A Blogroll Question

Speakin of blorolls...which I did several posts down.

Annie from One Thin I HATE About Today recently asked her readers:

How do YOU decide if and when to link to someones blo?"

It is an interestin question and she kindly ranted me permission to borrow it. Yes, I am returnin the question at the end of the day. How do you decide when and if to include someone on your bloroll. Do you link to someone only if they link to you?  Do you have multiple blorolls?

Do you ever wish you could invite everyone on your bloroll over for a roup hu, or is that  somethin unique to me?

Comments

[tommy]

I wouldn't ask my blog roll over for one big hug as there are people on there that I am certain would not get along.

As far as how I decide who is on there, I don't have a clue. All of them are there because for one reason or another I found them interesting. Some of them I only know about because they linked to me. For a few of them, I am very curious as to how I ended up on their blogroll.

[erin]

group hug?
all the time!!!
i've been dealing with a lot of people being sick and (sadly) dying lately, and those who are commenting have just made everything seem a bit more bearable!!!!

group hug anybody!?

[Connie]

Me no have blog so me no have blogroll.

Michele look to the right of the page and see that loooong list of names. That is YOUR blogroll. What is it 350? 400? 450? 500? You want that many people to hug?

Now THAT is funny. Is it over the counter drugs you are on or something more interesting?

Do all those people blogroll you? I will go check.
Be back soon.

[Christine]

I have three blogrolls, and I wish I could post all three on my blog, but I'm afraid it would just be too much. The one on my blog are the sites that I visit most regularly - the ones I just can't not read. Some of them link to me, some of them don't. Some of them don't know I even exist. :)

I don't link exchange. I am honored any time someone links to me. I link to those blogs I read and love.

My other blogrolls, which only exist on my laptop, are other wonderful blogs that I read when I have the time (and believe I try to make the time as often as possible!). Unfortunately I've found so many wonderful writers that I just don't have time to read them all every day. :(

[ms. mac]

You would need some mightily big arms for that!

[Zinnia Cyclamen]

I started by blogrolling a few blogs I particularly liked. I blogroll people who link to me if they ask me to. I still blogroll blogs I particularly like, whether they link to me or not. But I only have a few dozen blogs on my blogroll, and I still struggle to get around them all with any regularity. If it gets much longer I won't have a hope. And I often have a sneaking fear that somehow I am 'doing it wrong' and upsetting someone somewhere - even though that mythical 'someone' would be a person I had never met and would never meet... so I guess that's a neurosis then!

[notyourtypicalsouthernbelle]

With very few exceptions, I tend to link only those that link me. My way of thinking is that I really don't want to spend my time reading someone's blog if they are not reading mine, since I would really like to use my blog to meet and interact with others. I don't know why I feel that way, though, because I do not necessarily know that those who have blogrolled me or reciprolled me are reading any more than visitors who have not. I get comments from visitors who have not blogrolled me, sometimes moreso than those who did link me, and vice versa. I am trying to stray away from the reciprocal linking mindset and roll everybody I find interesting. I usually do for a while, but it gets frustrating leaving comments which are never acknowledged, etc.

I have never thought of inviting everyone over for a blogroll group hug, though....I think you are pretty unique with that idea. And from the looks of your blogroll, that would be a mighty big group hug!

[franchini]

I put blogs on mine that I like. I don't visit them every day but I do go back often enough to be able to follow the trail of their posts/lives. I don't care particularly if they reciprocate and I would prefer not to be on someone else's blog roll for this reason.

[Christine]

I add people to my blogroll when I find their site interesting or enjoy what they have to say. I visit these sites as often as I can and make time to comment as well. Sharing the love is important but I wouldn't want to be added just because I blogrolled them. At the end of the day I blog for myself - not as a popularity contest. If people dig my site then cool. =)

[kenju]

The blogs I listed recently are the ones I read everyday, because I have found them to be interesting, funny, or insightful on a regular basis. There are some I check every week, usually because they don't update every day. If I only listed those who had me on their blogroll, I'd have to quit - because there are only 3 that I know of. I am very grateful for those 3, and I only want people to add me if they feel I have something to say. I would like to think that I could group hug the people I have met here, to thank them for the hours of humor, education and nostalgia they afford me.

