Hey, great news yesterday: we got the January page view stats for this blog yesterday from deep in the bowels of Beliefnet World Headquarters (which, by the way, is located in a remote Alpine monastery and guarded by elderly gryphons). Turns out that the page views were up a whopping 75 percent over December, which itself represented a high point in the number of readers. This blog will be two years old in April, I believe, and since the first couple of months, traffic has increased by 600 percent.
I must say that a key reason more and more people are discovering this blog, at least in my opinion, is because so many intelligent people of diverse beliefs choose to post in the comboxes, and, even though discussion can get heated, treat each other with civility. I so appreciate all of you for your faithfulness to our online community, and for working to disagree agreeably. Sometimes when I look at the combox threads on other blogs, I'm startled by how nasty people can be to each other. From the early days of this blog, I've worked to encourage and even enforce an ethic of civility, on the belief that a) it's the right thing to do, and b) making an online environment in which people can express their views without being personally and vitriolically attacked is likely to invite more involvement from folks. Early on I got e-mails from various folks saying they would like to post comments, but didn't want to step into a fray that was dominated by this or that uncivil person. I worked with Beliefnet on this problem, and I think we have arrived at a fairly workable solution.
It's not one that will please everybody. Sometimes I don't move fast enough against someone who has crossed the line. Other times I arguably move too fast. I appreciate your letting me know when something has been posted that strikes you as a violation of the spirit of this blog (write me at crunchycon(at)aol.com). My inclination is to leave a post up, even if I really don't like it, unless I have a strong reason to take it down.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks to you all. You make this blog fun. And, as the new numbers show, you make it successful. As the saying goes, If you like what you read here, tell your friends; if not, tell me.
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Notice the subtle allusion to "We Shall Overcome" in The Man's post ("We are not a fray a ayd.."). Clearly his cynicism is just a front.
Congratulations, Rod. This place really has become a fairly hate-free zone, and is very enjoyable. For a while there was enough empty sneering in the comments to make them more trouble than they were worth for me, but in recent months it's gotten much better, more consistently substantial as well as more civil.
Rod, I must say that a key reason more and more people are discovering this blog, at least in my opinion, is because so many intelligent people of diverse beliefs choose to post in the comboxes
Rod, you are full of it!
The growth in your number of hits has absolutely nothing to do with the combox. You are simply a first-class writer, and you have one heck of a nose for news and what's important. Your blog posts are examples of some of the finest, if not the finest, blogging out there. You the man.
Speaking of which: it's Shrove Tuesday. Your blog is so good, I'm giving it up for Lent along with beer, and I can't decide which one I'm going to miss more. The bright side: the combox will become instantly more civil and intelligent overnight!
I doubt I'll post again, even after Lent, so I wanted to say thanks so much for the forum over the past year or two. Cheers and God Bless to you and all.
It's been awhile since you posted a "big 'ole slab of meat recipe" I know it will probably be another 40 days or so, but don't forget. a little nod to slow food now again...
Good job with the blog!
Rod didn't want you to know that Bnet's headquarters are actually in evil, pagan, godless, atheist MANHATTAN.
But regardless, a rare note of agreement with M_David on why people are flocking to CC. (Hope to see you back after Lent, BTW, our clashes aside.)
I see these conversations as about a good a combination of faith and knowledge as I've found anywhere, real life included. Usually you're stuck with one or the other.
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