Fotografo de Bodas, Santiago

November 16, 2009

Where are all the men going?!?

This year, 76 people took time out of their day to answer the survey, as opposed to 84 last year — which I find interesting because I’m getting as many pageviews in a week this year as I used to get in a month last year. Clearly it’s a different audience.

Anyway, we’re losing penises at a rapid rate. Male readership is down from 20% to 9%! Is this blog really that girly? Should I write about…engines…more often? Or do men just read blogs less than women read blogs?

37% of you live in the U.S. 38% live in Chile. As for other countries, readers clock in from The Netherlands to Australia to Malaysia and lots of other places in between.

59% of you are between the ages of 25-35. My only reader 50 or over is my mom. Hi Mom!

52% have been reading this blog for over a year.28% percent more have been with me for 6-12 months.

When I asked what you liked about the blog, the overwhelming majority said they liked that I’m honest. The next most common answer was the photos. Of the people who said that they visit for the photos, the majority of them said they like the commentary on the people in the photos.

One person was either brutally honest or extremely sarcastic, I’m not sure, but the comment me laugh — when asked what he disliked about the blog someone said, “Everything. Your life annoys me.” There’s not much I can do about that, but the I am trying to address some of the constructive criticism. Some people want more photos, some want less. Some people want shorter posts, some people want longer posts. So I think all that stuff is going to stay the same for now.

Now, responses to some of the critiques below:

For the people who want me to explain the Spanish and cultural references, I’m trying to start adding asterisks to explain what I write. Except the other day I put asterisks by the Spanish words and then forgot to put any explanation for them at the bottom. But I’m trying!

For the person who said I don’t portray all views in my writing — nope, I definitely don’t. Because I only have one point of view and that’s mine and that view is because of the experiences I’ve lived. No more. No less. If this were a political or a social commentary I’m sure I’d try to explain all sides of a story. But it’s not, just a commentary on my life. So I’m not going to lie, I probably won’t make any attempt to portray another side of the coin.

For a few people who want to see more photos of me, I am too fat right now, sorry! When I get skinny again then I’ll post more pictures of myself. But I’m too vain.

One person said that a lot of Chile newbies find my blog first when they start searching for information online and that maybe I shouldn’t be so harsh so that I don’t taint their view of the country. I’m sorry but if someone reads a blog and then decides they don’t want to come here because of what that blog writer says then the problem is with the reader not the writer. I do write based on my experiences and when I first got here a lot of them were negative. I’m not going to sugarcoat anything because a newbie might get scared off.

Font = bigger. You’re welcome.

Pictures = bigger/not hosted on Flickr. You’re welcome again.

Will definitely try to break up the posts so it’s not all wedding pictures for days on end and then Chile posts for days on end. I’ll try to do every other day if I have something to post on either subject so that readers who are only here for one thing or the other don’t get bored.

I will also ask Jennette if there’s a way to make the archives more easily readable.

Some people wish I posted more photography tips and other people wish I would skip them completely. So again, I’ll probably just keep that the same. If you only want to read about photography, just click the Photography category on the side (or if you want to see only life in Chile, just click the Life in Chile category).

I will try to post at least one picture with each blog post. I’m lazy though, so we’ll see how that goes.

The galleries are in the process of being fixed so then you’ll be able to go directly to the couple you want to see rather than scroll through one giant slideshow.

The topic of Life in Chile definitely runs dry. And I know I used to write more in depth posts about expat life. It’s not that I don’t have the time to write those kinds of posts anymore. It’s just that I’ve lived in Chile for five years now. More, actually, now that I stop to think about it. 5 years and 5 months. Nuts. Life as an expat is mostly the same as life as a (???) lived-in-the-same-place-my-whole-life-pat. But, if I do have any cultural observations that I think are interesting enough for a post I’ll write them up.

Too many pictures in one post. Agreed. I need to learn how to self edit. I’m limiting myself now to 15 pictures a post, no more, and I might try to cut back even more if possible. You’re only as good as the worst photo you post, after all.

There is a link to other photos, click on Travel! I need to update it though!

