xtcian

Don't stop blogging Ian!! I am an avid reader and your blog provides a sort of entertainment much needed to balance the insanity of new motherhood!!

It is a strange obsession, especially when you fix deadlines? One day at the end of this downside of the phenomena there will be a last blogger standing - like the Clash's "Last Gang in Town" except with more references to what was being eaten at the time and what was on TV. Who will it be? I don't think me.

Ian,
I know you don't think like this, so let me offer a suggestion that no artist would ever want to admit thinking about. You have captured and engaged a large number of people who enjoy how you write if not what you write. Companies pay Madison Avenue execs millions to fail at the task you have accomplished. Non-Profit charities, political campaigns, aspriring artists of all kinds, would dream of having your daily readership. Putting a complete stop to your blog could sever a potentialy vital link to those who are pre-disposed to liking your work. Reaching one dedicated blog reader (for free) would generate more book sales or movie ticket purchases, and more John Kerry votes than a $100000 television commercial to millions who simply don't give a shit. One blog reader is worth 100,000 random individuals when it comes to communicating something that is important to you. Though it wasn't created for profit, your readership is priceless. So, do a weekly or monthly blog, but don't sever that relationship.
Love ya Salem

Ditto!

Maybe doing it weekly or every few days would make things easier for you?

I'm mostly just a lurker, but I absolutely have to jump in and say I'd cry myself silly if you stopped blogging. I'm still trying to get over weekends without yooooou. Xtcian is one of the first three sites I look at in the morning. And if nothing else inspires you to keep blogging (and I'm sure your closest friends have plenty to say on the matter), think of the fact that you have an oddly loyal reader who is probably everything you despise - former sorority girl now dedicated Junior Leaguer, fairly conservative, devout Catholic, SUV'er, very very pro-life, yada yada yada... There is absolutely no good reason for me to lurk around except I think you're a good person and you have some interesting things to say - and you say them in a way no one else can. I don't know that you're necessarily going to change my mind on any of the hot button issues you tackle, but at least you make me think about them. That's gotta be worth something, right? And for everything else you blog about - those are the days I begin the morning with a smile and/or a laugh.

Okay, so now that I've "outed" myself (I imagine my confession won't make me the popular kid on Xtcian), I should add that we do have some things in common - a love of Carolina, the arts and writing. Oh, and dogs. I have two dogs and two cats. That's gotta make me somewhat endearing, right? ;-)

I guess I can kiss the orange roll recipe goodbye, huh? ;-)

I know I'm now supposed to say how great you are, and that if you quit blogging we'd all have to draw ourselves a hot bath and slit our wrists while listening to Air Supply--but actually, life would go on.

Wouldn't be nearly as much fun, but we'd *survive*.

Actually, I think some of us would be more likely to slit *your* wrists while forcing *you* to listen to "The One That You Love" on an endless loop.

An Audience like yours is a treasure. We treasure you, and you'd damn well better treasure Us, too.

I considered alluding to the Quaker Silent Meeting, and suggesting you write only when moved to write--but you manage to Say Something almost every day, Something Good, Something that interests us, Something that enriches our lives.

Hell, you live an interesting *life*, for god's sake; just hearing about that is good, voyeuristic entertainment.

I hope you don't try too hard to be brilliant every day, though. Just write what comes, and chances are, it *will* be brilliant, anyway.

I'd better stop now.

[wipes away tear, looks up out of corner of eye with a "did-he-buy-it?" look]

Just for the record, anytime Bud writes something here, put me down for a ditto...

There is no reason why this should matter one iota, but I thought I'd mention that though the blogging phenomenon has caused many people to surf around and read your blog as one of many in their daily surfing, I'm still way behind the curve and only read the WIlliams' blogs regularly. As I am a lazy S.O.B. and find the effort to craft a barely coherent comment burdensome, I understand how much effort and dedication you have poured into the blog. I can't for a second offer anything but gratitiute at what you have already given us (OK, I could and might, but I shouldn't.) If you decide to stop, I wish you all the best, but I will still return to this space 3 times a day to see if anything new has been posted and if Sean has ostracized any more of your cyber-friends. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if you stop, at least make sure there's something interesting on the last day so we don't spend months commenting on Sean's bowel movements or the roots in Michelle's garden...

PS, I got my gmail account today, is that still fashionable, or am I already behind on this one too?

hey

as cheesy as it sounds, i feel the need to salute jennifer and what she wrote. having different opinions, even big ones, is such a different animal when someone brings that kind of honesty and respect to the table.

and certainly i'd like you to continue writing, ian.

You guys are very awesome to write in like this. I'm loath to post my recent feelings on blogging, because I'm afraid it'll look like I'm fishing for compliments. There are some other issues at hand, but I'll post them later. Suffice to say it's been harder to do this, and I have an idea, but I'm not sure if everyone will go for it...