I Comment Therefore I Am

by UnknownMami on July 12, 2010

Welcome to another edition of I Comment Therefore I Am, where I put together a post from comments I’ve left on other blogs. Below are some of my favorite posts from the previous week and what they inspired me to say.

Technobabe shows up in these posts a lot because she gets me thinking. Most recently, she’s had me thinking about “unsolicited advice”. You know when you are “listening” to someone and somehow you bring the conversation around to you and start giving your two cents. She reminded me that most of the time it is better just to listen and discuss the topic at hand.

This is a lesson I have been learning for sometime. You know sometimes there is no equivalent in our experience and it’s okay to just listen and comment on what’s being said without bring it back to our own background.

I’ve noticed a few times when I’ve totally hijacked the conversation. Not my proudest moments. Live and learn.

I was visiting Jenny Matlock, who is very funny, and she made me think of the times my husband “yells” at me without actually “yelling” at me.

My husband yells at me all the time without raising his voice. When I tell him to stop yelling at me he points out that he didn’t even raise his voice. Ha! Like I can’t hear an implied yell.

That’s it for this edition of I Comment Therefore I Am. Short, huh? Fortunately, this week I have some friends playing along. Be sure to stop by and check out their contributions and give them some love.

Do you give good comment? Wanna play along? Go forth, spread the comment love, and turn it into a post (I keep a draft post open while I read blogs throughout the week). Recycle, reuse, and reduce my friends; it’s the wave of the future.

Oh and feel free to comment on my comments otherwise how will I know that you exist.

If you play along please link back and/or post the button below. Spread the love, spread the love! You can grab the button code from my sidebar.

Having a hard time leaving a comment? Email me.

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http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/ lisleman

sitting at starbucks and I just watched this – you will find it interesting I think
http://www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/wi-fi-conn…
http://starlightblog.com Mary Anne Gruen

Hah! My husband yells without yelling too! So I know exactly what you mean.
http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/ lisleman

thanks for running this feature – the “write away” post was very interesting.
http://www.waystationone.com brian

you sure pick some great blogs to comment on…two of my daily visits…i will try to watch my yelling…even when i dont raise my voice…smiles.
http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/ lisleman

(how lame – I reply to my own comment) I wanted to let you know that I used a comment I made on your blog in my post about blogs and comments.
This could be considered an example of recursion (especially if you comment and then use it in the next “i-comment-therefore-i-am”).
http://thefirstbookoftesticles.blogspot.com/ Charlie Callahan

This is a fun thing to do, Mami. I've learned a valuable lesson, too: in order to “I Comment,” one has to leave comments on other blogs—and I'm sadly behind.

Regarding the comments you made, I'm familiar (and guilty) of both of them.

I've visited Write Away, so I'm off to see Lisleman—who appears to be having a dialogue with himself this morning. Wish me luck.
http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/ lisleman

Hey Charlie I think we should team up on this comment section and just have our own conversation. Like talking on a cellphone on the train or bus.
So Charlie when do you think umami will get around to commenting on our conversation?
http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/ lisleman

not too many comments here yet. I just checked and there wasn't any earthquake or anything in SF. They did have one in July already in So Cal. Where is everyone?
Anybody home?
http://thefirstbookoftesticles.blogspot.com/ Charlie Callahan

Perhaps never since we've managed to say a whole lotta nuthin about nuthin.

Regarding cellphones, though. My beloved needs a new one; hers is about 6 years old and the battery isn't holding a charge for long. Problem is, there's no such thing as a small flip phone anymore: they all have keyboards and crap she doesn't want or know how to use. Whatever happened to making simple voice calls where you dial a number and TALK to someone at the other end???
http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/ lisleman

I hear ya – but they still offer flip phones. I just renewed my contract this spring and got another flip phone. I hate the boxy smartphones. Like holding a brick up to your ear. Of course texting on a flip phones is not that easy.
Umami is probably too busy texting on her smartphone right now to notice us taking over the comment section.
macey

I get “implied” yells ALL.THE.TIME.
Auntnikki12

I totally understand technobabe's point. Everybody does it, it's so hard NOT to!! Reminds me of a fight I had with my mom… well am still having the argument with her now, but the point is, when I ask her what I can do to make her feel better… what can I do to help her in her situation… all she hears is me saying “I” and thinks I am making it all about me. Arugh. I just want to know what I can do to help HER in HER situation but nope, thats not how she hears it.
Rebecca

I comment because I follow…..again…..FINALLY!
http://www.pjmonolog.blogspot.com/ W.C. Camp

I don't mind commenting on my own comments -it's not crazy and is a perfectly natural thing to do … as long as nobody knows you are doing it. W.C.C.
http://www.pjmonolog.blogspot.com/ W.C. Camp

Why that is an astute observation W.C.C., I happen to agree! W.C.C. (again)
Huckdoll

Cute idea, first time I've seen it in the blogosphere.

