Okay, I've been a blogger for more than a year now, and I have to just come out and admit it. This commenting thing confuses me.
I know there are various ways to deal with comments. I could respond individually by e-mail (to those people who have included an e-mail address). I could do that, but I really don't see it happening.
Another choice is to respond in the comments section of the post. I have done that on occasion. But most of my posts don't seem especially controversial. Certainly not enough to bring in the sort of comments that inspire ongoing responses back and forth. Plus, how many of you actually come back to read again?
Or I could respond by leaving a comment myself at the blog of the individual who commented here. This one just seems a little strange to me. Unless it's part of a carnival or meme, I don't usually do this. I almost always visit the blogs of people who've commented, and will often comment on something there which piques my interest, but I've always felt a little awkward leaving a note that says "thanks for visiting my blog."
Then there is the just-ignore-them-and-hope-they'll-come-back method I've been employing lately. I hope I haven't offended anyone. I really do like your comments. I do read them. I just don't really do much else about them.
So here is my question: What is your comment etiquette? Do you respond to comments regularly? Do you expect other bloggers to respond to your comments? If so, how?
When I leave a comment, I usually do go back to see if there's a response. I don't get offended if there isn't, though. I never know what to do, either. I usually respond in the comments section of the post. I almost always go and look at the person's blog, and as you said you do, I usually comment on something there. I think it's perfectly fine to leave a note thanking the person for visiting your blog.
ReplyDeleteSo, yeah, nothing new here, just agreeing with you.
:-)
So here I am, back to see if there's a response. But there isn't. Sigh.
ReplyDelete;-)
Yeah, Ruth, I'm beginning to think you're the only one who's reading my blog these days!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. I really do appreciate them!!
Now I'd better go visit your blog, so you know you need to check back again. :)
I've been on a blogging break but still TRYING to stop by my friends occasionally...
ReplyDeleteI hardly ever check back when I leave comments. But I do usually go visit my commenters and leave them one. If it's a first time commenter, I will often say, Thanks for stopping by. I think commenting at others' blogs is a way of building relationships, dialoguing, networking, caring etc.
And a plus I've discovered is that if I leave intelligent or witty or intriguing cooments (I'm Anglican and I homeschool theater-loving teenagers) at the bigger blogs, their readers will click over to see who in the heck I am--and I assume I've picked up some readers that way.
About responding to my commenters, I will respond in the comments to a question or if I need to clarify something. If they have their profile enabled so that you can respond by email, I'll respond that way as well, or sometimes just that way. I love it when I have this option.
Gotta run--
Jeanne