Thursday, June 25, 2009
A quick note about comments
10 comments
I know you're all out there. Google Analytics says so. I'm not just a crazy lady who enjoys talking to herself - I know that I have readers! So where are you all?! I've noticed lately that there has been a serious lack of comments, and I think... I hope that the content I write about is interesting and thought-provoking. And I know that all of you are intelligent and have really important things to say... so say them! If you're a lurker, now is the time to come out of the shadows. Commenting doesn't require registration of any kind, and I'm dying to hear more opinions and input about the topics I write about. Come on, all you smart articulate people, put in your two cents :]
Posts
June 26, 2009 at 7:05 AM
To be honest, there are some blogs where I usually comment and other blogs where I just never comment. It's not connected to the quality of the blog, the writing, the opinion but some blogs are just somehow more inviting to comment to.
I was thinking why your blog is one of those I just never think to comment on and after some pondering, I think it's something to do with the tone of the post. You tend to write having made your mind up and are very clear in your view. (This is one of the reasons why I like to read your posts) but this can stand in the way of invitation to discussion. Other blog posts I've read sometimes end with a question to debate or openly throw it out to discuss the issue at hand and then a follow up post works with the opinions in the comments on that earlier post.
Maybe you could try such a 'throwing open' of a topic and see what your readers have to say on it.
June 26, 2009 at 10:26 AM
i agree... your blog is well-written to a fault. you say everything that needs to said and don't really leave anything for discussion. leave us with questions to answer/ hypotheticals to explore/ connections to consider... stuff like that
oh, and ps: i miss the way the blog was before all the changes...
June 26, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Right. I do try to include discussion questions, but I'll try to do so more often. Keep in mind though that you're more than welcome to disagree with me if you feel I'm wrong - I don't mind debate at all. Thanks for the tips, I appreciate it!
And Sophie, I'm sorry you don't like the new look :( It's difficult to please everyone, but the general consensus is that people seem to like the new layout, so I kept it.
June 26, 2009 at 2:31 PM
It's because of the new layout.
June 26, 2009 at 2:48 PM
How so, Jen?
June 26, 2009 at 4:40 PM
Well, I also noticed hardly anyone comments anymore, and I noticed this happened emmiediately after changing the layout. Just an A+B=C thing to me. I think it's because there is no "post comment" button on the main page. You have to click a very tiny/barely visible "# comments" link in the upper right of the post to even get to the option to post, and even once on the comments page the link to actually post is somewhat hard to find. Personally, I much preferred the old layout with the stereotypical '50s housewife picture.
June 26, 2009 at 4:41 PM
"You tend to write having made your mind up and are very clear in your view. (This is one of the reasons why I like to read your posts) but this can stand in the way of invitation to discussion."
Agreed... I've noticed people who post comments offering another opinion tend to get "flamed" by you in the comments section... sorry! :(
June 26, 2009 at 4:42 PM
***Immediately! Sorry for the TYPO.
June 26, 2009 at 6:39 PM
I'll try to make the link more visible, thank you.
I really try to avoid "flaming" people - I mean, keep in mind that there's a difference between debating and defending my opinion, and just plainly saying, "YOU'RE WRONG." I enjoy debating, and I will defend my opinion on my blog - otherwise, what's the point of starting these discussions? Debate is a good thing.
June 27, 2009 at 5:01 PM
I think I've commented once or twice but I sometimes feel as if the comments go into a void. Not that I expect you to comment back but there is little input from others. Granted, sometimes I'm just affirming what you've already stated or expressing my disgust with some racist or misogynistic news you've posted and those types of comments usually don't generate discussion.
But your blog is one of the few that I read ever day (except this past week when I wasn't able to get to a computer every day).
I like that you are not wishy-washy with your posts. You say what you mean and how you feel and I would hate to see you change that just to generate more comments.