Comments or No Comments? Walking the Blog
The analogy in the title has nothing to do with dogs, but with a plant. The picture above is of an Egyptian Walking Onion, a weird beauty of a plant which sends up a big central onion-domed stalk and loads of little onion-domed stalks around it. It “walks” by sending out horizontal shoots at the top of a stalk; gravity then causes the stalk to bend down to the ground, enabling the shoot to take root. In this way, the onion walks all over the garden and soon there is a large network of edible onion bulbs taking over your garden world. Here’s the Wikipedia entry if you want to know more about this plant.
I’ve noticed that blogs spread the same way: plant a blog, and then a bunch of topics and posts sprout up around it. Comments shoot out from the posts and then they take root and send up other posts, sometimes in other blogs, and send up more stalks and more shoots, and bit by bit a web presence grows. And if you’re lucky it’ll help you eat, too.
I’ve used this analogy to point out the truly organic process by which blogs come into their own and expand. I liken Twitter to wind-borne plants like dandelions, and Facebook is more like those propagated by insects, but I’m open to other notions about that. The Egyptian Walking Onion seems particularly illustrative of blogging. In the garden, the easiest way to keep the onion from getting out of control is to break off those top shoots. In the case of blogs, it would be to turn off comments.
Everett Bogue’s most recent post, Seven Ways to Invest Your Time Besides Commenting on Blogs is his announcement that he has decided to turn off comments on his blog. In other words, his onion is big enough. He is following the examples of Leo Babauta and Seth Godin (click on their names to read their rationales, which are quite different than Everett’s) and doesn’t recommend that other bloggers turn off comments until they earn their living totally from their blogs. Like I said, his onion is big enough.
Blogger Gip Plaster has raised his protest of Everett Bogue’s action in his post Comments Matter: Why I Unsubscribed From Everett Bogue’s Blog This Week. His point of contention is that blogs without comments are “lifeless and uninteresting,” and he’s peeved at the loss of opportunity for other bloggers to gain attention by posting comments on A-Listers’ blogs. The loss of vitality and opportunity for growth in any direction, plus the lack of participation in a community is something he hopes does not become a trend.
To extend my already-stretched analogy, a walking onion was never intended to be a specimen plant. Was the blog format ever intended to be non-interactive, non-spreading? Or is what we have now a different kind of life form, a sort of levitating onion? (Trying hard not to get silly here–sorry about that.)
I, for one, love my comment-posters, or maybe I should say they are free to walk all over my garden. For the hungry blogger, more onions is definitely a better deal. My readers who comment inspire further posts and encourage me to visit their blogs and links in turn. It’s a vitality which I’d really miss if it wasn’t there. I still subscribe to the other guys’ blogs and still read them avidly and have no intention of unsubscribing, but it would have been really neat to be able to post a comment or read others’ comments on their blogs.
I do agree wholeheartedly with what Everett Bogue suggests his readers do as a better use of their time than posting comments on his blog, especially now that we can’t: write about his posts or ideas on your own blog, or even better think up your own stuff and write about that. Or sit in the sun. So I have. I took away a valuable bit of advice: don’t plant more onions for Everett, he’s got all he wants–go back to your own blog and plant more of your own and come on over and check out mine. For most of us, that means encouraging comments on our blogs and commenting in others’ as well.
What’s your take on this?
45 Responses to “Comments or No Comments? Walking the Blog”
Comments
Read below or add a comment...
Leave A Comment...
-
RSS Feed
Subscribe in a reader Books
- An ebook full of thoughts, tips and photographs from the Minimalist Woman's resident photographer. Available as a Kindle book from Amazon
This is an excellent post, and much more creatively written than mine. I haven’t seen a single comment in favor of Everett’s decision yet.
Thanks very much for the mention of my blog. I appreciate it.
Gip
Gip @ So Much More Life recently posted..Comments Matter- Why I Unsubscribed From Everett Bogue’s Blog This Week
I follow you on Twitter, Gip, and spotted your post title and thought you had a good point. Read it several times along with Everett’s.
