Ten reasons I don't comment on your blog

1. YOU don't let me  - or ask me to register.

2. You ask me to use a Google or Blogger account - which I have but for reasons too complicated to explain, can't access.

3. It's too difficult and your site keeps telling me there is a problem. (This happens a lot with Blogger sites) or I can't read your Captcha code thingumajig and I give up

***Edit: This happens with Typepad too, I know, um sorry about that!

4. Your post is brilliant but it looks like the conversation is finished

5. You don't respond to comments

6. You don't respond to my comments

7. If I comment, there's no way to see where I am from because it doesn't produce a link  

8. I don't agree with you but don't like arguing much

9. You are arguing with other commenters and as I said, I don't like arguing much

10. I'm just too tired or busy and much as I would like to, I don't. Would you prefer it if I just said: "Hello, great post"?

Comments

[Liz (LivingwithKids)]

Not having no7 on my blog is I know a problem but please if you feel like commenting just put your full url under the comment - it will be sorted soon I hope xxx

[TheMadHouse]

Does mine do any of the above???? Not that you dont comment and I am feeling self concious or anything, just interested!!

[Linda]

Liz you are so on the ball! But I do comment! Am talking generally as inspired by some of the 'bigger' sites :)
@TMH - not as far as I am aware - definitely a number 10 if I don't comment!
I thought this post um wouldn't get any comments....

[clareybabble]

Oh no, hope none of this happens on my blog!! Although I am with Blogger...
x

[Tara@Sticky Fingers]

Hello. Great post Linda x

Tee hee . . .

[Amber]

I so agree about Blogger blogs! Some people have them set up so anyone can comment, but a lot of the sites I read still only accept comments from Google accounts/other Blogger sites, which absolutely amazes me. Why on earth would you want to prevent a large percentage of your audience from commenting? Ditto forced registration - no thanks.

[Josie @Sleep is for the Weak]

I feel like I have to leave comment now - I'd be scared not to!!

Loved this though - HATE Captcha and blogs that only accept blogger members and everything else you just said.

Off to go and make sure I replied to every comment you ever left me...

[Rosie Scribble]

Hello, great post!

No really, this is very insightful. I have a lot of problems commenting on blogger accounts with Open ID and sometimes I just have to give up which is hugely frustrating at times.

I don't understand posts that require you to comment without a web address to say where you are from. I only comment on one of these because I like the site.

I have been unsure if I should be replying to every individual comment if it is just a light-hearted post and everyone is saying 'Very funny' as I feel I'm writing more than the original comment. I have certainly responded to every single comment in my heavier posts and this felt only right and respectful. I'm looking forward to Erica's forthcoming blog lesson on blog etiquette to clarify this.

If the conversation is finished then I don't comment either. And I'll be honest, if it's an awards post, or a similar post written for other specific bloggers then I tend not to comment as I feel it's not really directed at me, but at others. Selfish?

And I really don't like really really long comments that just go on and on forever and ever and end up just rambling and then end up nearly as long as the blog post itself.

Completely unnecessary!

Why on earth do people do that?

It's beyond me.

[Linda]

Noooo Typepad is crap too, I forgot! Now I need to reply to everyone oh bugger.

[Insomniac Mummy]

I've got Captcha turned off right? I hope so....

My blogger is playing up today....grrrr.

I've had problen commenting on Typepad for a few days too. Most annoying indeed.

:P

[Insomniac Mummy]

Ignore smelling pistakes.

Holding baby and one finger typing.

:D

[Littlemummy]

Great post, here's a link to my blog --> www.littlemummy.com

(one of my, for god sake please don't do this points, in an e-course lesson)

[Lesley]

I hate Blogger blogs that require you to log in to comment. I have several online personalities, each hosted with a different place. WordPress when I'm promoting my book, my own site for most of my work, blogger for when I'm talking about hobbies, posterous for geek stuff... maintaining different profiles for each personality on Blogger is rather annoying compared to just typing in the relevant details.

I don't mind commenting on people's blogs and not getting a response - unless I asked a question, at least. Most of the stuff I write on my blogs is how to / information type stuff, rather than things that encourages discussion. I love to hear from people that I've helped (and am also greatful when people expand on info / correct things), but I don't expect someone to read my blog out of simple curiosity, and feel inspired to comment.

[Ellen A]

Drat. Was going to say "hello, great post" but someone got there first!

[Ellen A]

Actually, I have a question. If someone comments on your blog, is it best to reciprocate with a comment on theirs or to acknowledge their comment on your blog?
What do people prefer?

[Linda]

Of course, now I have to reply!

@Ellen A - thanks for commenting, I think that would be okay thank you very much.

Hi Lesley, I've managed to amass various log-ins for different things and it can be very confusing. Also when I was posting more stuff where I wasn't trying to engage with people, rather suppy helpful information, I didn't expect them to comment and it was like a bonus when they did!

Hi Littlemummy, thank you so much for sharing your blog address with us all, could you not please also tell us what a great blog it is?

Hi IM, wo norries.

Hi Rosie - you can only be yourself so respond as and when you want - no more and no less! You're doing a great job if you ask me.

