I have realized a few things about myself and my blog:
- I tend to ask a lot of questions, presumably to get you to comment. I love having the interaction with you.
- I love receiving comments, and occasionally they stress me out if I have other things on my high-anxiety mind.
- I love to blog, and usually I do it for the right reasons ("right" for me personally means doing it for my own enjoyment and to make friends, and "wrong" being to acquire comments).
- How did you feel about not being able to comment? Jane from What About Mom? had a friend who made the suggestion that people might think you are being snobbish if your comments are turned off, like you don't care what they have to say. (Rest assured that is not the case for me.)
- Did you miss having the opportunity to comment? (Apparently it about made 5 or 6 of your heads explode because you e-mailed me and told me so, you cuties you.)
- Did you feel less inclined to read my posts because you knew you wouldn't be commenting?
- If you were half-heartedly skimming or not reading my posts at all, is it because you already have too many blogs to comment on, and so one less was a relief? Or was it because you come here out of some sense of obligation?
For the rest of you, thanks for reading this week. It was a great learning experience for me.
Oh, and now you can leave a comment...
57 people wanted to leave a comment:
Well, I learned that it isn't necessarily a relief to not have to comment. I guess because I only ever comment when I want to anyway. Still, this was hard for me!!
I simply still wanted to see what you have to say. I felt indifferent about the commenting because I knew it was temporary. Sure, it was nice to read and then move on without taking a moment to comment...but I like commenting so it doesn't stress me when people have the comments on.
I WAS curious about whether or not it changed your stats though, I'll admit :)
I guess I never felt an obligation to comment. There is another blog around town that turned off comments and I quit reading, but not because of the comments, because of the content. It was no longer interesting to me. I did keep coming back here though. Plus, I was very curious to see what you would learn.
Lisa-clan of the cave hair
Phew! It was like I was holding my breath. I'm glad comments are back. Now I'm crawling back in bed with my sore throat!
Welcome back to the comment world of blogging. Glad you had a good experiment and time off from it.
I felt like I had a one way relationship with you, like I could get to know you better but you couldnt get to know me better. Either way I love ya, so do what you need to do!
I would always read your posts comments on or not. I don't tend to comment on people's blogs unless I feel I have something worth saying and worth someone else reading:) I sure like it when people comment on my blog!
I was sad that I couldn't leave comments. I still came and read your blog even though I couldn't comment though. And I still would and will. I'm to excited for you to go to Paris. I can't wait to hear all about it. I travel vicariously through my bloggy friends.
I sometimes turn off the comments on particular posts. Usually it's because it's something that I blogged that was more personal than most posts and I didn't feel that I needed other people's opinion on what I had just worked through myself. I think that there is definitely a place for comments and a place to just leave well enough alone. I'm sure you figured that out too!
I have alot of vlogs in my reader. Many I read daily but rarely ocmment on. I read them because they interest me or because I know them, but they do not necessarily post posts that I feel I have an authority to comment on. If that is weird or wrong I need to know this so I will start commenting daily on more blogs.
I forgot you went commentless. I saw a post I wanted to comment on and clicked through. It said ocmments closed and I said, oh well. I still kept reading. I figured if it was THAT IMPORTANT I could have emailed you, KWIM.
I'll describe it in one word: weird. I'll see a post in my reader, read it, and then have to stop myself from clicking through the comment. It was like having to stop a reflex or not being able to scratch an itch.
Phew. I was getting the shakes from not commenting all week.
Thank you for the potty-training advice. I will find her collateral and try it that way.
I have mixed feelings about comments. Sometimes it makes this blog thing feel like facebook (competitive and "high school"). When I read a blog post that has hundreds of comments, I tend not to add my own comment. But I really love to connect with people and commenting is a great way to do that.
That said, I have two blogs: one with comments and one without. The one with comments is my personal blog. I want comments there, I need comments there. The other is my writing blog. I use that for professional reasons and, therefore, have turned the comments off. But I still want people to read it and I worry that they won't read it if they can't comment. Hmmm ... How to deal.
Thanks for letting me comment. Have a nice day.
I think what seperates blogs from columns IS the comments. Blogs are about interaction with each other.
There are some blogs I read that do not allow comments ever, and I find that sort of frustrating. I don't know if that can truly be called a blog.
But, there are times when I will turn off my comments, and like you said, there's something stressfree about it, not having to respond to every comment, etc.
Personally, I like being able to comment and dialogue with people, but there are some times when it's nice knowing I don't HAVE to comment.
Man, I left a great long comment, and It got cyber-eaten. >:( That's IT. I'm NEVER commenting again!
Actually, my best line out of the eaten comment (if I do say so myself) was something to the effect of: Thanks for releasing me from the obligation of commenting on one of the blogs I'd read even if all commenting were disabled on every blog and I stopped reading about half of the blogs that I currently do. (Of course the sentence was shorter and wittier because I'd explained the whole disabled comment scenario earlier in the comment.) And now this comment is longer than the first, and I could have just re-typed the first one to begin with and spent less time. I'm such a dork!
