Blogger For Hire
Commenter’s Burnout

144 Responses to: “Commenter’s Burnout”

1. RC responds:
   Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 7:40 pm →

   I took a “blogcation,” due to the intense pressure I was feeling to write and respond to others. It isn’t that I don’t want to read the blogs of others, or that I don’t want to blog, but more feeling like I had to do it than I wanted to do it.

   When it gets to that point, it no longer becomes an enjoyable social interaction. It feels like a prison.

   I’m back. I have a lot going on, but now I’m not so certain what I want to share. Or if I feel like commenting on all the back posts in my reader.

   I don’t want this to be “work” – goodness knows I have enough obligations in my life. I want this to be social and just a fun way to archive our lives, as well as make a few friends.

   RC’s last blog post..I’m back…

2. Jason Gignac responds:
   Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 7:45 pm →

   I feel kind of silly being the first person to comment on a blog about commenting… but. My sense of obnoxiousness impels me to say things that others may not be interested in hearing .

   I think commenting, today, is sort of like email, ’round about 1995. It’s obnoxious. It’s not terribly convenient. It really represents only a slender piece of the entire population. It often devolves into poor spelling and anger, or into the infamous blogosphere echo chamber. And I’m so terribly glad it exists.

   Commenting is part of a larger change in what the internet IS, I think – it’s an opportunity for people to create a community around an idea – any idea. Sometimes a community the author didn’t even intend. I would venture to say that it CAN (not always DOES, but CAN) bring back some of the lost humanity that is intrinsic in web-surfing – when I read an interesting article that doesn’t have comments, I think ‘what an interesting article.’ When I read an article on a blog, by a person, with comments on, I feel a sense of communication, of invitation and human interconnection. Viva la comments. If you want to turn them off, more power to you, but I love comments.

   Jason Gignac’s last blog post..Response to MomGrind’s take on Photoshop

3. Hunter Nuttall responds:
   Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 7:58 pm →

   I’m glad that you’re standing up for the cause of comment burnout, because I think it’s definitely something that needs a little more awareness. I’m really amazed by how many comments some people seem to leave all over the blogosphere. I’ll never understand how they can keep up with it.

   But I’m more concerned about having time to respond to comments on my own blog. It’s fine for now, but if I had as many comments as you get, I wouldn’t be able to deal with that. I really like reading the comments I get, but having to think of a worthy response to each one will become too hard at some point.

   I don’t think that comment about celebrity blogger’s lack of comment interaction is fair. Considering how many comments they usually get, it would be a huge waste of time to even try to respond to all of them. And if they only respond to some of them, how does it make people feel if they don’t respond to them?

   I remember when someone left a comment on Tim Ferriss’s blog, saying “Well, it seems that Tim doesn’t respond to comments.” For God’s sake, there were 400 comments on that post! Tim politely responded that he’d like to reply to comments, but then he’d have no time left.

   The first time you turned off comments, I was a little annoyed because I was going to ask a question (so I emailed you instead). But the second time, I was short on time, so I was glad I didn’t have to leave a comment (“have to” meaning that we’re supposed to leave comments to get traffic, not that you demand comments!)

   Burnout is definitely a problem. There are too many blogs to read, and I sometimes hesitate to publish a post because I’m wondering if I’ll get more comments than I can deal with. I’ve been cutting back on the blogs in my reader, not because the blogs aren’t good enough but just because we only have so much time. As for responding to comments, I think I’ll continue to respond to each one until one day, when I just stop responding to any. I’m not looking forward to that day.

   Hunter Nuttall’s last blog post..There Are No Stupid Questions, But We’ll Try Anyway

4. PeaceLoveJoyBliss responds:
   Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 8:00 pm →

   Very interesting post, Vered.

   As an avid blogger-reader, here are my personal guidelines for reading blogs, leaving comments, and interacting with bloggers: (1) follow closely the blogs you truly enjoy reading on a regular basis; the moment you realize you’ve been skimming the titles (usually after a week or so, or sooner), drop it like a hot potato; (2) leave comments on posts that (a) resonate enjoyably with your understanding of what really and truly matters to you, and (b) allow you to clarify your thinking and/or feeling more deeply on some issue; and (3) gauge your interest in a blog by how compelled you feel to return to the comments section to either (a) read the blogger’s response to your comment or (b) leave another comment that furthers the discussion and/or more deeply clarifies an issue for you. Addendum: email bloggers who resonate deeply with your way of understanding the world to express appreciation for their work, while remaining respectful of their time, i.e., be very forgiving of them if they don’t or can’t respond quickly and/or deeply to your appreciation and/or desire for interaction.

   Christopher

5. MommyNamedApril responds:
   Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 8:19 pm →

   Admittedly, I love getting comments on my blog. That being said… I hate phishing comments. I want a thoughtful note… at the very least, show me in your comment that you read or enjoyed (or disliked!) something about my post. I read many blogs, but only comment on those that inspire me to do so… never as a form of advertising.

   Don’t get me wrong, I DO partake in some advertising. But not via comments. I just don’t think it’s appropriate or respectful.

   And memes. Uhg, don’t get me started on those. I did -one- and am ever so ashamed of myself. *sigh*

   It’s late. I hope that was at least moderately coherent.

   MommyNamedApril’s last blog post..Happy 23 Month Birthday Casey!

6. MommyNamedApril responds:
   Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 8:27 pm →

   Oh, and your question about turning off comments… it’s not my favorite thing when a blogger disables comments. But I have to respect their decision and it certainly wouldn’t keep me from returning to their blog.

   MommyNamedApril’s last blog post..Happy 23 Month Birthday Casey!

7. Jamie | WiredParentPad responds:
   Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 8:36 pm →

   From the perspective of someone who is only a few months into the blogging world (yeah, I guess I’m a late bloomer), I’ve often wondered how fellow bloggers find the time to read and comment on other blogs as much as they do.

   The strategy I’ve carved out involves getting updates on a select few blogs (via Google Reader) that I enjoy and are at least somewhat related to the niche I’m trying to serve. Of these, I read the articles that spark an interest and comment on them when I feel I have something relevant to share. Sure, I could subscribe to dozens of parenting or techie related blogs, but I’ve settled on a few that I enjoy reading and interacting with.

   As for Momgrind, I think your proposed strategy is a good one. If you decide to close comments on a particular post, so be it. I see that Vered picture on plenty of blogs that I visit (on the MyBlogLog widget) and the last thing we want is for you to get burnt out!

   Jamie | WiredParentPad’s last blog post..Tracking Your Teen’s Progress in School has Never Been Easier

8. Jess Sanders responds:
   Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 8:37 pm →

   Vered, you bring up an interesting cultural phenom here in the blogging community. Here’s one person’s reaction:

   To put it simply, I blog primarily for my own internal satisfaction. I interact with other people on the web because they truly inspire or challenge me. It’s selfish, and true. Don’t get me wrong, I am THRILLED when people comment on my posts and I learn so much from other people’s reactions, but I don’t write for those comments, I write for my own internal peace. And I hope that those commenting on my site are doing so out of that same genuine interest (maybe naieve, but…). If you are commenting because you feel obligated – it’s not necessary, I am not keeping score!

   There are too many pressures in “real” life to self-inflict those pressures on ourselves in the blogosphere. I come here to learn, share and escape. If I commit a faux pas and do not comment back or respond to comments enough, then either you’ll find that unforgivable and we’ll part ways or you’ll see my humanness and we’ll continue on. I am not watching your comment habits (who has the time?), and have no plans to do so.

   Would you consider that the blog/comment/pressure cycle is self inflicted? What if we were to all just make a personal decision to let it go and get back to the basics of writing and genuinely connecting? Seeking popularity in high school never led to inner peace, and it won’t now. Let’s stop letting the popularity meter measure our personal worth and let it die already.

   Jess Sanders’s last blog post..Series: Giants of Social Media: Digg

9. Barbara Swafford responds:
   Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 8:43 pm →

   Hi Vered = Yes, as you know, I am a big proponent of comments (Thanks for the mention) I love the ones I get on my blog, and as I travel through blogosphere, love to drop comments on other blogs knowing comments are at times what keeps a blogger going. It’s often through encouragement and appreciation bloggers realize their words are making a difference. If I see a blogger and I know they have potential, I’m there to tell them “Go, Go, GO’

   Answering the comments I get is one of the biggest joys blogging brings me. Not because they’re giving me an “atta girl”, but because they’re telling me what I wrote made them think, or they learned something, or met a new blogger, or have a thought or idea to share, or that they received more traffic because I showcased their blog. Those words warm my heart. Granted, it does take time to answer them all, but those commenters took time out of their day to share their thoughts with me. If I didn’t acknowledge their comments I would feel like I closed the door in their face when they entered my home.

