Whether, you may ponder, ’tis it nobler
To browse…
in the articles, comments and videos of David fan sites?
Or…
To make comments…
connecting & expressing one’s self?
Then, only by participation will you end this mortal coil.
Ok, I’m no Shakespeare, and for sure, to browse, graze or lurk versus commenting on websites isn’t the life & death dilemma Hamlet faced.
Or, maybe, it is that scary…commenting on a blog for the first time has been rated as akin to public speaking. And, we all know that many rank public speaking as more frightening than dying.
Many who visit fan sites and don’t comment, frequently express that they are missing the joy of sharing their thoughts, ideas and feeling and connecting to others. And here at AFS we have thousands of visitors daily! hmmmm…..I’d love to know who you are and from where?
Wanna take the plunge? The waters here are warm and very buoyant. And, you can choose your style of navigation whether it be to dive in and start swimming or dip a toe in at a time or just slip in and float on your back. Join us, come on in and test the waters. No matter your style, it’s all good and everyone is WELCOME.
So, here is a little primer, conversational recipes if you will, for those wishing for a smidgen of “how-to” and/or encouragement:
Recipe #1: Commenting for the 1st Time
“Hi, my name is… <insert screen name.> This is my first time commenting.” Or “Hi, I’ve... <lurked, read, grazed, browsed–choose your verb>… AFS for… <insert amount of time>… and I wanted to just say….”
You can then say one or more of the following:
“I enjoy AFS because …<insert reason.>”
“I am a David fan since... <insert date> and I first saw David perform …<insert performance and describe as you wish.>”
“I really enjoyed this article because… <insert reason.>”
Commenting with: “I… <insert feeling, sentiment, experience, connection or perception of the article>…” is always a great way to express your perspective and opinions and for others to get to know you and dialog with you via the commentary.
Recipe #2- Stating a Different Perspective:
“I am thinking here that I see… <insert topic> differently. I am thinking that …<insert perception and you can go into your thought processes and reasons.>”
You can also ask “What do you think?” or “Does that make sense?” to engage other commenters in discussing various perspectives.
If English is not your primary language, please know that here at AFS we would love to hear your perspective no matter your primary language. Everyone is welcome. We can learn from each other by sharing our comments.
One of the joys of blogging and commenting is, of course, to share like experiences. What a added benefit in this fan
journey it is to see through other’s eyes, walk in other’s shoes which always entails first understanding and then exploring what another commenter(s) think and believe while you share your own.
Of course, stating a different perspective needs to be couched with respect for the individuals who may be on the other end of the continuum on the topic. So, a good rule is to always use the word “I,” avoid the word “you” and also avoid the common inflammatory words, and, voila, you are well on your way to stating your differing opinion in a respectful way that encourages discussion and exploration.
Commenting is no different from talking to your friends and acquaintances. There is the introduction, the first few shared exchanges and then a settling into an easy relationship sharing like and differing perspectives and experiences and all points in between. Let’s take time to get to know each other’s perspectives, experiences and opinions via commentary. Connection to other fans via commenting is an enriching experience not to be missed.
So come on in and join the commenters here at AFS if you haven’t already; or, for that matter, at any blog that you are browsing and want to join in the discussion.
Take the plunge. We have floaties, life vests, sun screen, thick towels, lounge chairs, hammocks, cool breezes, lemonade, and more, right here waiting for you! The sun is bright and the ambiance is cozy and comfy.
Jump in!
Lovely tutorial! I agree that sharing enriches the fan experience. It’s a risk sometimes, but generally worth it. AFS is certainly a safe place to share your thoughts and feelings.
Thanks, Kizzi
karenkid(Quote)
I am a born lurker…shy by nature..if I am at a party you will find me holding up a wall or hiding in the bathroom….but something…..wait make that SOMEONE changed all that…no not dear David…but about and for David…Archie Fan Doc is the one who pushed, nagged and eventually made me confident enough to make a comment and hit the send button on AFS and CDC. That has led to a lot of new friends and happy experiences. Thanks “Doc” and thanks Kizzi for this terrifc blog. It is safe here…so please join in…what you say matters…really…so be “deep” or silly….but join the cyber conversation.
Judith(Quote)
Gueat article Kizzi! Come on people and leave your comments!
