“Why You Should Comment Even Though I Don’t”
I could have titled this post many different things, “Are Comments Indicitive of Substance?”, “Should I Care About Comments”…I actually almost titled it “How Do You Encourage Comments?” and then realized my actual title was more truthful and what is a blog if not truthful.
So this post is a combination of all the titles but in reality it is a plea for comments because for some reason even though I can see how many people come to this site, comments seem to validate it.
I think that my early posts kind of suck. For the most part they are just reporting on someone else’s post that I found interesting. At least now that I have the Twitterviews up I seem to have found my own voice and I think some of my recent posts are more on point. So this post is more of a query to those of you who come to this site. Why don’t more of you leave comments on posts? But as I ask that question immediately I realize I am a total hypocrite (hence the title of this post). Let me explain. I read many blogs and other sites that offer the opportunity to comment. I like many of them. Some (@tuaw) I return to multiple times per day but I rarely, if ever, leave comments on an article, no matter how much I enjoyed it. If I vehemently disagree with something I might leave a comment but I rarely just comment to let the author know “hey, I’m out here and I enjoyed your article.”
So this post is my vow to myself that if I am asking you to leave me comments to let me know you are indeed out there and enjoy what this site is offering, then I will do the same at your site. Feel free to let me (@michaelgcohen) know where to find you or sign up for a twitterview.
As always thanks for letting me rant and of course please comment.
Comment by Oktober Five on 31 October 2008:
Hi, my name is Oktober, and I read without commenting…. It’s true. However, I’ve noticed a couple things about when I do and when I do not comment.
Firstly, I comment when people ask me to. Usually. This post, for example, asked me to.
Secondly, I comment when it’s a thought-provoking, personal post that somehow begs a response. These are rare.
And lastly, there is this huge group of bloggers that I read for pure enjoyment. Or curiosity. These sorts of blogs post really interesting things that my only comment would be “Wow, I didn’t know that!” Or else they post really funny things. PunIntended.com, for example, is one of my favorite funny sites. I go, I laugh, I leave. It’s like reading Dave Barry in the bathroom. You’re not there to share it with anyone, you just think it’s hilarious.
Comment by John Lacey on 1 November 2008:
This is something I’ve wondered about also. I think the true value of comments is in their ability to continue the conversation that is the blog post itself. As a writer it is heartening to receive comments just as an acknowledgment that there is someone out there lurking – and hopefully reading. Yet the meaningful ones are those that CONNECT the ideas and consider the subject matter. There’s a level of engagement there that provides value to the post author as much as the commenter and other viewers of the discussion.
Comment by Michael on 2 November 2008:
@Oktober – I agree with you that the posts that beg a response are rare and that’s why I try to end most of my posts with a question or something that might garner a response. Your point about the bathroom type reading is true as well, there are sites which I read for my own pure enjoyment and part of that enjoyment is the non-obligation to post a comment.
Thanks for taking the time to comment here though.
Comment by Michael on 2 November 2008:
@John
I think that comments that I see on tech blogs like “First” add nothing of course but it is true that the validation factor is there when you do receive a comment. I try to respond to each one of mine, but of course that is easier to do when you only receive a handful.
I also could not agree more about the connection between a comment and post. For example the comments on this post are exactly what I was hoping to get, thoughtful responses on why you do or do not leave comments on a site. I got just as much out of them as I hope you got from my post.
I appreciate you taking the time to leave your thoughts, I hope others will continue to do the same.
Comment by @julieblue on 3 November 2008:
I rarely comment regardless of how brilliant something is. If I don’t know the writer, I don’t comment 99% of the time. If the writer asks for feedback & that person is in my linkedin network, I comment 100% of the time. If the writer asks & I respect &/or like that person, I will comment about 40% of the time depending on how busy I am. If the writer sends me a dm & asks me to have others comment, I do it only if the person is in my linkedin network. You were totally honest so I am commenting with total honesty. The reason I commented on this piece is because A) you work for Nortel & my company sells Nortel solutions exclusively & B) you asked for comments.
Comment by April on 3 November 2008:
I am a reformed non-commenter. It used to be I never commented and now I comment all the time. I think in general people that have their own blogs comment more because they understand the value of a bit a feedback.
April
Comment by sara on 8 November 2008:
I always try to comment on any blog that I read. I figure that I always have some thought about a post so I may as well share it with the blogger!:)