[Melinama]

I generally keep people on my blogroll if (a) I want them to know I visit them (if you visit a site from your blogroll, it shows up in their lists of stats - some people care about that) (b) I want to encourage my visitors to go visit them or (c) if they don't have a feed I can access from bloglines.

I try to keep it pretty short because I can't keep up with a lot of blogs. Yours is at the top of the list, OF COURSE.

[maryse]

i blogroll what i like

[Adamant]

I blogroll anything I want to look at again. It's ever-evolving. New ones arrive, old ones drop off.

[wandering coyote]

I generally tend to blogroll blogs that I find contain subject matter that interests me personally, and that I find well-written, insightful, entertaining, or just plain a nice place to visit. I don't blogroll immediately upon finding something I like; I tend to wait a while until I get a feel for the blog and the writer. Not currently working, I tend to read a lot of blogs and comment on quite a few, but I must admit I'm shy about commenting sometimes.

[mw]

I blogroll blogs that I intend to read again. I'm a bit lazy about trimming my blogroll so some blogs tend to stay on there after I've stopped reading them.

Now that I think about that, that's probably a good thing. My blog definitely peaks and wanes, so I'm guessing some of the blogs that have 'declined' will rise again, and I'll go back to reading them.

Interesting question, and interesting comments. Thanks!

mw

[Kitty]

My blogroll is for me so contains all the blogs I like to read. If I find there's a site on there that I've stopped reading for whatever reason then it gets pruned.

I can't tell you why I like to read the ones that are there, some of them I can, they're funny, mostly RL funny, others are poignant, other relate to my interests and others just cos :)

I don't automatically link someone just cos they link me and I don't expect to be linked by everyone that I link to.

[Mamacita]

Hug? Heck, I wish my blogroll would move in with me! I blogroll people because there was something about their blog that interested me, and made me want to keep up with their lives on a regular basis. I've come to love most of my blogroll very much. I've met one blog-friend, and a few I already knew, and someday I hope to meet others. The people on my blogroll are awesome; they make me think; they make me laugh; they make me cry; they share their ideas and opinions with me even when they don't know it; some of them don't even know my blog but I found theirs and took it for my own. And some blogs are like a meeting place with a lovely friendly hostess, where people come and play and share and learn about each other. So, to answer your question, YES, I want a group hug. And until I can get it in person, I want it here.

[Sol]

Group hug? Not so sure I want to go there. I'd have to get the house cleaned up, and ... maybe even have refreshments.

Why do I blogroll someone? Because I've read something that interests me. On occasion it's the topic but writing abilities, the ability to tell a tell a story are big attractions to me.

Unfortunately, as of late, I've been unable to go back to all of them each and every day.

[Zee]

When I had my blog - which is now temporarily on hiatus ... wah! - I added people to my blog roll for two basic reasons:
1) I'd come across their blog, loved their writing or something about the site, and didn't want to forget about them....
or
2) They linked to me and it's just polite to link back to someone who links to you! :o)

My blogroll was essentially just a long list of sites I liked for one reason or another, but not necessarily a list of sites I check every day. (I use Bloglines to keep up with my 'daily reads.')

[Beth]

I'm a pathological blogroller...I had to set up a separate blogroll page just to contain them all! I think I have even more than you do! On top of that, I've got ANOTHER blogroll page for the group ones that I am a part of (i.e. the Alliance of Free Blogs, etc.).

I blogroll pretty much everyone I go to more than once that I like. It's kind of like my list of "approved sites" or an endorsement, if you will, even if I don't make it to each site regularly (there's no way I could!). I've got four main ones, and another four that I use for displaying them randomly in groups of fifteen, and another two for specific groups! You think my blogroll is overloaded, you should see my browser bookmarks!

I do realize it might make those on the blogroll feel less "special," but all of them ARE special to me. I just don't like publicly stating my favorites, because then I'd end up hurting someone's feelings, and you know, bloggers ARE a slightly love-hungry bunch (otherwise, we wouldn't be blogging, would we?). ;-)

As far as how I read them, I've got my most regular reads on Bloglines (Michele, you're on it but that's all I'm telling!). I know everyone checks their referrals so it kind of works against me, but it's the only way I can keep it manageable!

Group hug? YES! I know what you mean!

[Rohit]

Only if I really like their blog; over a period of time ;)

[Last Girl On Earth]

I have lots of links at my site that I've separated out into the ones that I try to go to everyday, and then other friends that I make it to as much as I can. Then there are the sites that are recipri-links that I try to visit and get to know.

