LOYALTY.

LOYALTY: One can surmise, began with fellow-feeling for one's family, gene-group and friends. Loyalty comes most naturally amongst small groups or tribes where the prospect of the whole casting out the individual seems like the ultimate, unthinkable rejection. The English word "loyalty" came into use in the early part of the 15th century in the sense of fidelity to one’s oath, or in service, love, etc. - wordiq.com

Last week Suko wrote a thought provoking post on LOYALTY in which she ended with the questions: What about you? What role does loyalty play in your blogging habits? Are you more apt to visit a blog due to a sense of loyalty, because of the topic of the post, or for another reason?

Hmm.

A friend of mine commented that, firstly and foremost, her loyalty lay with herself - "After all if I don't look after myself who will?" she asked - Totally selfish OR very honest?

I consider myself a fairly loyal individual and on thinking about it I guess I have a pretty strong sense of where loyalties should lie. I'll give an example ......

Discussing a friends marital break-up in which her husband had had an affair, X was putting all blame on the 'harlot who stole her husband'. "Why put all the blame on the woman?" I asked, "Surely your husband must share some responsibility." Her argument, as another woman her husband's mistress should have thought of her fellow females and known what pain this affair would cause. My argument, whereas it could be said that this woman owed my friend nothing, her husband at least owed her some loyalty and therefore she should be more annoyed with him.

As I said I have pretty strong feelings about loyalty.

But what about in relation to the blogosphere?

Going back to my first definition, yes, it could be said that I'm a member of a small tribe but do I owe any loyalty to my fellow 'pack members'?

Yes and no (Grief I had a feeling that this was going to become a long post). As in any other relationship loyalty is only one of the components and I feel it would be a great disservice to say that I only visited my blogger buddies out of a sense of loyalty - I must also enjoy their company and be interested in them and what they have to say.

That said, call it loyalty OR obligation OR, even, just common courtesy (I confess that I would feel it rude not to make at least one return visit if only to acknowledge that person and thank them for their interest), I do feel that I have a certain responsibility to the tribe and especially to those who become more intimate members, to those who I come to know quite well.

Not too sure if this fully answers Suko's question but it certainly made me think and re-evaluate one or two things. So ..........

What about you? What role does loyalty play in your blogging habits? Are you more apt to visit a blog due to a sense of loyalty, because of the topic of the post, or for another reason?

glitter-graphics.com