His view was that his blog is a monologue. And while he enjoys exchanges with some readers, for the most part he doesn't care what you think about the current post or what he is doing in his personal life. He doesn't ask for an exchange and you are more than welcome to move along at any time if you don't like what you see on his blog. I guess he's a big fancy author guy and he can spare the readers.
Hmmmmm. I don't know about that. While I think that most of write for ourselves for whatever reasons, I do believe it is the exchange that we look for and want. I mean, what fun is a blog if you don't have readers....or comments?
I for one, love the comments I receive because the pallies are pretty smart/hilarious/witty/creative/and just plain fun. When I put up a post, I come back and respond to the comments that have been left for me because I feel that the Duck and Wheel is all about the exchange. I mean, isn't it more fun to laugh with a friend than to laugh all by yourself? I think so.
So, I started thinking more about comments and I realized how much I enjoy them. And I like responding to them. But does anybody come back to read them? I think they do. I know for a fact that a few blog pallies come back to comment again. And when I comment on blogs that I know the blogger comments back, I go back and check to see what they wrote to me. Do you do that?
Am I wasting my time in responding? Why do some folks respond to comments and some don't? What do you do on your blog? Do you view it as a monologue or a conversation?
36 comments:
I agree with you LIn. It's the interaction, the communication and responses that I am looking for too.
But I have to admit, I usually don't go back to the same post twice. It's hard keeping up with everyone and have a hard enough time reading the new posts of everyone. If a comment needs a response or I want to respond to it I usually just do it through their email. Every once in awhile I respond through my own comments but only for clarification to my other readers.
But you know what? It's your blog! Do what makes you happy ~ that's what it's all about! :)
Happy Monday!
xo Catherine
You know I go back. I always think you don't go back so I respond to your comment on my blog, on your blog :-) Heck, you're the only one that comes to my blog a first time.
I love your comments. I come back through the day and they crack me up. Your bloggy pals are the only thing that keeps me going through the day at my job :-)
I always comment back to my readers too. I've never understood why someone would bother blogging if they don't want to engage their readers. I could see if you get hundreds of comments, it's hard to reply to all. But for the most part, I respond to every single one and I love having that connection with my readers.
I always go back and see if someone replied to me. It makes me happy if they do :)
p.s. I love that you are one of the people who responds back. Thank you!
Can't speak for others, but I always come back to see what additional words of wisdom you have for your readers who leave comments.
Laugh with you, laugh at you, all the same just so I get a laugh. And you keep me well entertained, as do your commenters who are sometimes almost as funny as you are.
Dialogue. I vote dialogue, as you know anyway.
btw, I always subscribe to comments by email so that I get each one in my inbox.
If I wrapped my head around my readers/commentors (that's a second of my life wasted!) then I'd probably STOP blogging. I know I have a few stalkers (my mother in law and some weird lady acquaintance!) but you are one of my only commentors. Of course I visit your blog and comment regularly. I get a good chuckle and it enhances my day. Unfortunately I don't have the time to read lots of blogs cause I am too busy designing them! Anyway...my blog is my outlet and when I am more consistent then people will come...or not!
I am sure my readership will skyrocket when I post about our meet-up in October! LOL!
I really like interacting with other bloggers! That's the whole reason I blog!
I don't respond on each comment like some do, but I leave comments on their blogs, and if I know a person responds to the comments I will go back to read :)
So much fun!!!
I wrote a long comment and of course Blogger gave me an error message so it's gone somewhere in the ether...
Yes, I respond to comments on my own blog which is why I use disqus now - and yes, I go back to blogs where I left a comment to see if there was a reaction, especially is my comment was "reactionable".
(Now I am going to copy this in case blogger messes up again)
I definitely check back. Often the other comments and general exchange on a post are just as entertaining as the original post. I also find other bloggers I like in the comments, since they apparently have similar interests/senses of humor to mine if they read the same blogs I read. I remember getting my first comments from mega-popular bloggers and having myself a little squee over it. (Since then I've had a couple of them to my house...that was even better!) I've always tried to comment back because I just got it in my head that was good etiquette. :) Though I understand that some bloggers, due to the sheer volume of comments, can't do that. I don't have that wonderful problem.
When I write posts, I am usually talking to myself. So monologue. But I suppose my monologues are corny or homespun enough to encourage comments. Comments are so wonderful. I wish I got more, actually! I have noticed that people with more personal, diary-type blogs receive more comments. I considered doing something like that, but honestly, I'm more reserved. I think FreakyFrugalite is about as personal as I get... so I get more comments there than any other blog except my travel blog. There, I have 100's of comments on some old air force base I visited and wrote about. There are about 25 old AFB veterans who have a conversation going on there!!!
I have Wordpress, so I have a terrific plugin that allows you comment on your pals' comments AND send them an email of your comment, too. I love that. I don't know if there is one for Blogger. I rarely, if ever, go back to see responses to my comments on blogs. I want to, but it'd take me all day to do that, day after day! I leave a lot of comments, so....
