Dec 28, 2009
If you’ve never commented on a blog before, do you want to break the silence?
I’ve recently spoken to two otherwise outgoing ladies who read blogs but never comment. It makes them nervous.
Is that you, too?
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Buy me a couple of drinks and we will see where things go from there….
No.
Sometimes it is nerve racking. People seem to act harshly online. They say things they probably wouldn’t say to your face. So sometimes I don’t get involved in discussions because of that.
I see what you did there…
Yes, it’s true. I read lots of blogs but VERY rarely comment on them; this one included. It’s an awkward thing, I think.
I comment once in a blue moon…the times that I have mustered up some courage to do it, I immediately regret having clicked “submit comment” afterward, like I am just about to feel again…
I can totally relate…. I don’t quite know what’s my deal, though.
Interesting. I have the exact opposite reaction. I am naturally shy in real life, but feel the wall of the internet protecting me when I comment on blogs. Also, I have several blogs and love the comments so much that I know that must be what the blog author must be feeling when people comment. It’s so discouraging to NOT get comments – you wonder why people (if any) are reading your material.
It is me. I have read for over year. Enjoy your stuff.
Yes.
The two videos you posted of Orison hooked me on your blog. What beautiful and talented children you have! You are blessed!
Nervous, perhaps, of adding to the endless noise of the web. I find that comment sections of blogs are the easiest places to waste a lots of time, populated by many unthoughtful, unoriginal, repetitive, and contextless words. Although this blog has exceptional comments, still, I will probably always be slow to speak. Isn’t that why most of us have our own blogs–so we can say something thoughtful whenever we feel capable of expressing it well?
I feel the same way about commenting. I comment occasionally, but most of the time I simply feel that my comments are not witty or insightful enough to add to the conversation – not in a self-depreciating way, but I’m just being honest. I’d rather read the thoughts of others than add my own noise.
Commenting on blogs is for suckers.
;)
I must admit, I feel a bit slalkerish if I comment on a blog of someone I don’t really know….
I comment every once in a blue moon. Not because I’m nervous, I just prefer anonymity.
YES, Especially if it is a blog of someone I do not know. If I know the person then it’s fine.
…uhm…uhm…eh, I just don’t know what to say. << See what I mean? ;-)
I’m far to narcissistic to cast my pearls to the swine…
How will you know since they probably won’t comment anyway?
I have no problem commenting, BTW.
It’s easy for me to look in someone’s eyes and say genuinely whatever I feel to say, whether cordial or meaningful. Maybe I never comment on blogs for the same reason I hate talking on the phone with people, it seems half-true.
Or at least I hope that my motive in refraining from blog-commenting and phone conversing is because I cherish the presence of a person and oneness of setting and eye-contact to an extreme degree. It could very well be laziness or nervousness or the constraint of time.
What if you aren’t interested in what I want to say?
I enjoy reading many blogs, but rarely am I moved to leave a comment Many posts are thought provoking, but unless I feel I have something unique to add I don’t post. In person I am way too opinionated for my own good; in cyberspace I am a much better listener :)
It wasn’t until we started our own blog that my wife and I realized how encouraging it is to have folks comment on your posts…and so we try to provide that encouragement to others.
But when they’re big ‘ol famous blogs that already have lots of comments, I rarely comment – it doesn’t feel as though my input adds much.
I can relate. I never left comments until I started up a blog myself. Now I also try to encourage others. I also enjoy the sense of community there is. Just another way to connect with people.
i don’t comment as often as i might otherwise because i do not have a blog of my own
feels like another reason for people to ignore my comment so why waste the time of 2 people
there are times when that isn’t enough to stop me i’m used to phrasing things poorly so that isn’t a consideration as often as it probably should be
I don’t comment very often, but it’s usually because I take awhile to get around to reading the post, and by the time I do, there are already a lot of comments… what I have to say has probably already been said.
I know that wouldn’t be me because I do comment on your blog every now and then but not every post you had made!
I do wish that people would comment on my blog too or take part of the poll to vote.
Hungry to eat His Word,
‘Guerite ~ BoldLion
I love reading “22 Words” and never commented before now. Thanks for the motivation!
on the rare occasion i do comment on any blog, it don’t feel interactive enough for me. it feels a bit like throwing your thoughts off of a cliff. sometimes, if a post makes me laugh or think enough, i’ll toss it out there anyway…
I don’t usually comment but not because it makes me nervous. If I don’t have something that I think will add to the post/discussion, what’s the point of being just another “voice” among the masses? Also, I don’t follow very many blogs of people I don’t actually “know” so sometimes it feels weird to weigh in. I do appreciate your thought provoking posts even though I don’t think I’ve ever commented.
I comment every once in a while to a couple of blogs.. but as a whole, no. I think I’ve commented on yours the most!
Depends on what I have to say. Usually commenting on blogs comes easier than commenting in person.
Although fear of man is always an issue, at least for me whether through written or verbal words. So I definitely agree with those two outgoing ladies.
For example, this past weekend I met your dad at my church (TVC) & gave a shout out to Molly for her honestly on her blog. I was SOOOOOOOO nervous.
Yeah I say I’ll try to stick with commenting on blogs & not face to face.
Guess it just depends on the person’s easiest/most natural communication style.