And I used to have a photo blog and a regular blog. It was way too hard to keep both up. Again, not because of time. Simply because photography and life in Chile overlap too much. So much of the way I see this country has been changing because of my clients and what I do here.

Anyway, 63% want more on my personal life and 58% want more on life in Chile in general. I guess those two things are very close to one and the same, so I’ll keep that in mind when I’m choosing topics.

More guest bloggers, specially Seba — I have been trying to get him to write a post since I started the blog! At first because the haters didn’t believe that I had a husband who didn’t hate me, and then just because he’s a really good writer — so funny! I’ll keep trying.

36% of you (the highest of any of the other answers by far) found this blog via link from other Chile blogs. So I think for those who would like me to be less harsh because of what newbies might think, we’re all good. Most of the newbies are most likely reading other Chile blogs, about other peoples lives and experiences here so I think they are probably getting a pretty well rounded perspective on life in Chile.

And tomorrow I’ll go through what people commented on that would make this blog better! I’ll also answer any of the questions left in the comments section of the survey. Thanks again to everyone who participated and to Elisa W. from VA, contact me by Wednesday to claim your prize!

26 Comments

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26 Comments

Yep, Kyle's number one fan is 50! (can't get myself to type “over 50″ just yet!) I enjoyed reading all of these interesting statistics.

Comment by Ritamae39 — November 16, 2009 @ 8:46 pm

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P.S. – if the blog writer's life annoys you, why would you keep reading their blog? Unless it is annoyingly intriguing or you are annoyingly envious or unless they are just being sarcastic or funny. Whatever!

Comment by Ritamae39 — November 16, 2009 @ 8:48 pm

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I like your blog. My apologies for not filling out the survey. I think your blog is great! I especially like the pictures and chilenismos.

Your Google Analytics may show someone clicking through from China – that's me! I actually studied abroad in Chile in 2005, graduated with a degree in Latin American Studies in 2006, and decided to move to China not long after that. (super random, I know)

Thanks for giving me a glimpse of Chile in my Google Reader Keep up the good work! Que te vaya super bien

Comment by Leslie_Forman — November 17, 2009 @ 3:52 am

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I didn't actually see your survey in time to take it, but I would have been one of those readers who wants you to write more about engines, and fixin' stuff…. No not really. I don't think I have a lot of male readership on my blog either. Most of the commenters are women. I've been told too that I should write nicer things about Chile because people might get the wrong impression, but I don't think my blog is going to be responsible for keeping them home. Usually when I meet people who came here and had been reading my blog they are still in the Chile-honeymoon stage and they think it's the best country ever, the empanadas are the bomb, and they have no idea how I got so negative! And…uhm… to that person who says that you don't write all views…DUH! It's a personal blog…not CNN.

Comment by Sara — November 17, 2009 @ 5:10 am

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Losing penises, hahaha! Too funny.
And about the personal stuff -well, blog readers are stalkers and voyeurs.
I must say I do like your blog as is, with tons of pictures on each post.

Cheers.

Comment by Flo — November 17, 2009 @ 11:47 am

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II am very impressed with your survey, I don't think I'd be brave enough to do one! Also, it is your blog, and you should do whatever makes you happy first and then what makes us happy as an afterthought

Comment by Decoybetty — November 17, 2009 @ 12:13 pm

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I've only been here 3 years and already I'm starting to feel like it's harder and harder to write about life in Chile specifically. I mean, it's just life now, for the most part. And I feel like most of the “easy” topics (piropos, missing home, mullets) have been written to death by me or others. Clearly I need to dig deeper – I feel like Margaret at Cachando Chile and Eileen of bearshapedsphere manage to write Chile posts that are still interesting after all this time!

I like the bigger font and photos, and I think it'll be good to have a limit on photos per post. You know I love your stuff, but if there are lots of photos in one post I start to skim rather than really appreciating each one. Besides, if you break up each event into multiple posts, you get more posts, and we know how readers love regular posts

Comment by emilyinchile — November 17, 2009 @ 12:37 pm

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Hi Leslie! Didn't know you read Kyle's blog…funny how the internet connects people.

