Comments on Expat Mum: To Comment or Not?

Catching up much too late - but this one obviously...

2009-07-23T16:33:58.451-05:00

Catching up much too late - but this one obviously hit a nerve I guess. I do like to reply to friends who've taken the trouble to comment - but I must admit I don't have nearly as many commenters as you do, Expatmum, so probably wouldn't be as good as you at finding the time to do it! M xx

Oh please - I personally went over to your blog a...

2009-07-16T23:40:32.177-05:00

Oh please - I personally went over to your blog and commented. What's that phrase - Can't do wrong for doing right? No - that doesn't make sense.....

Total, utter and complete devastation. But I will ...

2009-07-16T14:59:40.005-05:00

Total, utter and complete devastation. But I will survive. Don't worry about me... Little me...

Hey, I've returned to look, and you haven't even c...

2009-07-16T12:41:28.066-05:00

Hey, I've returned to look, and you haven't even commented on my comment - although you've posted a new post so I know you've been back too.

I am deeply offended, and will probably never read your blog again. See, the dangers of elevating your readers' expectations...

Bit late in the day here. I do like it when peopl...

2009-07-16T09:26:50.039-05:00

Bit late in the day here.

I do like it when people comment on my comments. It feels like a conversation. But when I started blogging and was pondering this question, I decided I wouldn't do that, as it's a whole extra process, and I felt I would rather spend that time reading blogs or writing.

I do occasionally comment on comments, but then I wonder whether people see what I've written, since I normally don't, so they wouldn't know to check back.

I really like the fact that blogging is so personal. There are so many different styles - each blog is full of the personality of its writer. This is one of those small variables that contributes to the picture you build up of the blogger behind the words.

Thanks all. I think I'll just stop over-thinking t...

2009-07-16T09:02:09.172-05:00

Thanks all. I think I'll just stop over-thinking this subject since we all seem to be more or less of the opinion that there are no rules in blogging.
Normally I would have put another post up by now but I'm dashing around today doing doctor and dental check-ups (yawn). This isn't an attempt to get the most comments ever, but if I ever need to do that I'll know what kind of question to post.
tee hee.

I guess it depends. On the comment itself and also...

2009-07-16T03:03:28.294-05:00

I guess it depends. On the comment itself and also on how much time I have. I would love to comment back on every single comment, and although there are not of overwhelmingly plenty, sometimes I just can't.
Just like Maternal Tales, I like the little conversations that sometimes develop. And I do come back to read what others had to say. I don't expect a reply on my comment, but I am happy to read one. And I like to show my followers this little bit of appreciation.

I'm with everyone else. I like to reply to people ...

2009-07-16T03:03:27.816-05:00

I'm with everyone else. I like to reply to people who have taken the time to comment on my blog. But, sometimes there is nowhere to go. I wrote a post about Srebrenica the other day, which got a lot fewer comments than normal. But, there really isn't anything you can say that doesn't sound trite, and I can't think of anything to reply to those that did comment, so I didn't.

I do check back to see if people have responded, but especially on those blogs where I know that people do respond. I don't take offence at those who don't respond and if I don't have time to do it myself then I don't worry!

I'd never really thought about it though, so good topic for consideration. I wonder if there is a difference between British and American bloggers?

I always reply to any comments I get on my blog, a...

2009-07-16T01:15:08.506-05:00

I always reply to any comments I get on my blog, and I'm not being presumptuous by doing that and don't expect the people to rush back to read any of my replies... I do it more for myself really, and I do it because I feel that if someone has taken the time to visit my blog and leave a nice comment that I can at least say something nice in return, even it's just a simple thank you, something to share, but then that's me, maybe I'm too polite hahaha!
It's all a thing of personal taste I guess and as we all know there are no rules in the blogging world! XX

Michelloui- I agree. If you don't have anything ni...

2009-07-15T19:00:58.378-05:00

Michelloui- I agree. If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all, unless of course you are specifically asked for an opinion.

Toni, this was a secret ploy to get more comments ...

2009-07-15T18:59:41.155-05:00

Toni, this was a secret ploy to get more comments wasn't it? Nice one. And look at me, checking back to see if you responded. Imagine that?

At the risk of sounding just like most people here...

2009-07-15T17:16:45.167-05:00

At the risk of sounding just like most people here (but for the purposes of an unofficial poll I'll contribute!) I like to reply to comments because I figure if people take the time to comment, then it's nice to reply. They may or may not stop by again, but in case they do then they know I am interested in what they've had to say.

I don't usually reply on their blog, it seems more relevant to reply on my blog where they first commented. I try to combine several replies in one.

I enjoy commenting on other people's blogs but I don't feel obligated to do so, I only comment when something has inspired me to do so. I know it's nice to get feedback so I try to do so if I have time. If the blog owner replies, cool, but if not I don't mind. We're all busy people!!!

My only irritation is when I have seen negative comments on people's blogs. It rarely happens but when it does I just think to myself 'why bother commenting if you have nothing nice to say?!'

Thanks Melissa (above) for the link--useful tips!!

I too haven't given it much thought. If I have th...