I sort of understand why comments get turned off, and do believe that people should do what they want with their own blogs.
The controversy lies more in the rationale Everett gives as opposed to the ones given by Leo and Seth (if you click on their names in my post it links to their reasons.) Leo and Seth don’t tell us what we ought to do, simply explain the dilemma it has caused for them.
here is my take.
i have a blog for a personal, creative outlet only. i turn down advertisers b/c i don’t want any. my blog is for me to express myself. for that reason i have considered not having comments b/c i want to make sure my posts are for me, not to try and impress anyone.
but saying you are taking comments off b/c you don’t have time or the interest in your commentors anymore , i don’t like that. i no longer read the blogs you mentioned b/c of it. it’s like they did everything in the world to build their readership and then reached a point and said i don’t need you anymore sucker.
personally, i find the comment section the most interesting part of many blogs. that’s where relationships are built.
so that’s what i think.
~janet
Hi Janet–there really is a danger of coming off as conceited by suddenly shutting off human interaction on your blog, and really turning people off your message. It’s gotta be handled with ki—(thinking this through…)—the softest of cotton gloves, my friend.
Hey Meg. Interesting. I went ahead and read the two posts that you mentioned here. Here’s my opinion:
When I started my website, I turned off the comments on my blog. I thought of my blog posts more as articles, and wanted people to feel whatever they wanted to feel about them, without the influence of other people’s comments (whether good or bad). I also worried that I wouldn’t have much time to respond to comments.
But then I turned them on, because I didn’t want the reader to feel as though they couldn’t connect with me. (Even though my email address is available, and I have accounts on different social networking sites.) For me, it’s not so much about, “is it a blog without comments,” I just wanted the readers to feel a part of the site.
I don’t know Everett’s site well, but it seems a bit rude to say people are wasting their time commenting on his site. It’s up to each of us what a waste of our time is. What’s the difference between writing a 200 word comment on his post, and writing a 200 word blog post on your site. Would it be valuable for my readers to read what I think about somebody else’s blog? Maybe not. Especially if they don’t know anything about that blog anyway. So that logic doesn’t sit too well with me, but hey, to each his own.
I think when a blogger makes a decision like that, it has nothing to do with reader experience and everything to do with what they want to deal with on their blog.
Also (and Meg the fact that I’m commenting on your site reminds me of this), I try to caption and transcribe all of the videos I post on my blog. How many people actually read the captions? 10%? 5%? Less? Definitely not the majority. But does that make it a waste of my time because only a few people use it? Absolutely not. I do it because I know that some people need it.
So to others, I would say, don’t worry about turning off blog comments solely because “not that many people read them.”
Just do what’s right for you.
Ok, that’s enough, I have to go!
Great comment, Aja! Re the captions and transcripts: you are in my personal pantheon of heroes for those! Also keep in mind that transcripts will be an added value for anyone planning to package their work–it’s a professional touch.
I think you are correct in your consciousness of others’ needs and free will–it speaks volumes.
I will certainly never turn off my blog comments because I think that, like you said, reading comments will give me inspiration to write new posts on what really matters for my readers. My intention when creating my blog was to inspire people; what if I turn off the comments and never see if my writting is in fact inspiring (or not, which will give me the opportunity to adjust)? I’m fine with those who decided to turn it off – their decisions and I respect that – but I must had that it is a lack of respect for the readers.
I understand that they reached a certain point in their life where they no longer need their supporters but they should think again and realize that they reach that point because of our support…
Continue the good work, love your posts and love to read the comments of your readers!
Martine
Thanks, Martine! One of the code words in the world of blogging is “tribe.” The idea is that as you write and put your ideas out there in the world, you gain a network of supporters or like-minded followers, and in time they grow large enough to enable financial support for your undertaking. That’s what happened to Everett, Leo, and Seth. Seth is the one (I think) who manifested the idea of the tribe.
