The nice but not gushy guy
I’ve had this post in mind for awhile, but I’m struggling to find the right words.
Screw it, here it is.
Sometimes I wish I had more comments here on this blog. Social proof and all that.
Then I look at other blogs, where people are:
- spamming
- fawning and gushing
- droping their names rather than really contributing to a conversation
- etc.
I realize that I have a pretty high quality of comments here, even if the quantity is lower than I might like sometimes. I think that’s the right end of the continuum to be on.
It makes me think of the method that I try to follow whenever I comment on other people’s blogs. I don’t fawn, gush, or schmooze very well, in print or in real life. It’s probably part of being an introvert – small talk doesn’t come naturally. What I do try to do, though, is help. Some people would refer to it as adding value. I’ll question, add, challenge, or encourage when I think it will help.
If you’re just content to read, then that’s fine, too. Thank you for continuing to read.
StevenHodson:
Mark I know how you feel but like you I have resigned myself – willingly mind you – to the fact that every one of the comments I get on my blogs is probably worth 50 of those other fawning mega comments blog posts
24 November 2009, 9:05 pmPamela Weir:
I'd comment more, but I think you'd get sick of my weird insights and random bits of info. I do read all of your posts though. Most of the time, I feel like I can't add anything intelligent to what you've already said.
I come here when I need objectivity and truth, not fluff and echo. I think that there are close to 2,500 other people who feel the same way.
You are definitely on the right end of the continuum.
You don't need to gush, you just need to be you.
24 November 2009, 9:23 pmMark Dykeman:
Yeah, I hear you. Thanks Steven.
25 November 2009, 4:47 amMark Dykeman:
Thanks, Pamela. Actually, I think I'd enjoy seeing more of your “weird insights and random bits of info” here – they're always interesting and worthwhile to read.
25 November 2009, 4:48 amAri Herzog:
Over at http://ariwriter.com, I used to see 5 to 10+ comments on every blog post. Then my blogging changed, or Twitter came more into vogue, or some combination. I still see comments but not as many. I also see many views.
For instance, moments ago I tweeted a link to a Flickr photo I uploaded. Within 60 seconds, I saw 9 views but no comments. Should I ask for those viewers to comment? Of course not. I'm glad they viewed… as I'm viewing here.
25 November 2009, 8:04 pmMark Dykeman:
Ari, did it ever seem like FriendFeed was siphoning off any of comments?
25 November 2009, 8:16 pmAri Herzog:
How so?
25 November 2009, 10:15 pmMark Dykeman:
People commenting on your posts in FriendFeed instead of on your blog?
26 November 2009, 4:39 amAri Herzog:
Oh, I don't get those.
26 November 2009, 9:16 amMichael Kozakewich:
I've gotten about seven comments since May.
And lots of spam, but I delete that.
I'd say there's more worth in the quality of commentversations you have on other people's blogs than on how many comments you have on your own. People try to keep their reading lists as low as possible, so you'd have to either be lucky or great.
Besides, Zeldman made a post a little while ago about how a Facebook announcement had gotten 40,000 comments, and we only managed to push his comment count in that post to about ten. When you get right down to it, he doesn't get a tremendous amount of comments, either, and he's the web guy.
It's always the controversial posts that get all the comments, anyway.
8 December 2009, 9:15 amMark Dykeman:
Interesting points. I like your observation about quality of conversations elsewhere; never really thought about that before.
9 December 2009, 11:00 am