Setting commenting straight!

Okay, somehow it seems like I have not made myself all that clear. What I was NOT trying to say is that you should be a comment troll and leave comments like “Great Post!” or “I agree” on other’s blogs. What I was trying to bring accross is that you should join some conversations and improve your visibility. In other words, if someone writes something you have something to say you can comment your points of view much like a lot of you did on the Why Stormhoek slipped post! That, my dear friends is what I meant. I always, ALWAYS go look at someone’s blog/site when they left a meaningfull comment. Most of the times I end up subscribing to their RSS feed. Thus, it helps to leave meaningful comments. Besides, what is wrong with just saying “Great post!” if you know the person and are a friend (as in real life) of that person whose blog you are commenting on?

What I also said is that if you attend an event like the Geekdinners/27dinners it would be great to give your take on it. See, once more you would be joining another hot topic of conversation.

There is some blogs that will never need to do any of these (like Chumpstyle or Splattermail) and it works for them since their content is simply HOT(!), but seriously, do you find learning Python hot? If you are a geeky developer then yes. Most of the people that joined in the conversation on the Stormhoek post would probably not find it all that exciting. Therefore I find it helpful joining others in conversation by posting on relevant topics and expressing my views by commenting on their blogs every once in a while, because lets face it, we are social beings. “I am because I am acknowledged”. If you really do not care what others think and do not want others to join you in conversation by commenting on your posts, then simply turn commenting on your blog off. Then there would be zero confusion.

So to make myself clear:

If you do not have something meaningful to say, then read and don’t comment. However, if you do have something meaningful to say (and you might find that you often do) then say it! By all means. That is WHY you CAN comment on blog posts. Or am I missing something? Am I that ill-informed?

Now on this statement I made:

“I might be wrong. Maybe you Stormhoek guys are active on other blogs. Just not the blogs that mattered when it came to the SA Blog Awards.”

Maybe I should have been more clear. I just thought it is obvious. (I’m assuming again and yes, as mentioned before, I know what they say about assumptions…). Who nominated the blogs? Definitely NOT the panel of judges. YOU did. So to make myself VERY clear: “Just not the blogs that mattered when it came to the SA Blog Awards.” means YOU!!! YOU as in the ones who nominated. If you have nothing to do with it or never nominated or do not know what I’m talking about, then YOU do not include you. Are we clear?

technorati tags:blogging, sablogawards, stormhoek

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11 Comments to "Setting commenting straight!"

• tresblue said: On 03/13/2007 at 8:24 am

  Great Post

• Priya said: On 03/13/2007 at 8:45 am

  You know it was bound to happen. There was no doubt in my mind that when I opened this commenting box, some joker was going to be unable to resist. They sat behind me in class throwing papers at my head. Ok yes I was uncool, so sue me. Nevertheless, you know it was coming dude. You have a valid point though.

• Stii said: On 03/13/2007 at 9:04 am

  ROFL! Priya, Tresblue is my friend and collegue taking the piss out of me again! Kudus dude, kudus…

• Priya said: On 03/13/2007 at 11:19 am

  Ha HA hA ! yokes on me ek se!
  Excuse me, I was born what they call technology deficient,.. taking these few steps is like armstrongs first steps in the moon! I still don’t know what I’m doing.. so cut me some slack. LOL and no offence to the joker Tresblue.

  Forgive me, I’m female, doesn’t that explain it all…

• Tresblue said: On 03/13/2007 at 4:03 pm

  No offense taken Priya.

• Carl Spies said: On 03/13/2007 at 5:07 pm

  Dude!!! Your writing is pragmatic and beautiful to behold.

  I’m inspired to blog more often, thanks for that man.

  … and yeah, you get my vote for the best local tech blog this side of Cairo!

  *cavorts about apartment feeling motivated about ZA content*

• Stii said: On 03/13/2007 at 6:17 pm

  LOL, thank you Mr. Spies.

• Charl van Niekerk said: On 03/14/2007 at 6:23 am

  I agree. No, really.

  I think this is actually a social issue. Some people are different than others. When I read a post and have something to say, I always comment. I am really irritated and disappointed when blogs disable comments because then I can’t as easily express my opinions. I really don’t think a blog without comments should even qualify as a “blog” in the first place. I can remember there was an issue regarding this some time back with the South African Blog Awards in 2005.

  Some other people are less likely to express their opinions. I think it’s got to do with personality. The same goes when you have meetings; you always tend to get some people dominating the meetings because they are willing (have the guts?) to stand up in public and say what they think without being scared of looking like an idiot. We all look like idiots at times; I look like an idiot frequently. But at least I say what I think, and I believe that’s better than shutting up.

• Dave said: On 03/14/2007 at 10:07 am

  Stii, I really don’t think there is anything wrong with leaving a comment on a blog to show your appreciation to the writer on the content he/she has produced. Even if it is just a “Great post, thanks for highlighting this” kind of comment.

• Stii said: On 03/14/2007 at 10:28 am

  Dave, personally I feel the same, but it seems not everyone feels like we do, eh?

• the salami from killarney said: On 03/14/2007 at 11:22 am

  Great post, Stii! I agree!

  Check out Splattermail for more HOT(!) content.

Spit it out!

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