I only comment when I feel like I have something worthwhile to say. I always read the blogs on my reading lists, sometimes I have things I think or feel but I just don't comment because I don't feel particularly articulate, sometimes I have a little 7 month old who deserves my attention more than comments do. I am sporadic I guess. Anyways, I don't mind either way. It's funny though, I really really like it when people comment on my blog. I have like 4 regular readers but still those four comments usually make my day! Don't worry too much about France, it will be amazing and so worth it!
Well, you already know that I couldn't keep my two cents to myself. In this instance..the comments being turned off didn't keep me away. But I will admit that there are other placed I frequent, that if commenting is not available..they are the first ones skimmed through or "marked as read" if I am feeling overwhelmed. Sad, but true! I much prefer the interaction with my readers as well as the authors of the blogs I read.
I don't comment on EVERY post, I read---but probly on mosts posts. I didn't always remember that you were doing no-comment week and so I would click on over here ready to write whatever and then I wasn't able to. It threw me off a litte:)
But I'm excited for you to go to France!!
I still read even without the comment feature.
I love to read blogs but sometimes I feel like I have to read so many and then comment...
So i've been cutting back on commenting lately. But I do still read blogs. Did I just say the same thing twice???? :)
Your blog is great and I love to stop by and see what you are up to.
I still read! And I'm so impressed you guys caught up with LOST that quickly! How long did it take you? We watched season 1 in a week. It was like watching one super-long movie. And it really stinks now when you have to wait week to week for new episodes.
I comment about 90% of the time- almost always, and for me I missed leaving comments. The first few times I got on your blog I would refresh it because I thought something was wrong...I missed the memo, apparently.
I still read your posts , however. I admit, I save skimming for VERY LONG posts. Those kind of stress me out.
I did miss it!!
Hi. I don't know...I just comment when I have something to say. I don't comment when I don't have anything particular to say.
I'm so excited for you to go to France! I listened to a little bit of French last night and it was so beautiful. It got my mind buzzing trying to understand it all!
Have a great time!
See, I don't comment unless I have something to say. (Like now...). I didn't "miss it" and since I DID have something to say, I just emailed you. I never feel obligated to comment on someone's blog just to "up their comment numbers" and I feel the same way about my blog - a post isn't a "crappy one" if I don't have any comments, and I don't consider a post better than others if it rakes in tons of comments.
I am interested, like Heather, to know whether this affected your stats.
I hope it helped clear your head and good luck with the Getting Ready! Vive la France!
I knew that comments were turned off, but I must admit that I probably wouldn't have commented because of the reasons why I comment.
So often I like to comment when I find that there is something I want to connect with the author about. Their post reminds me of something, or inspires me in some way and I like to tell them such.
Other times I comment because I find their post very well written and they deserve to know how I interpreted their post. Perhaps I comment in ways that I want others to comment as well.
Thank you for the exercise— I may have to do it myself.
I still read your posts every day, and I know on one day I had something to say and was kind of annoyed I couldn't...I would have emailed you, but you had told me you were stressed and I decided it wasn't THAT important. Especially since I can't even remember what it was now.
Erin,
I like leaving comments. One, because it helps me feel like we are staying in touch. Two, because sometimes I have something to say about what you have written. It did bug me the first time I couldn't post, but not enough that I needed to email you.
On the other hand, seeing lots of comments from others makes me feel like what I have to say isn't significant because so many other people already replied. I then feel that I will become less important to you.
Wierd how we can make ourselves feel that way. You can imagine how I felt when I saw that Brooke had another "Britt" commenting on her blog. First, I thought to myself, "Did I already comment?" Then I realized it wasn't me. Is the new Britt trying to move in on the old Britt?
Wierd.
Britt
Intresting. I ran into your blog and think that was a very cool experiment. I like commenting and I have noticed myself annoyed when people turn it off but I still read.
I missed being able to comment. I have fun leaving them:) I can't wait to see your posts after coming back from france!!
I read every word and...nope I skim its true I do. Im shallow and Im proud!
I'm glad comments are back! I'm not generally big on making comments, but of course this was the first week that I specifically wanted to make more comments. It's nice to be able to make them now. But, I am glad that you did what you needed to do in order to have less stress during a busy week.
I'd read you anyway! But it was kinda hard, because I try to comment only if I have something to say (as opposed to staring at the screen and wondering what the heck I should type). So yeah, I had important/funny/life-altering things to say and you wouldn't let me!!
Sob.
I am not one that leaves comments on every blog post I read...but there were times this week that I wanted to comment on your post and not being able to sucked. Which is funny...because until about 2 months ago, I didn't ever comment on anyone's blog. But now I'm used to it and like to add my two cents.
I totally get why you did it though. Sometimes I wonder if I blog for comments, or whether I modify my blogging to eliminate angry comments, or whatever. It would be interesting to be completely transparent on my blog without worry, though I probably still wouldn't since people in my real life read the blog.