Don’t think I have ever commented here because it feels weird since I don’t know you personally. But I do enjoy reading your blog. I think I started reading when you lost Felicity. The post from your father, you and Molly were so touching. I even have your blog posted on my sidebar. Go figure……
Well…..you have written a few words about calling out bad commenters. I read, but rarely comment for fear that I’ll be the one who pushes you over the edge. [cringing as I click "submit comment"]
I am much more likely to link to a post than to comment on it. I’m not sure why…
I enjoy reading, but rarely comment. However, it’s not because I’m nervous…just not that well thought out.
Long time commenter, first time reader… are all your posts only 22 words long?
;)
I like to comment but sometimes I feel like I might be invading a secret society when the other commenters are referring to past events or sound all friendly to each other! And sometimes when I think I’m hilariously funny, I worry that I sound sarcastic or rude!
yep- that is def. me!
nope.
i comment on almost every blog i read.
writers love the feedback, right? i know i do.
I don’t comment on the blogs of famous people like you….I don’t want to appear a stalker.
I crack myself up.
Hi there!
I read your blog, but I dont always comment in writing. But I always comment, in my head. Sometimes I keep quite just to keep the peace or just to spare time. I like your blog because you have a different angle to ‘stuff’ but my angle is sometimes just as perpendicular to yours as it is to the rest of the world, hence….silence folows. Oh, and I’m scared to make a typo error in here. You are one of those people Id like to talk with until we disagree. Then things could get hairy. Not because we disagree but because you cant phantom the idea that your well thought out comments are flawed. See….you didnt see that one coming. Let me not comment too much then. Better to have your own mind than not right? Thats why I read your posts. Just to make sure Im not crazy for having my own mind too. Did you read the comment about you being ‘famous’? Do you feel famous?
I used to comment more. I’ve just gotten lazy, I think. But I do love when people comment on my blog. And this is a great way to get the lurkers to come out of the shadows…
It does make me nervous, but I usually comment anyway since it seems that is why people have blogs–to give and take ideas.
Often I blame it on the Northwest PA Writing Project, where we had to respond to everything–I mean everything–we read during the six week course.
Maybe that has something to do with it, but mostly I think that if I read something that someone puts out there, I should have the courtesy to take the time to respond since they took the time to post.
That’s why I don’t read too many blogs regularly. It would be just too hard to respond to them all.
I am eat up with the fear of man, thus I do not often comment on blogs. Will someone I know read it and think I sound stupid or that I could be using my time more productively? (After all, how many other ‘Deans’ are there out there?) Did I read all of the comments ahead of mine carefully enough that I’m not repeating something someone else already said a lot better than I’m about to say it? These kinds of questions keep me reading but not commenting. When I do comment, even if it’s only one sentence, I read my comment a bunch of times to make sure it sounds right. Like I said, the fear of man goes deep in my heart.
I enjoy 22 Words a lot and I appreciate the time you take to keep it going.
Thanks for asking! I don’t usually comment for many of the same reasons others have stated. Also, I’m curious about the amount of time people spend reading/commenting on blogs. Some commenters on some blogs seems to have made comeenting their avocation. Yikes!
Yet, I do comment when I think I have something significant to say–whether or not I know the blogger, or they are ‘famous.’
Yes. I read all kinds of blogs but never comment…this is the first.
I think it’s awkward to “break the silence” on a blog because, at least for me, I feel like I know the author, but they have no clue who I am. Sort of strange.
Commenting, much like talking, is scary.
I’ve always been intimidated to comment on this blog because you seem to be quite the expert on the English language and all things grammatical. See?? I don’t even know if that’s right. And that’s the second rewrite… Plus, there is also the ever-present challenge of sounding as interesting or humorous with a keyboard of letters rather than the tongue.
Comments give a blog author valuable feedback, but also can open one up to negative and often harsh feedback from others. In the cyber world, people feel free to assault with words, and that makes most people hesitant to comment.
here is my comment… with emotion. ;-)
Good de-lurking strategy! :)
I was trying to see if I could respond to you in 22 words. Do the numbers in the last sentence count?
As with this comment, I usually catch up in large chunks and arrive too late to the comment party to really participate. =)
Arriving a few days after the last comment has been made generally puts a dampener on wanting to reply.
I’m extremely outgoing, but I always hesitate to write on blogs of people who don’t know me, because I think they’ll think I’m creepy. Do you think it’s creepy that I’m writing a comment but I don’t actually know you?
many times someone has already summed up my thoughts so I’d end up typing “ditto” to the above. Jenna did a post awhile back…affectionately…about her “lurkers.” oh my…it was so delicious. I think I checked her blog 5x a day for 2 days to read all of the comments.
When I have a few minutes, I check a few of my friend’s blogs and don’t venture out in checking other blogs much. There are some blogs, like yours, that I will catch up on about once or twice a month.
Because of this, others have already stated my thoughts or, just like Richard T said, “Arriving a few days after the last comment has been made generally puts a dampener on wanting to reply.”
Also, I got myself in trouble the first time I posted something on a discussion board. What I said was true, but I didn’t know my audience and they were very defensive and I took it personally. I think I still would write the same thing now, but it still causes me to think twice about what I put in writing!
By the way, I absolutely enjoy reading your blog… great thoughts and thought-provoking! Quite a few of your blogs have been topics of our dinner discussions as a family. :D Thanks!