, and then the Tour of Homes just opened up over 100 sites! And, another addict was created. I’ve resisted the urge to create my own blog — NOTHING would get done around my home then! :-)
To answer your question, I read mommasaid.net, family.org, msn.com, and cnn.com regularly.
As a new blogger, I have found something I enjoy.. an outlet so to speak. I have tried scrapbooking and other “hobbies” but nothing really spoke to me. So – I blog and I have my favorites I read daily and try to comment on. When I have time to myself (usually on the weekend mornings) about every couple of weeks, I have sat down and looked around a little more at other bloggers, but basically stick to my same faves. Other than that, I visit my banks website to balance the checkbook, other than looking for online deals (clothes mainly) I visit Lisa Whelchel’s website and that is about it!!
Glad to know there are others “ruled” by blogging!! LOL!
I’m so suprised I haven’t heard this yet.
I too, am into blogging since stumbling across it thru Lisa Whelchels link to Sarah nd then onto you boomama But my all time favorite is
http://www.tripadvisor.com
I am there every day finding out something new. Where to stay (or not!) where to travel, where my friends are going ( and if it’s any good) where I want to go or what I want to do. . .
and of course various news stuff, the weather, ordering off line occasionally, that’s about it.
Note: You’ll have to add “www.” for all the above sites.
I do spend most of my time on email and blogging. Other than that I read sites about writing, books, and publishing. If I need something I hit ebay. I hit the job sites to find transcription work. And I use switchboard when I don’t have a phonebook handy. I depend on my computer wayyyy tooo much.
Currently, I am trying to curb the internet habit. Mostly it was devoted to the same steps that you listed. (Only I have to check your blog individually, because for some reason Bloglines is not updating your feed.)
Other than the bloggy stuff, I have been looking for some sites about environmental conservation sites. (Haven’t found a real “favorite” yet.) Right now I am getting some good ideas and encouragement from organizedhome.com
Oh, and I keep visiting a jewelry site called madewithmolecules.com
Someday I will own one of those necklaces.
I too am addicted to blogs. I don’t have time to even visit, GASP eBay….LOL.
I have become blogcentric!
Well, I don’t do much more than read blogs, but since I spend most of my time on the computer writing I do have a few favorite websites I turn to for research purposes. They are great in their own right.
I like BBC.com for news.
wikipedia.com is just awesome in its own right.
I love Amazon.com
I love IMDB.com (For all you need to know about every single movie, ever).
Netflix of course.
Christianbook.com is totally rad.
Lifeway (Where we got the LBY study) is awesome.
gotquestions.com is very helpful and informative.
And I’m quite ashamed to tell you this, but I have a good ten friends on Myspace so well, I’m on there too.
Oh, this is so me, too! My Bloglines list just keeps growing and growing… And I’ve abandoned the few message boards that I used to visit. I still swing by Babycenter occasionally – like if my 11-wk-old has a rough night and I need a little consolation (knowing that other moms are as sleepless as I am).
If only blogging and reading blogs burned tons of calories. Or if someone would pay me a decent salary for reading blogs. :) Then I suppose I could justify it a little more…like when my husband comes home and I realize that instead of cleaning the bathrooms, I spent a good chunk of the day in the blog-world. Oh well, it’s too late for me to turn back now – I’m addicted.
there is a way to keep track of your comments. i just can’t remember what it is. i’ll be trying to remember whose blog i read it on. does that answer your question about what i do on the internet these days?
I like Desiring God (John Piper), Lisa Whelchel, and too many blogs.
I’m with Lindsey – I don’t like using rss feeders because I want to see the graphics and stuff too!
But yeah – only blog surfing. I only surf “elsewhere” in the web if I need to find information on something. So no “fun surfing” whatsoever.
And I have the comments on my blog posted on my e-mail, so I always know right away, if someone has commented :)
I mainly surf the internet for blogging purposes, but I also like to read the news online, search for card stamping ideas, and read parenting articles as well.
Well, Charlene, I knew I liked you!
Once againg thanks for the laugh, and that was from the title!
R
i know!! i used to surf so much! but lately (esp with all the summer trips and activities) I can’t keep up with visiting the blogs in my blogroll or the commentors on my posts. I am just scrambling to get to them let alone have surfing time. So i spend the majority of my time reading blogs lately. i wish i could read faster!