Thoughts on Comments
5 Mar
Comments are the lifeblood of our blogs.
We want to receive comments on what we have written.
To know that others have read what we have toiled to create.
To spark discussion on a topic we are interested in. To gain further insight and ideas that will help us all grow.
To obtain important links from others so we can return to their sites, read what they are thinking about, comment and get to know them better.
To begin building a relationship with others.
This is really the primary reason we blog. To meet and interact with like minded people.
When comments go bad
Comments are supposed to help both the writer and the reader.
The writer gains feedback into what others think of their ideas.
The person leaving a comment gets their questions answered.
Comments are not meant to be a place for personal attacks or threats.
It’s fine to challenge someone’s idea as long the challenge remains directed at the topic of the post and not the person writing it.
The problem comes when we take the challenge to our ideas personally.
When we start threatening the person for their views then we lose our credibility.
When we stop listening to what they are saying and attack we lose any possibility of reaching any common ground.
Why do comments go bad
Often people have strong opinions on a particular subject.
They read a post, strongly disagree and state their case in the comments.
Or they, like me, are learning. And something that’s said seems contradictory or confusing to them.
So they point it out and wait for clarification.
In both these cases the comments aren’t bad. It’s in how they are interpreted by someone reading them.
If the author or other commenters take issue with the comment and either ridicule it or attack the person who left it then no one is gaining from the exchange.
When it becomes a personal attack, in my opinion, it’s far better to either respond in a civil manner or, if you are the author, just delete the comment.
You can also respond to the person via email if it would help clarify your position.
As stated at the beginning comments are the lifeblood of blogs.
The authors need to remember that the purpose of allowing comments is to gain new insights.
And those leaving comments need to remember that the authors words are merely ideas for positive discussion of a topic.
What are your opinions on comments? If you disagree with the author do you leave a comment on the post or do you just leave? How do you deal with someone who attacks you in the comments?
Ohhh, I have a lot of experience with the latter from when I used to write my town blog. Some I could just blow off, but my response to most went anywhere between hurt and angry. Hurt, because I was doing this (the blog) mostly for their benefit, and this is how they repay me. Angry for similar reasons, but not only at the commenter. I got angry sometimes at my regular readership who didn’t defend me too. By their silence, they leant credence to the commenter’s judgement.
I can see how it would be frustrating.
Personally I haven’t had those kinds of comments. Or I’m just not bright enough to notice but there are certainly lots of them left on sites I visit.
Yeah, must be that you’re just not that bright, because I’ve left you a couple comments like that, but you keep treating them like I’m joking.
p.s.,
Why don’t your comments show up on the sidebar? Makes it look like we’re talking to ourselves.
I’m trying a new comment plugin and it automatically cuts out the authors replies.
It won’t be on here long. I don’t like the format of the plugin so I’ll be replacing it with something else.
If it differs from my opinion fine. There is nothing wrong with debate. If it’s nothing more than a personal attack I flush it.
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I don’t mind a difference of opinion either.
Some bloggers seem to take it to far though.