Anyway, don't stress about your trip and I'm glad you learned a lot from your week.
What a cool experiment!
And I DID NOT LIKE not being able to comment. I kept reflexively trying to click the comment button. Not cool.
(And I only leave comments when I feel like it - never when I feel obligated. Actually, I'm LESS inclined to comment when it's an obligation. Cuz I'm a rebel.)
Yes, it DID drive me crazy that I couldn't comment. I'll be honest I don't always leave a comment, and I don't comment on everyone's blogs. Just the ones that I feel like I have a personal connection with.
But, i also have a short attention span, so by the time I got around to getting into my email, I wouldn't forgotten what I wanted to comment about.
And yes, I dont' comment on everyone because I often time do feel overwhelmed with too many posts to read.
p.s. Have fun in France!!
I missed being able to make comments because I think I am so wise and have so much to say!
I think I can understand why people sometimes don't accept comments-I don't generally enjoy blogs that NEVER do, though. A week or a post here and there is no big deal in my mind, but always? What's the point?
There was post that I wanted to comment on - I can't remember which one it was, and I'm too lazy to go back and look right now (I have a headache - yuck). But as for comments... I also like it when people leave comments, but I like having the option to leave one or not. Mostly I just like to know who is reading my blog. So one comment every now and then is nice for that reason. And I like the option to comment on people's blog, because, let's face it, I have an opinion about almost everything and enjoy sharing them!
I wanted to comment on a few of your blogs this past week so it was wierd not being able to.
I missed being able to comment - but I didn't miss a single post!
i still read all your posts!
Wow! There were so many comments I wanted to leave all week! Especially about not being close to Target! lol!
I'm still new to blogging (2 months) and while I love the comments I receive, I completely understand that not everyone has the time to leave comments all the time. I'm just happy if someone stops by for a visit!
Like Kristina P, I enjoy the interaction with other bloggers through the comments too.
I still read you every day even though your comments were off:)
I like comments on so I can speak when I choose.
(like when you talked about "REal purity" from philosophy. I LOVE that line! I ran the first counter when it came to Utah in 98.)
I missed it. I found that I didn't read your posts as closely either. Glad to see the comments back on. :)
Ah, the ol' comment dilemma. If I am interested in the story, I will read the post whether there is a comment section or not. I like just looking at different people's blogs --it is like a secret invite into their home. And, commenting doesn't mean I did enjoy it or didn't enjoy it. I have to learn to relax about comments. This is not supposed to be a popularity contest.
Okay, so I don't feel like I HAVE to comment, but this week was hard not to comment because there was a time or 2 that I thought, I need to tell Erin something. tee hee... Hope that you are getting all ready for your trip. It is always very stressful getting ready to go on a trip...I can't imagine how much more stressful knowing that it is overseas!
Hey I always read even if I don't comment. It is a bit disconcerting when you are unable to comment. I love your fun links post. And I admit it. I live for comments. They put happy butterflies inside so I just relish in them. Fun experiment
I always read, even if I don't comment.
This week it was a relief, since I'm sick. But any other time, I like to comment.
It made me a teeny bit sad- like I couldn't fully support you by leaving you a comment on what you were talking about.
I love the interaction and they things that you learn from other people.
I do like to leave comments and I don't feel obligated to do it. You have great posts and it was weird to not say what I thought but it was probably nice for one week for you. I bet you are getting excited.
Don't ever do that again! :)
Not being able to comment isn't a big deal, and I certainly don't think it makes you seem snobbish. Sometimes we blog just for ourselves, and that's OK. I like it when people comment on my blog simply because I like knowing that people share (or sometimes, don't) my thoughts and experiences.
It's been my experience (for what it's worth) that comments mean so little in terms of a blog's success, if that's the validation you're looking for. I think too many women look at a blog's success as a validation of them (unfortunately). Comments really aren't indicative. I get pretty much the same traffic every day but my comment levels vary depending on the subject.
Comments are fun to be able to interact and enjoy the community but they just shouldn't be a measuring stick. I don't want to ever pressure my readers that they MUST leave a comment because so many people just want to visit, read, enjoy and leave. If everyone in the city wrote a letter to the editor, for example, the place would be flooded and nothing get done. So sometimes just a few thoughtful, well-said comments are just what you need. Rather than a lot of "me toos" or "cool" or whatever.
Great post!
I didn't like the "no comment" thing. It made me feel unconnected...I wanted to reach out and say "HI" and respond to what you wrote. I admit I felt a wee bit "shut out"...I think if nobody let you comment on their posts...I'd probably blog less. I guess for me the connection with other bloggers is as important as reading what they have to say.
I haven't read what all is going on, but I just had to comment on how you and your dh met. Too funny.
There were a few posts you did where I wanted to comment SOOOOOOOOOO bad!! :) I'm glad you turned them on. And my comment is to let you know that I think you and your bloggy rocks, not just to give you another comment, haha. :)
Post a Comment