I subscribe to a large number of blogs using Google Reader. One of the searches I do finds links to TOCWOC’s URL, and it was in the results of this search that I first came across Civil War Talk’s “Civil War Blog Reader” forum. Excerpts and links from various Civil War blogs are posted in the forum, and Civil War Talk readers are encouraged to look at and respond to these collected blog entries.
I have mixed (though overall positive) feelings about this idea. First, Civil War Talk is giving the featured Civil War blogs exposure to some readers who would not have found these blogs on their own. Second, reader interaction is encouraged, which is also a nice idea.
The only negative is that the encouragement of response is focused on Civil War Talk rather than the Civil War blogs in question. As my fellow Civil War bloggers know, getting readers to comment is sometimes similar to pulling teeth (hint hint!). I love to hear from readers whenever possible, but I’m afraid some of those readers might instead choose to have a conversation at Civil War Talk rather than at TOCWOC – A Civil War Blog. While this is not a terrible thing (after all, discussion is what I and other bloggers want!), it is less than ideal.
I firmly believe subscribing to blogs in a feed reader is by far the easiest way to follow them.
With all of this said, I’d be interested to hear other takes on this idea, both from Civil War bloggers and readers.
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