2009-07-15T15:18:53.668-05:00

I too haven't given it much thought. If I have the time I love to respond but always think it's a bit weird to leave a comment on somebody's blog thinking wow they've had lots of interest only to find that AT LEAST 50% of the comments are self penned....saying that, it's totally up to the owner of the blog how they wish to interact with their readers - each to their own. If only I had more time....Lx

I am a bit like Milla. I tend to go to the other ...

2009-07-15T14:04:05.787-05:00

I am a bit like Milla. I tend to go to the other person's blog to comment on their blog rather than necessarily commenting back on my own. Partly for the same reason that it seems presumptuous to assume that they will come back to mine but reasonable to think they will be reading their own comments! Sometimes I do respond if it is a question or something which clearly needs a reply but like Maggie it is a bit erratic! I love to get comments and certainly don't mean to be rude in not replying. Aargh, you have got me worrying now. I don't have time to respond to everyone. I'd never leave the computer!

Time is also my determining factor, plus what the ...

2009-07-15T14:00:26.429-05:00

Time is also my determining factor, plus what the conversation has been about. I do try to comment when new readers leave a remark though.

Agreed, if I have both time and something to say, ...

2009-07-15T13:59:45.862-05:00

Agreed, if I have both time and something to say, I say something. Else I tend to let them go. I thought maybe as an experiment I'd try to comment back more often, but I got bored of trying to do it, and found it is more fun to comment on other peoples' blogs, like yours!

I usually reply to every comment - and I sometimes...

2009-07-15T13:53:28.406-05:00

I usually reply to every comment - and I sometimes go back to blogs I've commented on to see if they've responded, but not always. I like the little dialogue that it creates, and sometimes I really do want to thank people for their advice or for making a witty remark. But I don't hold it against people who don't reply to comments. And it's never occurred to me that commenting in your own blog is simply a way to up the comment count!

Interesting post - everyone seems to have such dif...

2009-07-15T13:52:27.089-05:00

Interesting post - everyone seems to have such different opinions. My penny's worth is that I reply to every comment because, yes, it's like having a conversation, being part of a community and making people feel like what they say is worth something. I don't expect people to comment back on everything I say, but I do check back and it's nice if they have responded.

At the end of the day, to use a cliche, there are ...

2009-07-15T13:47:15.268-05:00

At the end of the day, to use a cliche, there are no rules for blogging. Bloggers are a society that exists solely online and who police one another and follow trends until they fade away or become the norm. Blogging hasn't been established long enough to warrant set rules and nor will these rules ever be officially created, in my professional opinion (I'm a Web communications/"new media" specialist). The Internet is always growing and warping and blogs change with it. That's the joy and excitement of the online world! Although the norm for smaller blogs with a handful of comments on each post among our network seems to be to respond to comments, in other circles it is not - and that's fine. Now, although blogging rules do not exist, a fairly strongly understood commenting etiquette does exist - though, again, it is only among other bloggers that we can police it. Whether we should police one another is an important ethical question, but, for good or bad, we do. In the end, it's nice to be polite to people, but not responding isn't necessarily a rude thing if that is your self-imposed rule.

I usually reply to most, if not all, comments simp...

2009-07-15T13:39:01.520-05:00

I usually reply to most, if not all, comments simply because I view comments as if they are a conversation and I would be impolite if I ignored them.
But from what I see of the comments posted so far, the majority indicate that it could be construed as an ego trip for the blogger? Now I'm confused. I'm booking an emergency session with my therapist and life counsellor.

Ha ha - this is turning into quite the therapy ses...

2009-07-15T13:34:38.976-05:00

Ha ha - this is turning into quite the therapy session - lots of unmasking of reasons why we comment.
Ding - your time is up; that'll be $200. See you next week!

I reply to every comment because I am a people ple...

2009-07-15T13:00:13.836-05:00

I reply to every comment because I am a people pleaser. I feel they won't come back if I don't respond. Silly really as one of my favourite blogs very rarely responds to my comments and NEVER comments on my blog. How rude!

I started off by replying to every comment & event...

2009-07-15T12:38:47.006-05:00

I started off by replying to every comment & eventually I got out of this habit. If someone says something that merits an answer or asks a question, I sometimes email if I know the person & have their address, but mostly I don't reply to individuals.I sometimes leave a message to EVERYONE.
I feel that occasionally there is nothing to say and that makes that person stand out if you reply to all the others except that one.
I think much depends on time and how you feel.
I don't think there are hard & fast rules, are there?
Maybe break all the rules & if so then I am sorry! I am grateful for all comments, I really am.

to be honest I never give it a thought- or rather ...

2009-07-15T11:32:43.404-05:00

to be honest I never give it a thought- or rather I hadn't until now. Sigh. Something else to ponder.
I expect a comment about this please? a personal and elegantly crafted witty response

I don't get a huge amount of comments so I like to...

2009-07-15T11:08:49.690-05:00

I don't get a huge amount of comments so I like to respond to each one in one follow up comment. That said, I bet they hardly get read! I also look at their blogs and comment on their posts. I'm too nice and polite and I think it's the friendly thing to do!