I guess this is what happens when the tribe gets too big to be managed with a minimalist business structure–the warm and fuzzy relationship gets lost and the tribe feels snubbed. It’s understandable, but maybe it’s also inevitable.
I never really understood why some people have comments shut off on their blogs. I always thought it was because they knew how to run WordPress but lacked the ability to run a website. I thought, “If you want a website make one but don’t try to pass off a blog as a website.” I have never been to the blog you wrote about, or maybe I have and it wasn’t memorable.
Sandra Hendricks recently posted..Helping People to Help Themselves – Part Three
Hi Sandra–if you click on Leo’s and Seth’s names in my post, it links to their reasons for turning off comments, which is different than Everett’s. Gives a little larger understanding of the issue.
Yeah, I admit to wondering about that sometimes, people not appreciating or knowing the difference between a blog and a regular website, but the blogger in question is one of the best in the business and knows darn well what he is doing!
While my initial thoughts to Everett’s decision were negative, I began to see his point of view after contemplating his decision for a few days.
I would tend to agree that comments and the discussion that is born through them is one of the best, and arguably most important, aspects of blogs. I love reading and responding to comments left on my blog and I really enjoy having the opportunity to leave comments on blog posts where I want to share my thoughts (like I’m doing here).
However, there’s something to be said for blogs that grow past a certain point. I’ve often wondered what would happen if/when my blog grows to the level where there are hundreds of comments. Would I want to spend hours every day reading and replying to all those comments? Would that be the best use of my time? How many meaningful relationships would I be building that way?
Regardless of how many people were commenting, if someone left a comment I would feel obligated to read and respond to them. If I don’t want to spend hours of my day replying to comments, the only option would be to turn comments off altogether.
Is that bad? I don’t think so.
When a blog grows to a certain level, when someone’s voice becomes a big enough authority on a particular subject, I think it’s OK for them to move their communication to other mediums (social networks, email, Skype, and in person) where interaction is more meaningful.
A great example I always return to is Seth Godin. For as long as I’ve been reading his stuff, he hasn’t had comments enabled. For me, that’s fine and it’s never been a problem. I read Seth’s blog for inspiration and ideas that I can share with my network of friends. If I was interested in talking to Seth about his latest blog post, I would need to get to know him better.
That barrier in communication automatically acts as a filter. Only the people who are really interested in developing a relationship with Seth will take the time to use other mediums to communicate with him. They will send him an email or try to meet him in person at an event that he’s attending. This allows Seth to ensure that the relationships he does develop get the attention they deserve (which wouldn’t be possible if he had 500 people leaving comments on his latest post).
So to sum up my thoughts on the matter, if your voice and authority become well-known enough that you’re receiving an enormous amount of communication through the comments on your blog, you have one of two options: Leave the comments open and read all of them, but only respond to a select few (the approach that Chris Guillebeau takes) or turn off the comments completely and move your communication to social media, email, networking events, etc. (the approach Seth Godin, Everett Bogue, and Leo Babauta take).
Raam Dev recently posted..Fear of Failure as a Barometer for Success
Raam, I think you “got it.” We are both taking the practical advice left by Everett, and I think a lot of good will come of it. I do think a lot of people were turned off by the “for your own good” part of Everett’s rationale. Leo’s and Seth’s reasons didn’t touch that part at all, which was probably more diplomatic.
Thanks for this excellent comment. Onwards and upwards!
For me, as a just started blogger I think comments are essential for the direction it will be heading. Some comments will be inspirational, annoying, or just put you in place, exactly how I want them to be.
A blog without comments isn’t a blog anymore, just a static site with new pages so once in a while. No my fav option.
This same thought occurred to me, too, Conrad–is a blog a blog if it isn’t interactive? But that is a separate issue from what happens when you get more followers than you want to deal with.
I’m still new enough at this to absolutely thrive on the feedback in the comments. But in this blog I’m not trying to be an authority or to become a guru or to create an art form–or at least I don’t think so. It’s still very much on the personal level.
