Discussions: What Makes Writing A Blog Post Unique?
by Eric and Sean on January 14, 2009
in Vlog
Join us for our discussion on the differences between writing static content and writing for a blog. Stay tuned until the very end and watch Sean be a total ball hog!
I’m just here to score some traffic, but I’ll answer your question too =P
I find comments made just for the sake of it don’t really focus in on one thing, they are more general and vague in nature.
In journalism, I was taught never leave the reader with an unanswered question. This didn’t work on my blog, at least not for conversation in the comments. I had to learn to open the dialogue by ending with questions, by being more informal instead of being “the news source,” and by leaving room for the reader to take point or make a point.
I like responding to blog posts that stir my emotions or my mind because of interesting writing or because the writer is open, authentic, and likable.
SpaceAgeSage’s last blog post..Good and evil not so black and white
Loved the back and forth, Guys! I comment when:
1. I love the post and want to show my appreciation;
2. I want to share additional info. related to the post;
3. I disagree with a point in the post and want to share that.
Posts that turn me off to commenting at all:
1. I completely disagree with the post (no point in commenting);
2. I agree with the post but the post is too negative;
3. Posts obviously written hastily w/o much thought or care.
Keep up the good work, Guys! Eric, you are adorable! And, Sean, you are so passionate about your writing. I love that! : )
Shanel Yang – Easy Steps to Success’s last blog post..IQ: “Let Us Be Thankful for the Fools”
Hahahahaha. That totally cracked me up.
The best games of tennis are where one opponent totally annihilates the other with some vicious serves and ruthless smashes. Ideally the umpire or the line judges will feel the fuzzy felt smack against their face at 100mph at some point too.
I leave comments to get a reaction or just for the fun of it. I stopped commenting at places like problogger and Zen Habits because it was a waste of my time. Competing with one hundred other people to get some feel-goods from the big cheese is just madness.
What I really want to know is what compels so many people to leave comments at places like TheBloggess or Dooce knowing full well they’re not going to get a reaction from either the author or anyone else. Because I’m not going to read through 250 replies before I leave my own. Some of the comments that are left are so bland you can’t understand how anyone can be so boring and yet not be pronounced clinically dead. So what do TheBloggess and Dooce have other than profanity? And for the record… I go there for the profanity.
Dave Fowler’s last blog post..Nigella Lawson Is Gorgeous
@Danny: Vague comments are death to conversation. I’ve made a few myself and feel like taking a shower afterwords so I can wipe the boredom off myself.
@SpaceAgeSage: Yeah, that’s what Sean and I were hashing out. Blogging just brings a whole new scenario into the mix. It’s kind of backward when compared to the rule of thumb in journalism. I’m sure it was an adjustment for you.
@Shanel: I love your points. I totally agree that reading a post that seems to be thrown together is just not very appealing and doesn’t deserve the attention to comment.
So if I’m the adorable one and Sean’s the passionate writer, does that make him the brains and me the beauty? I mean, I can deal with that!
@Dave: I think I like your version of a good game of tennis over Sean’s. No offense, Sean…
Yes, commenting on blogs with 50 or more within the first 2 hours of posting DOES seem to be a futile situation. Eric
I would respond to the blog post with my opinion when I disagree with bloggers’ view. In leaving such comment I would explain my point of view so that other readers could benefit from a more objective view of a situation.
Also, if the blog post was very helpful and made a difference to my life, I would sincerely thank the author by leaving a nice comment.
Simona Rich’s last blog post..Negative Attitude: Causes, Consequences And Cures
I like to comment on blogs with an active, responding community, even if it consists of say twenty people. Then, it is like going to a pub where you meet your locals, and the atmosphere is friendly and welcoming.
I also like to comment when I’ve got the feeling that the author/writer/blogger is interested in listening to me (as you guys are). I feel invited and I gladly add my 2 cents.
I also like to comment if /when (sorry, I’m no native speaker) commenters comment on their comments, when there is a real discussion going on, not just unilateral from commenter to blogger.
Ulla Hennig’s last blog post..Winter in Berlin