Thanks Judith for your kind words — I too am acutally shy by nature – seriously, I really am – but I know you would never know that by all the comments I leave everywhere!
ArchieFanDoc(Quote)
hi everyone,
I’m pleasantly surprised that AFS is still here. I thought the site has been closed after an announcement many months ago, so I have stopped coming by. Hence, I lurk at other fan sites like Snarky, TDC, The Voice, SnowAngelz & SoulDavid.
Ok, I’ll take Kizzi’s recipe #1 (phew! – encouragement from Judith and DOC above):
I’m a female and I’m from Malaysia. I usually lurk because of different time zone. I love to read beautiful articles posted at my frequent fan sites and enjoyed the enthusiasm that all of us shared of David. I was fortunate to have a chance to meet David when he was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last year promoting his first CD even though it was just a few seconds. Got his autograph and had a pic with him. Surreal. I just couldn’t believe my eyes when I meet him in person! I’m surprised that he is quite tall in person and very fair-complexioned with jet black hair even though many pics/youtubes showed that he not that tall and not that fair.
We, Malaysian fans, hope that one day he’ll come by to hold a concert in our country. Thanks to those videographers like Kizzi for posting David’s concerts in Youtube so that fans from the other side of world would be able to share his beautiful voice and his getting better performances. When I told my colleagues that I met David through David’s fan club, Archuleta Avenue Malaysia, my colleagues couldn’t believe that I joined a fan site at my age…hahaha.. it was so funny!! Who cares, right?!
I make a connection to David during his Smoky Mountain Memories performance and before that, I knew he has a good voice. He certainly has an addictive Voice. I just wonder why my colleagues doesn’t get him, well, in time, they will. I did a casual survey and they told me that he is too young and acknowledged that he has a good voice. Ya, maybe. They don’t take teen star seriously just like I don’t take Taylor Swift seriously.
Phew…well, I just said it. I hope to meet you all one day when I got a chance to attend David’s concert in your country or vice versa. Thanks. p.s. I’m a day ahead of you fans(Sunday)!
aKang(Quote)
Hi aKang! Yes Fan Scene is still here! we were down for just a short period of time in November – - glad you found us again! Tell your archu-friends.
It is just so amazing to hear of people all around the world having similar experience – people all over the world who “get it” and find the VOICE so addictive as you say.
I love knowing that David is tall when in Malaysia
He stands tall in all of our hearts.
Hope to “hear” more from you aKang — loved your comment.
archiefandoc(Quote)
Waving to Judith~~~~
Love my friends who post here.
I pop in and out when I think I have something to share or encouragement to give.
daizdfan(Quote)
Super article Kizzi, I never went on a forum or blog before becoming a fan of David’s, that is something I never thought I would do. Just goes to show you, never say never!
marc(Quote)
Daizdfan!! Waving back!!
And Marco Polo..greetings my friends!!
And it’s true..AFD…the witty lady…is shy too.
Judith(Quote)
Marc, I think that many people would relate to your experience of never going onto blogs, leaving comments, etc. David has a way of leading people to do great things they might not otherwise have done. We’re so glad to have you and everyone else here in the AFS community.
goldstar(Quote)
Waving to Marc and Daizdfan too! Hi guys!!
I did not even know what a forum or blog was 2 years ago and never been on a fan site either – and now super shy gal is managing one – LOL!
archiefandoc(Quote)
Nice article, Kizzi. I remember in May 2008 being too scared to leave comments anywhere. “Will I be accepted?” “Will my words adequately express what my heart is feeling?” I was so glad to see that so many others felt just like I did, so I took the plunge.
AKang – Different time zones don’t make much difference to some of us who can’t leave our computers when it’s time to go to bed. LOL So come on by and say hello in the chat box too.
Hey there, Judith, Daizdfan, and Marc. Nice to see you all.
Doc, shy? Naw. Well, look what David makes us do.
Susan M.(Quote)
Well you all know me!! China80, China or Mirta which ever name you want to use.
I have been following David since the very first day of his AI audition. Like ALL his true, devoted, loyal, caring, loving and compasionate fans “I GET IT”!! You have to be “Dead” or totally numb to the world in order not to get David Archuleta’s HEAVENLY voice of his persona.
