The following post is for the 31-day commenting challenge:
How often do you comment on other blogs during a typical week?
I am a horrible commenter. Even though I know that commenting is one of the most important aspects of blogging, I am often either too lazy or intimidated to leave a comment. I am always awed by the depth and length of some comments, so I feel silly just say, “Yeah, I agree.” Often times I will leave the site having said nothing at all. If there is a post that makes me think, I swear that I will mull over the content and come later, but I seldom do. I will leave several blog that I want to comment on later as unread in my reader, but when the next batch of 50 come through, I mark them read and say I will do it next time.
The irony is I am always disappointed, when I write what I think is an emotional charged or powerful post and get no comments. I really hope this challenge will get me into the habit of commenting more. Tonight I comment on two new blogs, and I feel great about it. I hope to hear back from both of these great bloggers. After all this is the spirit of blogging. I am through with screaming into the darkness waiting to be heard and acknowledged, I want to sit in the darkness and listen and reassure.
Do you track your blog comments? How? What do you do with your tracking?
I never even knew this was possible. I have signed up for CoComment for this challenge, so I hope I will learn how to better keep track of my comments. I am still a bit fuzzy on how it works, but like everything else I will figure it out, or use my network to teach me. As of now it seems a bit “buggy.” Any advice or tips?
Do you tend to comment at the same blogs or do you try to comment on at least one new blog per week?
I comment so rarely, that I will not answer that question, but I will try to comment on new blogs from now on.
Are there any specific areas where you think you need to do some work? What do you want to do to address these issues?
When I do comment, I think I do well. Although I sometimes may come off as confrontational or a know it all, because I find it easier to comment on posts I disagree with, especially when it is something I am passionate about, so it may be a good idea for me to try and be a bit more cordial.
I am sure no one want to read this post, so I will stop. Although it felt good to get it down. Great first day of the challenge.
Hey,
I too rarely comment but read avidly. It is good to see you back!
Comments in relation to social and participatory media:
I think this is a great idea but a lot has changed on the internet since I started blogging in 2003 (publicly). Though this was by no means the “early days” of blogging it was just prior to the mainstream adoption of social media – even the big media were still, at that time, attacking blogging and bloggers.
Here’s how I described it in 2004:
http://www.mindjack.com/feature/linkedout.html
Back then, blogs didn’t even come with comments function. Even blogger. You had to sign up for a service or install code yourself. Permalinks and trackback were the closest thing to knowing what people had responded to. It took a while, but eventually we all had comments.
Blogrolls were also really big – a way of defining your value via inbound links and establishing community ties. RSS was still babysteps.
I don’t remember the exact date but I remember the first time I saw a bloglines URL in my stats. I went and checked it out and behold … somebody was reading me via a third party service. So of course I signed up! 🙂
Bloglines was, for me, the begining of the end of comments – in a way. And here’s why.
1. There were fewer of us (bloggers, citizen producers) and thus simpler to stay “on top” of all you followed.
2. We had more time for fewer apps. Before the sexy candy of social networking (or at the very very start) people didn’t have a huge number of things they were doing online beyond emailing and visiting sites they enjoyed. Again, RSS wasn’t even part of the picture.
3. Our networks were smaller and less promiscuous. What do I mean by that? We made connection with people after getting to know them for a while. We visited their blogs, read their stuff then maybe left a comment to see what happened. Maybe later on we’d permalink and then add them to our blogroll (that, after really getting to know them).
I remember the first few weeks of Orkut – when an Orkut invite was a big deal to some. All the people I found in there were other early adopters – most of whom I either knew or had connection with because of my life online. We all added each other based on little more than an awareness of each other’s presence online. That was enough – and so the promiscuous adding of friends began (innocently enough with established networking patterns).
I’d like to argue that comments, in these times as more and more people are using social and participatory media, it’s much harder to respond to all we follow. That’s due to all the factors I listed above – and then some. We’re more selective now about where we spend time commenting. Also, more of us have our own blogs and spaces and frequently respond to other people’s work in those spaces.
Here’s the final piece; Social bookmarking
If I like something online I bookmark it and write up a short note for context explaining why I thought it was worthwhile. By doing so, I’ve created a link back to that site and a miniature response. That’s a form of reciprocation – however small – many bloggers are grateful for.
If I really like something, I’ll go further. I’ll leave a comment to express how much I liked the piece.
But the ultimate expression of my linky bloggy love is to write a post in which I feature this person’s words or content in some way. As I will likely reference this post (since my comment is turning into a post). In this scenario, If I’ve made the decision to do so, I rarely leave a comment in addition to blogging it.
Jabiz, love your open forthright style. I am new to this whole blog reading/commenting arena and appreciate the reflection on how you approach participating in the conversation. Having enjoyed lurking and learning for a bit now, I am excited to participate as well. Thanks for the inspiration.
Jabiz,
I’m intrigued that you find it easier to comment on blogs you disagree with. I do subscribe to some, but I never engage with them.
Perhaps I will have to try disagreeing as part of the comment challenge?
I visited your site, I’d like to say that that your site is very interesting.
Bill from New York, my site is here