Comments are one of the driving forces that motivates us as bloggers. It's nice to get the encouragement that we usually find when we open up our surprise package that pours out sweet words from the readers. This is something that makes me look forward to writing the next blog post.
Even when the words aren't so adulating they can reassure me that someone is listening and often even be instructional and informative. My favorite comment situation is when a dialogue opens up. A reader who has commented has chosen to follow the conversation by requesting email notification of follow-up comments and they may come back to respond to my response or say something about another person's comments. Alas, this seems to be no longer the case for some of us.
Those of us on Blogger who use the pop-up window no longer have the email notification option so far as I can tell. Now if the owner of the blog where I have left a comment decides to respond, I will probably not see that response since as I rule I don't keep going back to monitor the comment thread once I have left. It's impractical to do if you're trying to follow many blogs. Now I leave my comment and that's where my conversation usually ends.
Lately I haven't been leaving comment responses like I used to because I figure that like in my case others don't return if they're not notified. Odds are that most commenters weren't checking that notification box and never saw my responses, but still the option to have the possibility of dialogue was nice. I still read my comments and in a few cases I do respond by e-mail, but that's not always an option and I don't always have the extra time that direct contact takes. I'm not sure what to do.
The notification option is still available on those blogs that have the embedded comment box. I know that some have said they don't like this system. For me the embedded comment box loads much more easily than it used to and I don't have much problem with it aside from Word Verification and even that I've just about mastered. Should I switch back to the embedded comment box? Would that deter you from commenting?
I love comments. Those who follow Tossing It Out will probably recall my series on the comments I received on a post at the beginning of this year. I was so inspired by the comments I received on the post Where Am I Now Anyway? that I have been doing a series memorializing those comments and as a consequence that post has been receiving additional comments. Here are the next two comments after where I last left off:
I follow what you are saying - I think.
Thanks Kirsten! I know I was rambling in a confusing way. At least you took the time to let me know you visited and that means a lot to me. Even if I did confuse you then that gave me a certain sense of achievement because I was trying a mind-bending experiment. Your comment is a compliment--I think.That's a cool way to look at things! I get what you mean.
As for me, I'm pretty happy with where I've been, am at and am going with my writing.
Ah, Alexia! Cool--that's what I want to be and you confidently assert your understanding of what I've said. I find your positive reply uplifting and optimistic. I makes me want to move forward as well.As for me, I'm pretty happy with where I've been, am at and am going with my writing.