Would that change, however, if what I was doing became a product, like it did for Everett and Leo and Seth? It completely changes the dynamic.
Thanks for your comment
A very beautifully written article on a practical question!
I agree fully that comments bring vitality to a blog. I love the feeling of being part of a community – both when leaving comments and when receiving them.
I also agree with the sentiment that it seems like bloggers who turn off comments are turning their backs on their supports.
At the same time, I appreciate the dilemma one faces when a blog grows wildly. There’s no easy or perhaps ‘right’ answer. Although I know I have less draw to follow blogs with comments turned off. I live Chris Guillebeau’s solution.
In Everett’s case, his argument that people are wasting their time commenting on blogs seems a bit off the point. Each person needs to decide that for themselves!
Thanks for the interesting discussion.
Sandra Lee recently posted..Timeless blogging advice- 12 great links
Hi Sandra–you have gently and succinctly enunciated the main points of the whole discussion. Like you, I prefer Chris Guillebeau’s solution.
Chris, however, is not a purveyor of Minimalism. One thing Everett said in his post is that he felt it was hypocritical to spend hours on reading and replying to comments when he was trying to teach others how to have a 2-hour workday. Kinda boxed himself into a corner, I think. On that score I feel for the guy!
But ultimately you are correct that people should decide for themselves whether the best use of their time is on comments or not.
Ive had an active photoblog since 04. For most of that time I have have comments shut off. Although the comments may have made my site more social I felt what I was creating was too easily influenced by other peoples opinions. Perhaps I need to work more on me…
Hullo, Shelli, and thanks for joining the dialogue–maybe you don’t need to work on you, merely to appreciate the nature of your blog. As a gallery/photoblog, it is in itself an art form. Comments would probably be intrusive, even your own. It’s a different creature altogether from one where verbally-expressed ideas and reader interaction is part of the structure.
Now, if there was a part of your blog with writing, such as a journal or a fan page–or even an About page–it would encourage interaction with others and the nature of your blog would change.
My opinion on this synonymous with many other peoples. A blog is a community of like-minded people, removing comments completely kills the community.
Although I cannot help but wander if this is just another publicity stunt. He has done something very simmer in the past with this post (http://bit.ly/dikie8) , which at the time resulted in a lot of noise, and a net increase in subscribers.
Who knows, maby he just likes reverse psychology.
Hessiess, I remember that post, and it is a demonstration of Everett’s ability to master the medium, isn’t it?
It’s probably why my antennae are picking up on another level of blog and brand marketing in his comments.
He’s listening, too–saw it on Twitter this a.m.
Probably laughing his butt off. ;D
Meg, I quit reading Everett’s blog several months ago. He wasn’t writing anything much I was interested in because I don’t want to quit my job and work from anywhere; and usually his arrogant attitude annoyed me, so rather than continue to be annoyed, I just stopped. I know that sounds arrogant on my part, but in one post he wrote, he said, ‘So don’t read, if you don’t want to or don’t agree with me.’ So I didn’t.
I am one of those people who actually read comments on my blog and on others’ sites. Part of what I enjoy about blogging is the interaction. And I do learn so much from other people’s perspectives. On my own blog, I just post what interests me and have no intention of trying to earn any income from it, so I doubt I’ll ever turn my comments off.
Willow, you point out something very important: you are not trying to earn an income from your blog. I think a lot of people start out with personal blogs and then some evolve into marketable entities. I think Tammy Stroebel of Rowdy Kittens is a really good example of someone whose downsizing and car-free life made a stand-out blog and then her blog itself became marketable. She still has comments turned on, though!
Yeah, I don’t want to live like Everett does, either. I do want to figure out how to make a living like some of these guys do, so observing them is of great interest to me. If it wasn’t for that, I’d be perfectly happy with just reading uncluttering and knitting blogs
I can see why Everett decided to turn off the comments. For someone of his blogging level, most of the comments are going to be people trying to promote their blog or get his attention.