   Do I make time to visit my commenter’s blogs? Whenever I can, yes I do. Is it tit for tat? I don’t think so. It’s what I would call common courtesy. Am I getting comment burnout? No! Why? Because my commenters are my cyberspace friends and as in real life, I will support them, just as they support me. It’s a two way street and I’m not looking for the exit anytime soon.

   What would I do if I got so many comments I couldn’t answer them all? I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it, but if I think about it, Steve Pavlina used a great strategy. He moved community to a forum.

   Bloggers do have the choice to deal with comments however they want. It is our blog, it is our life. With that being said, I respect however each blogger decides to handle them, however, I say, “comments rock”.

   With regard to your blog, Vered, I’m a loyal reader and will continue to read your work whether you allow comments of not. I would certainly hate to read that you quit blogging due to comment burnout.

   Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..Not So New Blogs Of The Week

10. MomGrind responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 8:53 pm →

    @ RC: “It isn’t that I don’t want to read the blogs of others, or that I don’t want to blog, but more feeling like I had to do it than I wanted to do it.” This is exactly what I’m worried about. I love this blog. I love blogging. I enjoy the interaction so much, and I am in awe at the intelligence and character of some of the people that I have met through blogging. But recently it feels more and more like work. Like a chore. I don’t want it to feel this way. So I’m trying to come up with a solution that would work for me – and for my readers.

    @ Jason: I agree that comments are what differentiates blogs from traditional media – and makes them better. I won’t close comments to all my posts… just to those that won’t lead to meaningful conversation anyway.

    @ Hunter: “I’ve been cutting back on the blogs in my reader, not because the blogs aren’t good enough but just because we only have so much time.” I feel the same.

    “I think I’ll continue to respond to each one until one day, when I just stop responding to any. I’m not looking forward to that day.” – This makes me sad. I don’t ever want to do that. Maybe Leo Babauta’s approach – a general “thank you” to all commenters and an individual response to some is better? But then he only responds to people who either ask him direct questions or disagree with him. There’s no ideal solution, is there.

    @ Christopher: You made me blush. You sent me an email with an interesting link, inviting a discussion. I just thanked you and moved on. I’m sorry. I still have your email. But – as you know – time is so short and there’s so much to do. Please forgive me.

    I think that subscribing to comments on a post, or going back to a post, are very good indicators that you really are interested in the discussion. I really admire your approach to reading/ commenting on blogs.

    @ MommyNamedApril: I did a meme too once… now I do them if I like them, but I never tag other bloggers. So I found my solution to memes. Now I need to find my solution to comments.

    @ Jamie: “I see that Vered picture on plenty of blogs that I visit.” Ha. I’m everywhere, aren’t I. Yeah, I need to slow down.

    @ Jess: Just like Christopher’s approach, I really admire yours. I think most of us start out this way, but then we get sucked into BLOG POLITICS. I hate politics, in real life and online, but I’m afraid it’s unavoidable. People do play games, they do keep score, and I’m not sure how to detach myself from that, but I really want to try, and your words – and Christopher’s – inspire me to do so.

    @ Barbara: I enjoy reading the comments left here and answering them too. In fact, right now I’m enjoying this conversation so much! This is something that’s been bothering me for several weeks now. It feels really good to finally get it out in the open and discuss it with my readers.

11. Wendi Kelly-Life's Little Inspirations responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 8:53 pm →

    Vered,
    I read all of your posts. I enjoy your blog and that’s why I read it,no other reason. If I don’t leave a comment some times its because I didn’t have something come to mind right then. I don’t do tit for tat commenting. I comment when I have something to say,and I hope others feel they have the freedom to do the same for me. I want REAL conversation, not duty-bound comments.

    Wendi Kelly-Life’s Little Inspirations’s last blog post..Rainy Days and Mondays

12. Evelyn Lim responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 8:57 pm →

    What an interesting topic! I am glad with your decision not to allow commenting on some of your posts. If you are cool about not receiving comments to a post, why fight it?

    On the other hand, when a fav blogger of mine makes a post and allows comments, I’d like to give my support and contribute to the discussion. It is how I like to be supported too. Having said that, I do read a ton of blogs and it is increasingly impossible for me to track every post. So on the reverse, I definitely do understand if not all my posts get commented by the same blogger.

    At the moment, I am still enjoying the community on my site. So until the day comes when I need to close the commenting function or move all commenting to a forum, I’ll just continue doing the best I can.

    Evelyn Lim’s last blog post..Can You Read My Mind?

13. Cath Lawson responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 8:57 pm →

    Hi Vered – I’m totally with you on comment burnout. When I first started blogging, I had fewer comments and it was lots easier. I had more time to concentrate on getting traffic other ways. One great source was business forums – I enjoyed using them and people visiting my blog through my signature were actually interested in business, which helps a lot, when you blog about business and lifestyle.

    A little while ago, I actually removed some blogs from my reader. And three of those bloggers visited my blog and commented – even though I hadn’t heard from them in ages. Now, I monitor my stats to see what keyphrases people are using and which posts are more popular than others. But some of these people must be so anal that they check to see who has unsubscribed.

    I honestly believe some of the folk who comment on my blog aren’t interested in business at all. It seems so pointless. I like reading other blogs – but I sometimes have to think about a post for a good while before I make a comment – so that means going back later.

    And then you get the commenters who really get on my tits – the ones who almost caused me to close my comment section permanently at the weekend. Luckily, I get very few of these – but they’re the ones who only come to my blog to attack and disagree with what I have to say. I don’t expect everyone to agree with what I say.

    But when certain people only comment on my blog when they want to attack what I’ve said, it does piss me off a lot. It’s the same folk all the time – I’ve seen them do it on other blogs too. It’s a lame attempt to say – “look at me, I know more than her – come over to my blog instead.”

    And I know you get folk who say you should allow people like this to have their say and never disagree with them. But frankly, I think that’s a bloody joke. My blog is about business, because it’s what I know. If someone persistently tries to harm my credibility by making derogatory comments, of course I’m going to tell them where to go and delete or ban them. I’m trying to build an online brand, so I can promote my own products later on. So the last thing I need is potential customers reading that what I’ve written is garbage.

    I’ve started to do what you are doing Vered and not read and comment on other blogs every day. I do like the networking aspect of it, so I won’t stop completely. I may also close the comments section for longer posts.

    I really think a lot of new bloggers should think about freeing up some time to market their own blogs too. If you want to build a blog, you really can’t rely on traffic from commenters only. I know some of the bloggers who get a lot of traffic encourage folk to comment on blogs a lot. But if you think about it – they’re doing it for a reason – to get more commenters on their own blogs. And you rarely see any of those bloggers who are doing the encouraging commenting on other people’s blogs. It’s like Monika said – most of them don’t give a rats arse about their readers.

14. Writer Dad responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 9:11 pm →

    Hi Vered, I LOVE this topic. It seems like it’s popping up pretty regular. I’ve been contemplating a post, but it’s unnecessary. You said it well. I have a good blogger friend who took me aside not too far back. She asked me to examine the commenting structure intrinsic to blogging, and my behavior inside it. There’s only so much time in the day. Answering thirty comments is time consuming. Commenting on the thirty who’ve left you a comment, in addition to all you’d like to visit simply for the sake of visiting, is suicide. Doing them both is slow dripping suicide. Something’s gotta give. In my case it was the consideration of a carefully crafted answer. There is a balance we must strike, everyone’s number is their own. The danger lies in when we stop feeling genuine. Then it’s not okay.

    Writer Dad’s last blog post..The Perfection of Pixar

15. MomGrind responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 9:17 pm →

    @ Wendi: “I want REAL conversation, not duty-bound comments.” EXACTLY. When comments are left out of obligation, it shows. When comments are real, it shows too.

    @ Evelyn: “when a fav blogger of mine makes a post and allows comments, I’d like to give my support and contribute to the discussion.” I agree that leaving a comment is a way of supporting a blogger, of letting them know that they’re heard.

    @ Cath: You’re so feisty. I adore you. You sound a lot like Naomi Dunford. I agree that with blogs like yours and Naomi’s – where you give business or marketing advice – you shouldn’t tolerate people who only comment to show that you are wrong and they are right. I would totally ban someone like that. Would I close comments to all my posts? I don’t think so. The fact that Naomi reopened comments to some posts shows that she did miss the interaction with her readers.

