I’m not one to pick fights or stir up trouble. In fact, I’m about as non-confrontational as a girl can get. However, I’ve borrowed a soap box and I’m about to climb up on it.
Comments on blog posts seem to be a rare thing these days as likes and tweets take their place. I still like to comment. I like to add to the conversation or tell the blogger how much I loved their post. I have about two dozen blogs on my reader that just inspire me to comment.
Problem is, they are blogger blogs.
I have a day job that is actually more a 24/7 job, and our email is Google based. Can’t comment using my work Google account (or use my own since it shuts down Google Voice and Google Drive if I log out). I’m not on LiveJournal, TypePad, AIM, and OpenID is pretty useless since they want to use your Google account as well. I do have a WordPress blog, but I’ve also graduated to a self-hosted website, and would like to direct people there (or even here, but, unfortunately, it just points to the old Robyn LaRue on WordPress.
As a result, I either have to leave those tabs open until after 10 pm (prime writing time) or not comment. Sadly, it is often the latter. If you have a blogger blog and noticed I don’t comment any more since my website launched, I offer my sincere apologies. I miss it, too.
I get almost giddy if I’m on a BlogSpot blog because they have an added little option:
See that nifty Name/URL option? That I can use! It directs properly, easy-breezy.
We all have a platform we love, and I’m certainly not going to ask someone to change a platform just because I love their blog and like to comment there. Comments should be easy (don’t ask me about Captcha. Hate it. Don’t have computer glasses. But at least I can cycle through until I find something I can read. One site I go to has a really cool check box. “check here if you are not a bot.” Check, done, comment up. LiveJournal also allows you to comment using your Twitter account, though I’ve had it fail on occasion.
This is why I stay with WordPress as the platform even on my own site. No Captcha, No bots (Akismet kicks them), and a profile I can use. Again, I’m not expecting people to change over, I’m just saying if you like to get comments on your posts, take a look at the hoops visitors must jump through to leave one.
And please, if you EVER have difficulty commenting here or at RobynLaRue.com, tell me right away and I will fix it.
The owner of my borrowed soapbox wants it back. Just one more thing. When you find a post or blog that you love, leave comments when you can. Tweets and likes are awesome and I love them, but nothing beats conversation in the comments.
The Sarcastic Muse 
Tell me about it. I do try to leave comments on the blogger blogs though. They need lovin’ too 😉 The hoops are discouraging though.
I also try, though it often means not reading blogs until late at night and I work early. 😦
Amen, Amen, Amen. That’s how I found you, Robyn. You made some comment on WriterUnboxed that I liked (which, I don’t recall what you said), so I followed you to here. The name “The Sarcastic Muse” made me laugh out loud and I knew I’d found a kindred spirit. 🙂
I’ve met some amazing people through comments (case in point…you!) 🙂 And anyone with a Whinery on their has to be awesome. 🙂
Thanks, Robyn. I hope to have my website “live” by the end of April (!), when I do, I hope that you and all the other ladies from the Sarcastic Muse stop by. xo
I read so many political blogs that I often don’t have the time or energy to leave the kind of feedback that I feel such posts deserve. But I do agree, and I try to comment on posts that are more personal or creative and less heavy-discussion based. It’s lovely to interact and it’s the best way to engage with the writer. This was a great, succinct post.
Thank you. 🙂 And yes, a great way to get to know the writer!
Love this post, Robyn! Express yourself, girl – and keep that soapbox. It is a lot of fun to rant and rave atop of one 🙂
Spread the comment love!