That being said, I really dislike the tone of his post. In my opinion, it seems like he’s almost saying I’ve made it to a level of blogging I like, and my business will be okay with or without you now so I don’t need you anymore.
Obviously he didn’t say that, but that’s the vibe I felt. At the end of the day, it’s his decision, but I personally don’t like it. If you don’t want to respond to the comments, that’s fine, but at least leave the option up for other people who might want to join in on a conversation or at least read the conversation.
I personally get excited when I get comments because I actually learn who it is that’s reading the blog, their persona, their thought/opinion pattern, etc. But to each his own I guess.
I’m in favor of the comments.
Reggie recently posted..What Is This Freedom Thing Minimalists Talk About
Hi, Reggie, glad you chimed in! I know what you mean about the tone, and judging from the other comments here and on Gip Plaster’s site, you are not alone.
I’m wondering if this is all just the current 15 minute news cycle, or if it will lead to something else, or just sort of fade away. Curious to see how all this plays out.
Well, Nibras Bawa, your comment is liberally dotted with smileys and there is a sense of self-deprecating humor and an overall air of c’est la vie in your tone. You have defined the purpose of your blog and it’s function in your life, and you’ve left me feeling just as cozy about that as I do about the ones that do allow comments. That is both an astute and wonderful thing.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting, and giving us a chance to check out your own blog, which makes for very interesting reading.
THANK YOU!!! Please DO NOT turn off your comments section! I learn so much from everyone who adds their life stories and tid-bits and etc in the comments section. I do take time to read comments. Telling someone not to waist their time reading the comments section is like asking folks in a classroom to keep their mouths shut. All that does is tell me the leader/teacher/blogger person only cares what he/she has to say and the rest of us can just blow it out our ear…
It is important in our blogging community to keep the communication open both ways, from your thoughts and writings, to your readers thoughts and links and opinions. We all can contribute, we all have things to learn from each other! That is what ‘community’ is all about…helping and learning from EACH other.
Ok, I re-read many of the blogs as referenced and checked out most of the links provided in this comments section. Yes, there are reasons to turn off comments or never have them on in the beginning. I still believe we all have things to learn from each other, so personally I like the comments. This blogging and comments on/off stuff is, within itself, also very educational, and reminds me to keep a more open mind to each persons reasons. That’s lovely, really!
Hi Annabelle–your comment is special to me because you went back and checked all the links and got the big picture, which I thought was really important. The links to Leo Babauta and Seth Godin was not just to their blogs, but to their posts specifically addressing the issue of turning off comments, so readers could compare them to Everett Bogue’s post.
I agree totally that there is a lot to be learned from everyone–and it is a lovely thing, indeed!
I really, really enjoyed this blog AND reading through all the comments. I’m newer to blogging, reading blogs, etc. and wish I had more experience to really voice my thoughts on this. All I can say for now, is that I greatly enjoy reading blogs with comments – be it news, information, reviews or what-have-you. Also, I enjoy comments on anything I write – being newer, it gives me a sense that what I’m doing is or isn’t being appreciated, viewed, read etc. Suggestions in blog comments also let me know what readers would like to see. I think for most, it’s a valuable tool. Thank you so much – again, I really enjoyed this.
Hey, Tabitha, thanks for joining in! Comments are tremendously useful for the reasons you stated–but also they help you find your “tribe,” the people for whom your writing resonates. The end result is not twisting yourself to fit an audience’s expectations, but to give more of your genuine self to the people who “get” you. That’s when your blog comes into its own and writing it becomes its own reward. It’s a great time when that happens
I wondered if anyone would comment on this.
Everett’s post on why he turned off comments rubbed me the wrong way, as have some of this other posts, so I unsubscribed. The tone of the post rankled even though it didn’t apply to me; I rarely comment on blogs and in fact rarely read comments since I mostly read blogs through my RSS reader. But when a post triggers agreement or disagreement it’s nice to be able to chime in. I still subscribe to Leo and Seth’s blogs, however, the content provides value to me with no attitude involved.
minhus recently posted..Reno Dreams- Cheap-N-Good Kitchen Redo
Hi, minhus–your take seems to be shared by a lot of people!
