I love getting comments on the blog because then I get to read your blogs and you really a gorgeous and talented bunch aren’t you?
Last week ‘Jess’ commented about running, so I went to her blog and discovered that she’s a pretty amazing photographer. I love the moody otherworldly atmosphere she achieves. It’s ‘atmosphere’ that transforms a technically competent photo (like the ones I take) into something special and I’d love to know how to achieve it more often in my own work. Check out more of her beautiful photography here. {All photos below copyright the very talented Jessica Eskelsen}
Speaking of comments, I’d love to get more commenting/conversations going on this blog. That way I can have one of those blogs like Decorno’s where she writes nice short posts and then gets lots of lovely and interesting discussion from her commenters while she puts her feet up and watches telly.
What makes you comment on blogs? Are there any things that stop you from commenting? If you’ve been lurking on this blog but have never commented, why not? (<- she says, hoping to trick you into commenting 🙂 Is there anything I can do to encourage more comments on this blog? Won’t it be embarrassing if this post gets no comments?
Just to make you feel better – here’s your first comment!! I find it interesting, the commenting lark. I lurk on lots of blogs but only really comment if there is a question that I can help with (eg anyone know a good recipe for/instruction for/hotel for etc etc) or I am moved to over-zealously enthuse – which happens very rarely: only usually for the Secret Lives of Dresses posts on A Dress A Day…
I always click on your little quizzes though – they make me happy!!
Phew…and thanks
First time on your blog. I am commenting b/c you make a good appeal for me to not just ‘lurk’. I love Jess’s photos. The light and surface textures really do create a special feel, an interesting place, a unique view.
Peace
I did not comment anywhere in the blog world for over a year because for me opening a google account (or any account, anywhere) just to put me two cents in, seemed like too much bloody trouble! And I still find it annoying when I have to log in to comment on my own blog! So there. I am a luddite and I’m inclined to be annoyed at technology instead of embracing it. But love your blog – have been reading it for the same amount of years. Now go put your feet up and grab your remote!
No, I can’t grab the remote until I’m getting 50+ comments a post and you’re all bickering…
As a lurker, I don’t like to comment unless I have something to add to the conversation. When I look at a blog and there are 20 comments that all say, basically, “love this!” I always wonder why.
I enjoy blogs where I feel that there is a common element. Perhaps we live in the same city, cook the same food or are going through the same life experiences. I usually don’t comment for awhile (I lurk) and then something hits and I feel like I know the blogger well enough to comment.
It’s such an odd thing, this blogging phenomenon. You feel like you have friendships through a mutual reading of each others lives. To me, it feels like an electronic pen pal.
Thanks for the input. I do find it fascinating that the comment threads on some blogs are full of opinionated discussion, whereas others are just choruses of ‘love this’ (which I’m really glad we don’t have on this blog).
The difference obviously comes from the blogger, but I just can’t put my finger on what makes the difference. Is it just being asked for an opinion or advice that gets people to answer?
In my humble opinion, I think it’s knowing that your comment matters. Decorno does an excellent job of letting you know that she is involved and following the discussion.
I think the “love this” posts are encouraging for those who have stepped outside their comfort zone and are nervous about trying something new. I try to figure out when someone is looking for that kind of support or when they are looking for something a bit more.
I also want to say that your post today about the 3:30 wake-up call made me laugh out loud.
I comment on the blogs where I think I have something to say, either because the subject itself is particulary engaging, or because the writer of the blog elicits a response with her wit, sincerity, humility, outrageousness, or general humanity. Your writing style is always funny and we share a lot of interests (i.e. design, gardening, domestic pursuits.) I am especially interested in your experiences as a newcomer to the Northwest, and I too get a kick out of your design quizzes. When I comment, I am responding to you as I would a friend because what you have written makes me feel that way. I don’t usually have that connection to the other commenters….I don’t know them. I wouldn’t mind knowing them, but your post is the sun we all orbit around. If you want to encourage more interaction between your readers, perhaps it would help if you asked more questions of us. I would answer if I thought I could contribute (see above), but I do not want to get into arguments. I’m dismayed by the nasty things people say on the Internet. Discussion…even disagreement, okay. Sneering, no.
Look at all those comments… brave of you to open up a discussion like this Paola! Very interesting for me (starting blogger) to know too… In my English spoken blog are much more comments as in my Dutch blog. Now why is that do you think, something cultural?
Marion, are your English comments from British people or Americans I wonder?
Based on this blog, and on what I know about the split between British and American readers from traffic stats, I would say the Americans tend to be much more likely to comment. So yes, now I think about it there does seem to be a cultural divide which I’d never even considered before. (And I hardly get any Europeans other than British commenting).
The U.K. comments are mostly from other bloggers… Americans tend to make the most comments I think… When I started my Dutch blog I asked (Dutch) friends to please give a comment to start things of and was amazed by their reluctance and also shyness to do so!
Personally, I am constantly amazed at how few comments you have on your blog…I always have something to say about it all, and you give us so much to talk about in every post! O’course, I am fairly shocking about keeping up with my blogs nowadays, so I am usually just trying to get through all the missed posts, rather than stopping and commenting on each one (currently, on your blog, I am reading the last 160 posts I missed. Or was it 130…something like that. :p )
I am a lurker and don’t like to comment unless I have something helpful or insightful (in my opinion) to say. I stumbled across yours when looking for info on the set design in SATC II ( a truly horrible movie). I started reading your entries and got hooked and now read a couple each day when taking a break from work. Another reason I don’t comment on this or any other blog more often is I don’t want the blogger to think I am some kind of stalker. I love you sharing your thoughts on design and photographs. It has really inspired me to indulge in more creative pursuits both alone and with my children! Keep up the great work!