Comments on: Commenting on Blogs http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/ Simple Living... Frugality... Gardening... Cooking From Scratch... Knifty Knitter Projects.. And More. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:13:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Diddums http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4493 Diddums Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:15:51 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4493 I'm pretty confused about responding to comments. To start with I thought it was rude if I commented on someone's blog and didn't get a response. Then I discovered there are some very friendly bloggers who mostly don't respond, but will respond if I ask a question. And some do come and visit my blog, and comment there, so there's still a kind of connection going. The only ones I give up on are the ones who never respond and also never visit (unless it's a bigger blog, where it's par for the course!) Watching how other bloggers respond to comments has mixed me up a little, because I started to wonder if I was responding too much to comments on my own blog. I see the comments section as a discussion area rather than somewhere for visitors to make isolated remarks, but I've been realizing that not everybody thinks of it that way. As for checking up on replies to comments... do many bloggers subscribe to comments feeds? I've been doing that with all my favourite blogs, along with any new ones I happen to comment on (actually it's scary how few of those blogs respond in any form. If they answered me, I would be more likely to return. What's even worse is when they're rabbiting away to regular visitors and ignoring the stranger). The more difference I perceive in the way others handle their comments, the more I worry over whether or not I'm doing it right, and sometimes I wonder if I'm even welcome reading a blog. I realize that they don't know who I am yet and it takes time to gain trust, but I need to feel trust too, as a visitor. Terry Wogan was writing in one of his books about the difference between DJs. There are the ones you can 'connect' with as people, and there are the more distant ones who have fans. I think the blog world can be like that. ;-) I’m pretty confused about responding to comments. To start with I thought it was rude if I commented on someone’s blog and didn’t get a response. Then I discovered there are some very friendly bloggers who mostly don’t respond, but will respond if I ask a question. And some do come and visit my blog, and comment there, so there’s still a kind of connection going.

The only ones I give up on are the ones who never respond and also never visit (unless it’s a bigger blog, where it’s par for the course!)

Watching how other bloggers respond to comments has mixed me up a little, because I started to wonder if I was responding too much to comments on my own blog. I see the comments section as a discussion area rather than somewhere for visitors to make isolated remarks, but I’ve been realizing that not everybody thinks of it that way.

As for checking up on replies to comments… do many bloggers subscribe to comments feeds? I’ve been doing that with all my favourite blogs, along with any new ones I happen to comment on (actually it’s scary how few of those blogs respond in any form. If they answered me, I would be more likely to return. What’s even worse is when they’re rabbiting away to regular visitors and ignoring the stranger).

The more difference I perceive in the way others handle their comments, the more I worry over whether or not I’m doing it right, and sometimes I wonder if I’m even welcome reading a blog. I realize that they don’t know who I am yet and it takes time to gain trust, but I need to feel trust too, as a visitor.

Terry Wogan was writing in one of his books about the difference between DJs. There are the ones you can ‘connect’ with as people, and there are the more distant ones who have fans. I think the blog world can be like that. ;-)

]]> By: Christine http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4479 Christine Mon, 17 Mar 2008 03:32:25 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4479 I generally like when someone responds to my comments. And I try and respond to other people's comments although I probably don't do it 100% of the time if the comment kind of stand for itself and doesn't need a reply. That said I read a blog where the person frequently asks for input and when you comment she never responds to it. So I'm pretty much done commenting on that one. I generally like when someone responds to my comments. And I try and respond to other people’s comments although I probably don’t do it 100% of the time if the comment kind of stand for itself and doesn’t need a reply.

That said I read a blog where the person frequently asks for input and when you comment she never responds to it. So I’m pretty much done commenting on that one.

]]> By: Chris http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4476 Chris Sun, 16 Mar 2008 15:24:27 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4476 I try not to comment on my own blog unless I need to address something very specific. But your thoughts do make sense that I will have to think about regularly posting a comment on my blog also. I enjoyed visiting your blog... I try not to comment on my own blog unless I need to address something very specific. But your thoughts do make sense that I will have to think about regularly posting a comment on my blog also.
I enjoyed visiting your blog…

]]> By: Jolene http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4464 Jolene Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:27:12 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4464 I'm still pretty new to blogging, just started my blog in December. At first I would flip flop about whether or not the comment thing bothered me. But now I think it doesn't, chances are if I left a comment somewhere they at least came and checked out my blog, maybe they just didn't find anything to comment on and didn't want to leave an unrelated comment to a post. I've been trying to figure out how to make sure I acknowledge comments on my blog. And it's funny I just came across this post after following you from my blog because literally 10 minutes ago I was thinking about making a blog post about acknowledging comments. I don't get a ton of comments as of yet, but still with trying to keep my blog(s) as active as I can, trying to keep up on all my other online endeavors, plus the usually responsibilities of being a homeschooling and stay at home mom...I still find it difficult to make a comment in response to each comment made to me. So, what have I come up with? Well, I decided that I will try to set aside time once a week to go through all comments for that week on my blog(s). I will follow each persons link to their own blog, if I find something to comment on(like I did today!lol) I will do so, if they are an Entrecard member I will drop a card with one of my two(or even both if I haven't hit my limit) EC accounts, I will at least try to find some way of letting them know that I have followed them and appreciate them visiting my blog. If I can't find anything to click on or comment on within their blog hopefully just a thank you comment in my own will be enough. Now, if I ever get the amount of comments Pioneer Woman gets(which I highly doubt I will ever) I would definitely have to re-think how to handle it. And thank you for your comment on my blog, I was going to try and do your Smiley Saturday thing as you suggested, but the day just got away from me yesterday! I’m still pretty new to blogging, just started my blog in December. At first I would flip flop about whether or not the comment thing bothered me. But now I think it doesn’t, chances are if I left a comment somewhere they at least came and checked out my blog, maybe they just didn’t find anything to comment on and didn’t want to leave an unrelated comment to a post.