I read most blogs via RSS as well, and go to the site when I am intrigued enough to comment or to read others’ take on the post. Saves a lot of time, doesn’t it?
Thanks for stopping in
I enjoy reading both blogs and their comments.
It also allows me to find other blogs within a defined community. I enjoy your blog very much. Nice work.
Thank you, Erin, and welcome to my blog.
It’s fascinating to click on the links and to get an idea where the readers are coming from, really expands one’s concept of the vastness and variety of human experience. It’s similar to getting to know someone who is the friend of a friend!
What a beautifully written post, Meg. I don’t think much about this subject but I respect whatever the blogger wishes to do regarding comments. I often read blogs without leaving a comment so I definitely miss out on those gems.
As for my blog, I love getting rich comments, but I’ve always been pro-feedback in general. I’m working on finding the time to respond to comments to become more pro-dialogue but I admit, that’s not as much of a priority for me these days.
Hi Belinda–thanks for the compliment, it is much appreciated. I think one should respond to comments in whatever is your style. Not everyone responds to every comment, nor does every comment need a response. I think if you write good stuff and respond to regular commentators on at least an occasional basis, that’s pretty darn good.
I used to look up to Everett in my earlier days but I unsubbed from his site recently… As I said on ‘So much more Life’ (followed the link) I felt like I already understood his message all too well, it was just reiterated in different ways which is not a bad thing (everyone does it really) especially when done creatively but he was just so focused on sending out the very same specific signal forcefully, it became very predictable.
I understand the decision to take off comments but like many others, it was the tone.
Leslie Cao recently posted..Forgive and Meet Your True Self
Hi Leslie–I’ve asked Everett to address some of the issues presented by the comments to this post, and hope to present that interview before long. Blogs are funny things–they evolve as the blogger’s vision evolves. Sometimes the vision gains followers, and sometimes it loses them. Then again, maybe it isn’t the vision that evolves but the attitude–a whole different matter! Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
Meg,
This is such an interesting debate. As always, you approach your topic from such an interesting and unusual angle.
I understand why some bloggers turn off comments when their blogs get too big. It just becomes too much for them to manage.
BUT, I also agree so fully with your thoughts on how comments and interaction bring vitality to a blog. I always feel disappointed when I come to the end of an article I like and find the comments are turned off! I actually feel a bit of a let down. I naturally tend not to read blogs that turn off their comments unless they are incredibly fabulous. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It’s not logical. It’s just my gut response.
Thanks for your exploration of this topic. It’s often a dilemma for bloggers.
Thanks, Sandra! Just for the record, Everett Bogue is on Google+, and I note that he has discussion threads on there, as does Leo Babauta. Interesting how that works….
This is an interesting conversation and still applicable almost a year later. And that’s what blogging is to me- a conversation. I can write for just myself, but then why would I publish my writing for the world to see?
If I publish articles in a public domain because I care about inspiring others, it is because I care about others. If I care about others, and I care about myself, then any relationships in my life should provide the opportunity for an exchange of ideas, information, support and inspiration.
As a new blogger, I started commenting on other blogs to drive traffic to my blog. The wonderful and unexpected gift of commenting on other blogs was not the increase in my page views, but instead wonderful friendships with like-minded individuals who are living a life full of joy, passion and purpose.
Ultimately I feel it is each blogger’s right to run their blog in whatever way they like, though I can’t imagine enjoying my blogging experience without comments. I might get tired of only hearing myself think, and inspiration might be less available to me.
Hi Chrysta, and thanks for reading this and commenting, as you said, nearly a year later! I think that is so cool, and another great reason to leave up comments.
I agree with you about getting tired of the sound of only my own voice, hearing only my own thoughts.
Comments, to me, form a community, and keep my audience, my readers, in view. My reader community has shifted a bit since I first started this blog, and that is great, too, because my writing has shifted as I find my voice and grow as a writer.