Comment by emilyinchile — November 17, 2009 @ 12:37 pm

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I want to win! Oh well. Good for Eliza.

Comment by ClareSays — November 17, 2009 @ 4:15 pm

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Hi Emily! Yeah, it's so random how the internet connects people. I actually used to read your blog sometimes too, and that's how I stumbled upon Kyle's. Then a few months back blogspot and other sites got blocked. Hope all is well with you!

Comment by Leslie_Forman — November 17, 2009 @ 10:22 pm

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Haha, and you asked why I didn't make it into more categories so you didn't have to check the last box…that's why! I knew you were the only one

Comment by kyleracine — November 18, 2009 @ 9:22 pm

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Woah, do you guys know each other in real life? Strange coincidence, if so! Leslie, my mom might actually be moving to China next year for work (fingers crossed)…and I'll definitely be going to visit when that happens so if you're still that we might just show up on your doorstep

Comment by kyleracine — November 18, 2009 @ 9:23 pm

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Well really if someone reads a blog and then decides not to come to Chile based on that…they're probably not strong enough to withstand this country anyway. Just a thought!

Comment by kyleracine — November 18, 2009 @ 9:24 pm

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So true Flo, blog readers really are voyeuristic. Yikes, I subscribe to like 500 blogs in my google reader…what does that make me?!?

Comment by kyleracine — November 18, 2009 @ 9:25 pm

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Well this year the negative comments were down a lot from last year so maybe I'm headed in the right direction. I don't get as upset by criticism as I used to, I've realized that's just part of having a blog and speaking your mind I guess…

Comment by kyleracine — November 18, 2009 @ 9:25 pm

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Yeah, I do that on other people's blogs when they have too many photos, I should know better! I just find it so hard to choose which photos to choose. Can I hire you to be my good-taste photo editor?

Comment by kyleracine — November 18, 2009 @ 9:26 pm

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I am actually about to pick another number because she hasn't gotten in contact with me so maybe you will!

Comment by kyleracine — November 18, 2009 @ 9:27 pm

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Yeah, we studied abroad together in Santiago! Small world

I'm in Beijing so if you're around I'd be more than happy to play tour guide. Mi casa es tu casa!

Comment by Leslie_Forman — November 18, 2009 @ 9:27 pm

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Haha, and you asked why I didn't make it into more categories so you didn't have to check the last box…that's why! I knew you were the only one

Comment by kyleracine — November 19, 2009 @ 5:22 am

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Woah, do you guys know each other in real life? Strange coincidence, if so! Leslie, my mom might actually be moving to China next year for work (fingers crossed)…and I'll definitely be going to visit when that happens so if you're still that we might just show up on your doorstep

Comment by kyleracine — November 19, 2009 @ 5:23 am

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Well really if someone reads a blog and then decides not to come to Chile based on that…they're probably not strong enough to withstand this country anyway. Just a thought!

Comment by kyleracine — November 19, 2009 @ 5:24 am

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So true Flo, blog readers really are voyeuristic. Yikes, I subscribe to like 500 blogs in my google reader…what does that make me?!?

Comment by kyleracine — November 19, 2009 @ 5:25 am

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Well this year the negative comments were down a lot from last year so maybe I'm headed in the right direction. I don't get as upset by criticism as I used to, I've realized that's just part of having a blog and speaking your mind I guess…

Comment by kyleracine — November 19, 2009 @ 5:25 am

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Yeah, I do that on other people's blogs when they have too many photos, I should know better! I just find it so hard to choose which photos to choose. Can I hire you to be my good-taste photo editor?

Comment by kyleracine — November 19, 2009 @ 5:26 am

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I am actually about to pick another number because she hasn't gotten in contact with me so maybe you will!

Comment by kyleracine — November 19, 2009 @ 5:27 am

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Yeah, we studied abroad together in Santiago! Small world

I'm in Beijing so if you're around I'd be more than happy to play tour guide. Mi casa es tu casa!

Comment by Leslie_Forman — November 19, 2009 @ 5:27 am

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