Monday, April 13, 2009

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.

12 comments:

  1. This is a great post because I have wondered the exact same things myself! I try to respond to the comments on my blog, but I usually reply to several at once so that I'm not overwhelmed...

    Another thing that helps me is to check the "email follow up comments" box. That way, if anyone else comments, I'll see it on my email without having to visit my blog.

    I'm very interested in hearing what everyone else has to say!

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  2. Nice answer. I too often fail to respond as much as I should!

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  3. I don't respond to all comments, because I don't think they all really expect an answer back. If I notice an unfamiliar name leaving me comments, I do go check out their blog and leave them a comment back.

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  4. I agree with bermudaonion - it seems as though some comments don't require a response, so I don't always bother.

    Quite often, though, I receive comments via email while I'm at work and unable to respond, and then by the time I get home and am able to blog again, I've forgotten. That's something I need to work on :)

    I try to be as good about comments as possible, but I find myself failing at this more often than not.

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  5. I try to respond back to comments left on my blog. Being new to blogging, I am not sure how to get an answer directly back to the person who left the comment. I have been commenting back on my blog page, hoping that they will see my answer! :)

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  6. Molly, I think that you do a great job answering comments. I need to do better with answering posts within the post itself. I understand that we all have lives outside of blogging and don't feel that a comment such as "great review" needs a response. In all honesty, and I shared this in my Musing post...I only feel slighted when I comment regularly on a blog and I get no response at all, no comments or visiting my blog.

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  7. I am going to try commenting back in my blog comments also--time management is a BIG problem for me too--there just aren't enought hours in the day for all I need/want to do! This was a great question for the day and something I have been struggling with also.
    Happy Monday!
    Kim

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  8. I take really long time to respond to comments, but I always do eventually. I feel the same way about feeling lucky and awed that someone read what I had to say and was moved enough to comment on it. Every visitor is a gift!

    I always respond to my comments on my own blog. And if it's a blogger who I've never read before, I'll go their blog and leave them a comment to that's usually relevant to their latest post.

    As for my own comments, I try to return to blogs I've commented on to see the author's response, but often I never have enough time. Between reading posts,commenting,writing my own posts,and then the reading that I have to post about... checking previous comments sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.

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  9. I know what you mean about wondering whether or not people will return and see a comment you left them. I take a chance and hope that they do sometimes, but I do always try to post a comment on one of their posts when I find something that strikes a chord with me.

    Personally, I think you're a great commentor! :-)

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  10. I want to thank everyone for taking the time to comment. I had several new viewers to my blog - and I tried to repay the visit to your blogs as well. My oh my ..... my reader is overflowing with blogging sites :)

    I think the consensus is to reply to comments in this fashion - and that works for me. I will strive to be more diligent in my comment responses -- and I will continue to try to comment on your blog postings as well. We all enjoy these lovely little cyber notes -- and I want to spread the cheer as often as I can :)

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  11. Hugs to you, you're a great commentor!~

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  12. I know what you mean about getting excited when you receive a comment on your blog--me too! It doesn't matter how many or how little I receive, each one is special to me. I appreciate the time and effort a person takes to stop in and say hello.

    I do like it when someone takes the time to respond to my comments in whatever format is easiest for them, but I do understand that not everyone has the time or inclination to do so.

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