Blogging vs. Vlogging

[katiefoolery]

Polls are fun, right?  All those options you get to tick and... well, that's about it really.  But still - 'tis fun.

Today's poll is about blogging, vlogging and what everyone prefers.  I seriously want to start incorporating more vlogs into my actual LJ, but I don't want to do it in a way which will irritate or alienate my lovely flist.  So here's your chance to have a say on the whole subject.

[Poll #1357809]

Do you have any other answers to questions I neglected to ask?  Any other comments?  Please share them by commenting to this entry.  I'd love to hear everyone's feedback on this subject.

Comments

[alankria.livejournal.com]

I would rather read an entry than hear an entry, but the vlogs are fun because I can see you (and you make funny faces).

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Do I ever make funny faces. I had no idea about this fact until I started making videos. Why had no-one told me before??

[amyty.livejournal.com]

I ignore videos from a lot of my friends because, much as I love them, they just post crappy music videos. You're the first vlogger on my list! I considered doing it a while ago, when I had the option to buy a video camera, but all I have now is my mobile phone video camera, which isn't -bad-, but I don't think it's exactly up to par, either.

Phone posts just annoy the ever lovin' crap outa me. Everyone puts on this whingy, whiney, mumbly voice, like they're trying to disguise a lisp or something. And I'll probably never do one because I hate all the 'oooh accent awww so kewt' bullshit that comes with being not!American.

I am a belletrist, however, and just love to read entries. I get a better idea of what a person is 'like' from how they write.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I was really interested to see people's reactions to phone posts - it seems they're not well-liked. It probably has a lot to do with that inability to edit or really plan them very much. I'd only consider making a phone post if I happened to be away from the internet, I think.

You should definitely vlog if you have another chance to do so! I'm totally addicted to the whole vlogging thing, now. And you should see the quality of some of the videos on YT... your mobile phone video would probably look amazing compared with some of the videos I've watched. Or tried to watch.

[delustre.livejournal.com]

I unfortunately cannot see Youtube, at least not until I get my iPhone (if I do at all!), so. I love video posts, but they are not so practical for me - I cannot really see any video sites, often they don't load - but Youtube is completely blocked.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Ooh, an iPhone! How shiny. I'll be so jealous of you if you do get one.

YouTube's usually blocked for me at work, too. Along with LJ and all the good things. I feel your pain.

[everydayjoy.livejournal.com]

To clarify my "occasionally" and "possibly" answers: some of my friends post videos and voice posts all the time, so it feels less special than a well-thought-out vlog (like yours are!). I tend to skim the posts that include five videos (in the one post) of babies playing or whatever but I will often watch just the single videos posted. Same with voice posts.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I'm the same, I think - it's nice to have a video or a voice post every now and then, but it stops being special when there are so many all in one post.

Thanks for your comments (and your compliment!). :)

[mawaridi.livejournal.com]

My main concern when it comes to media files on blogs is that I usually can't download them because my internet connection is crappy. When I say "possibly" to the question of whether or not I would watch your vlog posts, what I really mean is I would watch them if I could, but can't :)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, the inconsiderate internet connection. My parents have one of those, which is why I'm going to be sending them a disc with some videos on it, rather than getting them to watch them on YT. Hopefully one day you'll be able to watch all the videos you desire.

[paragraphs.livejournal.com]

Youtube etc. is blocked at work, so when I run across a post that has a video, I always think "I will go back later and check!" and then always forget. Same with voice posts--which is more "can't really do this now" type stuff.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Same with me - so much good stuff is blocked at work. I'll receive comments via email that I really want to respond to... and I have to hope I'll remember to do so when I get home.

[theemdash]

To elaborate:

I like images on my flist, but only when they're cut so I can choose whether or not it's safe to view (since I mostly lj from work).

I pretty much never listen to voice posts any more. Often people are rambly and there's no real thought to them since you have to post in one go, so there's no editing and it's way more raw than I like my input. (Wow, that answer was more rational than I thought it would be.)

I don't watch all videos posted by my flist, kind of for the same reason above. I do watch videos that are obviously carefully edited, though, and I'd watch yours because you've already proven yourself as a capable vlogger.

You know what I think would be interesting in the text v. video method of posting? To keep your video to a limited amount of time and then flesh out the topic in text. So people watching on YouTube could go to your blog to read more of your thoughts on the matter, and people reading on lj could either just read or read and watch.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I have image placeholders on my flist because I just got so sick and tired of people posting enormous images and not using an LJ-cut. It's a great way to save loading time (and my layout), but I do wonder how much interesting stuff I miss because I can't be bothered clicking on it.

That's a really good idea there, too. I'd definitley like to keep the vlogs and blogs connected somehow and that looks like a very effective way of achieveing that.

[erinmacha.livejournal.com]

Um...I can't remember which votes I am supposed to comment on.

Other than - I occasionally watch AMV's people have posted links to.

