Looking Out From the Garage

Big ROUND number... 1000

This post has been in the works since June 14th, 2007.  That is right, just two weeks short of two years!  That was the day I wrote my very first blog post on Active|Rain.  This is post #1000. 

That is a lot of posts... and honestly, I never thought I would be writing a 1000th post.  Keep in mind, I didn't think I wouldn't be...  I just didn't ever think about writing 1000 posts.  Now I wonder about #2000... 

For you beginning bloggers, it all starts with one post.  One single, solitary, lonely post on a blog.  And then another... and another... and another.  Whether you write two posts a day, two a week or two a month, it all starts with writing a post.  And there is something else to keep in mind...  Blogging isn't about perfection, it is about growth.  My posts aren't perfect... I don't think ANY of my posts are perfect.  I find typos and misspellings when I am back in them all of the time.  Information changes.  Laws change.  We change... 

Here are a few posts from the past:

Some are pretty good... some aren't great.  They were mostly well read and commented.  But they all give ideas for writing more posts. 

If you are a veteran blogger, you know what I am talking about... if you are a newbie, get busy and write.  Every day we see 100 ideas for posts.  Just write a couple of them.  Shoot some pictures and the next thing you know, you are at 400,000 points.

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Unless otherwise noted, all content of this blog is the property of Lane Bailey, ©2009 Lane Bailey. 

I'd love to hear from you...

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8 comments • Lane Bailey - REALTOR & Car Guy • May 30 2009 12:39PM

Some ground rules...

I don't mind a good political dogfight, or other issue related throwdown.  Anyone that has been on my blog can figure out that I don't mind taking a position... defending it, and mixing it up. 

But there are rules... important rules... rules that will get you deleted from my comments...

  • Take a stand... that is cool.  For me, against me... whatever...
  • Stay on topic.  If we are talking about corporate taxes and you write a 2,000 word response about personal wealth and inheritance taxes...  say goodbye.
  • Don't pick on other commentors.  Take on their stands.  Beat up the politicians they are supporting.  Poke holes in their theories.  Don't call them names or insult them or their intelligence. 
  • Be ready to back up a claim.  If you say that McCainchild torture, you better be ready to say where that comes from... and...
  • Use reliable sources.  MoveOn.org is not a source.  The NRA is seldom a source.  The NAR is approaching not being a reliable source.  Fox News IS a source... deal with it...
  • My blog, my kingdom.  I do not take deleting comments lightly... unless it is a repost.  If you have duplicate comments, I will kill it without a seconf thought, but I don't want to delete real comments.  But I will.  And I get to have the last word. 
  • Opinion is fine.  Say it is opinion.  Don't try to pass off your opinion (no matter how well thought out) as fact.  If it is fact, be ready to back it up... 
  • I am perfectly willing to say what I say in a blog or comment to the person at which the comment is aimed.  Are you?  I say some things that are tough, too... but politicians are big kids, they can take it.  It comes back to not insulting commentors.  I can find something in common with almost ANYONE that I disagree with here or elsewhere.  I could sit down with any of them and have a beer (I don't actually drink beer, so I would have a Coke)... but the point is that disagreements can be heartfelt... that doesn't mean that the person behind the disagreement isn't a decent person. 

Arguing can be fun.  It can also be expanding.  When you have to defend a position, you will learn more about it.  It is easy to say that you support drilling in ANWR, $700billion bail-outs, Obama, McCain, the 2nd Amendment...  whatever... but a LOT harder to come up with why when pressed.  And even harder if you are going to answer the critics. 

By the way, there are also the "anti-rules" that govern commentors...  You might be ridiculed if:

  • You snipe.  Everyone knows what a sniper is... don't be one.  If you come in and ask when I stopped beating my wife, you might just go away.
  • Pointless comments are pointless... so if I delete them, you won't get points.  Dropping by to say "Great post, keep them coming" when it isn't even close to appropriate could result in a deletion and the loss of the 25 points you "worked so hard for." 
  • Blatantly self promote...  Come on.  I don't mind you saying who you are, but as the message moves from "about the post" to "about you"... the chances of getting smacked increase. 
  • Fail to add to the discussion.  Think about it...  Add to the discussion. 

Here is my promise.  I will come back and answer your comment.  Look at my posts.  I don't ghost on them after I post.  I come back and work hard at making the post a two way discussion.  Your help is appreciated. 

Thank you, that is all...

Find YOUR Dream HomeWhat's YOUR Home Worth?How's the Market?

Unless otherwise noted, all content of this blog is the property of Lane Bailey, ©2009 Lane Bailey. 

I'd love to hear from you...

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20 comments • Lane Bailey - REALTOR & Car Guy • October 23 2008 11:56AM