I have been fortunate to have met him a few times and what you see on TV and on our computer is exactly what you get in person plus XXXXXXX more!!
Like a lot of you, I have NEVER been this excited about any artist until David came along. Also NEVER been hooked to the computer, radio, television, cell phone or any technological equipment until now. Go figure at my age texting, blogging, commenting, dowloading, chatting, rating music – well you get the idea. Not to mention driving hundreds of miles to attend concerts and almost getting a $286.00 speeding ticket driving to one.
I have always said things happen for a reason – and a lot of things have happened to me over the past 2 years. Good or bad I take it as it comes. There is a reason why we are all here. There is a reason why David was gifted with a GLORIOUS voice.
THERE IS A REASON TO ALL OF THIS!!
china80(Quote)
hi everyone,
Just came back from running my errands and boy! you AFS fans sure doesn’t leave your computers when it is beyond your bedtime!! hahaha…. I realised that I hit the submit button way too fast that I did not thank Kizzi for her wonderful article above. Encouraging me to post even when I’m on different time zone. Thx Kizzi. You all are lovable people and sweet Dreams!!
I have already bookmarked this site!
aKang(Quote)
HI aKang again — bedtime ??? LOL !!! it is 2:30 am for some of us on chat right now!
tell me how you “rediscovered” Fan Scene –
archiefandoc(Quote)
uuhhmmm Kizzi – David might need to come here with his sharpie marker and do some editing on the top photo there
archiefandoc(Quote)
hi doc,
I rediscovered Fan Scene whilst I was listening to Fields of Gold at SoulDavid’s site this morning. Your Fan Scene was listed at the side bar, just beside the vid, and the headlines caught my attention. So here I am. Hope you’re now really in bed as it is now 6:20pm in Malaysia. Not sure what is the time difference. I did not know that is a chat box on this site until you mentioned it ~ amazing. Hope one day, I’ll be able to chit chat with you all. So, enjoy your Sunday!!
aKang(Quote)
(((kizzi))) thanks for the article. I also was new to blogging, chatting, texting etc. before David, I was not even aware of youtube!!!
But here I am, involved with a site (snowangelz) and loving everything about the things fanship has done for me!! I remember my first comment on a site way back when AI7 was still on>> after lurking I realized that so many people were feeling and hearing the same things as me, I took the leap and have only regretted it once or twice, lol!
refnaf(Quote)
Thanks for the info aKang (and thanks souldavid!) be sure to tell all of our Malaysian friends we have been back in business for quite some time now! LOL – and check out all the stuff in the right side bar – Fan Scene Funnies, Fish Soup for the Soul, a lot of information on the FAQ page. Hope to see you on Chatango!
Refnaf — LOL, regretted it just once or twice! Love the snowangelz:D
archiefandoc(Quote)
Hey all i usually never have anything to say, but love this sight and check it out regularly, thanks sooo much fanscene,
lisa(Quote)
Hi Lisa! have always appreciated your comments when you do make them!!! and thank you for your comment above about Fan Scene
archiefandoc(Quote)
Yeah, Judith, AFD knows how to push, huh….thank goodness she did. Think about it Judith, you were once shy, but now take a look at you. Check out CDC and you will see proof positive that you’ve not only come out of your shell, but you’ve shed it altogether. You wrote a plethora of wonderful articles for CDC that were filled with insights and wisdom for life. THANK YOU! Thank you AFD for pushing…lol, and for all of your writing on CDC and AFS.
I do think that our desire to connect with others is deeply rooted and that most people don’t venture into the blog posting sphere simply because they are afraid. Fear is a powerful emotion, yet I would encourage everyone to battle that fear and share their thoughts and ideas in a respectful manner. There are some risks, no doubt, but the benefits are far too great to not take the plunge. As a result, you may end up making a friend or two, or discovering a new principle to live by, or even starting up a blog yourself! Making that connection with others really is worth it…so to answer the question, “To comment or not to comment, that is the question”…I SAY YES…DO IT!
Gallie(Quote)
Thanks Steve! Always love to see you here and your wonderful comments – miss your writing! hope to see you do more “I Say Yes — DO it! ”
archiefandoc(Quote)