I comment – and reply to my comments – like crazy. This would be very doable! And I think we've all had some conversation hijacking moments; I've probably even done it in comment boxes Yes, live and learn indeed.
immyyas

Oh my gosh my husband yells at me without raising his voice too!
Jiingle

have fun in your game!
Jiingle

http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/07/12/th…

vote for

humor,
short stories,
art/cartoon,
food/cooking..

thank you.
http://www.unknownmami.com/ unknownmami

I'll check it out later.
http://www.unknownmami.com/ unknownmami

I'm flattered that you guys would just hang around my comment section to chat. You know I'm a sucker for comments and since moving to WordPress I've been getting a lot less because some people haven't found me. So feel free to hang out and fill up the empty space. Just don't make a mess.
http://www.unknownmami.com/ unknownmami

Why don't you just get her a new battery instead of a whole new phone if she still likes the phone?
http://www.unknownmami.com/ unknownmami

They are coming out with a new smartphone called “The Brick”. I jest.
http://www.unknownmami.com/ unknownmami

Why don't you bring some people over?
http://www.unknownmami.com/ unknownmami

I think sometimes people might notice that you are commenting on your own comments and find it funny.
Cheeseboy

An implied yell! LOL! My wife gets mad at me all the time for this. It is so frustrating. Excellent comments once again, Mami. Always my favorite feature of any blog of the week.
http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/ lisleman

you mean over here? Mrs. Unknown (aka umami) you have many more followers than this clown so I depend on getting a few from you.
http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/ lisleman

Hopefully we didn't make a mess but could ya get me another beer.
Hey you should pop over to my blog because we were yakking about you over there too.
Don't get me wrong I don't have a little one to watch (I do get two grandkids once in awhile and I can only take a day of it) so don't take offense to any crap in my comments – just joking.
blueviolet

I'm actually a reverse conversation hijacker apparently. I will take a conversation about me and shift it away from me as fast as possible every single time.
yesthatislovely

My husband does the “implied yelling” too.. though maybe it's more of an “I'm busy and don't want to talk to you right now about this because somewhere there are sports on the television that I'm missing” tone.
http://tattytiara.blogspot.com/ tattytiara

I know the implied yell well. I am a master of it.
oceangirl415

TechnoBabe keeps me thinking too. I love your comment about husband's yelling.
http://thefirstbookoftesticles.blogspot.com/ Charlie Callahan

An EXCELLENT idea, except “they” (Sprint) laughed when Martha asked for a new battery. I think they use that excuse (obsolete replacement batteries) a WHOLE lot.
http://thefirstbookoftesticles.blogspot.com/ Charlie Callahan

Texting? Surely you jest, since it violates the first rule of telephonics: VOICE communication. But you know about all that stuff already.
http://www.unknownmami.com/ unknownmami

You have to look on Amazon.
http://greatttt.wordpress.com Maria Mohan

Hey, I know the implied yell! I can't believe other people get them as well. I thought it was only my LOL. This is a fun post to do and I'm going to play along for the foreseeable future. Looking forward to next week's….
TechnoBabe

Hi Charlie, I have a Cricket phone. Since I don't use the phone much I did not want any flip phone or extras. If you go to cricket.com you can see what they offer. I have had mine for two years now and it still works great and I text often more than talk. I had a Blackberry and then I had a T-Mobile Sidekick for a couple years. But these days I don't need all that stuff. Hope this helps Martha. Hugs to you both.
Camp1974

Yeah, my husband never “yells” but if he looks at me funny, I translate it to just that.
http://bullinachinashopmama.blogspot.com/ Tina

I am the queen of unsolicited advice. I am awful about it. And if I am asked for advice? I go WAY overboard. Seriously, you would think I am conceited or something…but most of the time I walk away thinking “why the hell did you say that?”
Best,
Tina
http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/ lisleman

umami,
do you know how to whistle?
This clip has some advice and it's fun to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ

Oh and thanks for letting me have a link up on this nice blog location.
Monkey Man

Tone apparently is everything in conversation as it is in commenting. If I mistakenly keep my cap lock on AM I YELLING OR ARE YOU OVERRACTING – AS USUAL. No we are not YELLING, we are just asserting ourselves in a manly fashion. Tell unknown papi that I feel his pain.
http://www.floridagirlmeetsthemidwest.com FL Girl Meets the Midwest

I wrote a post on unsolicited advice a little while back. I call them “freinterventions.”

http://floridagirlmidwest.blogspot.com/2010/06/…
Donda

I am pretty bad about doling out advice but sometimes it helps people, or so I am told. Off the subject, I know how you like the WV lady…she gave me “messess” today…is that like “waitress” or “actress”? If so, I am going to have to agree that I am a mess by trade
http://lettrefamily.blogspot.com/ dina@4lettrewords

Oh! I'm right there with you on the implied yell. I think it's worse, actually.
Nessa

Two very good comments.

You hear those implied yells because you are a good listener. See how I wrapped this all up?
http://twitter.com/yoururbancowboy The Urban Cowboy

Yea, Techno rocks it! I think the yelling without the yelling could also come from the female side of the house also.
http://www.unknownmami.com/ unknownmami

Nicely wrapped up!
http://www.unknownmami.com/ unknownmami

Did you just yell at me in my comments section? Or am I supposed to take it that you were commenting in a manly fashion?
steven anthony

I always love your comments
http://afcsoac.blogspot.com/ lisleman

I didn't know there was a “manly” fashion to writing comments. Other than not using the word “cute” what would manly require?
I have read many immature comments over on youtube. Youtube has the worst comments of any of the sites I visit.
38traci

I've been guilty of implied yelling. — LOL!
http://www.absenceofalternatives.com The Absence of Alternatives

LOL @ “implied yell”. Yes I get upset over those also. And yes, when your voice is LOUD, it counts as yelling in my book!

I love your take on the “unsolicited advice”.
http://www.jennymatlock.blogspot.com Jenny Matlock

Thank you!!!

That was a very sweet comment – I appreciate it!!!