There have been previous discussions about bloggers responding to those who comment on their posts. Most commenters DO want a response. a) it's polite. b) it can start a dialogue.
A blogger does not get points for responding (nor should he), but her post does count as a comment. How often a blogger responds of course depends on how many comments come in between the times the blogger is on line. Still, some respond to many commenters in a single comment. Others make a separate post for each comment response.
How do you, as a commenter, feel? Does it matter to you whether you are addressed in a multiple response or a single response?
How do you, as a blog reader, feel? Do you want to read the comments in a multiple response or in several/many individual responses?
A suggestion to the Active Rain programmers: When you comment on a blog, currently you can either:
- a) keep checking back to see if your comment has a comment, and if so, if a return comment is appropriate or requested (which takes a lot of time, most frequently without value), or
- b) check that you want to receive all comments, which again takes a lot of time to go through, just to find out if your own comment has a comment.
To encourage dialogue, it would be nice if we could have a posting at My Home if a blogger responds to one of our comments, so that we can answer a question, add to dialogue, etc.
Hi Sharon-
I certainly do like responses to my comments - but I really don't care if they are individual or not.
Sharon--I do like to give individual comments as there are many who do ask questions and expect responses. But while I leave comments for people, I don't always go back to see if they have responded unless it is someone that I like to exchange banter with.
What is more important to me is reciprocity. I leave more comments to people who visit my blog and comment to me. If they don't, I don't take the time to return to their blog or subscribe as I think it should be reciprocal....Not always. I will notice good posts when I have time. But on busy days, I make certain to visit bloggers who visit and comment to me first. That way if I run short of time, my favorites are read!
I think it depends on the comments. If someone makes a comment that shows they really read the post and put some thought into writing a comment, it would be appropriate to comment to them individually. Especially if a person asks a question.
But if they just say, 'Nice post.', it's hard to give an individual response to that, except for maybe a 'Thanks.' And the person who makes such a comment probably doesn't expect a response anyway.
Great Suggestion. While you are about making suggestions, I have one. Many of us want to build our rankings as we post. That seems to be the way the system was set this up to keep people interested and give them a track to run on. There are times when you may want to offer that 11th or 12th post in some sort of time frame that is not clear and you don't receive points for them. Somehow as to say that post has no value. It seems the point system is a balance of several ways to accumulate them. Invite points, comment points, post points and the other catch all, bonus points that I do not understand as yet. There also does not seem to be anyone at the other end if you e-mail ActiveRain. There surely must be someone there as someone must decide what is a featured post.
I think it would be nice if there was a narrative that explained how one, if interested, could build their rankings. Also that there might be some latitude on the number of posts or at least define what a week is. I take a week as any 7 days and that is not correct for there were times when I added my post in one of the 7 days that did not total 10 posts. Yet I was denied post points because I exceeded 10 in a week. So there must be a start day of the week. Does that mean if Sunday was the start day, you could have 10 posts through the following Saturday? I can't locate this anywhere. There must be a start day? Do you start over on the designated first day of the week, be it Sunday or Monday?
Thanks for offering your ideas to the AR Gods. They likely hear us but like a true God, they answer only in their own time. :)
Katrina - no, unfortunately I didn't get to Orlando. I was en route to Colorado on Saturday.
Marc - it's what's said that's important, not what format it's in.
Bryant - thanks for sharing your research and the results of your poll. 84% is a big majority.
Rosemary - yes, dialogue is important. Sometimes people comment on other people's comments. That's important, too.
Teri - I've always liked the feature that lets me search first for my favorite colleague's posts.
Leon - you're probably right. Someone who just says Thanks probably doesn't go back to check that post for a response.
William - previous posts have answered some of your questions. You could search through old posts or input search terms to find them. Not too long ago AR set up their own blog so that it would be easy to sift through policies and rules, but that doesn't cover the time before it was set up.
Chris - maybe a rebel, maybe just creative.
William - p.s. - many of us post lots more comments than we get points for.
Michael - exactly my point. It's not easy to know when there are comments on your comments without reading through everyone else's comments on the same post.
Katrina - no, unfortunately I didn't get to Orlando. I was en route to Colorado on Saturday.
Marc - it's what's said that's important, not what format it's in.
Bryant - thanks for sharing your research and the results of your poll. 84% is a big majority.
Rosemary - yes, dialogue is important. Sometimes people comment on other people's comments. That's important, too.
Teri - I've always liked the feature that lets me search first for my favorite colleague's posts.
Leon - you're probably right. Someone who just says Thanks probably doesn't go back to check that post for a response.
William - previous posts have answered some of your questions. You could search through old posts or input search terms to find them. Not too long ago AR set up their own blog so that it would be easy to sift through policies and rules, but that doesn't cover the time before it was set up.
Chris - maybe a rebel, maybe just creative.
William - p.s. - many of us post lots more comments than we get points for.
Michael - exactly my point. It's not easy to know when there are comments on your comments without reading through everyone else's comments on the same post.
Agree Sharon. Respond when you have the time to do so. It's just good manners.
Ed in Fred(ericksburg Virginia that is.)
I appreciate comments. It gives me insight to how the post was received. But, if there are rules for responding to comments, it will just discourage comments. I try to respond, but can't always. That's why I usually respond to a group at a time.
I do object to folks who comment and include two/three links back to their web page or blog.
I am okay with multiple replies, and I'm okay okay with indiidual replies - makes no difference to me.
Regarding Lenn's comment objecting to links to commenter's web page or blog, I personally like those because it saves me a step or two to reach their website, rather than just the ActiveRain profile. AND it does help with SEO. I don't feel threatened at all by anyone's links or branding.
Ed - good to hear from you.
Lenn - thanks for your comments.
Margaret - thanks for adding your comments.
Interesting question, Sharon. I used to do more of the group responses, and still will on occasion when I can really buys. But normally I now do individual responses, even when I am not writing a lengthy one. I personally don't mind which I get as a commenter on a blog.
I appreciate comments and always try to respond. I am not particularly bothered if I comment and do not get a response, unless I ask a question, but it is always nice to have the recognition.
Jeff