November 23, 2006

Kuch to log kahenge

They say comments come unsolicited and generously.

As blogging goes, I do not know about you but, I thrive on comments- positive or otherwise. It is reassuring & sometimes gratifying to know you are not fading into no- reader land.

Does it reflect the number of readers? Not necessarily.
Does it reflect the quality of your post? Maybe not.
But it surely reflects how provoking your post has been.

For example, if you visit a blog, you probably read the most recent post. Maybe it excites you enough to read a few more. You skim through a few more. And you skip a few. But unless a post STIRS something in you, you would refrain from commenting- it should evoke some emotion- empathy/ disgust/ humour/ happiness.

So if you do not post anything new for a long time you should end up with a lot more comments for the post. Maybe yes.

Initially when my cousin, cloudy began her blog- I told her - "Write for yourself" - I was not being completely honest.

Of course I look forward to comments. It does matter when some posts go unnoticed. Here are some instances Save a smile and long ago Paper Boys

There have been posts I have written for myself and got such a warm response. Like Then & Now or The Temptress

So, do I write with a view to evoke comments- NO. That would mean being untrue to myself.
More importantly, I would not know how to go about it. : - )

And when I visit some blogs where posts garner over 50 comments (yes, even after excluding the self comments) , I think " Oh, big deal" and leave mine as the 51st comment.

16 comments:

Nee said...

Sometimes, a post does stir emotions, but it may leave the reader with nothing more to add. The topic might just not warrant general one-line comments.. your Save a smile post would fall into this category...

Cloudy Musings said...

Honestly, I really follow your advice and write for just myself and when i get a comment or two, i consider it as a bonus. So, never mind. :-)

And lemme tell you, i visit your blog more often than i visit my own!! Sometimes, i just skip looking at my own blog and think of peeping into yours. I lurvv commenting on your blog. LOL.

Something to Say said...

as a new comer to the blogger arena - I must admit - I get pretty impressed by the no of comments I see on people's blogs. To me writing is a cartharitic experience - a need to get in touch with myself - I have to admit - i love it when I see comments :)

Usha said...

I love comments too - many times the comments add more value to my posts by presenting another viewpoint.
And when I visit others' blogs I read all the comments too and sometimes realise that others have already said what I wanted to and leave quietly. My comment may have added no value except to mark my visit.

Anonymous said...

i can relate to both types of bloggers here since i transformed somewhere along the way.. i used to write stuff which no one would understand.. i liked keeping it that way.. so even if i got 50 visits in a day, there would be no comments.. i loved that. :) i took pride in isolating the readers.
but now i realise how stupid it was to mix math with movies, ascii art with music or poetry with linux or just too much james joyce. stupid not because i dint get much comments, but because it is serving no purpose other than some evil satisfaction. i have changed a bit now and ppl feel like commenting once in a while. :)

Anonymous said...

In my case, I always get very few comments compared to visitors; I stopped wondering why after a point of time.

Also, since I'm looking at my blog as a vehicle to practise my writing, I don't care as much. When I really want serious feedback, I lurk on caferati instead :)

The Kid said...

I am guilty of not commenting to all the posts that I wanted to comment. Many reasons:

Firstly... your write too many good post and too frequently.
Secondly... Sometimes, I feel it might be inappropriate for me to comment. Sometimes you might have said it all, and there would be no reason to say anything more... like "Save a smile".
Thirdly, sometimes... in a fit of stinging sarcasm... I would go "So??". These are not comments that would be understood in good humour and would mostly be offending. So better I not write anything for these.

But every post with a baby's picture will be showered with comments :)

Just Jane said...

Don't worry about people taking on a 'no comments' posture :)

By the way, comment allez-vous? :)

Anonymous said...

I do look forward to getting comments and feel a little disappointed if there are none. I can tell by the sitemeter that people are reading it, but I'm still very curious about who they are, especially if they're overseas. Often the amount of comments will surprise me. I'll spend several hours writing and editing what I think is a really good post, and then barely get a response. Other times I'll throw a quick post together in ten minutes, and the response is huge.

Anonymous said...

everyone is addicted to favouable comments and ehen is unfavouable they say who is bothered about comments outside.But inside a bit of anger comes because not able to attract the opposite one. It is natural for any humans.

Itchingtowrite said...

i love getting comments too. i hate to leave a site without giving my comments as i feel its like seeing someone and going off without saying a hi. even if i do not add value I like to say a hi or good one to say that i visited. or atleast say which lines I liked a lot.
i try to space my posts to garner comments (yes- I shamelessly mention) as I like to hear what thoughts mine have evoked from the reader
yes the kid is right- any post with babies i showered with comments !! i guess the antics evoke the same and people with similar experience like to share thoughts

Kalpana said...

When we start blogging, we blog for ourselves. And then we start expecting others views on it. It's all common. We just feel curious about what did they write. Is it the same as we think or not. I generally blog on what I feel like at the moment. It can be on any article. Sometimes, will be personal.

Kalpana said...

And I like comments too...

mommyof2 said...

Comment, in blogworld is the other name for encouragement. Well, to me they are.. :-) Still I come across few posts where I can’t find anything to comment so sometimes I leave a smile or just a word or 2 to let the person know that I like what they wrote.. and sometimes nothing & then I wait for their next post & make sure to leave a comment.

mommyof2 said...

Comment, in blogworld is the other name for encouragement. Well, to me they are.. :-) Still I come across few posts where I can’t find anything to comment so sometimes I leave a smile or just a word or 2 to let the person know that I like what they wrote.. and sometimes nothing & then I wait for their next post & make sure to leave a comment.

Artnavy said...

Thank you all for your comments and for those who did not but still read the ost