I’ve been trying to figure out how to make sure I acknowledge comments on my blog. And it’s funny I just came across this post after following you from my blog because literally 10 minutes ago I was thinking about making a blog post about acknowledging comments.

I don’t get a ton of comments as of yet, but still with trying to keep my blog(s) as active as I can, trying to keep up on all my other online endeavors, plus the usually responsibilities of being a homeschooling and stay at home mom…I still find it difficult to make a comment in response to each comment made to me.

So, what have I come up with? Well, I decided that I will try to set aside time once a week to go through all comments for that week on my blog(s). I will follow each persons link to their own blog, if I find something to comment on(like I did today!lol) I will do so, if they are an Entrecard member I will drop a card with one of my two(or even both if I haven’t hit my limit) EC accounts, I will at least try to find some way of letting them know that I have followed them and appreciate them visiting my blog. If I can’t find anything to click on or comment on within their blog hopefully just a thank you comment in my own will be enough.

Now, if I ever get the amount of comments Pioneer Woman gets(which I highly doubt I will ever) I would definitely have to re-think how to handle it.

And thank you for your comment on my blog, I was going to try and do your Smiley Saturday thing as you suggested, but the day just got away from me yesterday!

]]> By: Miscellaneous Adventures of an Aussie Mum » Blog Archive » Forever Friends Award http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4454 Miscellaneous Adventures of an Aussie Mum » Blog Archive » Forever Friends Award Sat, 15 Mar 2008 05:02:09 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4454 [...] Sunday. There is always a good discussion going around about the nature of commenting on blogs (Lightening’s is the most recent example) and I’m the first to admit I’m not the most diligent at [...] […] Sunday. There is always a good discussion going around about the nature of commenting on blogs (Lightening’s is the most recent example) and I’m the first to admit I’m not the most diligent at […]

]]> By: Kelly http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4444 Kelly Fri, 14 Mar 2008 23:27:42 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4444 that's an interesting topic Lightening. I just don't have the time to respond back personally every time someone leaves a comment. But I do try to respond to a couple within any post. Hopefully that way everyone that comments on my blog gets an occasional response from me. I especially try to acknowledge new commenters. I'm not always good at it, but I do try :) that’s an interesting topic Lightening. I just don’t have the time to respond back personally every time someone leaves a comment. But I do try to respond to a couple within any post. Hopefully that way everyone that comments on my blog gets an occasional response from me. I especially try to acknowledge new commenters.
I’m not always good at it, but I do try :)

]]> By: Bettina http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4440 Bettina Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:41:01 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4440 Obviously my dear Lightening, you have struck a chord with people. I'm still just as confused as ever, but think I shall just keep doing what I'm doing. Obviously my dear Lightening, you have struck a chord with people.

I’m still just as confused as ever, but think I shall just keep doing what I’m doing.

]]> By: lightening http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4438 lightening Fri, 14 Mar 2008 02:41:44 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4438 Wow! I wasn't expecting this topic to generate so much lively discussion. Thank you everyone for taking the time to add your thoughts and your questions. I think it will be worth writing a follow-up post to this so I'll work on that next week. Lori - I will answer your questions as part of that post if that's okay with you. :) Wow! I wasn’t expecting this topic to generate so much lively discussion. Thank you everyone for taking the time to add your thoughts and your questions. I think it will be worth writing a follow-up post to this so I’ll work on that next week.

Lori - I will answer your questions as part of that post if that’s okay with you. :)

]]> By: tiff http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4437 tiff Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:38:29 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4437 You are so right! I love my comments. They make feel all feel goody and liked. It is a nice feeling. I am lousy at commenting back though. Instead i usually go to the person who has left a message for me and leave a comment for them. Sometimes I will add a thank you for taking the time to comment on my post, so they know I read it. You are so right! I love my comments. They make feel all feel goody and liked. It is a nice feeling. I am lousy at commenting back though. Instead i usually go to the person who has left a message for me and leave a comment for them. Sometimes I will add a thank you for taking the time to comment on my post, so they know I read it.

]]> By: Gemisht http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4436 Gemisht Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:31:04 +0000 http://www.lighteningonline.com/2008/03/13/commenting-on-blogs/#comment-4436 Interesting topic Lightening. I admit that I am behind in replying to comments on my blog ATM - life got busier than I was expecting. And like Bettina, I feel guilty about that. The guilt is mainly because I know that I like going back to Blogs to see the replies to my comments and/or anyone elses. It does become more of a conversation. And I think its great when commentors interact in the comments between themselves, rather than just the blogger and the commentors. I think that replying by email to commentors really needs to be a decision based on the comments and the replies required. It depends on the topic and whether it needs to be replied to privately, or publicy in the comments. Off I go to catch up on replying to comments. Interesting topic Lightening.

I admit that I am behind in replying to comments on my blog ATM - life got busier than I was expecting. And like Bettina, I feel guilty about that. The guilt is mainly because I know that I like going back to Blogs to see the replies to my comments and/or anyone elses. It does become more of a conversation. And I think its great when commentors interact in the comments between themselves, rather than just the blogger and the commentors.

I think that replying by email to commentors really needs to be a decision based on the comments and the replies required. It depends on the topic and whether it needs to be replied to privately, or publicy in the comments.

Off I go to catch up on replying to comments.

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