Resuming my end-of-the-month pontifications on writing & blogging. I appear to have left off back in June of last year [Y'All Connect]. I stopped due to some compelling theory that escapes me at this time. I am starting back up as part of my effort to improve the blog, i.e. "the same, but better" [Hello 2016!]. List of previous SotB.
I use a comment policy that I have suffered under in writing classes. The current victim student brings in copies of a work in progress. Work is read aloud. Student sits down & shuts up. Class dissects, praises, attacks the work for a set number of minutes. Student is not allowed to speak while this is happening. At the end, the student is given a handful of minutes to defend, explain, rebut.
Of course, should the comment thread be subject to displays of poor sportsmanship, I would wade in with my troll basher. Fortunately, that has yet to be an issue. Y'all have been universally entertaining, informative, & delightful.
Once the dust has settled, usually the next day, I return to sum up. This hasn't always been my policy. I've wrestled with different methods. However, for the last few months, I have been making an effort be sure that I comment at the end of each post.
On an administrative note, the comments close automatically after 30 days. I would prefer to leave them open in perpetuity. However, closing the comments has dramatically cut down on spam. OTOH, the improvement might be due to an unrelated anti-spam measure by WordPress. The world may never know.
If you blog, what works for you? As a blog reader, what do you like?
I blog. I read blogs. When people comment on my blog I try to respond in a reasonable amount of time. Even if it's just to say thanks for your comment or thanks for reading my post. Because I see my blog as an attempt to interact with my audience. Not all blogs are meant to be interactive, but when a blog is written that way (they invite comments, opinions or pose various question, even if only in a reflective manner) I will leave the blog if the blogger doesn't respond to their comments. I think it's rude. Now if someone happens to be one of those lucky bloggers who gets 250+ comments for every post … well then obviously I'll cut you some slack. (And bow down to your greatness, because clearly, you're da Bomb) But you'll lose me if I take interest in your blog (and subsequently, interest in you) and you keep ignoring my presence. I see comments as a compliment, as your reading audience raising their hand and wanting to participate in your blogging experience. Pass me over enough times and I'm gone. I mean, if you don't want interactive responses and feedback then maybe you should go write a book or an article. Just my .02 cents.
It has been fun sharing the journey with you.
Thanks for the plug! 🙂 I'm such a sucker for happily ever after stories. Obviously, I can live with the occasional response to a comment or I wouldn't still be here. We've exchanged some good ideas and tips over the years and I kind of always felt like some of our journey was similar. (Age, trepidation with a "new" horse, etc.) I was uncharacteristically sad when a while back it sounded like you might actually quit blogging. So glad you're keeping with it and still working on the "boys" too!
I always read all the blogs on my list (usually at work). Unfortunately my work computer blocks us from commenting on anything. So unless I'm on my phone or at home I don't do a ton of commenting. Stupid work computer!
Am trying to grasp the idea of a dictatorial office computer. I went freelance before this was an issue. We were happy when the computers worked.
I was hoping closing the comments didn't look unfriendly. Stupid spam!