Say it Out Loud

Weblogs represent the internet at its best. There are many different users on a single network, filtering and disseminating information and sharing their experiences of the world and day-to-day life with a diverse audience.

There is every indication that weblogs – a vibrant, and unique community with its own criteria – will gain greater influence as their numbers grow and awareness of the form becomes widespread.

One feature that distinguishes weblogs from static websites, making them more interactive, is that they allow instant comments by others. This is a matter of choice for bloggers, though. They can disallow other visitors to comment on weblogs or single entries or can authorize comments for all internet users, for members, or make their blogs as read-only.

However, the reconnaissance of blogsphere reveals that most blogs have the comments option turned on, which permits users to interact with the bloggers and each other at their own pace. Some go a long way to engage others and solicit comments. I have seen permanent banners on many blogs that read, “would it kill ya to comment” or “de-lurking” (meaning comment and just not visit the blog). In fact, a few famous bloggers celebrated De-lurking Day on Jan 5 this year.

Some bloggers play games like asking leading questions and urging others to respond and have different rewards like creating blog buttons or even promising gadgets like iPods to the winning respondent. One blogger said she would give one dollar for each comment on a particular post on a particular day to charity. To date, she has received 171 comments and the number continues to grow as we speak.

On the other hand, some bloggers do not want or encourage comments on their entries. For one thing, it can be an extra burden on the bloggers. If one does not want certain types of material or observations present on a site, then one must constantly monitor comments. This can become tedious in case of blogs that attract a lot of attention and response.

Comments cause spam where people leave irresponsible comments or just mark their presence by leaving their own URLs in an effort to increase the Google page ranking of their page. Some bloggers do not know how to turn the comment option on in the first place, or are afraid that they will not be able to remove offensive comments. Where permitted, thoughtful and witty comments, follow-up questions and extra information all add a lot to a blog.

Comments by informed readers can put in so many interesting and important components to blogs. The blogosphere has the potential to raise the level of intellectual discussions, so that ideas are valued not by who says them, but by their merit. The author of the blog more or less creates a topic and every one else gives input.

Comment on issues of real importance may also turn into a global conversation and readers can draw inferences from it. The main value of blogs, as compared to other forms of media, is that readers can immediately see contrasting views. Moreover, for bloggers, counting comments is an ego booster too. In order to determine different views on blog comments, I discussed this issue on my own blog, in addition to blogosphere scouting and email discussions. I posted the idea on my blog, followed by a modest queue of comments, counter comments and emails.

For Teeth Maestro, who has been an internet user since 1999 and is an avid Pakistani blogger, blogging is a better way of using his online time. On the value of comments, he says, “I now have the unique ability to surf the net from the blogger perspective. One might label it as an invasion of privacy but then again the onus lies on the blogger who chooses to blog.” Blogging is indeed the future of social interaction, so standards have to be established. He and another blogger Mark added, ” blog commenting needs to be refined further and surely we will come to some conclusion.”

G3nu1n3, another techie and a Pakistani blogger says, “I do it (blogging) because the freedom to do that and then seeing people join (via comments) in this fun is much more attractive.” How should visitors comment? Anyone who wants to comment should read the post first and then offer clued-up opinion or join in any ongoing discussion instead of just saying, “nice blog,” “well done,” “I was here,” “you visit me there.” Sarah, however, who is another blogger, lives by her own rule for commenting. She says, “I visit the blog of the person who left a comment on my blog (interesting or not) and leave a comment on his/her site too.

You never know what you might find there. You might even meet a new friend there.” When I started blogging, the comments option had not been invented yet for that software. I had a visible “mail to” link at my blog – if anyone wanted to comment, they could email me. That was somewhat tedious and only a few people reached out Now, I have enabled comments on my blog and more people hit the comment button. The inputs from far and beyond sometimes clear my thoughts and help me see things from a different perspective. So the next time you browse through someone’s blog, remember to comment, because for bloggers who post religiously, your comments might be the high point of their day.


1 thought on “Say it Out Loud”

  1. Great introduction to blogging – I will definately forward this link to all my friends who are new to blogging!!

    Reply

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