To comment or not to comment?
I’ll go right to the point. Some people comment on various websites, may it be blogs, forums, article talkbacks, etc. but have nothing substantial to say - They just comment for the sake of commenting. Many of them probably only want to get a linkback to their own website through commenting.
The question here is to you, the website or blog owner; Do you prefer to have these unrelated/silly/ambivalent comments or not have their drivel on your site at all?
Maybe the real question ought to be. Do you prefer drivel comment or not have comments at all?
October 6th, 2005 at 10:25 am
While I welcome any comments and don’t block any, I would much prefer a well thought out, or detailed reply to the points of my article. “Good Article!” (or something like it) is appreciated, but doesn’t leave anywhere to go with any discussion.
The worst though is when the article is nothing but spamming their own blog. “Good article, come check out my latest one on…” Now if their article has something to do with mine, and they have some interesting insight I didn’t see, to me, that isn’t Spam.
October 6th, 2005 at 10:53 am
Websites are ranked, among others, also the no. of outgoing links. Wonder if links in the comments, even if it is the “spam” kind, contribute towards a slightly improved ranking in the search engines.
Enviroman Says
October 6th, 2005 at 1:43 pm
I used to get really upset over ‘drivel comments.’ Now I just ignore them. It saves a lot of time I used to spend getting into pointless arguments.
October 6th, 2005 at 1:54 pm
In order of preference:
1. Comments that prove the commentor read what I wrote and had an opinion on the main subject.
2. Comments that prove the commentor had no interest in the main subject, but at least read enough to find something upon which to fixate and comment.
3. Comments just to say hi. At least they’re friendly.
I delete Circumcellions immediately. I don’t have time to waste on drive-by insults.
October 6th, 2005 at 4:50 pm
I like cheese. Really, cheese is good. Please visit my blog at this site.
Just kidding. Seriously, I don’t mind fluff comments like “good post,” but I’ll delete anything that’s just totally unrelated to my blog.
October 6th, 2005 at 4:51 pm
I prefer a comment from someone who read my post and has something substantial to offer, oe a different point of view. That’s the one of the compelling things about blogging, making a connection with others (whether they are like-minded or not).
That being said, I’d choose a drivel comment over a spam comment any day!
October 6th, 2005 at 8:47 pm
Personally, I like the comments be it drivel or non. I’m not so insecure as to worry about the stupid ones, but I view most comments as a form of constructive criticism.
Thanks for a thought provoking question. I hope you get the sort of comments you prefer.
October 6th, 2005 at 9:17 pm
I prefer comments that add something positive or constructive to the post, even if its just a “nice post” comment. Comments that have nothing to do with the post or are obviously spam get deleted. Sometimes its seems the commenter is trying to be silly or quirky but if it doesn’t contribute to the post, its just clutter.
As someone who reads a lot of blogs, I feel compelled to comment only when I have something to add to the discussion. However, that frequently means that I don’t leave a comment even though I’ve read and pondered the post. Some of these blogs are people I feel I owe a comment to because they comment frequently on my site. So I can see the dilema in some cases.
But usually, the commenters are just trying to generate outgoing links to their own site with no regard to manners or protocol.
October 6th, 2005 at 9:33 pm
Definitely no spam. Unfortunately I had to put the spam protector up which even I hate having to try to type in those silly letters and quite often get them wrong. But I do like comments on my posts whether it be, ‘Great posting, keep up the hard work’ to commenting on a post I have written. Hopefully good, but other view points are welcome also. Not everyone agree’s. With comments, you know you are reaching the public, same as guest book entries and I appreciate both.
October 7th, 2005 at 9:53 am
I use Spam Karma 2, so I’m not worried about actual spam, but I suppose “drivel” comments could be seen as a different kind of spam. Unfortunately, I don’t get enough of them to warrant caring - I’m happy with any comments I get!
I surfed here through BlogExplosion, by the way, and I’d like to compliment you on your site.
October 7th, 2005 at 11:07 am
I’ve got this one person who shows up every once in a while. When i visit her site I either leave a meaningful comment or nothing at all. Every time she visits me she says the same thing, “Hi I hope all is well and that you’re having a great day.” Now that’s nice and all, but I don’t think she has ever really read a single post of mine. It’s a little insulting but would I ban it? Nah.
Advertising spam gets canned as it should though!
October 7th, 2005 at 11:58 am
I appreciate all of the comments that I get. What I don’t appreciate very much is spam comments.
October 7th, 2005 at 12:17 pm
A comment is a comment, I don’t really care what it pertains too, I just like to know that someone stayed on my site long enough to leave a comment. So please, drivel away!
October 7th, 2005 at 12:17 pm
Just stopped by from BlogExplosion and say how much I like your blog. Great work!
