As a blog reader, I don't want to be sending emails or filling out a message box to make a comment on a post. It creates a detachment from the post. Also, without comments, you don't get to see what others said nor interact with them. It feels like there are no readers or that everyone's invisible except the blogger and that's weird. But maybe it's a matter of preference?
What do you think? Is it still a blog if commenting is turned off?
A blog without a commenting option is rare, but I have come across such every once in awhile. I think they are still legitimate blogs. Not every blogger wants to get caught up in "the comments game."
ReplyDeleteDebra: I've only came across two blogs that turned off commenting so it is rare. But it's just odd to me since I'm so used to being able to commment.
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In my opinion it's still a legitimate blog. I see blog as more of a personal diary, and it is one's choice to open conversation with others or not.
ReplyDeleteFanda Classiclit: Most blogs aren't even all that personal. But yes, blogs are like personal diaries and everyone have a choice to allow comments/conversations.
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If they want no comments that is fine with me -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteChristine: That's fine with me too though it seems odd.
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I think it's fine and legal, but I agree with you there needs to be comments to have interaction, otherwise,
ReplyDeleteI think the point is lost!!
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Katerinas Blog: It's not a matter of being legal but I just assume if you have a blog, I assume you want to talk to other people now and then.
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I occasionally turn of comments for a particular post. For example if I am not going to be around for a bit, I might put up a post explaining/apologising. Ordinarily I like the ability to comment - and read other people's comments.
ReplyDeleteElephant's Child: Turning off comments for a post or two is perfectly fine and I think it's normal when you don't want to engage for a bit.
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I know of one such blog - a joint personal and farming blog. They had so many comments that it was full-time work for them to keep up, and so much spam, it was a full time job to delete. As they were both working (sometimes more than) full time at the farm they decided to close down commenting (but still answers emails and IG posts - the latter might ot be so spam-ridden).
ReplyDeleteElse, like EC, I know only people either closing certain posts or posts older than XX days. I find this totally fine.
I also find a blog with no possibility to comment still a blog, but a bit of a bother ;)
Charlotte: It does make sense to turn off comments if you're getting a bit too many comments and spam.
DeleteSometimes you do want to say something to the blogger and if comments are turned off, you do kind of have to comment in other ways which is a bit bothersome.
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I may be in the minority from what I'm seeing above, but I don't understand blogs that don't allow comments (unless they're blogs used as websites of sorts, geared to give info and such). I do understand not having the time to reply to comments, but robbing your readers of the chance to interact is a no-no. That's what websites are for.
ReplyDeleteRoberta R.: I agreed with you. I think maybe people should call their blogs something else so people won't expect to be able to comment. Websites aren't blogs so you don't expect to be able to interact with commenting but a lot of websites now have blogs so websites are definitely not blogs.
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I think it's a personal choice. I can see times where you wouldn't want to deal with comments, but for me, I would really miss the interactions with other bloggers. And I know when I can't ever comment on someone's blog, I tend not to visit it as much. So I'm for allowing comments. :D
ReplyDeleteLark: It is a personal choice. But like you, I'm all for allowing comments.
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I'd say yes, it is! A blog is a place to document. While community engagement is one part of it, it isn't the only thing that makes up a blog. The main thing is the initial writing.
ReplyDeletepaperbackprincess: You're right, community engagement is isn't the only thing that make up a blog. Seeing how some people think blogs aren't valid, you would think people would like to engage more. But everyone have a choice to engage or not.
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I'd say yes, for sure! Sometimes people don't want to deal with comments, and that's okay and up to them — I'd also be a bit of a hypocrite considering I also turn off my comments, but only after the post has been up for over a year and there's been no comments outside of spam. It's easier for me to manage, and most of the time due to the ever-changing, fast-paced nature of blogs (despite some posts being evergreen content), people don't comment on the older posts as much as the more recent ones.
ReplyDeleteI know of one book blogger who did have comments turned on for a while, but these days they no longer have it available as an option; likely due to the fact they no longer have the time to respond to comments or feel like it's pressuring to keep up with comments and they wanted to make their blog more of a personal diary for themselves and to keep track of the books they read in case GR or Storygraph no longer exists.
Sophia: You're right. People comment less on older posts but I don't turn off comments for them. I guess since I don't get much spam, there's no reason to turn off comments for older posts. But I'm mostly talking about having comments turned off completely on every posts - that is something think about.
DeletePeople have the right to turn off comments. And sometimes it's easier not to deal with comments. It's a personal preference.
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I have come across blogs where the comments are close on older post. It hard to get comments on older post (don't know what people are scare of). Kind of get way someone will do that. What the point of leaving the comments open if no one is going to comment on a post that more then a week old.
ReplyDeleteSnapdragon: It's true that older posts usually get spam so some bloggers closed comments on those posts and it's okay. It makes more sense to turn on comment moderation if you're worried about spam, that way, you can approve or reject comments without worrying about spam.
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