by Cheryl W.
Member since:
December 10, 2005

Do You Ever Look at the Article Tags?

February 15, 2008 09:58 PM EST
views: 68 | comments: 28

I was just wondering if most people look at the tags on the articles they read.  I've found that sometimes they are quite helpful in understanding certain articles and where the writer is coming from.

I write a lot of fictional first person prose, and it never fails that in the comments people will start giving me advice and telling me things will be okay.  On one hand I have to chuckle, because they think the article is non-fiction.  And then I realize I must sound very convincing, so that must mean it is well-written.  But I hate having to go back and tell everyone I am going to be just fine...and that the article is written by a fictional character that I made up. 

I have a series of articles called "The Ramblings of Sonya".  Sonya is a character I made up, but she isn't me.  Sonya is single.  I am married.  Sonya is outspoken, funny, and full of herself.  I'm quiet, a bit shy, and rather serious most of the time.  Sonya has a very naughty side to her, and will say anything.  I am rather reserved and always think before I speak. I love Sonya and I have to admit it is loads of fun to write in her carefree voice from time to time.  But she isn't me.

Now, are the thoughts of the fictional character based on grains of truth?  Of course.  But those grains of truth are not always MY truth. I'm certain there are bits of my truth sprinkled in there.  Sometimes they are based on the truths of other people I have known or different circumstances that I have been made aware of.

I, myself, have fallen victim to believing that fictional articles written in such a manner are true.  One time I was so convinced, I was writing a long comment filled with support and advice for the writer...offering my prayers that things would get better.  And then, before I could click the button to publish the comment, I saw one of the tags...FICTION.  At once I felt both a bit embarrassed as well as very relieved that the person was not actually going through such a terrible ordeal.

So my advice to you would be to always give the tags a glance.  Sometimes they can be quite revealing....:)

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Comments: 28

Katie R. Feb 15, 2008, 10:01pm EST
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't.
Karen M. Feb 15, 2008, 10:01pm EST
I do look at them. It helps me with deciding what to read when I am short on time. Good question !
Mary M. Feb 15, 2008, 10:02pm EST
I tend to be careful about my own tags and try to be as thorough as I can, but I don't always skim other folks' tags. You make a good point about that! I never really thought a whole lot about it. I had to chuckle because there is one writer here in particular who is very good and I always have to wonder which is a story and which really happened to her -- she doesn't always clarify and likes to keep readers guessing!
Paula P. Feb 15, 2008, 10:06pm EST
I usually give the tags some sort of look-over, just to get a bit of "understanding" of what they're talking about and where they're heading. Especially in your case, it sounds like this is a good thing to be doing. :)
I'm horrid about looking at them, but you bring up some very good points. and I'll have to try and remember your advice in the future! By the way, big hugs! I've missed you the past couple of days while unable to access the site!
dianne j. Feb 15, 2008, 10:12pm EST
Good advice Cheryl. I confess, I rarely look at the tags.

I also have to confess that I read your Sonya piece this morning and it was the first I have read. I started out thinking it was true, then remembered you were married. But instead of looking at the tags, I went to your profile to confirm. Silly, siily, me.

I'll remember this from now on!
Victoria H. Feb 15, 2008, 10:18pm EST
Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. It was a lot easier to read them when they were directly under the article. Now they're all the way at the bottom so I rarely look there anymore.
MYKE D. Feb 15, 2008, 10:25pm EST
Laughs on me. Bet you I look at tags more often. Geez, I thought you were for real Sonya. Cheryl.

Myke
Danielle P. Feb 15, 2008, 10:41pm EST
I usually don't but you have a very interesting take on it.
flit . Feb 15, 2008, 10:41pm EST
I usually remember...although I must admit it is a bit harder with them down at the bottom of the page
Lisa J Feb 15, 2008, 11:15pm EST
Sometimes I do, but not always...
Mary McCartt Feb 15, 2008, 11:19pm EST
I usually go by the titles. If they catch my attention, I read. Rarely do I look at tags. This is good advice.
Cheryl W. Feb 15, 2008, 11:34pm EST
I agree with you guys. It was much easier to look at the tags when they were at the top of the article.

Thanks for the comments!
Carol Roach Feb 15, 2008, 11:43pm EST
sometimes no matter what you write people will not read. It really irritates me on my lot when I start a discussion about a hypothetical situation, I clearly state it is a hypothetical situation and it never happened to me,

and I always get "my advice is you should have done this....
John Doyle Feb 15, 2008, 11:56pm EST
I never read tags nor do I use them. I feel that people should be free to bring to my work what ever it says to them
Luna Rushdi Feb 15, 2008, 11:57pm EST
Hi Cheryl good point! I usually don't look at them. However, I know where you are coming from. I posted a short story here once (I deleted it later on as I intend to get it published in print media) for comments on how the story could be improved. That was written in first person as well. I did get a lot of helpful comments from many members and a lot supportive comments from people wishing things would get better for me. :)

I thought I would also let you know that I LOVE Sonya! and read your articles quite often, though mostly from work and when I am not signed on, so I don't get to leave a comment..
Bonii P. Feb 16, 2008, 3:06am EST
I always look at those tags.
Bert Van Essen Feb 16, 2008, 8:44am EST
Will Do!
I used to look at tags before the last upgrade. They could be very entertaining in and of themselves. Since the upgrade, a lot of my friends (myself included) have taken to making the tags specific to just some of the people we know, as our related articles often pointed to people we'd rather not be associated with.

Now, my tags mean nothing and I don't look at anyone else's.
Kate Keeley Feb 16, 2008, 12:32pm EST
You make excellent points here!
vijay kumar Feb 16, 2008, 12:50pm EST
A good point and a good advice.
El Toro Bravo de Amor Feb 16, 2008, 1:51pm EST
Rarely, I sometimes like to throw in a nonsense tag like "trouser press, or artificial limb" just to see what it links to.
Susan H. Feb 16, 2008, 9:13pm EST
good advice, No, I don't usually look. I may now. :-)
Sue M. Feb 16, 2008, 10:20pm EST
Excellent advice, Cheryl!
Larry H. Feb 17, 2008, 9:21am EST
I look at the tags once in awhile..Thanks for sharing. I put tags on of who I think might,,just might read or look at what I post. I am in several groups, I post to the groups, rarely does the person who owns the group comment on what I posted to the group.
Midnite Writer -- Kim Feb 17, 2008, 9:47pm EST
I don't do it too often. I like to get funky with tags - lol ;). I am new at them so experimenting. I don't have a lot of time to put tons of them on there.

If I'm searching, I will look for certain items inside a piece, though.

Good post, Cheryl.

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