Lately, I've noticed a couple of bloggers, have decided not to take comments anymore....both of these bloggers are food bloggers, and their reasons have been "it takes up so much time."
Of course, these bloggers have HUGE followings and receive many more comments than I do. Even when I get 5-7 comments, I find it hard sometimes to get back to people, so I can imagine how hard it would be when you have 25, 40, or 66 comments! It takes TIME.
What is comment protocol? Do we need to get back to everyone? Is it okay, will it be understood if we don't? Some people reply back on their own comment section, some go visit their commenter's blogs and reply there. Sometimes I've just e-mailed people back to reply to a comment they've left me. I don't know if that is "okay" or not, but I do it.
I can understand why these two bloggers need time away from the computer, but it makes me sad, and slightly crazy, because all I want to do now is comment on their posts. They've written really good posts and I want to tell them so....and there is no way to do so.
I'm just thinking out loud, since there is no answer to this.
How do you handle the "time" situation, for blogging and commenting?
Do you think if no one can comment, that eventually people will stop reading that blog? (I hope not, they two I'm thinking of are really great blogs...I'm just wondering?), Or does it free us up to just read and enjoy?
Just wondering.
Friday Friend recipe #354 Crock Pot Stew
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...about 24 years ago, 50 of my closest friends and family, who had been on an e-mail forum with me, sent in recipes in different catego...
13 comments:
Debbie, I don't know what the true protocol is so I will check back to see the answers of other folks. Thanks for asking the question. On another note...I LOVE your new format!
I think everyone should do what they're comfortable with. I don't answer most of my comments because I don't feel most of them require a reply. Do whatever you want to!
Hi Debbie :) Hmmmmm. Don't want to flatter myself by thinking that I may have been one of the people you were talking about...but, since we talk from time to time, I thought I'd weigh in. Honestly, I don't know if there is any set protocol. It took me a while to decide if I was going to go "comment-free" or not. In the end, I decided that sanity should win. It wasn't that I didn't LOVE comments...because I did. They fed me and encouraged me and challenged me. They made me smile or think or chuckle. They were truly one of the things that let me know I wasn't alone out here. But that said...for me personally, I tried to answer each and every single person back with either a return comment, an email or at least a visit to their blog and a comment there. I would honestly feel guilty if I didn't. It's not that I don't want to continue to visit all of the fabulous blogs out there I've grown to love, it's that I can't do it. I subscribe to hundreds of blogs and have toyed with the idea of "unfollowing" or deleting them from my browser...but I would never be able to choose which ones to delete. I chose to follow or read each one for certain reasons and I don't want to stop...it's just that I can't do it as often as I used to. I really don't want to disappoint people by not "reciprocating". I don't want them to think I don't appreciate the support. And I don't know if it will stop people from reading. I sincerely hope not. I guess it came down to me deciding that I didn't want to be away from blogging. I LOVE FOOD. I LOVE WRITING. I LOVE TAKING PICTURES. I LOVE GETTING INVOLVED IN CHALLENGES AND EVENTS. But I have to learn to limit myself. I believe that as long as I can still have fun...find joy in doing it...that people will still visit. And if they don't, I'll never know ;) HA! I think it is an individual decision for each person. Time constraints...family, jobs, hobbies, activities, age, ability, etc...they all factor in.
I'm glad you brought up the question...I am interested in knowing what others think about this subject. And of course I can't find out at my place, LOL!!
btw, I like the new layout of your site (new to me, at least)! ....H
I am a blogger who has recently gone comment-free as well. Not just for time's sake - although I don't have the hour or two a day to visit and comment on other blogs that I did before. Like Heather, I didn't want to select a few to keep commenting on and so went comment-free altogether. I do show up in forums and in round-ups but the day to day commenting I have given up.
Part of it is that, with facebook and twitter, I seem to communicate with bloggers a little more intimately there.. and email of course.
And part is that, despite the lovely comments from friends, many seem to be comments for commenting's sakes, meant only to urge me to reciprocate the visit.
I am still active in the blogging world - some people have questioned the comment-free part but a surprising number of people have applauded it and wish to do the same. For some of us who have been around for a while, it seems like the right thing to do right now.
Also, other bloggers are only a very small percentage of our readership - we forget that sometimes and it seems that we gear our posts only for other food bloggers.
This decision isn't for everyone, but right now it is working for me and my lifestyle.
I love my food blogging friends and if you are missing the communication, please look for me on twitter or facebook or drop me an email.