*snicker snicker*
October 7th, 2005 at 1:29 pm
Also found you through BlogExplosion. My motto is:
“If you don’t have anything interesting to say, don’t say anything at all!”
October 7th, 2005 at 4:03 pm
I was annoyed when I started getting drivel comments (great name) but if it is friendly and non-commercial, I don’t mind. Comments that link back to commercial sites are just spam, though, and I am bugged that I have to spend time deleting them lest my readers be misled into clicking their way into who-knows-what.
BlogExplosion brought me here, and it’s been fun. I’ll be back. Thanks!
October 7th, 2005 at 5:38 pm
I enjoy thoughtful comment on my blog…its a news blog and sometimes the comments range from absolutely profane to brilliant…the profane doesn’t stay too long. Thanks for the invitation to comment, I like your blog very much
October 7th, 2005 at 9:52 pm
I remove comments that seem to be spam.
I love honest comments, even flames and will leave them.
If you just say “Hi” that is ok, just don’t include a link to an unrelated site if that is all you post.
Allan
October 8th, 2005 at 10:41 am
I prefer to let anyone comment at my blog. Because I have a political blog it brings the good and bad out, but:All in all, I have found the blog world opiniated but fair, so I let anyone comment. Some of my best writing has been done in the comment columns of other peoples blogs. Just recently I have started to save the comments I send out into cyberspace, in a folder on my computer. There is no way I could ever revisit all of the places I have commented at, but now I have a record.
I guess it is all about wanting to communicate, I have a job that requires me to work alone 11-12 hours a day, so I don’t get much interaction. But when I get to cyberspace, I love to talk and be heard.
October 8th, 2005 at 10:43 am
I enjoy any and all comments except for spam. But, then again, my own blog is drivel so there you have it.
I definitely am NOT a comment snob. If all you have to say is Hi, then so be it. If you say, I hate your blog, then I say, Don’t come back. 
I’m here via Blog Explosion by the way.
October 8th, 2005 at 10:47 am
I like thoughtful comments of course as they show the poster actually read what I wrote.
The odd “Hi, just dropping in to say hello” is okay if I know the commenter, i.e. he/she has made a few good comments in the past.
October 8th, 2005 at 10:57 am
9 times out of 10 I won’t delete a comment unless it’s very obviously spam, but I would always value a constructive comment over something short/pointless. I am more likely to reply to constructive comments too.
October 8th, 2005 at 7:18 pm
I don’t write in my blog for the commenters, I write in it for me. If someone has something interesting to say, awesome! If they just want to say hi, awesome! It really makes no difference to me because I’m not driven by my comments, I’m driven by my life
October 8th, 2005 at 8:30 pm
i get it……. this was a trick post to get more comments.
……… pretty clever.
October 8th, 2005 at 11:18 pm
Jennifer,
As you said I too feel compelled to comment only when I have something meaningful to say. Sometimes to the point that after writing a long multi paragraph comment I will decide to delete it and move on.
Chench,
That sure is insulting, you would expect from someone who writes a blog to have the ability to comment with more than a “hi, how are you?” comment.
Anders Bruce,
I’m pretty much known by it among my friends.
That’s my motto as well
Ruth,
I like the name as well, I should add it to my coined buzzwords dictionary. I guess I need at least three words to do that. I will wait for the next one to develop.
web_loafer,
I can never keep track of all the comments I leave on blogs. I will usually have a hard time following up on comments I leave on regularly read blogs. Hell, I’m having a hard time following up on comment on my own blog. Is keeping record of all your comments really worth the time consuming effort of maintaining this “database”?
Shane Gilreath,
LOL. Writing for comments is very easy, just be a little provocative and all hell breaks loose.
October 9th, 2005 at 9:58 am
I’m like most people here, I like getting comments but I hate getting spam. I’d rather have comments that actually deal with the post, but positive drivel isn’t so bad.
October 9th, 2005 at 10:29 am
I don’t get too many comments but most of the ones I do get make me think “oh wow - someone actually reads the stuff that I spend hours writing”… come to think of it, in my case I’m not sure if it’s the blog posts or the comments that are the drivel!
So far, I’ve resisted the temptation to implement anti-blogspam measures (i.e. word verification) but will do if the need ever arises…
BTW, I started reading TechMount because a comment left on my blog got me interested in yours so even putting aside the bonus of frequent page updates (i.e. new comments) = increased page rank it does work as a method of generating interest in your own site!
October 9th, 2005 at 12:02 pm
Mark Wilson,
No doubt an interesting comment is more likely to pull me toward looking at the commenter site than a vanilla one, or a drivel comment even less. What are the chances of you going to take a peek at a site when the commenter only leaves a “hi” comment to a post you spent hours on?