I adore the comments I get and I love to leave them as well. I view commenting as a form of conversation; and that requires two parties. Having said that, I usually respond to comments in email form and take the "conversation" off the blog...maybe I need to rethink that strategy. hmmmm...
::drums fingers thinking::
Darling! I love the interactions as well, but I don't return to posts I have read and commented on. I had not even though about it! Have you been sending me love notes?
I like it when people e-mail me a response to my comment though.
I like it even better when those people mail me cookies and money.
I love your responses Lin, and ALWAYS check back to what you have to say! Sadly, I do not always respond on my blog the way you do here, but I am always checking in on those people who take the time to comment on my blog. It would be a lonely place here on cyber world if no one commented or responded to what we post about, and then we probably would not bother with the whole blog thing anymore.
It depends on how rushed I am. I have so little time as it is. So sometimes I look back to the last post and sometimes not.
If I get a question in a comment I reply by email.
I love your responses, Lin! I always swing by to check what you've written.
I love comments and I always make it a point to reciprocate. Isn't that what blogging is all about?!!!
If I want to know what further comments are made I tick the box for "Email follow-up comments". If I forget and I really want to know I go back later to see what was said. I don't do this on every blog just some.
I usually respond to comments on my blog through email. My blog is such that I don't really expect comments but when I get them I love it. It makes me feel happy that someone is reading my blog. But, by responding through email others don't see my responses. I wonder if that might stop them from leaving comments too.
I always go back and read your comment on the previous post before reading your new post. It's so fun how you respond to everyone! As for my blog, well, I'm not so good about responding to comments on my blog. I will answer back on someone's blog if they asked a question or something but that's about all. I need another 4 hours in the day!
I agree. I totally see it as a dialogue. If that douchey author wants to monologue, he needs to write an article, not a blog.
My favorite part of blogging is waiting for the responses. I love to see if I might have made somebuddy laugh or smile.
We are not good at responding because by the time my Mommeh gets home from work, the comments we might want to reply to are way at the top. I wish Blogger had a "Reply" section in the comment form.
We always come back to look for a response to comments though!
We like reading the comments on our blogs and always respond (to non-spam ones) by email and also on the blog.
I used to revisit but the more blogs I started following and the more people that started following mine I just didn't have the time anymore.
I also used to respond to comments on my blog but have switched to doing it through email but you already knew that since I posted about it not too long ago.
Personally I don't think there is a right or a wrong way, it's whatever works for you and your readers.
Catherine--I was just wondering because of the time thing--I'm struggling with that too. Not enough hours to do it all. Thank goodness I don't have thousands of readers!!
Helene--You are tried and true. I know you come back and I do the same at your place. The pallies are hilarious, aren't they? :)
Kathy--I like that you answer my comments too. And yes, I go back to read your response to not only my comment, but others as well. They make me laugh. I like that exchange as well.
Chuck--Well, they may not always be profound or funny, but I like to at least acknowledge the comment. I think it is more fun that way, don't you?
Vanilla--I think the pallies make it fun here. We've got a good bunch going and I notice they are the same group at all of my favorite blogs--yours included. It does take a lot of time though--that's the only drawback.
Diana--I can't WAIT for October! :) I don't have a ton of readers, but the ones I do comment regularly and they are friends now. I think that is why I comment back--it's just a bunch of pallies hanging out. I'm thinking of having you do my blog again--is it time??
Duni--Oh, I'm glad you come back to read the comment. I wondered if I was wasting time answering all the comments. It's a lot of work though, you know? But that said, I still like to do it. :)
Grace--Oh, another downfall of commenting--Blogger errors. UGH! I like that you comment back--I like to read the comment threads.
Shieldmaiden--Hahaha! I don't have that problem of too many comments either! And I'm seriously impressed that you have those big bloggers commenting AND coming over!! Wow! Wait a minute--I think some of my commenters are big bloggers too. But they don't come over.....yet. :)
Rebecca--Yeah, it does take a lot of work to follow up, but I like to do that--especially on posts that intrigued me. I'm impressed that you have so many blogs going--I can hardly keep up with this one!!
Katnip Lounge--That's what I was thinking too--do I need to answer comments and follow up on comments that I leave? It takes so much time....but I LIKE it, so I do it. I just can't do it as often as I like.
Betty--See--now you are gonna be wondering what I write to you, Betty. :) I could totally trash-talk you or spread rumors or make stuff up about you and you'll never know. :P Hee! Hee! Hey, this could be fun. Right, Betty? Betty....??? Betty.......????
Hot Rocks--It DOES take a lot of time, doesn't it?? I find I can only visit so many blogs in a night because of it. But I still like to answer comments, so I do. Silly, tired me. :)
Pricilla--I'm just impressed that you goats blog over there. Must be exhausting with only a few toes to type with.
Veronica Lee--I think we have gotten to "know" each other by those comments and return comments. Problem is the time factor--I just can't do it all each night, so I have to do less visiting each day. Thank goodness I don't get too many comments each day!! Is that good or bad????