    @ Writer Dad: “Answering thirty comments is time consuming. Commenting on the thirty who’ve left you a comment, in addition to all you’d like to visit simply for the sake of visiting, is suicide. Doing them both is slow dripping suicide.” OMG I adore you too. You said it so well! Yes, it’s crazy. And you’re right: SOMETHING’s gotta give. Looks like we are finding different solutions (you – giving up carefully crafted answers, me – closing comments to some posts). I do agree that remaining genuine is a top priority.

16. Writer Dad responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 9:28 pm →

    I’m exchanging quantity for quality. I don’t want to lose the carefully crafted answer, or the attention that fills it. I believe that I owe everyone who takes the time to comment on Writer Dad, a thorough answer to their comment. After that, I will comment on the posts which inspire me to do so. I will not comment just to comment. That’s like climbing a ladder to nowhere.

17. MomGrind responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 9:34 pm →

    @ Writer Dad: I misunderstood you. I’m sorry. You DON’T want to give up carefully crafted answers. That indeed makes more sense, since you ARE answering very thoroughly.
    “I will not comment just to comment.” – amen to that. I have resolved to do the same.

18. Davina responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 9:43 pm →

    Hi Vered. You should have your own talk show! Really! I am so entertained by the intelligent discussions that develop here. I too have decided this week that I have to reduce the amount of time I spend commenting and reading. Things were getting too unbalanced.

    I found myself unsubscribing from more blogs because I realized that I was skimming the content and not really absorbing it. Time for Reader housecleaning… and no disrespect to the bloggers at all. These things just come in waves. And just because I have unsubscribed doesn’t mean I won’t be back to visit and comment the odd time.

    I make a point to reply to all my comments, but I get no where near the amount you do Vered. And, I think those times you closed your comments were very effective. In fact, *smile* I remember quite recently reading a favourite blogger’s post and wanting so badly to get to bed from exhaustion… I was surprise AND relieved to find that the comments were closed! What’s up with that?

    I really sit and think about the comments I leave and the replies I give, and all that takes as much if not more than the actual reading does. As I mentioned recently on Blogging Without A Blog, I think it would be an awesome WordPress plugin that would allow a blogger to set the amount of comments allowed per post… Who should I call?

    Davina’s last blog post..25 Words That Connect Us — Frosty Sunrise

19. Bamboo Forest responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 9:46 pm →

    I’m going to be honest, part of my motivation to comment on others blogs is because I know they will comment back. In fact, I’m highly motivated to comment on blogs which I know there is a virtual guarantee that they will do in kind…

    Here’s the rub, though… I found out early on which blogs will respond on a regular basis and made those blogs my priority to comment on! I know I know, I’m so bad :]

    Part of my priority is to generate a certain amount of comments because it makes your blog look popular and people are much more likely to subscribe when they see multiple comments… But one thing I didn’t do, Vered, is I didn’t go overbaord! For crying out loud, if I get 10 comments for an entry I feel satisfied.

    All that being said, this does not mean that those blogs are not ones I enjoy. On the contrary, I wouldn’t invest my time in commenting on blogs I don’t enjoy no matter how loyal they were to return the favor. Period.

    I think we are all adults. I think we can all admit as bloggers that this is often part of our motivation.

    I appreciate your honesty to speak about what everyone already knows, but isn’t willing to talk about!

    I will not be offended even remotely if you comment less on my blog. I am happy that you’re making this decision as your time is valuable and precious. My feeling is there are no obligations in the blogosphere. If people want to comment, great. If not, great. It doesn’t matter!

    The masses will return again and again to your blog if the **content** continues to shine. But, commenting just to get return comments; that’s simply bad time management!

    Bamboo Forest’s last blog post..Forget The Pres. Election: Let’s Elect Ourselves for Change

20. Sara at On Simplicity responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 9:51 pm →

    I was so excited to read you were going to touch on this, because it’s been such a tug-of-war for me. It’s been great to read everyone’s opinions, which is a testament to the power of commenting in itself. Go figure. But I’ve definitely experienced burnout. When I realized I was spending tons of time not interacting with my husband and not doing any other reading outside of blogs, I knew it had to change.

    So I’ve been commenting less and taking longer to respond to comments on my own blog. I’m a big disappointed in myself for this, but so far, it’s been a great way of restoring balance to my life as a whole. As for perhaps losing out out on some readers, I’m okay with that. I appreciate every single reader, but I’d like to think that everyone is visiting because they actually care about the topic, not because they expect a visit or comment in return.

    I like your solution, but then again, I’d support any decision you made, as long as it was right for you.

    Sara at On Simplicity’s last blog post..Six Months of Simplicity!

21. Seamus Anthony responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 9:58 pm →

    The cynical answer from me on this topic is that while commenting is at this point beneficial for me, as I find better way to increase traffic i will probably slow it right down as the actual traffic it generates is minimal and of course the time it takes is huge. However, check out WriterDad, I don’t know what else he does but he is a comment friend, first off the blocks everytime (I have posted, taken a sip of tea, gone for the obligatory check to see the post is ok voila! there he is!). And my point about this is I have watched his blog audience grow like wildfire in a few short months …

    Seamus Anthony’s last blog post..How To Meditate While You’re Doing Housework

22. Irene | Light Beckons responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 10:17 pm →

    I like your current solution. Personally I would never be upset if anyone closed comments on his/her blog (unless it’s a bad post about me, then I would probably stalk the blogger to death via email and hack his/her site, hehe). After all, I only leave comments when I want to, and if I don’t feel compelled to write something, I may just social bookmark it (or not) and then move on. I agree with Wendi’s point – obligatory “duty-bound” comments are painfully obvious. Still, if I get those on my blog, I appreciate them anyway.

23. Michael Martine - Remarkablogger responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 10:29 pm →

    Well done, Vered. Funny how this topic is what prompts me to comment on your blog for the first time ever. I guess I am turning into one of those jerk bloggers who doesn’t comment much on blogs anymore.

    I don’t need to. I put in my time and used commenting as a traffic-building tactic. That sounds mercenary, I know, but my strategy was to provide value wherever I went. I have also turned off email notification of follows from Twitter. All of this saves me hours a day, seriously. Traffic takes care of itself now, as long as I don’t screw things up too much.

    I do still comment on blogs, but not as much. And I still believe in responding to comments on my own blog and building up the community there. Even if it’s just an acknowledgment or a hello, it’s that human contact people crave and that is an important part of blogging. On a blog like mine, much of the real help people get is from me answering questions in the comments. I wouldn’t call it comment burnout. It’s everything burnout. See, here it is 1:30 am and I should be sleeping, not commenting.

    Michael Martine – Remarkablogger’s last blog post..Who is Your Blogging Mentor?

24. Daniel Richard responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 10:54 pm →

    When I was younger, my friends and I would play the “tag me” in our own tagboards in our blogs.

    Today, we go by using comments on the blog posts.

    The good part is that I actually enjoy the articles where I leave my comments in.

    Daniel Richard’s last blog post..11 Traits You Need To Getting Things Done With a BIGGER SMILE!

25. Patricia responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 10:54 pm →

    Vered,
    I really enjoy reading all your posts and your thoughtful discussion starters and I so appreciate your attention to my blog with comments. This piece was quite poignant for me today – thank you.
    I feel too new to this world of blogging to truly understand the dilemma of so many comments and I am so slow at picking up the “how to” . I subscribe to about 16 Blogs right now and allow myself only 2 hours of reading and commenting per weekday. I do work at finding a new blog to read on the weekends. I need the rest of the time to write my content and keep learning how to do this.
    I feel like I learned something new today and valuable, but I will need to tuck it away for further understanding. I hope you are not feeling burned out – now?
    Thank you for this new insight.

    Patricia’s last blog post..Look Boss! De Wall! De Wall!

26. Carla responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 11:01 pm →

    Though I enjoy blogging and reading and commenting on other blogs (more than my own blog!) immensely, I do feel the burn out every now and then. I feel it more when I open my reader in the mornings and find that the are 60 new blog posts to read. Thankfully, I end up deleting half if them if I’m not interested. The thing is, blogging is more than just a hobby or popularity contest, is a business, or at least a large part of my business. Its easy to get burned out by this, so I take breaks. But isn’t this a part of “paying my dues” if I want to succeed?