Hi Josie and Amber - I agree, it doesn't make sense really does it?

Hi Tara - hmmph. Do people not want others to say that then?

Hi CB - with blogger it can just seem a bit of a drawn out process sometimes but Typepad can be just as bad.

[Emily O]

Maybe a reason for not commenting here is that I've already commented on your BMB post! I love simple posts like this which generate lots of discussion. I like commenting but very long posts put me off, mainly because I read blogs inbetween nappy changes, clearing up spilt juice and trying to make something obscure out of Duplo. Reading and commenting has to be done in a hurry. Have posted link to your freelance writing post on Mother Knows Best today.

[Linda]

Hi Ellen - our comments crossed I think - I like to see comments in one place for one conversation if you see what I mean so that means for me under a post on my blog which has started that conversation but I will also go to the blogger's own blog and sometimes say thanks and join in with what they are saying. Of course I love it if I have commented elsewhere and the blogger follows the link back to me here...x

[notSupermum]

I am sometimes a bit lax in responding to people's comments, but I do try my best. There are a couple of blogs I read all the time but they are a bugger to leave a comment on, and this has reminded me to tell the bloggers in question....if I can leave a message that is.

[Kate]

I think what this post is missing and the comments too, is that you are more likely to comment if the person is someone who comments on your blog too - like a big circle of linky love...!

[A modern Mother via British Mummy Bloggers]

I'd really like to comment but I have a hard time reading large chunks of text in a reversed out format (sorry, it's my age, eyes getting bad...)

[Nixdminx via British Mummy Bloggers]

I don't like it when I post a comment and then it malfunctions...it takes time to read a post and get involved in the repartee...I do revisit though because people change functionality regularly.

[Linda]

Hi all - Kate I'm not sure how that influences me as I tend to natter on regardless.

[Nataliya]

I don't comment as you don't reply fair enough if you get 700 comments, but if you only get a few please makes the effort. I hate feeling like I was left out..

[Linda]

Hi Nataliya - plus I don't think I would comment anyway if there were already loads and loads of comments, unless it was something really really important.

[A Modern Mother]

what I meant was reverserved out white font on a dark background is very hard on the eyes...

[Tasha (Coding Mamma)]

I leave a lot less comments than I used to, purely because I have so much less time. These days, I will leave a comment if I have something I really want to say and also happen to have enough hands free!

On my own blog, I always try to respond to every comment, though missed a few towards the end of Eleanor's pregnancy.

I love bloggers who respond to all comments and will make a concerted effort to go back to the post to see what they have said. I find it difficult to remember everywhere I have left a comment, but often go back to see if there has been a response, if I do remember.

Something I find a bit odd, is the people who respond to a comment by emailing you, instead of under the post, though I suppose at least you don't have to remember to go back and check! If they're not responding under the post, then there's no conversation, which is one of the things I love about blogging.

[Tasha (Coding Mamma)]

What's really, really, really annoying is writing a huge long post and then having it disappear, because you didn't press the post comment thing after the captcha thing. This happens a lot on Typepad blogs. And just happened here. Fortunately, I still had the text in my Copy & Paste memory!

...

...

I leave a lot less comments than I used to, purely because I have so much less time. These days, I will leave a comment if I have something I really want to say and also happen to have enough hands free!

On my own blog, I always try to respond to every comment, though missed a few towards the end of Eleanor's pregnancy.

I love bloggers who respond to all comments and will make a concerted effort to go back to the post to see what they have said. I find it difficult to remember everywhere I have left a comment, but often go back to see if there has been a response, if I do remember.

Something I find a bit odd, is the people who respond to a comment by emailing you, instead of under the post, though I suppose at least you don't have to remember to go back and check! If they're not responding under the post, then there's no conversation, which is one of the things I love about blogging.

[Tasha (Coding Mamma)]

Oops! Well, it happens elsewhere. Didn't notice your comments had run onto a second page.

[Amber]

I have to admit, I don't reply to every single comment - I have a few different blogs, and between them they probably get a couple of hundred comments per day, so if I was to reply to every single one I'd be there all day! And a lot of comments don't actually require a response: if someone has just written "I agree", then I don't necessarily think they're expecting a response. I do try to reply to as many as I can, though.

On the issue of replying on the post, or going to the person's blog to respond - I really don't like it when I comment on someone's blog and rather than reply (or not reply) there, they come to mine, go to whatever the first post is and say "Thanks for commenting on my blog!", without saying anything at all about the post in question. It always feels like a "duty comment", i.e. "I don't really have anything to say about your post, but as you commented on mine, I feel obliged to comment, so I'll just make it about me". If I've left someone a comment it's because I wanted to, not because I require them to repay the "favour". It's always a bit disshartening to feel like someone is commenting purely because they feel they have to, or because they're just trying to get you to visit their own blog.