And I guess I am old-fashioned in liking to read the entries instead of listen to them.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess most people are on LJ because they like to read things - stories, posts, whatever else there may be. :)

[goddesscarlie.livejournal.com]

I love video post but only watch them sometimes. I prefer written posts, but do enjoy video every now and then when I have time :)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

It's the variety that I like, too. LJ's definitely about words and reading, but it's awesome to see something different every now and then.

[rigel-7.livejournal.com]

I shall be all clarify-y as instructed below :)

I do like to read posts that are image heavy (especially picspams of hawt menfolk - but I do love even pictures of mundane things like where people live because it's a bit of variety!)

I occasionally click on voice posts if they're people who are likely to post more than a 'hey OMG I'm lyk posting from mah phone!!11' message :D

Video posts - well I'm a bit slack due to the bandwidth issue - I have to wait sooooo long for it to cache enough to watch because we were capped about halfway bthrough last month *stabs teh internet* - but now it has re-set so I might just trawl back through your Lj and watch them now!

But yes - A smidge of textual commentary would be lufferly as an accompaniment.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Becness! You're aliiiiiiiive!

*squishes

Oh gods, you had to endure half a month of being capped? Ack! That's one reason I love Netspace - if you go over your bandwidth limit, they just make you buy another data package.

I did have this vague idea of posting an entry as normal, and then possibly embedding the video under the cut... or something. Haven't really fleshed it out yet, which is the reason behind the poll. The responses have been fascinating, especially the comments.

[rigel-7.livejournal.com]

We have teh ebil mobile phone type internet, which is crazy excellent speed but not so fab on the bandwidth - that said we can do all sorts of brilliant internet surfing and Xbox live except - stupid idiot housemate decided to torrent several large movies and TV shows *stabbage*

Embedding the videos doesn't bother me as I have nifty flashblocker addon with firefox - but not all peeps would have that I guess.

Also, sign on to msn to chat with me and the Turks!!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I keep forgetting that there are people out there with no Ad Blocker. It seems strange to think of it.

I had to up our bandwidth, because a lot of it seemed to go on YouTube videos. Somehow. I don't know who'd be watching those...

*totally doesn't look shifty*

Ironically, it means our internet is now five dollars cheaper.

I AM ON MSN AS I TYPE! But, uh, you already know this.

[penchaft.livejournal.com]

I am usually listening to music when I browse LJ, and it's an annoyance to have to pause it, or it's late at night and I don't want to wake dad up, so I very rarely load videos. (I've only watched one of yours.)

My default browsing as a hang-overer from dial-up days is cached images, so I only load images that sound interesting.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I hear that - I listen to music while I'm on the internet as well and it can certainly be irritating to have to switch it off so you can watch a video.

[katilara.livejournal.com]

If I come across a video or voice post and I'm somewhere where I can watch/listen, I will. But if I come across it at work then I might forget to go back and watch it later.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the trick really is trying to remember to go back. Things just move so quickly on the internet!

[frohike.livejournal.com]

3rd last Q: I want a balance, by which I mean I want text entries to be the majority. I don't always have time to watch all of the video posts, and as you know, sometimes my computer is a bitch.

2nd last Q: I like vlogs, with text that covers something that is not included in the vid. Like a separate anecdote about something else that happened.

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

I heard of someone else who had exactly the same problem as you, just in case it helps to know you're not alone.

I definitely wouldn't be turning this into nothing but vlogs. People are on LJ to read, first and foremost, and I intend to respect that. And that's a good point on offering something a little different. The vlogs wouldn't be a direct copy of the LJ posts, but I have no idea which one would come first.

[frohike.livejournal.com]

Goody. About the not being overwhelmed with vlogs that is. They are nice, but I like text better.
(Soon I will make a vlog post. Or eventually. Whichever.)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

You're going to do a vlog? Awesomeness! :D

[frohike.livejournal.com]

One day. The desktop pc has neither camera nor microphone, and the lap top has both, so its a matter of being organised.

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

There was no whatever makes you happy option.

Seriously dude, you post it, I'll read/watch it :)

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

Awwww!

*squishes*

You're made of pure, unadulterated awesome. :D

[crazedturkey.livejournal.com]

*nods sagely*

You are indeed wise in the ways of the Gillian my friend..

[flamehail.livejournal.com]

Vidposts make me feel inferior because I don't have such fancy equipmentZ.

Usually I hit up lj for a quick cruising sampling of my friends' lives, and I can read much faster than they can chat. So mostly I don't watch videos. But I watched one of yours the other day and it was sort of fun, so I am not averse to seeing them pop up, so long as you don't stop writing altogether!

[katiefoolery.livejournal.com]

All you need is a webcam! Or even a still camera with a video function. I mention this because I want to see everyone on my flist post a video so they can find out how much fun it is. :D

I'm glad you found my video fun - and equally glad that you wouldn't object to more. There are certainly no plans to discontinue writing the majority of my posts, but I do feel it would be fun to have something different every now and then. The most important thing to me at the moment is to do it in a way that won't irritate people.

Thanks for your feedback. :)