27. Carla responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 11:10 pm →

    I should also note that I’m starting to filter what I will read and comment on. I spend less time on larger blogs (with a few exceptions) and more time on smaller, less established, intimate ones. I try not to pay attention to my blog stats or number of comments too much, due to the fact that I wouldn’t want to feel crushed for not being “popular”. I’m not a writer and need to remember that when songs of praise are not being sung about my blog.

    Carla’s last blog post..Its not too late to plan a green Halloween

28. Lance responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 11:18 pm →

    What an interesting topic Vered. Some days I do feel burnt out, but mostly – I really enjoy comments and commenting. In fact, I definitely do enjoy them. What gets hard is keeping up sometimes. Right now, for instance, I’m out of town on business. That has meant less time to follow up both on my own blog and on others I visit regularly. And then I start to feel like I’m falling behind. Should I just mark everything as read and start fresh? Should I go through as many as I can? Should I read just a select few? And then responses….it can all get overwhelming sometimes. To get caught up right now, I’m reading a select few blog posts – and the rest will be marked as “read”. And I’ll start fresh from there. I will continue to respond to comments on my own blog – because I feel it’s important to give a response if someone has taken the time to leave me a comment. And, for me the community that develops through the comments is a very powerful experience for me, and one that really drives me to keep on writing. All that said, thought, I don’t expect everyone to comment every time. Comments should be left if they are something that can add to the conversation.

    In the end, I guess you could say I’m a comment fan, even if it does get overwhelming at times….

    Lance’s last blog post..Life Balance: A Very Personal Pyramid

29. Debra responds:
    Posted: October 21st, 2008 at 11:32 pm →

    HI – i read your blog and 110 others in my reader. I comment only rarely on any of them – choosing to do so only when i have something to add to a discussion or information that the blogger might enjoy or benefit from. I actually find some blogs with excessive levels of comments make it difficult to partake in that side of their blog and wish some of those would refrain from posting just for the sake of it. seriously i love sites like dooce but am never going to look at hundreds of comments EVER – i have 2 kids and a life, so i read her posts and laugh or cry with her and then move on and lose out on the discussion side. I think it is often clear when someone is commenting out of a sense of obligation or self promotion rather than genuine interest / discussion and think they should just save themselves the time and effort and leave some breathing room in the discussion to allow for a natural and genuine flow.

30. Robin responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 am →

    Hi Vered – I’m definitely feeling the commenting pressure. I don’t comment nearly as much as you do, and I don’t have as many comments on my blog, but I am fairly slow at reading posts and I am slow at thinking of what to say – I just can’t keep up, especially as I am usually away 2 nights a week. I’m focusing on finding a way of dealing with it – as you and Rita are both doing.

    The other thing is that my blog is essentially about living life to the full – yet I am stuck in front of my computer too often. For this reason alone, I have to find a way through – because I believe I need to be authentic in my actions for my blog to be successful – people can feel it if it isn’t authentic.

    Robin’s last blog post..Emotional Balance

31. veena responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 1:15 am →

    A blog is a very empowering tool. It gives you the right to talk about anything that you want. the comments section of the blog is to know what other people think about what you say. This conversation with people is what gives a blog its appeal. so I personally think closing the comments section is a bad idea. After all you want people to listen to you and although they have no control on the content you post, they should be free to say what they think about what you write..

    veena’s last blog post..every day inspiration

32. Tara responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 1:25 am →

    You are so right, blogging can totally take over your life if you are not careful.
    I started my blog as a ‘favour’ for the newspaper I work on. They wanted a ‘mummy who can write’ and just said go forth and get on with it. I thought it would be an easy lark, half an hour every other day maybe.
    OMG. As I have discovered more and more blogs I really like I have been sucked in totally and now find myself sat infront of my computer at midnight trying to catch up.
    I decided a long time ago to cut down to 3 posts a week and I still visit all the blogs I like, but as others have said, I only comment where I feel I have something to say or where there is a real discussion going on – but that a serious one or some lighthearted banter.
    There is a fantastic community out there, a rainbow of people we would never ordinarily be friends with, and I love being in the midst of that.
    I don’t mind comments being turned off. I think it’s totally understandable. I don’t like when the author doesn’t bother to reply in the comments though. Not necessarily to me, but to anyone, which some of the bigger bloggers have chosen to do and I find it a bit impersonal.
    We all need to do what is best for us. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

33. Lovelyn responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 1:45 am →

    Before I read this post, I was totally unaware of comment tag. It never even crossed my mind that if someone made a comment on my blog that I should go comment on their blog. That’s probably why there aren’t many comments on my blog.

    To anyone who might read this, if in the future I comment on your blog, don’t worry about it. I’m not expecting anything from you. I just wanted to make a comment.

34. Avital responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 3:43 am →

    I do have information overload and my RSS reader is bursting out. That means I leaf through blog posts and actually read only a few. I rarely comment on other people blogs, just because of the time pressure I’m always in and because I do believe I should only comment if I can contribute or add something new to the discussion. So many people are commenting just for the sake of the link back to their blog. So many “pro-bloggers” are advising people to comment as much as possible, that I can find more and more purposeless and empty comments and that annoys me.

    I read your blog because I like the way you write and because you’re posts are very thought provoking. I do not feel obligated to comment and I try not to if I cannot really think about a decent thing to say. You have enough measuring tools to know how many people are visiting your blog without the need for each and every one of them to comment and I sure hope that this is not going to be the case.

    I love the discussion. I love interesting, intelligent, thought provoking comments. I like comments with feedback, but I don’t care about comments written for the sake of commenting, nor do I like comments added just for the link… One of the commenters on my blog is such a spammer that her comments went directly to my spam folder – what good can it possibly do to her???

35. apricot tea. responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 3:53 am →

    Oh my gosh, you took everything I wanted to say right out of my mouth! Seriously, i have been struggling with this since I started blogging — which was like, 6 years ago, I just closed down my first original site. There is HUGE pressure on me when it comes to this. Especially since I was trying to become a “fashion blogger” (& I finally came to the realization that this isn’t going to work, because the pressure & competition just isn’t fun anymore!).

    I will admit that while trying to get more readers, I have gone crazy on other people’s blogs, only commenting to simply comment, not necessarily to leave my opinion. & this was working for a while! But now, I’m tired of the hassle & — again, that word — PRESSURE of feeling like comments make my blog a living & breathing thing.

    After reading this, you have inspired me to think about closing the comments on some of my posts, because when you really think about it, it doesn’t matter how many comments you get. Rather, it shouldn’t matter because if I enjoy writing because I enjoy it, I don’t need to seek approval or admiration from other people. My work can speak for itself, without the validation of strangers.

    I guess what I’m trying to say — & I’m saying it a bit ungracefully, being that it’s nearing 4 in the morning here — is that comments can be another form of greed; comments can be another form of high school popularity envy; I realize this & I HATE IT. I admit to going to sites & seeing that they have well over 45 comments makes me so very jealous! & it shouldn’t. Your post really put things into perspective, Vered. & I am really very glad I took the time to read this.

    & you do not have to comment me back. ;]

    apricot tea.’s last blog post..my second attempt to be honest.

36. Jenny Mannion responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 4:16 am →

    Hi Vered, I think your solution is a wonderful one. I love comments but can see how the burnout could happen — especially trying to keep up commenting on others blogs. If someone has something DIRE they need to tell you after reading a post – they can contact you. I love so many blogs and try to rotate the ones I visit and comment on. I also consult my google reader every few days and see what posts really jump out at me. Personally I don’t expect every blogger to visit my blog if I comment on theirs. What’s important to me is if people are moved, inspired or feel emotionally connected to what I write — they leave a comment — I wouldn’t want someone to feel “forced” to just because I left one on theirs….
    Good luck and as I mentioned I think it’s a great solution. Gratefully, Jenny

37. Dr. Cason responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 4:23 am →

    How do you close individual post comments? It’s a bold idea. I’ve seen it done.

    Bravo for your choice. I recently wrote about the pressure of blogging and trying to analyze why I actually blogged. It’s all ego, really. But I like it and it brings me joy. Most of the time.

    It feels like high school and trying to get the most amount of friends and being the most “popular” blog out there.

    One of the reasons I wish I could go back (to high school) is to tell that adolescent girl that it is okay to just be herself. To enjoy it. To revel in the discovery. To play by her own rules. To grow and discover and. Just. Be.

    On second thought maybe this is what we all can tell ourselves now. Over and over again. Until we get it right.