I feel that having links on my site helps ME remember where to go, and shows visitors to my blog my new little "blog family". I still surf BE every now and then, but I'm having so much fun getting to know the people I'm linked to, that I don't surf very often.

[jennifer c.]

I link to blogs that I read and that I am comfortable being associated with. Often times, they are blogs without much content but extraordinary design or code.

I have been known to de-link blogs. The main cause of de-linkage is inappropriate content or incessant swearing.

I just went through a de-linking, and so my bloglist is quite short right now. There are a few that I've discovered that must go back on the list. Thus, my linklist is terribly inaccurate.

Not that it matters. People don't come to the blog for the links as much as the design/content. Some of my favorite blogs don't link to _anyone_, or keep very short lists of only the elite.

[kimbofo]

I blogroll the blogs I read on a regular basis.

[Tammy]

I have two blogrolls on my site. If I find your blog interesting, I add it to the basic "blogs I read" list. I visit those fairly regularly, altho I vary which ones I look at on a day to day basis. If I find that I'm heading to your place every day, I move you over to the "blogs I read everyday" list (yep, this is where you are!). I never link people strictly because they link me. I link them because I like to read them.

And I'll come to your group hug, okay?! :)

[Phil]

Group hug from my blogroll? Heck yeah! There's lots of cute female bloggers on my roll :)

I don't ascribe to the reciprocal (sp?) blogrolling. If I find the blog interesting enough to where I want to read it again, then I link it. And I don't really care if they link back to me. And likewise, if someone links to me, it's not a garuntee I'll link back.

[Megan]

I link if I like what I read and I want to share.

And group hug? Absolutely!

[True Jersey Girl]

I used to blogroll every single blog I liked, and anyone who linked to me. But it got to be too much. So now I have all those blogs bookmarked, but my blogroll on my blog consists of only my must-reads, the ones I have to read every day.

And yes, I am all about the group hug!

[Jenny]

I link if I check the site daily (and by daily I mean M-F when I am in front of a computer). I have never asked permission to link, figuring I would find out soon enough if they wanted me to remove them from my site.

I am a tad weird, as I only like to have twenty links on my site (something about round numbers I guess?) so I will switch them around when the mood strikes me. I link to sites I like to read even if I don't comment regularly and some of the sites I link to are enormously popular and the blog host has no idea who I am. I did discover some blogs because they had linked to me, that I eventually linked to, but only if I really enjoyed their blog.

[Stephanie]

It's been said already, more eloquently by others here. I link to the blogs that I really enjoy reading or feel are a "necessary" part of my life. Most of my blogs are informative, while 3 or 4 are so well written I can't imagine not having them in my life.

[SEV]

i use bloglines, so i can read a few posts before i decide to add them to the "official" list. linkbacks are optional, people have differnt tastes.
oh and to the second part : flirt ! :P

[mrsmogul]

I read all my links! That's it very simple.

[Ole Blue The Heretic]

I have a people who link me roll, people who I like to read but do not have a link, and the "Bar" are the rowdy blogs are just dicovered that I am looking at.

[kym]

I mostly link people I read, some people I link simply because they have asked me to, and some people are simply recipro links. It drives my OCD side crazy that its just one big mishmashed list and not broken out by category. But it's not worth hurting anyone's feelings :)

[sleepingmommy]

I have a recipricol link list for two reasons. I feel like I'm playing favorites if I don't and I don't believe in playing favorites. I also like to check in on everyone that links to me to see what is going on in their lives.

I also have another blogroll of "more blogs I read." Sadly these are the blogs that have piqued my interest at some point but do not return the link. Sometimes I loose interest for one reason or another and remove them if I can't get to them very often. Mostly they stay the same. SOmetimes I blogroll someone because I want to remember to go back and read more later.

[Cara]

I typically include my "most visited" blogs on my blogroll. If I don't have a blog that I enjoy reading blogrolled it's on oversite.
Yes, I'd love to have invite everyone on my blogroll for a group hug. Even though I've blogrolled many different people with many different beliefs...even those that are totally opposite of mine...I still "love" each person who takes the time to write a blog and share their views with others. :o) I think that we could all accept each other as we are. :o)

[Dan]

I stand by what I originally said when I commented on this question on Annie's site - so if you wanna find out what it is, do some clicking :-)

[elle]

I tend to court the prospective blog. First I lurk, then maybe comment, then if I find mysekf back, I bookmark it, then I blogroll it.