I most certainly agree with you Lin...blogging is really about building relationships with people and sharing common interests and such. Fine if he can cast people aside, but from the sounds of it, most of your followers don't feel similarly. YES, I enjoy the comments and I comment back more times than not and I always go to their blog to see what they have to say and are going through.
I'll take 'our' way any day!@
I usually come to see what you responded. I wonder if people check my responses on my blog too. Same as you, I like the interaction.
Mary Ann--I don't think the lack of responses to comments stop people from leaving comments. I know it doesn't stop me. Everyone has their own way of blogging, but I was curious as to what folks liked here.
Beaded Tail--Yeah, it takes a bunch of time. But you get around every day and leave comments on blogs while I can't. I think it is a time factor and so mine is spent with comments mostly. It's hard to do it all! There isn't enough hours--especially in the summer when I want to be outside!
DG--I agree--dialogue it is. This particular guy has some issues and he is very open about them--which leads to others voicing their opinions. I struggle with his choices as well, so I don't visit often. I guess he is basically telling his readers to knock it off.
Daisy--You guys ALWAYS make me laugh and smile, Daisy! You also make my mom laugh each day. :) It is hard to comment each day and visit all my favorite blogs. I don't have a lot of time to do it. I guess we have to decide on one or the other. Ugh.
Karen--I know--you are a good responder, Karen. :) It's a lot work, isn't it??
Ann--You got me thinking too, Ann. That's why I asked the question here at the Duck and Wheel. I guess the pallies like the comments and the response, so I'm gonna keep it status quo here. You are right--it's got to be what is best for you and your blog. :)
Tracy--I think the comments are great--especially when you share some deep stuff or are going through something. That support is incredible, isn't it? Even when we are just silly and laughing--I wouldn't have it any other way.
Sharkey--I check your responses. And I like reading what other people wrote too--I think because you usually have interesting topics and I learn some new stuff.
Lin, I am to tired to be witty this evening, I think I am still trapped inside a packing box sealed with clear tape. But, I can say this-- your heart is why I think we all keep coming back to see what the wacky gal with a duck and wheel living in Weirdville is up to, everyday. :-*
Hi Lin!
Yeah I've been MIA but I've never failed to read your blog posts. And this particular topic just made me leave a comment... hehe.
One of the reasons I love your Duck Wheel blog is because you respond. You reply to every comment... and that means you care. But I'm guilty of not replying my comments on my blog lately :( Well, I haven't been writing that much anyway, LOL!
You're definitely not wasting your time in responding. I love the interaction between you and your readers... you guys are an amusing bunch. Geez, does that make me a stalker??
Hi Lin,
I've been away for quite some time.
Good to see pallies like you still active and full of energy.
Blogging needs energy and it is good to have an exchange :)
I say that's good!
See, I DO come back to check your response, pally!
Jodi--Awww, thanks, pally. I guess I knew everyone liked the exchange, but I wanted to ask. It's more fun when we all chime in and make each other laugh. Hope you are enjoying your summer!! I think of you when I'm driving to work.
Nessa--Hi, pally! I sure miss ya! It is hard to keep the blog up, isn't it? So many hours on the computer. But I like the pallies too much to quit with the comments. I'm glad you all like the fun too. :) And I'm glad you come 'round each day!
V7--AHA! There you are, VanillaSeven!!! I've been wondering where you are, pally!! Glad to see you are still here. :) Don't be such a stranger, pally!! Leave a comment every now and then so we know you are still alive, okay?
Veronica Lee--Hahaha!! You are so silly, Veronica! :)
I sometimes DO go back to see if there's a comment on my comment and sometimes don't. Depends if i remember to! And also the comment part of blogging, for me anyway, is THE BEST! It makes it fun and it feels like a community too. I've met lots of people SOLELY because of my blog. So there. That guy can stuff it.
I lve for comments. I try and come back to read responses but don't always get around to it. That guy sounds like a stick in the mud. Okay, now I have to go back and read why Hobbes has a boot on!
peewee--I love the interaction too. The comments are usually the best part!
Jennifer--I'm struggling with finding time to comment, respond to comments, AND visit my blogroll. I just don't have enough hours in the day, but I still try. I just try to have fun --I guess that is what matters, right?
I too enjoy the exchange of a blog. But then again, maybe it is because I don't have a list of automatic readers. I personally think that makes him an arrogant jerk, but that's besides.
I do come back to read your responses. I don't always comment a second time, but sometimes do. And I've started doing it on my blog too, though our content is much different, it's fun:) I also have comments emailed to me and only respond when it's more than an, "I like this" type of comment. For me that works.
Nancy--I read your responses. I like the exchange and I think it adds to the post. I think Katz is missing out. While he likes the fawning over his photos and posts, I think he is too busy to be bothered with what others think on the other stuff. But, I think I sort of admire him if he can put himself out there and not care what others think. I'm too thin-skinned for that.
For the first six months or so after I started commenting, I had no idea you commented back. Now I do click back and read them so there! And the pressure is on for you to come back with something witty.
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