to like or not to like...

So since it's been almost an entire month since my last Great Blogging Debate, I figured it was time for another one.

But before we start, how about two pictures of Things That Are Super Attractive?

Men reading books to babies.

Men reading instruction manuals when they put stuff together (cotton candy machines, especially).

Alright. Now you can't say I never show you hot guys on my blog. Since I'm normally just inundated with complaints about that...not.

SO!

How do you feel about Facebook fan pages for blogs?

Are you a fan, so to speak?

I used to be really anti. I guess I thought it was pointless. I already know how to follow blogs, so if the main point of a blog Facebook page is to tell me that there are new posts, then I don't need that. And then I wasn't really sure what any of the other 'points' of them even were...or if there were any other points. I guess I thought it seemed kind of narcissistic? Like...oooooh you have a billion 'followers' AND now you have a billion 'likes'....aren't YOU hot stuff!!!! Oh I also didn't 'get' it because it seemed like it was double-following people...if I am already FB friends with you and then I follow your blog, too...then...please stop clogging my newsfeed with the same thing TWICE. That's annoying.

So obviously my long-term history with liking blogs on FB has been more of a dislike. I still DID it...mainly when I would 'like' someone to enter a giveaway or something...or if it was a personal friend and I would have felt bad not liking them...or something. But it was always a bit begrudging. 

But then.

Lately, I've started really liking some of the blog pages I follow. I'm starting to see bloggers using their FB pages constructively and well and it's actually a welcome addition to my social media consumption and not just an annoyance. These are the things I see people doing that makes me like blog FB pages:

1) USE IT FOR MORE THAN JUST SHARING UPDATED POSTS. That's probably honestly the #1 thing. When they share actual new material (whether it be pictures (NOT just auto-posted from IG and Twitter)), interesting articles, or just status updates...I like when I feel like I get something 'extra' and beyond their blog. I also like being able to easily interact with them there (you know, commenting on whatever they're sharing).

Umm...I think I wrapped up all of my 'likes' into #1. I guess everything I like is just a subset of liking that I'm getting something 'extra.' I like seeing the random thoughts or pictures that never make it to a blog post. Being able to see more regular glimpses into their days and thoughts...it's really fun!

And ever since I started noticing how much I liked that, I started seeing areas in my own life where I was wishing I had that. Because my regular Facebook- let's face it. When I was a senior in college and FB was just starting, you friended everyone you ever knew. So my FB is totally junked up with people I haven't spoken to in 20 years...people I never actually liked in the first place...people I just met last week...you know what I mean. And so I use it and I share stuff, but always with the knowledge that the people seeing it probably don't really know me. And so I hesitate to really be 'me', you know? I don't know, it's weird (except you probably know exactly what I mean). So sometimes I wish I had a different FB for just people who know (and like) the current and real me. So I could share stuff and they'd know where I was coming from. And I figure...if you read this blog even semi-regularly, then you pretty much know the real me. So maybe this would be an outlet for that.

Plus-- I'm not friends with the vast majority of YOU on Facebook. And sometimes I see something funny or read an interesting article or whatever and I'm like 'ahhh I wish my blog friends could see that, they would love/hate/laugh at it!!'...but I mean, if it's not enough to develop into an actual blog post, then it all just falls by the wayside. But if I had a blog FB...it wouldn't have to, you know?

So anyway. You know a survey is imminent, since you know me. This one has more questions than normal (including one extremely important BONUS and completely unrelated question at the end), but I trust you can handle it. I'm also going to turn on threaded commenting for today, in case there is discussion to be had on this topic. Who knows! Feel free to share, even if you really hate blog FB pages and you're secretly groaning inside 'oh pleeeeeaaaase Erika, do NOT make a blog FB page!!! Pleeeeaassseee!!!!'...then I think you should share that. All opinions are welcomed here. I mean, except for wrong opinions. On the last question. Obviously those are discouraged.

GO!