Calendars on blogs ... why why why?

[ianpeatey]

A few of you may have read some of my reviews over on the 'Show off your blog' section. And if you have, you may have noticed that I have this thing about calendars on blogs (you know the big ones in the sidebar highlighting each day where an entry has been posted).

I just don't see the point ... or haven't yet seen a blog where a calendar would be worth the space. I'm starting to get obsessed by this! I'm very open-minded and would love to learn.

So my question ... am the only one who doesn't see the point?

1) if you have a calendar on your blog ... why?
2) when reading someone else's blog ... do you use a calendar to navigate?
3) am I missing something when it comes to calendars on blogs?

Ian

[sadiessay-so]

My Skinny blog came with one built in. I took it off because it also has an archive. To me, that's being redundant. I agree with you. I think it's kind of pointless and takes up space. The way my layout is, I can't alter my html (the ONE thing I hate about the platform I use) so the only place I can put widgets and ads is in the sidebar. I don't need to junk it up with useless features. So, I take out what I can. That was one thing I saw that was useless. I'm of the opinion that if you have an archive visible, you don't need a calender also.

[Randy Cornhole]

I also see them as totally pointless. What a waste of space...!

[Randy Cornhole]

Sorry duplicate post. Damn this slow 3G dongle...!

[sukosaki]

I have always thought about this too. I even hate going through wordpress templates that have them activated in the sidebar. I understand that it's an option, but it's not a valuable one, IMO.

Just off the top of my head. I would think that someone running a blog for specials or online deal of the day, type thing might use a calendar. That way readers can click to a previous deal. But even then, I don't see value in that.

Good post, let's hope we can hear from someone that has one and uses it.

[QuirkyJessi]

As a whole, I don't see much purpose for calenders.I have, however, seen two cases where it worked well for the blog.

On one blog, she used a cute calendar as her archive (it wasn't a duplicate, with another archive elsewhere)....and it came complete with drop down menu, so it was still easily navigable.

On the other, it was used as an "events calendar" of sorts. She used it for things like showing when her contests were going to begin and end, when the next part of a series she was writing was going to go live, etc. It wasn't 'necessary', per se, but it worked really well for what she used it for.

[Ferox]

I prefer to have my archive divided into months instead. It suits me as a record of my time at uni, which will come to an end one day.

However, I find callenders more relevant that 'what's the weather' widgits.

[Nathan]

I never use calendars on blogs. I think it is a waste of valuable sidebar space.

[Katalina]

I am happy to see that I am in agreement with the majority. I can see using a calender as an event calender, but in place of/in addition to an archive they just don't make sense to me.

[Strongbow]

It is all down to personal preference i suppose although i have never bothered with them on my sites or on the ones i visit.