“Are blog comments a "conversation" with the author, or just answering and responding to the author? Do you expect the author to respond to your comment?”
June 1 at 9:58 am
- Link
Niclas Darville, Rodrigo Jaroszewski, Mitchell Tsai and 21 other people liked this
Absolutely, I certainly HOPE a blog author responds to any substantive comment (meaning not the "you rock" or "you suck" comments so much.) - Elisa Camahort Page
The most successful bloggers it seems to me are conversational. - Brian Sullivan
Of course. Because when I rip on those worthless, repetitive blogs, I expect the author to be able to intelligently break down the post, and if they cant, I WIN! - Anthony
@Anthony I'm assuming you've never left me a comment. ;) - Cyndy
1 'Like' for Cyndy - Steven Hodson
I know the spread of info often perpetuates some repetitive knowledge, and I am not claiming to be some observer on high, but you know as well as I do that when you read some of the blogs out there, they deserve to be questioned. If not, your just running around the web telling people how much you like them - Anthony
this is a good question. I try to leave comments in response when I can, but so few CMSs let commenters easily subscribe to follow up comments that I wonder how often people see them. Definitely something I'd like to be better about doing either way though. - Marshall Kirkpatrick
I always assume that author will read my comment, but rarely respond. Always feels validating when they do, though. - J.C. Hutchins
via Alert Thingy
Don't have a tech-related blog, so not sure it's the same. When the comments are just commenting on my thinking, sometimes I reply, sometimes not (there are only so many ways to respond to 'i don't care what you think, CBS was crazy for cancelling 'Moonlight'". When there are specific questions/requests for data, we always respond. - Robert Seidman
Cyndy and steve seem pretty offended by my stating that I wont let crap slip by me. - Anthony
Hate to say this, but, It Depends. It depends on the blogger, the post being commented on, the direction and history of the blog (and blogger) itself, etc. I don't always expect the author to respond to my comment, but sometimes I do, depending on the post. I'm finding it hard to respond to this right now because the post is so subjective. - Paul Short
Are you asking how they are now or how they should be? - Shey
Blog Comments = Conversations with the world; AND yes, most importantly the author. I do not expect the author to respond to me; however, I am always really glad when they do! - Susan Beebe
I don't think it's an either/or question - really depends on the blog and the commenter. I do my best to answer those comments that challenge me or where I sense the commenter wants to engage in a discussion. A real conversation in comments is still tough because you never know if any of the parties will every see the answer. - Frederic
Louis Gray, what is your answer to your question? - Anthony
My answer is that it depends on the comment's content, which can either be dialog or a closed-end response. For example, in response to a post I put up last night, there's some good dialog, but I get self-conscious answering every comment (especially with Disqus tracking it all), so I pick and choose those that left an opening. Also, as some bloggers (Fred Wilson) count comments as currency, when I leave comments elsewhere, I may do it without expectation of a response. - Louis Gray
If i ask a question pertaining to the content, the author should reply but if it is a general comment, authors can expand on it if they wish or just take note of it. - AKs
I try to come up with questions I feel like will start an intellectual dialogue that might end up a totally different conversation. I always appreciate when others do as well. Thanks for the quick respond, and keep rockin, I always dig the queries you pose. - Anthony
On a related theme, the comments threads in blog posts are frequently better than the post itself. A blog post on a particular product, for instance, benefits greatly from the input of someone involved in that product. - john conroy
@john i agree - Tyler Gillies
Louis, I think it is a conversation. Not unlike written corespondence in times past. The conversation is not as fluid as it would be in person, or over the phone, but it still is. Yes, I do have an expectation that the author would respond to my comment in most situations. However, when I simply say "I Agree!", I don't really expect one. ;) - Rick Mahn
via twhirl
Participating in the conversation is the key, not only for the reader, but also for the blogger. It is this conversation which makes blogging what it is. - Grant Griffiths
Conversation. - Todd Jordan
I have found Disqus to make the conversation aspect much easier. - Chris Nixon
If I'm asking a question, I may expect the author to respond....Then again, it also depends on the number of comments on the post....If it contains 100+ comments, I don't expect the author to respond at all. - Chris Rossini
Both as so you can discuss it and find out other opinions!! - Paul
Great question! I am all in favor of blogs as conversations/discussions, but I can see how it's not practical for the uber-popular blogs with gazillion comments. In which case, it's the blogger's discretion as to which ones (s)he chooses to respond to. - Mia
I try to respond to all comments. Maybe some don't expect a response, but I think everyone feels good when they get one. Greater application of this mantra in responding to customer inquiries/feedback/rants. Most often just providing an answer (even an 'I don't know') will satisfy 80% of whitemail. - AJ Kohn
As a blog author I like when my post generates a further discussion. I try to reply to any valuable comment or question. To make it easier I have installed "Subscribe to comments" Wordpress plugin. Disqus and like are another option, perhaps better. And I expect other bloggers do the same. Of course not if my comment is one of hundreds. - Jan Horna
My opinion on this topic has been changing on this of late. I used to think that the blogger should answer or acknowledge every comment or question. I think every on-topic question should be acknowledged and answered if possible. However, I think that sometimes you have to use some judgement on what you answer - some comments aren't really there to engage the blogger as they are to publicize or promote the commentor. I really don't like thinking that way, but there are times when it's true. - Mark Dykeman
Depends on the quality of the comments, doesn't it? Some are substantive and others are relative chit-chat. Much depends on the original quality of the posting. - Jill O'Neill
I think that when the blog author responses, you see a conversation unfold. The biggest problem with the web as we know it is that its still way too one-way in the flow of communication and data. Something needs to step up and change that. - Micah Baldwin
If it was a RoC, I expect him to at least acknowledge through some mean that he has read my oppinion. When it was not a request, I assume I am trying to start a conversation, unless I saw something wrong on the post and tried to suggest a correction. 2 out of 3 timese, then, yeah, I want a conversation. - Rodrigo Jaroszewski