Thanks for the forum on the subject.
Cheers!
From time to time over the last few years, there have been bloggers that I've followed and wondered how the heck they keep up with their blog, their step-by-step photos and most of all, who the hell eats all of that food they cook? LOL After a time most of the bloggers who were 'doing it all' burned out and took a break from blogging. Some of them came back comment-free. I got a little burned out a while back and decided to only post a picture of the finished recipe. It just takes too long to post step-by-step photos and I found that on other blogs that post lots of photos, I was just skipping by them. I really don't need to see 1/4 cup of oil being poured into a bowl, or a picture of each egg that is added to a bowl. I'm constantly adding new blogs to my Reader and constantly deleting some. I have my favorites that I always read and comment on. I don't feel bad or guilty if I don't comment on each post. Sometimes I'll just comment on every 5th or 10th post - something like that. I don't want my blog to become 'work' because then it wouldn't be fun, so now I only try to post once a week or so. I love too get comments and appreciate the time it takes people to leave comments, but I don't sweat it. What was the question? LOL
I love getting comments, but I understand not everyone has the time to comment back....but that doesn't mean they aren't reading and cooking along. Blogging is a lot of work and it makes me feel wonderful when I see other bloggers cooking my recipes and posting them or leaving comments when they try something. I wish I had the time to comment on everyone I follow, but I feel everyone understands we don't always have the time. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer.
comment free? I love the comments. Not just on my own blog, although I admit I like those, but I like to read the comments of others of other blogs. Sometimes they ask a good question, sometimes make a good point the post did not.
Do I feel the need to answer them all? No. Some, like a question, yes, I would try to answer but many just stand on their own.
Bottom line, I thing they make a blog seem more like a discussion, encourage some interaction, which I think the internet is all about.
Debbie, I don't know if there is an established protocol. Due to time, I am unable to comment back on each comment I receive, but I try to visit their blog. I wish I had more time to read and learn from all the blogs out there...but then I'll never be able to blog! :) I do feel guilty about it, but each week I need to "declare bankruptcy" on my Google Reader. If not, than the number of posts I'm suppose to read makes me nervous. Some weeks I have more time to comment, and others I don't. But all the comments are encouraging to me, and I appreciate them. That being said, I understand why some bloggers are going comment free. Interesting topic you brought up and brings up the larger topic of who are you blogging for? - mary the food librarian
Debbie, I have not seen a protocol. A comment now and then is really appreciated. For me, it keeps me going, so to speak. I like the feedback. I try to read as many blogs as I can during the week but somehow "life" takes over and I cannot. So, I read when I can, comment when I can and don't worry about "keeping up". I never thought of blogging as a full time job but a hobby...a way to share and learn from one another.
Debbie, what a great question. Two of my favorite bloggers, who have both just gone comment free, have just weighed in. I totally get their reasons and respect their decisions. Their points of view are very understandable. I personally love getting comments. They do, indeed, make me feel connected to my readers. I do try to comment back on each persons blog. It is incredibly time consuming. I have had a medical issue so lately I have had oodles of free time. In the future I wont have as much time and I am concerned as to how I will handle it. I love blogging and I love the bloggers I connect with so somehow I know it's gonna have to work!!!
I don't know what the "rules" are about commenting. Honestly, I don't really worry about it since I only get the same 2-3 people commenting anyway. It's not an issue for me. I guess I can somewhat understand going comment free if you get loads of comments on ea. post. I comment as a way to applaud/encourage other bloggers. My comments don't need reponses and I'm not sure that most people expect responses to their comments. Personally, I like reading comments on other blogs.
There are ways to manage lots of comments and reply to them. If you trawl through some of the big 'self development' or yoga blogs, you'll see how it's done.
Personally, like many others here, I love getting comments and I constantly invite people to leave comments. I've become good friends with a few people (face-to-face, proper friends) via comment exchanges.
I've also encountered comment protocols. I am NOT a fan of overly restrictive comment protocols and have unsubscribed to blogs because of them. If someone wants to touch base with you, then why not do so first through the comments section on a blog? Techie bloggers (and some academic bloggers) seem to be way too precious about what people can and can't do in the comments section of their blogs.
Keep up the good work, Debbie. I'm going to share your page with a couple of other Aussie foodies I know who love great looking blogs!
Good question. Each blogger will find his/her own way. I don't think there's any right or wrong, just what's right or wrong for that blogger.
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