Comments on: Romanceland: Are We Losing The Community Spirit?

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:51:54 +0000

I’ve been visiting Karen’s blog since it started, and although I do read all the posts, I don’t always comment. It has to be something that I feel really strongly about, and sometimes when Karen lights the touch paper and stands well back, I can’t even keep up the comments that are flying.

By: Rosie

Rosie — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:37:23 +0000

Like most who’ve commented here I too use Google Reader. Waaaay back 3 whole years ago when I started blogging the community was smaller I think. Or at least it seemed so. I subscribe to a lot more sites than my web page shows and again, like many others, time is an issue.

OTOH, I comment when I think it’s relevant. When someone is hitting over 50 or more comments on an issue I rarely have anything new to add to the conversation.

I do appreciate a reply when one seems appropriate, but not every comment I leave necessarily requires a response.

By: Shreela

Shreela — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:25:25 +0000

I’ve used various feed readers for years; I’m using Google Reader now. If I feel like commenting on a post, then I middle-click on the headline/link so the actual blog post loads in another tab in Firefox. That way Google Reader won’t have to reload by using the back-key had I just regular-clicked on the headline-link.

I don’t comment on most blog posts that come through, unless it reaches out and “grabs me” for some reason.

And I’ve also unsubbed from blogs that post too much, but some I’ll stick with if some of the posts are really good — I’ll just scroll past the stuff I’m not interested in.

As far as my blog, it’s just a bunch of personal stuff, or something I feel strongly about at that time. I get occasional comments depending on what I blogged about. I don’t even know if I have any regular readers (probably not 8^)

By: Community Spirit? « Trivial Pursuits

Community Spirit? « Trivial Pursuits — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:01:21 +0000

[...] Community Spirit? Posted on July 16, 2008 by shilohwalker So Karen wants to know if we’re losing our community spirit [...]

By: Tina Burns

Tina Burns — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:41:11 +0000

I don’t comment very often and I blame time too. I read a lot of blogs, but only get to them on the weekend, so by the time I’m reading and find a topic I can comment on, there’s 10 posts above it, so what’s the point? Sigh. Catch 22.

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 21:19:56 +0000

LOL – way to comment back, Karen. Excellently done

I think everyone is so busy trying to read and post on their own blogs that it becomes difficult to comment back on their own.

Plus, if anyone else is like me, they are working a gazillion hours a week on top of their play job (bloglandia), and real life has no business trying to take over my fun life, but dammit, it just does!

Lori, playing hooky from my job to comment on your post – please take notice and appreciate

By: Kayleigh Jamison

Kayleigh Jamison — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:33:26 +0000

I keep an eye on the blogs via my Google Reader too, and I don’t think it necessarily prevents me from commenting. When I want to, I clicky and go. I comment when I feel the need; sometimes it’s something I intensely agree with, more often than not it’s a topic that’s controversial.

I don’t think you, as the author, should have any different responsibilities. Respond when the comment strikes you, don’t when it doesn’t. Ya dig? I’ve never found myself thinking, “that Karen is a bitch, I talk to her all the time and she ignores meh!”

By: Karen Scott

Karen Scott — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:45:39 +0000

Erm…, what y’all said. *g*

By: katiebabs

katiebabs — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:41:13 +0000

I visit over 30 blogs a day and try to comment as much as I can. if someone asks a question I try to answer. If they write a review I have enjoyed, I at least say something, even if it is one or two words.
But it is lovely to see people comment because at least you feel someone is reading your posts.

By: December Quinn/Stacia Kane

December Quinn/Stacia Kane — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:18:39 +0000

For a long time I had a very strict reply-to-every-comment policy, but over the last year I had to loosen up. I simply didn’t have/don’t have the time, especially not now that I mirror the posts on blogger and livejournal so have two sets of commenters to reply to. And I actually find that not always replying to every comment is good, as it seems to engender more reader discussion.

I do generally try to respond most of the time, though. And if there’s a new commenter I always respond to thank and welcome them.

As for the lull…yeah, I’ve noticed it too, and think it’s partly summer and partly that there just isn’t a lot going on anywhere. Which is actually kind of nice, really.