38. Chase March responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 4:25 am →

    I love blogging but I don’t let it handcuff me to my computer. I don’t think I ever will. For the moment, I reply to every comment that I get. If my blog had thirty comments on it every day, I’m not sure I’d have the time to do that. I would love to continue to respond to every comment, as I’m sure everyone would.

    Most readers will understand if their comments are not personally relpied to. You could easily write, “Thanks everyone for the great disccussion.” This way they know you’ve read them. This shouldn’t burn you out either.

    It’s just a thought.

39. Eric Hamm responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 5:14 am →

    I’ve been feeling this for awhile now. Not just in comments, but the whole, “You need to do this so they will do that.” kind of thing. I personally wouldn’t close the comments on a post. You never know how even the ‘lightest’ post might affect one of your readers. If they can’t respond, you’re basically saying, “No, you can’t tell me what you think about this or how you connected with it.” And I’m not say this is right or wrong, just something I personally wouldn’t do.

    But I certainly can see the point that it’s high school all over again. Somehow we’ve gotten so far away from ‘sharing’ a post because it’s great and now we do it for traffic. I don’t exclude myself from this, I just think it may be eroding away at ‘honest’ blogging for the sake of higher numbers. And yet without traffic, who do talk to? I’d much rather share my voice with a large group that a few close friends. (This is in blogging only. In person it’s the other way around.)

    Anyway, I appreciate your thoughtful post and including other’s comments/emails. This kind of thing really helps a post have more backbone. Well done!

    Now it’s your turn to comment on my blog! Eric.

    Eric Hamm’s last blog post..M2A! October (Exercise) Week 3: The Progress

40. Rita responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 5:28 am →

    Vered.
    Thanks for this post. I did NOT say that “comments are bad” – far from it. I love getting them, and respond to every one. However, I want to READ BLOGS. I want to be able to do so without getting caught in the game of “you didn’t leave me a comment, so obviously you don’t want me to read yours.”
    In fact, I read around 40 blogs A DAY. (More on Tuesdays) If I can ADD to the comments, I do. But I won’t play “Killroy was here” in order to receive a “return comment.”
    I want people to read – and, if they wish – comment on my blog. But the “game of reciprocity”is too time-consuming.
    I don’t know that I’d ever “turn off comments,” but certainly now, I don’t think that will be an issue.
    Rita

41. Stacey / Create a Balance responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 6:06 am →

    I LOVE the comments I receive from my blog. I don’t want them to go away. In truth, I want them to grow. I love the community, the feedback, and the connection. I am very inspired by what I read in the comments section of my blog. Hopefully people leaving comments on my site also receive value from writing the comment in the first place. I also learn a lot about myself when I post on other people’s blogs.

    And yet, I can relate to commenter’s burnout and the pressure to be TIMELY with my replies and with my comments on other sites. Sometimes I just can’t keep up. I have learned from you wise Vered and I recently started closing comments approximately once a week. I have noticed that this gives me time to “catch up” – maybe it also gives my readers a sense of relief that there is one less blog to comment on that day.

    I think this is a good problem for us to have – so many comments and being involved in such a large blogging community. I feel grateful to have such a challenge.

    Stacey / Create a Balance’s last blog post..Introducing My Authentic Self

42. Dave Fowler responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 6:10 am →

    What a fabulous topic.

    Seth Godin wrote of clicking on ads as being the bloggers tip jar. I believe that leaving a comment is the equivalent of leaving a tip.

    My time is precious (even though I often squander it – and I’m working on that) and the fact I’ve taken some of that time to leave a well considered response is often as way to let the author know I’ve appreciated their writing.

    I do expect some acknowledgement of that act, but it doesn’t have to be a direct reply to me.

    Last week Darren Rowse posted an article asking whether people should comment using their given names or their brand names. This post generated over 210 comments at last count and a four of them were from me. In two of the comments I’d attempted to engage other readers and in one of the others I attempted to engage Darren.

    I became increasingly frustrated that having been asked to participate in a discussion, there was no one else willing to participate. Instead it was the same tripe being repeated over and over again.

    Not one of those 210 comments was from Darren and it bloody annoyed me.

    I accept that he shouldn’t feel obliged to reply to every comment, nor should he be obliged to reply to me, but if he’d dipped in every 25 comments and just acknowledge some of the ‘discussion’ I’d at least feel someone was reading the comments.

    Vered, I’d prefer you left your comments open. I’d like to leave you a tip. I’d be happy to see you state that you’re not going play an active role in the comments on certain days and instead drop in from time to time to say thanks or to steer the discussion and move it forward, maybe even pose another question to keep it alive.

    I come here because you’re entertaining and because you care about your readers, but I don’t believe that means you have to interact with each of us on a daily basis. If you feel compelled to do it, then do it only on a Monday then everyone who wants to be loved can drop a line on Monday knowing you’ll give them a hug. The rest of the week can be a bun fight where you can love us from afar.

    Just as a closing note… The blogs I really really like and return to four or five times a day are the ones where the participants interact with one another and it makes me believe there is a community there rather than just a list of bloggers. I mean, Problogger is great, really great, but the comment section has no soul. It’s just a classifieds section.

    Dave

43. Writer Dad responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 6:18 am →

    Dave Fowler:

    “Just as a closing note… The blogs I really really like and return to four or five times a day are the ones where the participants interact with one another and it makes me believe there is a community there rather than just a list of bloggers. I mean, Problogger is great, really great, but the comment section has no soul. It’s just a classifieds section.”

    You are awesome, my man.

    Writer Dad’s last blog post..The Perfection of Pixar

44. Dave Jones, CPA responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 6:20 am →

    Hi Vered,

    In the short time I have been following your blog it seems to have grown exponentially. I would guess 99% of the people doing this (blogging) are either doing it for enjoyment or money or both. My two cents are:
    1. If you are doing it simply for enjoyment and have written this article, the commenting is already taking away some of the enjoyment. Cease immediately! Have a glass of wine; make more chocolate covered strawberries; eat a few of them and comment only as much as you see fit.

    2. If you are doing this to make money, you have a pretty good following already. I will say a lot of what makes your blog fun are the short posts and the dialogue afterwards. Maybe instead of closing comments you could leave the dialogue open only too the readers. I am sure it takes an enormous amount of time to read each comment, sometimes upwards of 80, put some thought into that comment and then single that person out with a response. Simply state at the end of the post that it is open for discussion but you will not be answering each comment individually. You can jump in, if and when you see fit.

    Anyway, just a couple of ideas.

    Dave Jones, CPA’s last blog post..2008 Fall Tax Update #1

45. Chris responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 7:02 am →

    Hi Vered,

    I remember when used to be one of your top if not the top “commentors” in your blog. I also remember when I use to be the first one, not because I designed it that way, it just worked out that way. Now when I visit your blog, which is pretty much the same time as always, I maybe number 40 something.

    I know that your blog is now very popular and you’ve told me how you did it. I wanted to follow your lead but I just couldn’t find the time.

    My comment numbers have pretty much stayed consistent because the amount of blog I visit have stayed the same. I’ve had some new people comment on my blog but when I visited their blog, I just couldn’t make myself comment or follow their blog regularly because I just didn’t enjoy their blog.

    The one’s that I regularly visit and comment now are the ones that either I “grew up” with as a blogger or that I enjoy.

    I would love to “explode” my blog but I really don’t have the time to market it. With your new method of blogging, I hope I still see you visit me once in a while…

    Very classy Vered, real classy indeed!

46. Chris responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 7:04 am →

    Hi Vered

    It’s me again. I also stopped responding to each comment on my blog because of the time constraints and not because I don’t appreciate my readers.

47. Charlie Gilkey responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 7:05 am →

    I’ve been a bit intimidated of the comment counts that you get here, to be honest. I think it’s wonderful, but by the time I get to the post, to make sure I’ve still got something valuable to say, I have to read through a ton of comments. Given how awesome your readers are, I have found that more often than not I get distracted and run off to read other stuff – with the end result that I do show Vered the comment luv.

    But I’m still here, supporting and such. I’ve also moved to just emailing the author of a blog with a meta-comment, like “I really like the series you ran last week” or “I just wanted to say I like your voice here of late.” I do it for two reasons: one, I feel it’s a better connection, and 2) I don’t like how self-promotional comments can be. As cool as building traffic is, I’d rather be building genuine friendships.

    So, leave ‘em open or close ‘em – as long you’re still writing, I’m still here. FWIW.

