It Is Simply One Person’s Opinion
Feeling a bit like a scene from “Platoon,” we have the “Why can’t I comment on your Blog?” and “Why would I want to comment on your blog?” or “You allow comments so I’m leaving!” or perhaps “You don’t allow comments so I’m leaving!” topic.
Comments On Blogs
Everyone has an opinion. Put them all together and they collectively boil down to one, two, three, or four. That’s all.
Do you ever have the feeling that something’s never really over? So, how many ways are there to actually look at the subject?
Either you do or you don’t or you moderate or you allow them on certain posts and not on others. Got it?
From there we complicate the daylights out of it…
We quote Dave Winer.
“…to the extent that comments interfere with the natural expression of the unedited voice of an individual, comments may act to make something not a blog…. The cool thing about blogs is that while they may be quiet, and it may be hard to find what you’re looking for, at least you can say what you think without being shouted down. This makes it possible for unpopular ideas to be expressed. And if you know history, the most important ideas often are the unpopular ones…. That’s what’s important about blogs, not that people can comment on your ideas. As long as they can start their own blog, there will be no shortage of places to comment.”
[Forgetting this: “Comments are very much mail-list-like things. A few voices can drown out all others.”]
How do “comments interfere” with anything? I’m imagining they’re jumping off the screen into my office and disrupting my actions. Powerful little critters. “At least you can say what you think without being shouted down?” Okay, I’m fresh off the turnip truck - why am I assuming I’m getting shouted down for saying what I think? Oh, and how loud is my voice on your Blog when I leave a comment? I’ve got a very deep-toned voice and I’m sure your computer screen’s chassis is vibrating as you read my comment eh? Or maybe I’ve rattled your dishes…
We offer our varying opinions in a forum thread;
“I just left a fantastic blog with great information. Why? I couldn’t comment.”
Well heck, that’s an individual’s right, isn’t it? Why do I need to question that?
“Having a blog without allowing comments is basically a one-sided conversation”
I said to myself - “Self! What do you think eh?”
“Increased interactivity makes people happier. They have more freedom.”
If you feel this way, why do I question it?
“The benefit of a blog is based on whether I enjoy reading it”
Might consider editing this one… the benefit of a blog, to you, is based on whether you enjoy reading it. If you enjoy reading it, I might not and that will not be beneficial to me if I have to read it. Maybe it only matters who reads it…
“Famous bloggers can getaway without having comments because they’re famous and people are going to read what they say because of who they are.”
Hmmm, what do I want to be when I grow up? A famous blogger, that’s it. Then I’ll have folks reading my writings because I’m famous. I might be dumb as a rock, but I’ll be famous and I’ll get read! Yay…
“Lively discussions are good and offer a great potential for learning and seeing differents points of view”
Oooh nooo - I might learn something? I’ll see that others have differing points of view? NO!!! Tell me it isn’t so!!!
“If the blog is just someone’s opinion, then comments will help to increase traffic and will certainly contribute to the success of the blog.”
Do I hear - linkbait?
“One of the joys of blogging is voicing your opinion on something someone has posted.”
Hehehe - I’ve got you now! You’re going down…
“A blog isn’t about discussing a certain topic with other people. A blog is about publishing your own thoughts and opinions on certain topics or others to read whether they agree or not.”
Otherwise known as - my hosting company dropped FrontPage extensions…
“I think comments on blogs are fairly useless.”
I’m bored because I’m boring.
“It all depends on the blog whether comments typically have any value or not.”
Speaking of which, some offer solutions that will fit most situations. This is just one.
Tags: blog-comments, moderate-blog-comments, turn-off-blog-comments, turn-on-blog-commentsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Personal Thoughts
2 opinions for It Is Simply One Person’s Opinion
Jennifer
Jul 22, 2007 at 1:01 am
Well, now I’m scared to leave a comment — who knows what you’ll say. I’m sort of confused at what you’re getting at here. Do you like blog comments?
IMO I won’t likely visit a blog again if I can’t comment. For me blogging has always been a very community oriented kind of experience. Also, I think I have left over attention needs from my acting days. The whole LOOK AT ME issue — I think lots of people have that. But mainly, if I like a post I want to tell the writer. If I hate a post I want to tell the writer. I also like to know what others think.
That’s how I fly so if you have a blog with no comment section; too bad. I’m never gonna read or link you.
mark
Jul 22, 2007 at 6:51 am
Well Jennifer, not too scared eh? Big Smile! I love comments and want as many as I can get. I moderate first timers (by b5’s preferences here, but you know that) but each day I go through them and approve the good guys - like you!
Thanks for stopping by and… commenting and contributing to “our” conversation :)
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