The Comment Thing
Bloggers are captivated with comments. Other bloggers often judge a blog by the number of comments that appear on the blog and often, bloggers will comment on other blogs of similar topics . . . simply to get more readers to their blogs.
Without a doubt, blogging has become a very popular phenomenon. In fact, my wife would content that it is an obsession for many (present blogger excluded included).
But it all goes back to comments.
Why do bloggers blog? What makes them desire to put their words, thoughts, opinions, beliefs, photos, podcasts, etc. out there for the entire world to see?
Comments.
Moreover, it’s the knowledge that someone is paying attention to them. If blogging were an event of isolation, I doubt anyone would do it. They’d go back to doing personal journals and might even be a little more personal.
Our society is one in which the so-called “fifteen minutes of fame” has been downsized along with blue-collar America into five or six minutes. That’s because everyone wants their share . . . and it’s easier to obtain it.
There are more people seeking the spotlight through reality television, blogs, MySpace, YouTube and more. There is absolutely no way that every single one of these folks can be allotted a full fifteen minutes – so consider yourself lucky if you get even five.
Comments, by their nature, provides us a glimpse of those precious minutes. Albeit, it takes mere seconds for someone to make a comment (even less for malicious spammers).
But way don’t people comment? Are they satisfied with just reading someone else’s thoughts like a voyeur who secretly watches and never tells you they’rr looking? Perhaps they are not as bold as the blogger and are less willing to lay it all on the line for fear of backlash. Perhaps, they don’t want those fifteen minutes.
Posted in Musings
10 Responses to “The Comment Thing”
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I’m funny that way–I tend to read and never comment, but I love getting comments. I guess I should comment more.
I only comment if I feel I have something to either contribute to the discussion or to say – like thank you for your visit, or Happy New year. In this case – all three.
Comments also often provide a link back to the site of the commenter. More links improve the site’s ranking by search engines. That’s part of the reason we have comment spam by idiots trying to leverage search engine rankings for web sites that have little or no content of any value… and why we have to do things to deal with comment spam.
I comment when I see something worth commenting on… and the link goes to a site where I try to provide content that is of use or interest to others. (and I’m not trying to sell anyone anything…, and don’t click on the ads unless there’s something you are interested in!)
I find that people often don’t comment because there’s no ‘hook’ in the post.
The above post has plenty of hooks. You’ve asked lots of questions giving readers opportunity to think through the issue and leave their own thoughts.
I’ll often use questions in my posts to prompt commenting. If readers know that their opinion is being sought and is valued they’re far more likely to jump in.
I don’t value comments for the sake of being noticed and having my 15 minutes of fame, I value comments as a way of building friendship and community.
Rodney-I get the impression from your blog that you do indeed value community participation. I am the same way, but probably don’t solicit comments as much as this particular post does. Very good point. Besides, you’re on the radio man!!! You’ve already got your 15 minutes. But thanks for commenting. I’ll be blogging more about this in the next couple days.
I comment a lot whenever I have enough time. I do it if a post/blog deserves it.
And the best part of commenting that most bloggers are not aware of, is that, Comments on blogs are also spidered by Google as far as I know, which obviously could potentially increase your PR.
hmmm.. never thought of it that way. I guess I should start commenting more. I usually just read and unless something really hits me, I don’t comment. But starting today, I’ll be commenting more.
I hear what one of you said about leaving a “hook”, but I don;t want to be one of those bloggers continually asking, “What do you think?” or “Has this ever happened to you?” and have NO ONE respond. How embarrassing. I also do not want “pity comments”. I figure if any of my readers (are there any out there?) feel a reason to comment, they will do so anyway.
What better way to get people commenting then to blog, about commenting:)
I have blogged about the weird world of commenting before, too. I do like getting comments, but I also believe in commenting being a two-way street. It’s just a common courtesy. If someone calls me, I call them back. If someone emails me, I email them in return. If any relationship is one-sided, online or otherwise, one of the parties will probably eventually get bored or feel unwanted on some level.
Online or face to face shouldn’t make a difference. If I expect people to read and respond my blog, then I would only hope they’d expect the same in return from me.:)
I comment a lot whenever I have enough time. I do it if a post/blog deserves it.
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kennedy
There are a lot of sites out there showing book video. BookVideoTV, BookTelevision and of course CSPAN, but I like how BN.com and Reader’s Entertainment TV have specific genre channels and original shows. There’s just more to see and I can be specific in what genre I’m interested in. Anyone else watch online tv?
Reader’s Entertainment