Blog Stalking - Creepy or Complimentary?

I am certifiably addicted to blogs. I've been a blogger on and off for seven years. As of today, I have 357 different subscriptions in my Google Reader, plus about 15 private blogs I follow (yeah, I know I'm crazy). I don't read EVERYTHING in detail, and I usually only comment if there's something particularly noteworthy. I'd do nothing but read blogs if I commented on every post (which I used to do). Some blogs I've been following as far back as 2002, and I stick in a few new subscriptions a month.

When I find a blog that strikes my interest, I usually read it all the way back to the beginning. That way I have reference to different family member names, significant events, etc. I spent the better part of my free time reading all of the archives on Dooce this summer. I've met approximately 20 of my blogger friends in the last two years in real life. After reading their stories, I rarely have any awkwardness meeting IRL. I call this "reading all the way back to the beginning of the blog" phenomenon blog stalking. When I tell a fellow blogger that I've stalked them, I mean it as a great compliment.

A few months ago I stumbled upon a blog of a girl from my ward. She had an interesting story and wonderful humor, and I read all of her archives. She was an acquaintence, we had common friends, and I requested her as a friend on Facebook. She immediately accepted, and we chatted well into the evening about various topics. We had kids in the same primary class, went to the same college, and I was looking forward to getting to know her better. The next time I saw her at church, I told her I'd stalked her blog back to the beginning. After church I went to look at her FB page, and she had disappeared. Not only off my friends' list, but she wasn't even found in the search feature. This means she had unfriended AND blocked me. Then I went to her blog...it was changed from public to private. Every subsequent time I tried to talk to her, she acted nervous and began avoiding me. I don't remember saying anything offensive to her....my only guess is that she was creeped out by the term "blog stalking."

Another blogging acquaintence friended me on FB this week, and we also had a good instant message conversation. I joked that I enjoyed stalking her blog, and she replied that she liked stalking mine. Yesterday I decided to contact her on FB to ask her out to lunch....and it was like deja vu - off my friends list, all previous wall posts disappeared, and not found in search. I know that being "friends" online isn't the most important thing...but I've been feeling sad about it.

So opinion time...do you think the term "blog stalking" is creepy or complimentary?

Better Than This

This morning I got an email from Facebook’s Compare People application, where you have a superlative description (most beautiful, most insane, etc) and photos of two people to vote on. Since I added the app, my “rankings” compared to my other Facebook friends have stayed pretty firm. But after reading today’s email, it appears I've lost a lot of popularity this week:

Changes in your ranks:
#2 most likely to succeed (lost 1 place)
#4 most punctual (lost 3 places)
#5 most organized (lost 4 places)
#6 most powerful (lost 3 places)
#8 person who can drink the most (lost 6 places)

At first I was a little disappointed. I liked the ranking of most likely to succeed. It felt like a trite and cyber-reality way to feel recognized for the effort I’ve put into my life to achieve success . And I know it’s not important, but I’m insecure. I had to give myself a pep talk: “Nicole, you’re SO much better than this.”

And speaking of better than this: Keane is releasing their “Better Than This” single on March 16. It’s the least Keane-sounding Keane song…and I love it.

Is this what you meant? Is this what you dreamed of? When you were making your plans, shaking the dirt off? Do you feel like you and I belong? (Oh woah oh!)Just keep your eyes on the road and nothing can go wrong

You can do so much better than this...You can do so much better than this

I've been checking my sums, oh where did the time go? Holding my photograph up to the window. Through the paper and refracted sun (Oh woah oh!) I can see all the things I wish that I'd done

You can hang your hopes on the medicine. You can put your faith in the phone in.You can tell yourself you're doing your best. You can do so much better than this

Get a grip on yourself, Get a grip on yourself

Could've been something, but you're too late. And you weren't invited anyway. Cos the photograph showed the wrong man. Cos there is no soap star holding your hand. You don't see yourself in the freeze frame. Must be someone else using your name. And everyone will be the same.And everyone will gloat, and everywhere you'll see your name in every shop window

And speaking of Keane…65 more days till the Keane show at the LA Palladium. Woot!