    Charlie Gilkey’s last blog post..15 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Working Another Day

48. Nathalie Lussier from Billionaire Woman responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 7:18 am →

    I think there is such a thing. Since I’m traveling in China at the moment, I have had to pare down my daily actions to just writing and posting on my blog. I am still doing some social media voting for the sites I enjoy, but commenting has taken a backseat. Plus the commenting system I use (disqus.com) is banned in China, so I can’t even reply to comments even if I wanted to. At first I was really sad, but I’m too tired after a whole day of exploring to reply to comments anyways.

    Thanks for writing this out, I think it’s a legitimate concern.

    Nathalie Lussier from Billionaire Woman’s last blog post..Eating Fruits to Save Puppies

49. SpaceAgeSage -- Lori responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 7:38 am →

    Vered,
    Outstanding post and discussion. Thanks for opening up this topic in such a thoughtful way.
    I recently took a long, hard look at this topic and about use of time in general. I think many of us are wired to commenting out of a neediness to feel connected, the compulsion to be people pleasers by responding to those who comment at our sites, and to follow the tit for tat mindset out of insecurity.
    I think you’ve found a great way to center yourself, bring sanity back, and set a healthy boundary for yourself.

    SpaceAgeSage — Lori’s last blog post..Tears of the aged — do you hear them fall?

50. db0 responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 am →

    Better yet: maybe I’ll only comment when I actually have something meaningful to say. What a revolutionary idea.

    You’ve got my take on it right there. I never comment when I have nothing tangible to add to the conversation with the exception that I will drop by and write “Great post!” when someone writes one.

    But, seriously, I’ve never experienced this kind of teenager tag thingy. I can’t even fathom that people would do that. I mean, what’s the point? People commenting just for the sake of commenting and thus not saying anything useful? Bah.

    db0′s last blog post..The Free Market is your God

51. Suzie responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 9:06 am →

    There sure is commenting burnout. Sometimes I find I just skim posts. Im sure some of my comments make no sense as I havent read the whole thing I just dont have enough time. I love comments and I love reading posts but it gets hard and time consuming and with work and kids it can all be little overwelming. I love that you do not feel the pressure to write every day. It freeing and maybe closing a post to comments every now and then is good too. I might give it a try.

52. Dot responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 9:07 am →

    Fascinating post AND comments. Whatever works for you, Vered. Like Hunter, I did feel a bit annoyed when I visited the first time and couldn’t comment, but I got over it. I have another suggestion that might work, too — since the discussions are so fascinating here, you might indicate that certain posts were open for comments but that you would not have time to participate in that particular one. But as I said, whatever works for you. I’m sure bloggers with 500 comments don’t stay up all night responding to them. We all have to have a life, and we know you have other commitments. You read 100 blogs??? I have trouble reading more than 20. I do visit my commenters’ blogs once, but I don’t stick around if the topics don’t interest me, and I don’t have a lot of commenters at this point.

    On Monday, I read Torley’s post, Be a Comment Rockstar – 10 Terrific Tips! on Stepcase Lifehack and felt dismayed for exactly the reasons discussed here. He offered tips on how to leave comments that seemed thoughtful and original and made you stand out from the crowd, while zooming around to a zillion blogs. The purpose wasn’t to participate or really to contribute to the blog, only to appear that way while getting traffic for your own blog. No offense to Torley, whose writing I enjoy, but I don’t want to be that person. I started blogging because I loved reading blogs, and I want to be able to keep on loving reading blogs.

    Dot’s last blog post..Weird Tip Tuesday – Smelly Feet

53. Amber responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 9:18 am →

    Thank god someone is talking about comments. It’s just way too easy to get sucked into commenting and networking. I try to set aside an hour a day to network and spend the other couple hours actually blogging. I find myself reading blogs I don’t like as well, so I try to comment only when my opinion adds to the discussion. I also don’t comment if there are already 30+ comments. I just don’t really feel likes it’s necessary to beat a dead horse and not get heard. As a commenter I want the blogger to read my opinion since I’m taking the time to write it. Thanks for the honesty!

54. Becky responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 9:45 am →

    Clever idea, my friend. I like the way you think.

55. Kim Woodbridge responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 10:30 am →

    I agree with others that instead of closing comments you could say that you will not be responding to comments on particular posts. That would allow the readers to carry on the conversation but would not require you to respond to everything. But then you would probably feel compelled to read all of them

    I’m not sure how I first found your site – it might have been through ProBlogger or Twitter but you really gave me the motivation to continue with my own site. You were one of my only commenters for quite some time My community is slowly growing and you are a big part of why I even continued. So thanks.

    I don’t understand the I commented so you have to comment back mentality though. I visit the sites of people who comment on mine but only comment if I find an article that interests me or have something worthwhile to say. I actually find the reverse a little annoying – I leave a comment on someone’s site and the one and only time they ever visit or comment is that time.

    I have been awed by the amount of attention you give your community and have wondered how you maintain it – I even emailed you about it when I first “met” you

    Kim Woodbridge’s last blog post..Stuff This in Your RSS – 10/21/08 – Unclutterer

56. Don Mills Diva responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 am →

    GREAT POST!

    Thank you for writing this and for affirming what I have come to believe. I am spending less and less time reading and commenting on blogs. I just have to – I have a demanding job and a wonderful family that deserves my attention. I HAVE seen a slight decrease in both my traffic and my number of comments the last few months as a result but such is life – I am pressed for time and I think it’s more constructive for everyone if I spend the little time I have presenting entertaining content…

    Don Mills Diva’s last blog post..Oh the places he’ll go!

57. m responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 10:37 am →

    For each of us I think we need to find what works for us. If commenting is a burden for someone they should reconsider a change. I personally feel fortunate when people share their thoughts and journey. I completely understand how time consuming it can be….I have days that don’t allow for me to visit at all. Hopefully my blogger friends understand that I will be back. Nice post!

    m’s last blog post..Combo Challenge- push ups, wall sits, crunches

58. Christina responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 10:49 am →

    Since I’m a full-time student and work full-time I set myself limits on how much time I spend on reading and writing blogs and comments. The blogs I do follow, I may only comment once a month or so. I don’t worry about not getting much seeable traffic on my blog as some people feel if they comment on your blog you should comment on theirs, and that really is childish (and the reason I stopped using my MySpace blog). When I used to follow a ton of blogs and comment on everyone of them, I found myself burned out in just a couple of months. It’s a fact of life, too much of a “good” thing is rarely good.

    Christina’s last blog post..The Story Behind the Screenname

59. Friar responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 am →

    Vered;

    I really like your blog. But I’ll be honest. When I see your posts with a quick picture and “comments closed”, I quickly move on. It doesn’t hold the same interest as a blog post. I might as well go on Flickr and look at thousands of other similar pictures.

    That being said, I perfectly understand you getting comment burnout. I don’t have any problems with bloggers who are honest and tell us they just dont’ have the time to address each and every one of us.

    But, on the other hand, the comments and discussion are 80% of the reason I visit other blogs (and I’m probably not alone).

    I’d suggest a compromise. Keep the comments open. But on the off-days, just announce something, like maybe “Vera is taking a Time-Out, and will not be answering comments on this post”

    That way, we can discuss things even in your absence. (Sometimes, those spontaneous conversations without the moderator take a life of their own!..that’s half the fun!)

    Friar’s last blog post..Perfesser Friar’s Favorite Science Facts.

60. Friar responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 am →

    Oops.

    Sorry…VerED…not Ve-RA!

    Friar’s last blog post..Perfesser Friar’s Favorite Science Facts.

61. Stacey Shipman responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 am →

    I have been wondering this same thing recently – while I love blogging – it serves a purpose for me – to help me create my products and books. That said, I realize I have very few blogs I enjoy reading and even those I enjoy I often find it hard to find meaningful comments. A post on this topic has been stirring in me, too. Thanks for sharing your ideas! Blog reading and commenting, sometimes even writing aren’t money making activities – I’m trying to grow a business and I have to prioritize.

62. MomGrind responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 11:14 am →

    @ Davina: Hmm… my own talk show. Sounds like fun. See? This is exactly what I mean – I have amazing readers, who engage me in fascinating discussions – how could I ever give that up? I know what you mean about feeling relief when you realize that you don’t have to comment. To me, this actually signifies comment fatigue – which is exactly what I’m worried about.

