Musing Mondays -- comments

This week's Musing Monday question focuses on "comment etiquette" - something that I am sorely lacking and in desperate need of direction. The musing asks:

How do you respond to the comments on your blog? Do you try to email individually or comment on post yourself answering the comments above? What do you think is the best way to respond to comments and do you respond to all of them? Do you feel slighted if you don't receive a response back from the blog owner? (question courtesy of Jenn)

Truthfully, I haven't done much in this area - and I feel quite guilty about it. I absolutely LOVE comments! When I notice that I have a new comment on my blog - I smile before even reading it. I think I am just so humbled that someone out there thought enough of my little ramblings to take the time to write me a note. When I first started blogging - and the comments were few and far between - I would immediately follow the link to their blog and post a comment. What I found, however, is that my comment would not necessarily coordinate with their post, and I felt that it was awkward and out-of-place.

I have just recently noticed the practice of some bloggers who actually post responses to comments - on their own blog. I like this. I like the fact that all the comments pertain to the same subject matter; I like the fact that I can easily go to my blog - quickly personalize each comment - feel as though I have actually carried on a 'cyber' conversation - and be done in a relatively short period of time (I am already suffering from time management issues: how to fit in work - personal reading - personal blog entries - management of comments). My only issue has been --- do those posters actually read my response? Is this cumbersome for the commenter - or do you include site revisits as a regular part of your daily blogging experience? I have not quite implemented this plan of action into my blogging routine - but I plan to start that this week and see how it goes.

Do I ever feel slighted if a blogger does not respond to my post? NO! First of all, I have found this blogging community to be so incredibly kind, helpful, and friendly that all my questions have been answered in one way or another. Secondly, we all have lives outside of blogging (although sometimes I think my family wonders if I do). Life happens; distractions occur; emergencies crop up. I do not take it personally if a blogger does not respond to my question. However, if I find that I am making far more comments on their blog - and they never seem to comment on mine - my assumption is that I am perhaps being over-friendly or zealous in my commenting and will choose to back off. NOT because I am offended, but because I do not want to offend.

I am so very excited to read all the posts for this week's topic. I have so much blog etiquette to learn, and this is a great place to start.

So how about you -- do you have a routine for leaving/responding to comments? If so, please share below.