Interpreting Comments Left on Associated Content Articles
The Commenting Game
Here are my impressive (pathetic) stats. As of Sunday, May 16, 2010, I have posted 10,027 comments on AC and received 5,570 comments. What's strange is, approximately half of my posted comments are concentrated on a single article: "A Fond Farewell." (Make sure you read Morag's final article before AC removes it.)
If there's one thing I've learned in my almost two years on AC, it's how to leave good comments and how to encourage other people to leave good comments on my articles. It's no big secret that if you want to receive lots of comments, you'll have to leave lots of comments. You can get page views simply by focusing on SEO and writing on popular topics; there's no rule that says you need lots of comments on all your AC articles to be successful here.
But comments are fun. They make us feel appreciated and encourage us to continue putting our work "out there." Some of us feel that sincere comments are more valuable than our measly monthly performance payments.
It's hard to tell if certain comments are sincere, however. Let's examine the most common comments left on AC articles, slideshows, and video and audio clips:
Good/great/nice job
Nice/great/good work
Good/great/nice article
Beautiful poem/article/pictures
Interesting article
LOL/very funny
:) (or any smiling/winking/sad/shocked face emoticon)
I've left and received all of the above comments. Generic comments, really, but they're better than nothing. Most generic comments mean one of three things:
1) I read this entire article and think it's extremely well-written and interesting!
2) I have no clue what your article's about. I'm merely proving that I gave you a page view because I want you to come read all my articles. Gimme, gimme, gimme page views! I'm desperate!
3) I want to support you, but, frankly, I'm too busy to read all of your work. I still really like you, though, so I'm going to continue clicking every single page of every single article you publish.
Sometimes I read every word of an article and can't think of anything witty or thought-provoking to say, so I begrudgingly type "Great job!" and move along. It happens to the best of us. Unless an article truly sucks, I'll always leave some sort of comment. Commenting on articles is an easy way to introduce myself to other writers here.
The best comments aren't generic. They ooze personality, and refer to specific points in the article/slideshow/video. If a comment makes me smile or laugh or rethink my opinion, there's a very good chance I'll check out that commenter's work (if he/she also publishes on AC). I don't bother reading the work of anyone who leaves comments riddled with spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. I'm a snob...and I'm exhausted.
I used to treat commenting on AC like a game. "How many potential new fans can I lure to my content page today?" I'd ask myself, as I read article after article and left comment after comment. It was great fun at first, but I think it's time to retire from the Commenting Game. I'm looking forward to spending more time on my own writing. This doesn't mean I'll never read AC articles or leave comments here, but I simply must cut back.
If you can't think of a suitable comment to leave on this article, just copy and paste the following: Wow, Maria, you're really honest and smart. I'm sorry you're so exhausted, but I think I'd be exhausted, too, if I'd left over 10,000 comments on AC in the last two years. Take care of yourself. Do what makes YOU happy.
Published by Maria Roth
I love popcorn, cashews, cheesecake, Jane Austen, my husband and children, and Conan O'Brien. Why should you be jealous of me? I am double-jointed in both thumbs, I live in Kansas, I'm tall, and I'm modest... View profile
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- Commenting on articles is an easy way to introduce yourself to other writers here.
- The best comments aren't generic.
- I think it's time to retire from the Commenting Game.
109 Comments
Post a CommentTo quote you ... "Wow, Maria, you're really honest and smart. I'm sorry you're so exhausted, but I think I'd be exhausted, too, if I'd left over 10,000 comments on AC in the last two years. Take care of yourself. Do what makes YOU happy."
And BTW, great post. I got a good laugh out of it, and love your sense of humor. :)
I try and leave as many as I can, but it does take time and sometimes I kn ow I sound generic too.
Holy crap! That is a lot of comments- are your fingers bleeding from all the typing? Leaving comments is more fun than getting them, but getting them is like getting a free paper on the doorstep- whoopee!!
I think sometimes people feel obligated. I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine. Realistically there are not enough hours in the day to scour each and every word of a writer's content. There are some writers work that I enjoy more than others but if someone has made an effort to write something, I feel I can at least make an effort to leave some kind of response. Your article was definitely good and true in many ways.
BTW: This kind of Christianity is EXACTLY why so many people are atheists.
Cont'd: One day, when you're old and gray, you're going to realize that the normal Christian conservative ideals really did make sense. Because I'm sure on your deathbed, you'll be on your knees Praying to SOMEONE! The atheist Freud was caught by his daughter doing just that...
This is why I think the comment section could just as well be done away with across the entirely of the internet. Because, sadly, most just aren't as insightful as those from people like you, Maria, or Gregoriancant or Jeff Musall.
The extraordinary number of ruthlessly stupid, inane, vulgar, uneducated and vicious comments left on my articles over the years has only solidified my contention that AC would be a much better place if the comment section were excised. Yes, I realize the irony of my using the comment section to criticize the existence of the comment section.
Great job!
Lol, just kidding - although you did do a great job on this one! I do try to leave a decent comment as often as I can, but some days there just isn't time. When someone just leaves a smiley face on one of my articles, I usually consider it to mean they clicked the article but didn't read it *lol*
I am a cat. It is hard to play guitar with my paws because my fingers are short. Hey, you write good. ;P
Wow, Maria, you're really honest and smart. I'm sorry you're so exhausted, but I think I'd be exhausted, too, if I'd left over 10,000 comments on AC in the last two years. Take care of yourself. Do what makes YOU happy.
And, BTW, reading your article was a blast! I cannot imagine commenting that many times.....wow, are your fingers worn out yet? Down to the nubs? Mine would be!