Thoughts on teaching, technology, learning and life in an era of change.
 
Can one comment too often?
October 13th, 2008

I like to comment on other educator’s blogs. As I have blogged previously and written on other blogs I actually feel more liberated or free when I comment. you only need to read some of my comments on Clay Burell’s blog, Beyond School. I thoroughly enjoy reading Clay’s blog and I feel a connection with much of what he writes. I enjoy commenting on his blog.

I like commenting on other blogs as well. Yet, from time to time, my comments simply disappear into the ether and I wonder if they have been recorded as spam by a spam detection tool. Is that possible?

Is it possible to comment too frequently? I wonder.

14 Responses to “Can one comment too often?”

  1. Pat Says:

    I don’t think you can comment too frequently. I know that I look forward to getting comments and hope that others feel the same way. I also feel like commenting is a way to open up a conversation. I have gotten to “know” the regular commenters on my blog and feel like we can have a great conversation that way. I know I enjoy your blog and can’t resist leaving a comment your posts.

  2. Gilbert Says:

    To answer your final question you first have to ask yourself why you comment.
    Do you comment to help other or help yourself? I do not think the ‘blog form’ is as successful a tool for dialogue as a forum or wiki. That said it is often the post that provokes my thinking and the process of commenting that develops my ideas about education further.
    My comments are composed to add value to the blogger, reader or other commentators, but the truth is they help me as much or more than others.
    On the issue of just not being posted; I have had that happen as well – I just took it that the blogger didn’t like what I said. If it is an option I will tick to get email/RSS if post is updated or I star the post in my reader and just follow them for a couple of days till comments stop.
    I like your comments on Clays blog and your post here – I have not detected any significant change of tone in your writing. You are always articulate and genuine.

  3. John Larkin Says:

    Hi Gilbert and Pat, thanks for the replies. My comments have also opened up connections with others. I was wondering whether it was my browser, the proxy cache at the university or the spam filter that was to blame.

    Yesterday I ended up emailing two blog authors about their posts and mentioned the non appearance of the comments. Each replied and my comments had been caught by the spam filter. Makes me smile to think about that. I will keep an eye on it.

  4. Sarah Stewart Says:

    I agree you can’t comment enough, unless you write really silly things. If anything, I don’t get out and about and comment enough. But I hadn’t thought about spam filters, so thanks for alerting me.

  5. Sue Waters Says:

    I don’t think you have any trouble with excessive commenting John as I’m sure my comment count must be higher. Which would mean I’m the one that needs help.

    To me commenting is the more important part of the conversation provided the comments are written for the right reasons i.e. adding to the conversation, sharing your views or helping someone.

    Must admit to feeling grumpy at bloggers who excessively write blog posts as I wonder how much time they spend visiting other people’s blogs. My priorities have always been reading > commenting and writing blog posts is my lowest priority.

    Do you track your comments?

  6. Paul C Says:

    I think bloggers love getting comments provided that they are on topic and provide a sincere perspective on the issue. In that respect one cannot comment too much.

    This is coming from someone new to your blog. I have just added you to my Google Reader.

    I welcome a comment or two on my blog some day.

  7. John Larkin Says:

    Hi Sarah, Paul and Sue. Thank you for the comments. How ironic. My post about comments is generating comments. That is rather nice. Thank you.

    I dropped an email to Akismet and they have asked me to post a comment on a specific blog that they use to check. They will revert after that.

    Yesterday I gently inquired with two bloggers upon whose blogs my comments failed to appear. Both replied that the comments had turned up in spam. Both are notable bloggers. They apologised and reversed the spam setting for the comments.

    Sue, I am constantly visiting other people’s blogs. It is my Twitter. I am using a combination of Google Reader and NetNewsWire. I subscribe, share and categorise via Google Reader. I export the OPML and import into NetNewsWire. That tool allows me to rapidly scan the posts, point to a site, read and comment rapidly.

    Sarah, I try and avoid writing silly things although I have published a few relatively ‘blue’ posts on Clay’s blog.

    I signed up for CoComment Sue yet I I have neglected its use. I will get into it again.

    Paul, thank you for the feedback. I shall skip across to your blog now!

    Cheers, John

  8. Michael Doyle Says:

    Yes

  9. John Larkin Says:

    Michael, noted. ^_^

  10. Otterman Says:

    Comment away dude! I never did keep up with the cocomment thing – too many browsers. Treat it like bits of warm goodness you are helping to spread around the net.

  11. John Larkin Says:

    Thanks Siva. I will keep up the comments. That provide me with more latitude.

  12. Clay Burell Says:

    John, John, some people can comment too much – but not you. Your comments are next to godliness (especially the “blue” ones).

    A question I’ll return serve with: What do you do when you start to burn out on blogging? I’m sort of there (and that’s why I’m shaky with replying to comments – I tire easily these days).

    I think it has to do with my national politics, among other things.

    And btw, your comments often do get caught in spam, for some reason. More than most.

  13. John Larkin Says:

    Hi Clay,
    Thank you. My comments are next to ‘godliness’… does that make us two parts of the Holy Trinity. Which of the three are you? Who is the third?

    Yes, my comments were being spammed. I am not sure why. Perhaps too many were short and pithy. Who knows? Perhaps some were deliberately spammed by blog authors?

    Regarding blog burn-out. I sent you an email. Essentially, do not let it concern you. Blogging is not an obligation but an outlet. Please read my email and go from there.

    Cheers, John.

  14. Ken Allan Says:

    Kia ora John!

    Well, I think you have a few answers to your question and most of them go the same way. I am an avid commenter, a bit like Sue. I agree with the idea that blogs ARE for commenting. If the blogger doesn’t want comments they can switch comments off and have themselves a web1.0 page.

    Yet my recent experience has been that not every blogger likes lots of comments, especially if they engage in conversation – such as they do frequently on Clay Burell’s posts.

    Some of my comments have been long enough to be good size posts. But some bloggers like that.

    You can’t win them all. I’d better keep this seemly.

    Well done for stimulating some interesting looooong comments.

    Ka kite
    from Middle-earth