I only expect those who like to read to link. I never request a link back unless they want to add those who link to them on their roll. I always blogroll someone immediately if I happen upon their blog and see mine linked. It also makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to find these. And I always try to visit my blogroll everyday (starting with Michele of course).

And I would love to give them a great big hug and a smooch.

[tanya]

Due to time constraints, I keep my blogsurfing pretty minimal. Most people on my blogroll are personal friends who I've known (in person) for years. But you and two other people on my list are folks I found through other sources, and I really enjoy that, too. I like to surf your blogroll occasionally.

If I find a blog that really keeps me engaged, I'll add it, but all in all, I just don't have time for a big blogroll.

[Thumper]

I blogroll the blogs I want to be sure to get to just about every day. Most of them I outright like, a couple amuse me (that can be good or bad...)

I've never asked someone to blogroll me, and I don't expect a reurn link. My blogroll is really for me, and if other people find new blogs because of it, all the better.

[lani]

i do not link to people simply because they link to me. i do link all of the "real" friends, of course, because i like to know what's going on with them. i don't get to see them in person, and some i don't talk to much on the phone either. for strangers...i notice that my blogrolling tendencies vary with mood. one month i'll be in the mood to read only other mommy bloggers. the following month, they'll bore me stiff. one month, i'll be interested in other bipolar people like myself. after the 132nd entry about how their lives suck, i take them off for depressing me. strangers that i REALLY like will stay on for quite a while.

[Pearl]

I couldn't possibly add my entire bookmarked list to my sidebar. it would be too cluttered, too long of slog and of interest to only me. I decide to put someone on when I discover it and find myself reading their whole archive, visiting daily or for most posts however often they happen. Also if it is unique unlike other things and unlike my place, or if it reinforces or complements my attitudes. I add by gut. I change who I point to every few months and take off ones that have become static or if I drop off reading them.

[Pearl]

Oh, and I don't ask for or assume recipricol links. I don't know about group hug but a dinner party of all these voices would be most interesting.

[TW]

I am with, elle. I do the exact same thing, even in that ORDER. : )

[rebeka]

Because I don't like RSS feeds and I don't use favorites I actually use my blogroll as my reading list. So I link to blogs that I want to read again. It doesn't really matter if they link back to me, but it is nice when people do. :)

[Lynda]

Well, I blogroll the ones I really read on a regular basis. I don't make my decision based on reciprocal links - in fact, I think most people on my list don't blogroll me and I don't mind a bit.

[Raehan]

I have no formula for blogrolling. I'm an impulsive sort of a person. There are all sorts of reasons why I've blogrolled people. I would like the blogroll to be a list of daily reads, but I am finding it hard to get to everyone everyday...so I do what I can and do eventually get to everyone.

[Bluegrass Mama]

My blogroll is the blogs I like to read daily (or as close to it as possible). Some of them link back, some don't. I don't add someone just because they link to me, but I always appreciate it!

I don't have multiple blogrolls but I do have a few others bookmarked that I like to read when I have time, and some of those are eventually added to the blogroll.

If I find I'm no longer enjoying a blog, and that person is not a regular commenter on mine, I will go ahead and remove them from my blogroll. I usually feel a twinge of guilt, but I suspect many of these never knew they were there to begin with.

[J&J's Mom]

I used to blogroll people if they blogrolled me..the problem is...I feel the need to "read" everyone I blogroll. It now takes almost 3 hours to read everyone's posts and that's just visiting them once a day..what about those who post more than that??? then playing games and I can never just say "Hello" and leave...I have to write a real live comment..cause that's what I do..otherwise what's the point? I've made some true blue blog buddies this way, so I intend to keep on keepin' on. Most on my roll read me with some regularity so they understand if I skip a day here and there. I used to be offended when people didn't post everyday, or read me every day...but now I'm a bit wiser in bloggish...I get it ;0) Thanks for asking...I don't know how you keep it up!

[Sara]

I blog roll anything I enjoy reading and anyone who's linked me in return. I used to add the ones I enjoyed reading to my favourites, but eventually the list got so long I fiddled with html and made a side bar of links. It's heaps easier that way. I read all my links each day, and click 'back' to my list and go on to read the next.