14 March, 2012

Blog comments

Ben wrote an interesting post this morning pondering why people don't comment on blogs. It is something Georgia and I pondered last week at the Women's Retreat. At the retreat I had a number of conversations with people who I didn't realise read my blog because they've never commented. 


Why do you think people don't comment on blogs?

17 comments:

Alyce @ Blossom Heart Quilts said...

Because I read via Google Reader and am lazy most of the time and don't click through to comment!

Anonymous said...

Hi there. This is Nozomi, and I am leaving a comment.

Russ said...

So if I answer do I cease to be no commenter? In which case my answer won't help. ;)

Deb said...

Sometimes I don't comment because I just agree. There's nothing more to say! Sometimes, like I said on Ben's blog, I worry that I'm sticking my nose in where it ought not to be.

Anonymous said...

I love your blogs and read them daily, Teresa

Footprints Australia said...

I like to comment where possible, especially if I enjoyed the post, because I know how much it can mean to the blogger.

Hey, how can you build a relationship with another blogger unless you comment? That's how you get comfy in the lounge room!

Having said that - do you ever visit my blog Wendy????!!!!! Hmmm????!

I got a card from a lady at church to say how much my Friday Files posts have been blessing her - and a positive comment from our youth pastor too. I was blown away - I had no idea that either of them was reading my blog so was very touched!

Like Alyce though, sometimes if I'm reading in a feed I don't comment. I've also found there are a couple of blogs that cause my computer to have a bit of a meltdown, so don't get to comment. They must be too high tech or whiz bang for my ancient PC.

taylorcrowson said...

I think it is similar to the times you are sitting in Sunday School (or some of other setting) and the teacher who has spent quite a bit of time with the subject at hand says something or asks a question. Although you don't comment or answer right away you continue to ponder it... Later you decide what you think or settle on what your response would be... Much later. Like this comment. I read the blog a few minutes ago and had to come back to it (intentionally) to make this comment.

I enjoy your blog very much and can't believe how much time has passed since I was seeing your oldest on a daily basis. I remember that yummy orange chicken we ate a your house a LONG time ago and listening to a CD of Australian birds with your family.

Another thing that makes it hard to comment on a blog is the one-sidedness of the writer/reader relationship. The reader may feel distant because of time/space, and the fact that you communicate with them in detail on a daily basis and they don't (aren't expected to?) reciprocate.

Plus other people they don't know are going to read these comments! Ahhh!

Hippomanic Jen said...

For me, it's laziness.

Despite quite liking comments when I post on my own blog, I'm lazy.

But I read.

Deb said...

There's a strong dollop of irony in the fact that we are all commmenting about why we don't comment....

I like Taylor's comment about the one-sidedness of it all. It's odd because through a blog you can get to know the blogger really, really well (or at least so it seems, remembering that they are only writing what they want us to know) and yet you don't give much about yourself away. And if you do, you have to factor in the fact that the whole world can see what you say potentially. So sometimes I've wanted to pour out my heart but held back in case I later regretted having it "out there".

Georgia said...

My friend Julie at myquiltdiary.blogspot.com has lots of comments every blog. She never neglects commenting on my blog entries and usually replies to my comments on hers by email.

Caroline said...

I think the reason I don't comment more is, something like taylorcrowson said, I often think about blog posts for a day or so, then either forget or feel it's getting a bit late. But I've been thinking lately, I probably should just do it anyway - blogs seem to work much better when there's some conversation.

Karen said...

What they all said :)

I comment regularly now (although before I started my own blog, I used to read and never say anything...it ended up feeling like I was hiding in the corner so I came out!). The reason I comment on other people's blogs is because (a) they post interesting things and (b) because I hope they might return the favour one day...

-J said...

I read everyday via my feed reader. Not sure why I don't comment. Perhaps because it feels strange that, although I've met you in real life, I've come to know you mostly through your blog. Or, I read quickly, not necessarily when I have time to comment. Or, I want to comment on a particular post, but it ends up being the same as my desire to write a friend a long, newsy letter ... the tyranny of the urgent takes over and it doesn't get done.

I definitely like reading here, though! :) You cover a broad range of topics, with a good deal of transparency, and it's interesting!

Ben McLaughlin said...

Another reason I think is just a commitment issue. People think, if I do it once, do I then have to do it all the time? It's like deciding one year to give a workmate a Birthday present. A kind act, but then you are chained down to repeat this act of kindness on a yearly basis! The sense of possible obligation creates fear and keeps you hiding.

Sarah said...

I like what Karen said and I think Ben has a point too about the whole commitment thing. I had people that used to comment on my blog regularly and now I seldom hear from them. I don't want them to feel they HAVE to comment though. I'm not a fan of 'sympathy commenting'.

Here is my list of reasons why I think people don't comment:

- Laziness
- Slow internet connection. I live on a farm and sometimes my internet will just let me read one post before it carks it.
- They know the blogger personally and don't want to out themselves. Sometimes it's easier to come out and admit you're reading the blog of a stranger than it is to tell a friend you read their blog. Dunno why, just is.
- Voyeurism. I like what Taylor said about the one-sidedness of it all. Some people want to know everything about other people (so they lurk on blogs and Facebook), but hold their own cards close to their chest. Maybe it's a power/control issue, I don't know.
- They feel they don't have anything interesting to say (which is why I added the 'like' button on my blog.

Good question!

Wendy said...

Thanks everyone!

PS. Footprints, I do come to look at your blog...just don't comment very often. Irony!

Footprints Australia said...

You made my day ;-)