A History

Hank's Tumblr: Is This OK?

edwardspoonhands:

I love Tumblr…big big love. And I like that you can like or reblog something without commenting on it, because, like, not everything needs commentary…not everything needs to be analyzed to be amplified.

But when I post original content (specifically blog posts or videos) I really like to…

Hank,

You make a very good point here. I checked out that post there though and honestly did not have anything to add to it. You put it so well that there really wasn’t much more I felt like needed say, but that’s just my opinion. 

The biggest problem I have with tumblr and the whole discussion/comment thing on posts is when people reblog my stuff and DELETE MY COMMENTS! Why guys? Whyyyyy?!?!?

I LOVE see posts with tons of comments, and not just comments of funny things or social justice things, but people just talking to each other and engaging in the community. Please tumble buddies, don’t ever stop that. It’s what makes tumblr special and different and just and completely fucking awesome. 

Another thing that bothers me is when I post something specifically asking for input AND NOBODY SAYS ANYTHING! Like what guys? You’re just too lazy to hit the reply button? Geesh. I am asking for input. I want you to engage with me and tell me what you think. You’re likes are appreciated, but please say something. Talk to me!

Some reasons I think people don’t comment could be because they might feel intimidated by posts that already have clever, insightful, funny or intelligent comments on them and not want to add to those comments. 

Another reason people don’t comment is pure and utter laziness and nobody has to comment on anything. But in all honestly, I know for me, that when I really really feel strongly about something or something just grabs my curiosity enough I have an overwhelming need to comment on it. 

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After reading a bunch of comments people have made on this post, I get the overwhelming sense that tumblr bloggers think that NOBODY IS LISTEN and THEY HAVE NOTHING IMPORTANT/NEW TO SAY.

Well fuck that. 

Fuck it. 

All opinions are welcome here guys, even terribly fucking wrong ones.

It is an open space where you can talk, discuss, comment and it’s great and I love it. 

I am so annoyed with all of you right now. 

“tumblr isn’t designed for discussions/commenting etc” ummm okay then why the heck does it even have the option comment/reply to things? Please explain that? 

“nobody is listening to me/my opinion doesn’t matter/I just don’t care” 

I have something shocking to break to you, you ready for this… your opinion always matters. Even when it is completely and utterly wrong. Even if it goes against everything I believe and stand for, it is still your opinion and it still matters. 

Please stop having so little confidence in yourself that you so vehemently believe by staying silent it some how doesn’t matter. It completely and utterly does matter! This is the motherfucking internet guys, a public space, where anyone, anywhere could be reading your blog at any time. You don’t know (unless you have stat counter or google analytics then you totally know)! I know it’s hard to image, but just think, all those people out there who are writing about how nobody cares what they say, nobody will see it, nobody bothers to look at reblogs and read comments. WELL GUESS WHAT? That is untrue because I just did that exact thing. I just went through the post and read all these slightly self-deprecating comments about how people don’t want to add to discussions/comment on things for a, b & c reasons. 

Not caring/not having anything to say/not wanting to saying thing are perfectly legitimate reasons to not comment or discuss posts. Fine, whatever, do that. But do not dare tell me that your opinion does not matter. That nobody is listen. That nobody cares. That nobody reads comments or reblogs or whatever. It doesn’t matter if you have thousands of followers or just one. Somebody out there is following your blog and will probably see your comment and probably read it. I mean, maybe they won’t, but why does that matter? Why is that an excuse for not saying anything? You cannot possibly know with any certainty at all that nobody will read your comment. 

Just like I cannot know with any certainty at all that any one will read my comment, but if I can just make someone stop and read even part of this post, even the very first sentence, I know that I have caught their attention enough for them to feel a need to at least attempting to read the post. If just one person in the entire world reads your comment on a post and it some how makes a difference to them, it some how changes the way they think or even starts to change the way they think, isn’t that worth it? Is it worth it for that one person? To give them an opportunity to learn or think or whatever in a new way? 

I mean, the amount that I have learned about from tumblr, not even just things or ideas or people but the sheer amount I have learned about myself. I just think it’s such an important forum to share things with people and not just by simply reblogging or liking a post. It just makes me sad and a bit angry when people put it down and say they don’t want to join in because they think their voice isn’t important. 

EVERYONE’S VOICE IS IMPORTANT OKAY. 

I don’t even care if you disagree with me and I don’t mean in just a positive way, negative voices are important too because that way you can deal with them and change how people think and make the world better, but if everyone just stays silent all the time then we will never know how anyone thinks at all or be able to change any opinions or ideas or whatever to make the world better. 

Just, please, don’t be afraid of voicing your opinions, especially not here. We are so lucky to have such a safe space to do it on the internet and on tumblr. 

Just remember, every space is what you make it and on tumblr that is especially true because of who you choose to follow. 

That is all. 

NOTE* it is 2:30 am where I am so logic/grammar/spelling/emotions might all be a bit confused.