Why Blogging Community Comments Matter

I weighed in on a discussion about the absolute value of blogging comments recently on the remarkable 9Rules Network blog/site. The theme had to do with audience participation in this Web2.0 realm.

When I say “audience participation” I don’t mean how well people comment on your site or if anyone even comments on your site, I am talking about how well you interact with the people who do decide to participate on your site. Having no comments is one thing (not a bad thing at all since some subjects lend themselves better to discussions than others), but having 10 comments and the discussion dies repeatedly because you refuse to participate in it is another thing.

Great points made.  Basically the thesis was that if you have 'comments' open on your site, but do not interact with them in the comment-thread, then you're failing on some basic level as a truly interactive blog.

Agreed. In spirit.

But I'll also echo what I said there.  HOW the conversation takes place is not important;  THAT it takes place is.  Period. I wrote as a comment on the 9Rules site (skim to the bottom):

Valuable post and comment-stream on this topic. I originally responded to every comment on my site, using the blog itself as the entire conversation. But what I noticed over time was that when I emailed the person directly — an actual customized conversation — that authentic relationships formed over time. Some of my ‘casual visitors’ have become trusted friends. I’ve visited several in distant cities after early conversations turned into business opportunities and friendships. I regularly Skype blog-visitors in far-off countries. And on a daily basis, I receive countless post-suggestions, links, and other ideas from blog visitors, all of which I respond to on a personal email/phonecall basis.

Thus, over time, the comment section has become a way to spark a longer conversation, even if I do not tend to reply directly to the comments themselves. Should I?

Perhaps. But truth be told, if it’s about quality rather than rules, than I’m hanging onto my little theory…and continuing to build sustained relationships that extend beyond the blog comment stream.

Again, great post. Great provocation. Great insights. And yes, great comments. Thankful for all of the above.

So, why does this matter?

It matters because blogs are inherently interactive. It matters because its 'new'.  It matters because without interaction, there is no need to blog.  Just go hollar at the walls in your basement. And it matters because if you listen, your community can do great things for you...keep you honest...provide great insights and links...and make sure you are correct.

Case in point:  Brett from DeHavilland (go to his blog!)beat me to the punch today when he cross-checked my recent blog post into the boards, reminding me (as I had actually read about this morning) that the original facts to the 5-years-and-out teacher links weren't necessarily correct. (go to this link and read for his comment at the bottom):

Sorry, I have to flag this one. According to Mike Antonucci, the study isn't new, it isn't from the NEA, and it says nothing about whether teachers are likely to quit. Link here: http://www.eiaonline.com/2006/05/it-depends-on-what-meaning-of-word-new.html

I still stand behind the general view that young teachers are beating a path for the door long before they become experienced, but Brett's comments are spot-on.

Thanks, Brett!  Go check out his work and blog, too.  You'll find great juice for vital partnerships between education and business there...and we all need that if we're gonna pull 'it' off!

*****

Image 1:    Image 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/groovski/116101763/

Comments

[Jeremy]

The web is all about shared conversations -- if your interaction is occurring in backchannels, others aren't encouraged to participate. While a personal e-mail response is better for fostering an individual relationship, it doesn't help build a sense community, because it doesn't let others in on the fun.

Blog authors who don't respond to comments feel more like newspaper columnists -- sources of information rather than a person to interact with. If someone comments a couple of times with no response, they're not likely to try again (and other readers notice too).

[Christian]

Jeremy, Brett, 9Rules Network, etc:

Okay, points well made re: the value of comment conversations being fully interactive and all responses made publically accessible on the blog itself. While I still value (and always will) the more powerful interaction that occurs with a one-on-one conversation, ultimately its not about one or the other. It's really an and/and scenario at the end of the day.

To that end, I will begin to use the comment section as a way to offer feedback as well,...and also add actual posts that explore the ideas from various commentors that are wisely taking the conversation to the next level.

So, to those who have privately and publically challenged me to jump into the comment pool and splash around, geronimooo!

*****

History: the real reason I never commented back on my own blog has to do with not wanting to see my name as the default one listed in the comments on the side bar. Hence, if I respond to each, then my name suddenly begins to dominate...rather than the visitors who are the ones who deserve credit more.

So, have to figure that out...

[Jeremy]

That's a good point -- why not do both when appropriate?

I wouldn't worry about your name appearing often in your sidebar...it is your site, after all. It just looks like there is a conversation (or several) taking place, which is a Good Thing.

The other problem is that commenting on your own site makes you sort of a "host" of the space and sets up the expectation that you'll respond to everything. As your site gets busier (and it will), that could become a burden...but you could cross that bridge when you come to it.

[John Powers]

I agree with you that how the conversation takes place isn't as important as that it takes place. I don't think anyone has any doubt that you are engaging in dialog with this blog.

Certainly you don't need to respond to every comment, just as people who leave a comment won't feel as if they have to respond to every other commentator. Conversations are like that in face time and I see no reason why they should be so in blogs. Comment when the spirit moves you.

Mike Antonucci has an axe to grind. That doesn't make his observations about the Reuters article and the NEA news release off the mark. But it should mean scrutiny of what he has to say. My opinion is that he plays fast and loose, basically his problem with the NEA news release. Battling PR agendas are really hard to sort through.

In this case I don't find Brett's comments "spot on." His curt comment implies that Antonucci's blog post is a smack down of the NEA and Reuters. The implication is that the teacher attrition pointed to by the NEA is unsubstantiated. Yes, Antonucci makes some valid criticisms of them both. But the sources he uses do not refute the substantive fact that a large number of teachers leave the profession within five years. And his use of the statistics he cites is problematic.

[Janice Stevenor Dale]

It was a pleasure to meet Christian at the Language of School Design: Design Patterns for 21st Century Schools at Neocon last week. Herman Miller was a great host. The shared vision toward learning of the future was refreshing. A rapid evolution of education is taking place. Having recently completed my master's degree through an online program, I am accutely aware of the convenience and opportunity present in non-traditional classrooms. I am inspired by the alignment between business, technology and the practice of design. Through my thesis research I have found that few design faculty are interested in technology, while the practice is fully online with 3D computerized drawings common.
What an exciting time to be in design!