Comments on: One possible benefit from disabling comments

By: Chris M. Johnson wants to bring it all together too | Hi, I’m Colin Devroe.

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:19:58 +0000

[...] I would like to thank Chris for the link to my site but his site doesn’t have comments and his contact page asks you to fill in a form that doesn’t exist. Maybe he’s better off, because here I am linking back to his site, which is something I’ve been saying since 2004. [...]

By: Colin Devroe

Colin Devroe — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:07:06 +0000

Zach: Great point - sometimes I have posts that get no comments at all and it probably isn’t because no one read it, or no one was interested in it, it is due to the style of the writing. Perhaps is something is completely factual and declarative it’d be actually good to turn off comments because it further emphasizes its, as you put it, “one-directional manner”. Well said.

By: Zach Hale

Zach Hale — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:47:35 +0000

The comments I write in response to your post are meant to give a shout out with a quick opinion on your post whereas a post I’d put on my website would really have to be something I strongly had interest in reflecting upon.

For example, this entry I am interested in replying to and giving my thoughts but I don’t personally feel this issue is one I’d like to put on my blog for my readers to read. You could argue that I’m wrong and that my readers may enjoy reading my commentary but it’s not something I wish to share often times.

Having comments enabled allows for this middle-commentary to go on. Also, you’re comparing leaving comments to posting on ones blog. What about those that don’t have a blog or forum to reflect and link back to you? Comments give those people a voice and I think it’s great.

I’ve been debating setting up my blog to allow for some posts with comments and some not. I’ve seen several bloggers who choose on a per-entry basis whether or not they would like commentary and I think that’s a good way to go. Sometimes people write in a one-directional manner and sometimes the entry is just asking for responses - like this one.

By: Colin Devroe

Colin Devroe — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 20:40:11 +0000

Chris (COD): I think you are agreeing with me without actually agreeing with me. I also said: “I donâ€™t believe this to be â€œthe formula for creating a popular personal blogâ€ but I believe it may help in some cases.”

I agree that some people are popular regardless of their opinion and use of this issue, I believe it can definitely help with traffic and the overall popularity of a blog. There is something voyeuristic about a community you can’t necessarily “be a part of” which lends its allure in some cases.

I don’t think Zeldman is a great example in this instance because he is popular for very different reasons - but your point remains valid nonetheless.

—–

I suppose my main point is that disabling comments can have benefits that are farther reaching then simply blocking access to conversation from would-be spammers and “teenagers” that don’t necessarily add value to a conversation. I think getting a ton of linkbacks is a benefit too, if perhaps a completely indirect and unintentional one for some.

By: COD

COD — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 19:33:47 +0000

I’m not so sure I agree with your thesis on the benefit of no comments. Guys like Zeldman and Kottke were popular and well read before blogs were really even in existence. I can remember being on a mailing list with Zeldman back in 1998 or so. Some blogs may outgrow comments in that they get so popular that managing the comments becomes a full time job by itself. However, very few of us will ever consistently write stuff that will motivate a lot of people to link back to it. People that are that good probably would have been well read regardless. I think the vast majority of us need comments.

I consider the comments at my site, and at a few other places where I comment frequently, and little self contained social networks. It’s the best part of the web for me.

By: Colin Devroe

Colin Devroe — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:55:57 +0000

Jon: You’ve nailed it in your last paragraph. I agree with you completely. Many authors simply don’t want comments - and I think that’s great.

I would not fight against someone that doesn’t want comments on their blog, and I wouldn’t suggest for someone to turn them off. I feel it is completely up to the author.

The reasons might be many but all of them are good enough for me. If you don’t want comments on your blog, turn them off.

By: Jon Christopher

Jon Christopher — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:45:35 +0000

The thought of closing comments (on my own sites) has never crossed my mind. I spend the latter parts of my articles begging for some participation from readers in hopes that it’s proof someone really is reading.

Comparing blog comments to Digg/YouTube comments is almost apples to oranges. While they’re both in the same nature, you’re much more likely to find worth-while comments on a site that isn’t gamed to death by thousands upon thousands of pre-teens.

On the other side of things, there are certain authors who write in a way where comments really aren’t applicable. They write to get their word out, and if people would like to read, they can. These authors aren’t looking for interaction, so disabling comments is completely acceptable to me. I think it’s got a lot to do with how you’d like to run your site.