October 9th, 2005 at 7:46 pm
I prefer a dialogue. Dead tree media is one way ‘conversation’ and the poorer for it. Why blog at all if you think other voices are drivel?
October 9th, 2005 at 7:53 pm
I am open to receiving pleasant, well thought out, thought provoking and or amusing, yet RELEVANT and ON TOPIC, comments to my blog; however, in the case of obvious spam or “haters,” I exercise my “administrator right” to click delete.
October 9th, 2005 at 11:54 pm
Well, I appreciated the comment you left at Shtikl.com. Generally I always comment if a post has caused any reaction in me. If it has caused a “nice!”, then that is exactly what I write.
At my blog most of the comments come from regular visitors anyway. It almost seems like a small club to me…
October 10th, 2005 at 12:50 am
The Owner’s Manual,
Drivel comments are comments without real substance, they do not add anything to the discussion, not against or for it, doesn’t add any new information, doesn’t convey the posters opinion on the matter at hand or about the post itself. These comments do not compliment the post or speak against it. Writing “I enjoyed reading your post/opinion” or “This is an interesting subject, it made me think…” do not fall under the drivel comment category, which would be things like “nice site”, “have a great day” or “just wanted to say hi” which means…. nothing and certainly have no regard to the post subject. I hope you understand the distinction.
October 10th, 2005 at 8:38 am
It depends, if someone comments just to comment and then even places his own link in the comment so you get something like: “Yeh, good post. Here’s my site: http://bladiabla” it’s sort of annoying.
If someone just makes a comment stating that he agrees or dissagrees or finds it a good post or whatever without spamming his own link that’s somewhat ok.
It’s ofcourse best though if the person would place his own opinion or knowledge in the comment, somewhat creating a discussion like that.
October 10th, 2005 at 10:46 am
“just wanted to say hi” get deleted. Never had once that wasn’t obviously spam.
October 11th, 2005 at 9:51 am
Hey I love pithy comments, but if it weren’t for spam, I sometimes wouldn’t have any comments at all. You’re only as good as your last post.
October 12th, 2005 at 12:37 pm
Who measures the IQ of those making comments?
The blogosphere is like a public fair. So much noise, but less sense.
But, the crowdy and rowdy atmosphere makes the fair very exciting.
If it is useless.Lol.
October 13th, 2005 at 1:34 pm
I get the occasional troll, but mostly my commenters offer opinions on what I have to say. I also try to keep my blog somewhat interactive, so as a rule I enjoy my commenters. Very rarely does anyone leave a comment simply hoping for a linkback or reciprocal visit. In fact, in recently checking my blogroll, I found that I have been linked by many people who have never commented on my blog. I just have to think they like it, for whatever reason.
October 15th, 2005 at 3:53 am
I appreciate insightful comments that prove my post has been read. I particularly enjoy comments disagreeing with my opinion, for those are the kind that trigger new ideas, hence, new posts.
Profanity is okay, as long as it is not insulting to any who joined the debate.
I don’t mind people plugging to their site if their site has at least one post (be it new or old) relating to the topic at hand. As for those plugging their site with or without “just saying hi”… they may get deleted. I recently read from someone who went on a “saying hi” spree… write something interesting or get a life, then come back and write about it.
Spam is obviously deleted, and to those people wondering whether links get you better ranked in search engines, I would like to remind you that most blog engines and/or blog owners are adding rel=”nofollow” to hyperlinks, which means your site won’t get crawled when spiders come.
Oh, one more thing: once a post has gathered comments, refrain yourself from commenting before reading those who commented before you…
December 11th, 2005 at 11:27 pm
Hi folks, had connexion problems couldn’t view ur page…
June 25th, 2006 at 6:37 am
Tolle Seite! Hat mir sehr gefallen. Weiter so!
July 20th, 2006 at 11:27 pm
I like any comment, providing it is somewhat relevant, is not obscene and is not spam. I keep bots away from comments page so that a URL dropper won’t be found by search engine spiders and thus a spam comment won’t help their pagerank or get them any benefit.
I have a track backs section, and if they really want a link credit they’ll have to actually blog about my post and submit the trackback ping.
March 13th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Bad news 2
March 14th, 2007 at 8:06 am
ERR s
March 27th, 2007 at 3:03 am
March 27th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
March 30th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Good site, nice design! Please visit my homepage:
March 30th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Hi man! Your site is cool! Please also visit my site:
May 10th, 2007 at 9:55 am
towering branches of that Tree of Life brought more than two
communist manifesto romantic*
regrets for the past and indefinite dim longings for the future dot
December 9th, 2007 at 12:52 am
maquina tragaperras pagina internet…
Preview juegos instantaneos internet juego seguro online…
April 6th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
RPpFJJ Hi! Nice site! Where is a add to favorite button&
http://www.mysite.com