I’ve been thinking about comments and conversations lately.
First, I read Matt Asay’s “Should we be having this conversation on Twitter?” post, where he expresses his preference:
I therefore prefer the discussion that arises out of a blog, but is conducted over Twitter. It’s hard to remember to go back to blogs I’ve written to check for comments, but in the real-time world of Twitter, it’s easy and structurally encouraged: when someone hits me with an @mjasay, I notice.
Following up comments
I do agree that it is difficult to return to a blog to check for responses to a comment; which often means I don’t even bother commenting. I can literally count on one hand the number of times this year I’ve “re-visited” a blog to check on a comment I made.
It’s not because I wouldn’t like to follow-up, it’s just not easy to do. I do see some blogs that offer to email when a new comment is added, but that is far from the norm. Automatic notification is an area here I would like to see a better solution for.
Twitter is not the answer
I hate twitter. Among other shortcomings: it’s damn near impossible to follow a conversation – you can only do it “backwards” and often not even then; the character limitation makes detailed or nuanced discussion impossible; and URL-shortners break the web.
Twitter works for short, pithy and quick announcements, and it doesn’t work for actual conversation.
In fact, I suspect that’s why twitter is so popular: the vast majority of people do not want to engage in conversation: they want to announce their thoughts to a huge crowd and then get to steppin’. Most people don’t want to listen, they want to talk.
Twitter’s great for that sort of quasi-discussion because it’s all about ”me” and there is little possibility of debate. Say whatever you want and be validated!
Another view
I recently found Russell Coker’s blog – and he has a post “Why Comments?” Mr. Coker provides some interesting analysis on the various types of blog and comments and states his preference:
For my blog I prefer comments for short responses and blog posts for the longer ones. If you write a blog post that references one of my posts then please enter a comment to inform me and the readers of my blog. Email is not preferred but anyone who wants to send me some is welcome to do so.
This is pretty much how I feel, and I think it deals with the weakness of the blog format sufficiently.
My rules
I have a few internal rules on blog comments – I haven’t found it necessary to try to codify them, and this is not an attempt to do so! I’m just trying to give the Gentle Reader an idea of how I view comments.
Don’t go round-and-round forever
I welcome debate, but you have to try to keep things from getting repetitive and boring. I’ve found that 2-3 rounds of “back and forth” are almost always sufficient for both sides to make their case. Past that, someone is repeating themself.
Always give the guest the last word
Or at least offer them opportunity – they may or may not take it, of course! This is just common courtsey, and few things are more childish than trying to have the last word as if that wins the argument.
Don’t feed the trolls
This is a hard thing because sometimes you don’t recognize the troll at first, and you want to give people the benefit of the doubt. I’ll still remember the one time I took a troll very seriously because I honestly thought he was interested in the truth .
On the flip side, I get a fair amount of Kooky McKook-Kook comments that I just delete out of hand.
The important thing is not so much trying to spot the troll, as sending them to Coventry once you do.
Cut a little slack to the opposition
This is another hard one – but in someways it’s the most important one.
It is natural to want to “crush” your idealogical opponent, especially on your own home turf. Who does this jerk think he is anyway, coming on my blog calling me wrong!
But think of it this way – it took a bit of guts for that person to come into “hostile territory” and make his case. So, give a bit of respect for that.
More importantly, that contrary visitor is performing a very important function: they are preventing your blog from becoming an echo chamber. Few things will help you clarify and sharpen your arguments than going a round or two with the Loyal Opposition, and a echo chamber will only dull you into repeating talking points and resting on poorly supported arguments.
I recall one time I actually bothered to go to a blog that I strongly disagreed with and posted a calm comment showing how the main premise of the post was factually incorrect. I was exceedingly polite as the blog had strong warnings about expressing dissent un-diplomatically.
I certainly didn’t expect them to agree with me, but I thought other readers may appreciate a counter-example that clearly showed the premise had some problems.
Instead though, they simply never approved my comment. Now, one day we may have inarguable proof their point is correct (I doubt it, but it’s possible) – but I will always think of them as cowards and liars.
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