    @ Bamboo Forest: I like honesty. Yes, commenting is not just engaging in discussion. For bloggers, it is also a form of networking. There’s a fine balance there and it’s not always easy to stay genuine. I want to stay genuine.

    @ Sara: “not doing any other reading outside of blogs” – I haven’t read a single book since I started blogging 8 months ago. It really bothers me.

    @ Seamus Anthony: I completely agree that Writer Dad is a great example of growing your blog through commenting – but as he commented here, he does struggle with time management.

    @ Irene: Ha. I like the idea of you stalking someone. It’s true that obligatory comments are painfully obvious.

    @ Michael Martine: “I wouldn’t call it comment burnout. It’s everything burnout. See, here it is 1:30 am and I should be sleeping, not commenting.” I agree! When you start blogging, you have no idea what you’re getting into. I remember working hard on customizing my theme, before I started actually blogging, and Ido (my husband) telling me “well, you’re working hard now, but once the blog is ready, how much work would it be? You’ll just post twice a week – it will practically run itself”. I nodded in agreement. Little did I know.

    @ Daniel Richard: As long as you enjoy the blogs you’re reading, that’s fine. But the emails I quoted here say otherwise.

    @ Patricia: I’m not feeling burned out – YET. But just like you, I keep learning and evolving as a blogger, and lately it’s been simply too much work. I need to slow down, but I want to do it in a way that will work not just for me, but for my readers.

    @ Carla: “But isn’t this a part of “paying my dues” if I want to succeed?” I suppose it is as Michael of Remarkablogger said: he already paid his dues and feels that he can move on now. MomGrind is a strange mix of a hobby and a business. I am certainly trying to monetize it, and I do believe that a good blog is a great business card. But I don’t want it to become work – I want it to stay fun forever. Maybe I’m trying to have my cake and eat it too… maybe it’s impossible.

    @ Lance: “the community that develops through the comments is a very powerful experience for me, and one that really drives me to keep on writing.” I agree. It’s a huge motivator. I can’t imagine just writing articles and publishing them without having these wonderful discussions.

    @ Debra: It’s your first time commenting here, isn’t it? It’s very nice to meet you. I agree that a blog can get to a point where there are too many comments. Just like you, I read dooce but it never even occurred to me to leave a comment there – there are simply too many comments and the discussion loses its focus fairly quickly when that happens.

    @ Robin: I guess I’m lucky because I’m incredibly fast and efficient. Otherwise I would never be able to pull it off. But I can relate to what you say about living what you teach. I generally don’t read blogs on the weekend anymore because I feel that weekends should be reserved for my family.

    @ veena: The interaction with readers is definitely one of the best things about blogging. I would never close comments entirely. But closing them to some of my posts – and trust me, not all of my posts are as deep as this one – is the best solution I can come up with right now.

    @ Tara: “There is a fantastic community out there, a rainbow of people we would never ordinarily be friends with, and I love being in the midst of that.” SO TRUE.
    Just like you, I used to think “how much work could this POSSIBLY be”. Well yeah, it can be a fulltime job (that doesn’t pay like a fulltime job) if you’re not careful.

    @ Lovelyn: “if in the future I comment on your blog, don’t worry about it. I’m not expecting anything from you. I just wanted to make a comment.” This is a wonderful approach to commenting!

    @ Avital: Comments that are borderline spam (“Great post! Thanks! And a couple links to the commenter’s blog) are a big problem. I have no idea why people do that – well I know WHY they do it but I have no idea what makes them think it works.

    @ apricot tea: “comments can be another form of greed” – what a beautiful way of saying it. For what it’s worth, I think you SHOULD be a fashion blogger – you have what it takes – originality and a wonderful sense of style (your good looks can’t hurt either –but do it on your own terms, slowly and patiently. Build a name for yourself. I WILL pay you a visit on your own blog when time permits, because even though I don’t have you in my reader (it’s just too full right now), I am always intrigued to see what you’ve been up to when you comment here. So this is not tit for tat, but just plain curiosity.

    @ Jenny Mannion: I agree! I would never want forced comments. I think the comments to this post are a great example of real comments made by people who truly want to add to the discussion. It’s wonderful.

    @ Dr. Cason: I have to agree that blogging is an ego game. At least part of it is. I wish it wasn’t, but I guess it’s human nature.

    @ Chase March: Your solution is one that I’m seriously considering. But then, take a look at this discussion. I’m enjoying people’s responses so much, that I WANT to reply individually. Since I feel so strongly about that, I’m thinking that closing comments once in a while might work better for me. But I might have to try several things before I settle on what works best.

    @ Eric Hamm: “I just think it may be eroding away at ‘honest’ blogging for the sake of higher numbers.” This is exactly what I’m worried about. I don’t want to get to a place where it’s just a numbers game, and I feel that I am headed there.

    Yep, my turn.

    @ Rita: Even though you gave me permission to use your name when I quoted your email, I nearly didn’t. But then I thought that I should give you the link love. I don’t think people are going to be mad at you for what you said. I think you said what many people feel.

    @ Stacey: “I have noticed that this gives me time to “catch up” – maybe it also gives my readers a sense of relief that there is one less blog to comment on that day.” EXACTLY. I also agree that it’s a good problem to have. When you just start out and you get zero comments on each post – now THAT’S tough.

    @ Dave Fowler: You’re a fascinating man, Dave. Your comment gave me a lot to think about. I think this is pretty much what Leo of Zen Habits does (popping in just once in a while to say a general thank you and answer specific questions). I’ll think about it. Thank you.

    @ Writer Dad: I’ll second that. He IS awesome.

    @ Dave Jones: So, Dave Fowler and Dave Jones came up with the exact same solution for me. I like the idea of leaving comments open but letting readers know that I’m staying out of the discussion on that particular day. I’ll think about it…

    @ Chris: “I also stopped responding to each comment on my blog because of the time constraints and not because I don’t appreciate my readers.” I completely understand.

    Of course I will keep visiting you. As you say, we practically grew up together!

    @ Charlie Gilkey: I totally get it. When I click through to a post and see that there are already 30-40 comments, it’s definitely a turnoff. It’s weird, because when we start out we desperately want more comments, but then it turns out that there’s such a thing as too many comments. Thank you so much for your support. I’m very grateful.

    @ Nathalie Lussier: China! Wow. I visited Beijing and Xian in 1997. It was a fascinating trip. I’d love to go back.

    @ Lori: Thank you for supporting my decision. I am definitely a people pleaser. I am trying to work on it, but it seems to be deeply ingrained in me.

    @ db0: Commenting only when you have something meaningful to say is a great strategy. Why do people play comment tag? I don’t know. But I sure want to stop playing.

    @ Suzie: Going down from posting 5 days a week to 3 days was indeed a freeing experience. I can’t imagine posting every day!

    @ Dot: “I started blogging because I loved reading blogs, and I want to be able to keep on loving reading blogs.” Amen to that. I like your idea of leaving comments open yet indicating that I won’t join the discussion. Dave Fowler and Dave Jones made similar suggestions.

    @ Amber: “I also don’t comment if there are already 30+ comments.” – This is something that really bothers me. That some people would have joined the discussion here, but they see so many comments and feel that they have nothing to add.

    @ Becky: Thank you.

    @ Kim: “But then you would probably feel compelled to read all of them” – of course I would, and I would also find it very difficult not to respond!
    I’m so glad I helped you through the early days of no comments. The first few months of blogging are so frustrating. I’ve noticed you’ve been getting more comments and also a nice jump in your feed reader count. I’m happy for you!

    @ Don Mills Diva: “I think it’s more constructive for everyone if I spend the little time I have presenting entertaining content” – I agree. When you spend tons of time networking, you don’t have enough time left to produce quality content and really, what’s the point of blogging if we can’t write good content?

    @ Mark: I think people do understand. I also think SOME people get offended if you don’t “comment back”. As you say, each of us needs to find their own balance and what works for them.

    @ Christina: It’s great that you are able to set these limits for yourself. You found your balance – I’m trying to find mine.

    @ Friar: I get what you say about the short posts. Other readers do enjoy them and they often do well in social media so I’m gonna keep them.

    You’re the fourth person I think to suggest that I keep comments open and let everyone know that I won’t join the discussion. Maybe I’ll give it a try!

    “Ve” as in “very”, “red” as in “red”. Come on, it’s not THAT complicated.

    @ Stacey Shipman: “Blog reading and commenting, sometimes even writing aren’t money making activities – I’m trying to grow a business and I have to prioritize.” EXACTLY. I guess this is what I’m trying to do here: prioritize.