[SandyCalico]

Well I had to comment on this one!
The reason I don't comment anywhere near as much as I would like is time. I struggle to keep up to date with my Google Reader as it is. I think I must try harder - sleep is over-rated! x

[Linda]

Hi Tasha - yes that is a part of blogging I love and don't think it's an exaggeration to say I can find it exhlirating when a post generates a lot of discussion, like you I like to go back and see what has been said since a comment I have made. I've see advice that when your blog is new it's a good idea to email commenters to say thank you and I did used to do that sometimes - but I would always say 'I've responded online' so they would go and look too. Like you I can also get v pissed off with Typepad and its "quirks" - too often the comment page doesn't load...

Amber - I agree with you entirely - I want people to take part in a conversation if they want to, and that also means reading the other comments if they have time rather than commenting cos they feel they "owe you one."

Sandy - no must try harder about it - only comment if you want! xx

[Helen]

I struggle with keeping up with where a conversation about a post may be, there are the comments under the post itself, or they may be on Twitter or Facebook or sometimes on a forum if a link is posted there. If people have taken the time to say something, I would like to at least acknowledge this.

[Linda]

Hi Helen,
I think it's great to see people commenting wherever it is, what I do is pull the comments together and put them under the post, I make it clear that I am doing this and make sure people don't mind or even ask them if they will add what they said under the post. The reason I do this is because often I've posted information that I hope will be helpful and other people's views on it are just as important for people who may find this online at a later date - so for example I am going to add some comments on the bereavement post from earlier this week.
That said if someone says something on Twitter, I may or may not add it - depending what it brings to a conversation. I have seen a "plug in" on some blogs where if someone tweets about a post, that is automatically added to the comments.

[Dian Emery]

Great information, thank you for this post:)

I find that, in most cases, if you have a post that resonates with people it will get comments.

Sometimes it's easy to tell which story will get comments and which won't but every once in awhile I'm totally surprised with the reactions of my readers!

That's what I love about writing:)

[Suzanne Harulow via British Mummy Bloggers]

Ooh - this is so in interesting! I have now gone and changed the settings on my comments.It's posts like these that are so invaluable to us newbies. (p.s. most of the comments I have got are from lovely bloggers at BMB - thankyou). I don't comment on everything I read, generally only If I feel that I really have something to say. I don't expect lots of comments to certain posts on my blog, but it is so lovely when you say something and people do engage.

[Linda]

Hi Dian, thanks for commenting, yes I agree with you - in recent months I have started writing the sorts of posts that are more likely to get comments and you start to get a bit more of a feel for what is going to get comments, but then it works the other way - if you don't get any you feel that lurch of disappointment!

Hi Suzanne - thank you, really good to know it has been useful.

[Karen]

I'm new to blogging and thought when I couldn't post replies to everything I wanted to I had done something wrong. Well I probably had but it's great to know it may have been a problem with the blogs not just a problem with me!

[Bad_Housewife]

Gosh, interesting. I prefer no comments, I feel guilty that I don't always reply, reciprocate on another blog etc etc. Makes it all such a chore for me and ruins the fun of blogging and reading.
Can I make a pact with everyone that although I Iike to read blogs, I won't comment? If I do it'll (possibly) be via twitter...

[Saffia]

blogging etiquette is so complicated! I often don't comment because it's late and I know I should really be going to bed. Can I ask, re points 5 and 6, do some of you go back to where you've left comments to see if your comment has been commented on - or do you get automatic updates? And do you always comment on comments left on your blogs? I find it's all fascinating but all so time consuming, I woud love to do more but just have to be realistic. Apologies therefore if I don't comment or repsond often, I am there reading and enjoying

[Linda]

Hi Bad Housewife - that's really interesting and if I may say, you are far more likely than me to have a life! I suppose I am saying in the post that all of the things listed make it a chore for me so that is why I don't do it - though the last point is the main one - lack of time. I've enjoyed chatting with people in the comments and continue to do so but there was a time I wouldn't have been able to as I was just too busy with younger children.

Hi Saffia - some people like to go back, I know I do, some blogs do have an automatic updates - and you can tick an option to let this happen, i have done this with some and some bloggers have a system installed where they also automatically send out an email when their comment is replied to and some choose to send an email! I have been blogging since 2006 and for me the conversation bit is one of the best things but I certainly would hate it if this post was seen as some way of insisting other people should act in the same way -we can all only do what is right for us as we do in real life, and in real life, I go on, and on and on.

[Hazel Gaynor]

Interesting! I actually don't reply to comments very often so should probably start doing that - do people expect this? I rarely return to a site I have commented on to see what the writer said in return. I kind of feel this is a bit like thanking someone for a thank you card and so on and so on! I also hate those bloody verification nonsense thingys so have turned them off on mine!

[Linda]

Hi Hazel - I think it can totally depend on the blog/blogger. I think that with so-called mum blogs, as Tasha points out somewhere in these comments, the element of conversation can be enjoyable for people and I know that some would say the conversation under a blog post would be just as an important part of it as the original post itself, if you see what I mean. But not everyone feels like this - I personally like to have that conversation - and I mean a geniuine conversation not just thanks for commenting.

Oh and um, thanks for commenting! x

[Crystal Jigsaw]

Very interesting to read this post together with all the comments. I'm sure I'm some of those points.

CJ xx

[Linda]

CJ - you are totally 'your post is brilliant' ! x