63. Steve C @ MyWifeQuitHerJob.com responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 am →

    I feel the exact same way and I’ve only been blogging for 4 months! Between being a parent and running a business and working a full time job, I barely have enough time to read everyone’s blog let alone comment on it. I’m trying my best though I’m starting to get burned out myself.

    Steve C @ MyWifeQuitHerJob.com’s last blog post..Are You Pricing Your Products Too Low For Your Small Business?

64. Maya responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 11:40 am →

    Vered,

    It is very mature of you to start this conversation. Thank you for that.
    In my case, I came into blogworld with a deep sense of ignorance, which has been great for me! Blogging is also a part of my life (and not my whole life), so I treat it like I would anything else in my life – with passion, energy and hardwork ….but with a sense of reality and expectations out of nobody but myself. I have really wondered a lot as to how you all do it – so prolific in your blogging and commenting!

    You should do what you need to make you happy – because a happy you means a giving you and a giving you means more authentic readers. Your blog is a breath of fresh air for me and I do not see my visits being affected if you close comments on some posts …and please note that I will never be upset if you do not respond to my comments …I’d rather have you get 30 secs more sleep

    Maya’s last blog post..Born Into Poverty : Blog Action Day 2008

65. Rita responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 11:42 am →

    Vered,
    Mad at me? Oh dear no! It’s about time that somebody addressed the “secret meetings” that are going on in SO MANY emails. If, in fact, we wish to even CONSIDER being seen as a “community,” then it’s time that every time I hear from a person saying “I’m so tired…” we ought to start addressing WHY. Blogging should be enjoyable. Some of my commenters write blog-sized comments, and I often respond with blog-sized answers. THAT is the community I love – and would love to see more of. People saying “I care about what you wrote.” And bloggers responding in a thoughtful manner, rather than “thanks.” If anybody walks away from this excellent conversation thinking that I don’t care about both MY commenters, and the comments I leave on the blogs of others, they were never a reader of mine in the first place, and know me not at all.
    Rita

66. Tim Brownson responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 pm →

    In my very humble opinion Chris Brogans attitude sucks and Rita’s is bang on. My reason is the latter comes from a position of being genuine, the former to make money or grow a blog (same thing for a lot of people).

    Let’s be adult about this, a very high percentage of people that comment do so only because they want to have you comment on their blog in return. In other words they want something back for the time they spend leaving a comment on your blog.

    I have been so busy lately that my commenting has declined massively and as such I have seen a few commenters on my blog disappear. That tells me they weren’t that interested in the first place so I can live with that, in fact no, I welcome it.

    I comment on blogs that NEVER comment on mine and I am cool with that. I’m doing so to start a conversation or maybe, add some info or even to find additional information and not simply looking to have them return the ‘favor’.

    I love getting interesting comments and long may it continue, but at the same time the incestuous nature of the entire blogging sphere sometimes leaves me cold. It’s no wonder some people burn out and I end up a bitter old cynic

    PS Vered, you were one of a dozen or so that still commented regularly on my blog regularly even when I was AOL on yours, so thanks for that.

    Tim Brownson’s last blog post..Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

67. Tim Brownson responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 12:16 pm →

    One more thing.

    I often delete comments are rather don’t approve them if they are one line ‘Great post’ kind of stuff. Well thanks, my ego is delighted to hear you say that, but seriously, come on. If you feel the need so strongly to tell me, send me an e-mail. Needless to say I’m not spending an hour a day dealing with all the “You’re great” e-mails

    Tim Brownson’s last blog post..Don’t Worry, Be Happy!

68. Carla responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 pm →

    @Tim – I comment on other blogs that comment on mine because I know they exist now when I would have never known of them before. On Momgrind, I discovered probably a dozen blogs that I read (not always comment) on a regular basis from the CommentLuv feature. If I comment on a blog about travel, living a simple life, etc, I’m not going to expect a comment in return to my green blog unless they are REALLY interested in the subject. To me, blogging is not about quid pro quo.

69. Friar responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 pm →

    @Very-Red

    Oh, I don’t mind the short posts (sometimes my most popular ones are just a few words and a photo). But its’ the short posts with NO DISCUSSION that dont’ interest me.

    Yes, I’d love to see you keep the comments open on those (even if you’re not around to answer).

    But regardless of what you decide, dont’ worry, I’ll keep coming back to visit!

    Friar’s last blog post..Perfesser Friar’s Favorite Science Facts.

70. Cath Lawson responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm →

    Thanks Vered This post and thread have sparked a really interesting discussion. And it looks like you’ve said what a lot of people have been thinking. By the way – I didn’t realise you had linked to me – thank you.

71. Dave Fowler responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm →

    WriterDad & Vered: Awww shucks! I’m all embarrassed now.

    Dave Fowler’s last blog post..More Womens Work: Ironing

72. John Haydon responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm →

    Vered,

    “Close comments to SOME of my posts, but not to all of them”.

    Brilliant!

    John

    John Haydon’s last blog post..johnhaydon: @bloodandmilk OK – good to hear.

73. Vintage Mommy responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm →

    I don’t feel overwhelmed by responding to comments on my blogs, because I don’t get very many most of the time. I do feel overwhelmed by feeling the need to read and comment elsewhere every day; it’s just not possible if you want to have a life!

    My two blogs are about very different subjects, so that has made it more complicated, but I do love reading other blogs and don’t want to give it up. I plan to look through my reader (again) and make some hard decisions about what stays and what goes. I’m just now finding blogs about adoption parenting that I really want to follow, but I’ll probably read fewer in the blogging and organizing category.

    It is very interesting indeed that Darren and others do not participate in their comment sections.

    Vered, I totally support you in deciding to close comments occasionally, but I do believe your voice would be missed if you stopped interacting here, and I imagine you would miss it too!

    Like many others here, you and I have been in touch since the beginning; I know how hard you work!

    Great topic and discussion.
    Ann

    Vintage Mommy’s last blog post..I’m Not Angry

74. Marelisa responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm →

    I guess I don’t visit as many blogs as other people, maybe 48 or so. I spend a lot of time researching and writing my posts, so that’s where most of my blogging time goes. That being said, comments are what make me feel like I’m being read. I know that’s not true because my subscriber count has been going up nicely, but if there weren’t a discussion going on in the comments section I’d feel like my blog was empty. I think the important things is to have a commenting strategy that works for you, instead of just doing what you’ve heard you’re supposed to do or wandering around the blogosphere with no set purpose.

    Marelisa’s last blog post..Be Happy Now – Set Goals Without Postponing Joy

75. Miguel de Luis responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm →

    Commenting for the sake of commenting would take you nowhere. I have made myself a policy from the beginning: “Comment on posts that deserve it”.

    So you can figure out what I think of this one

    Miguel de Luis’s last blog post..Nazi Pirate Ships, Chapter 13

76. Michael Martine - Remarkablogger responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 1:56 pm →

    I don’t care if others feel like reciprocating. (or not) I comment because I genuinely want to, because I feel I have something worthwhile to bring to the discussion. But… I know that if I do that, people will be intrigued and they’ll visit my blog. If I just did a “drive by” comment, nobody would care and what little time I did spend doing it would be wasted.

77. Betsy Wuebker responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 2:16 pm →

    Hi Vered – Ironic that I’m a first time commenter to this post. I’m here because of Writer Dad’s tweet, though, not because of a comment. It’s getting to be that I’m seeing the same folks in the same places.

    Although I’ve read about strategic commenting, if that’s the right moniker, I hope that folks are commenting from a genuine place, not in the hopes of reciprocation. If I like something or if it makes me think or conjures up a strange brain synapse, I’ll comment. I would hope someone else would do the same, but it’s not really necessary.

    I’m tempered by no-holds-barred email lists and political chatrooms in the internet stone age of the 1990′s, so I think you’re smart to moderate in a way you feel appropriate. We are guests here, and as the hostess, you get to decide what the party games are. If we don’t like it, we can pick up our top hats and walking sticks, skip right out the door, and swing off a lightpole.

    Betsy Wuebker’s last blog post..PROCEEDS

78. Andre Kibbe responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm →

    Ironic. A post on comment burnout receives 76 comments to deal with. Maybe a more politically correct alternative to closing comments, which might put some people off, is moderating them without responding to individual comments, using summary responses to similar opinions if you choose to reply at all. As Robert Scoble once told Tim Ferriss, for every email he replies to, he gets 1.5 to 2x responses.

    If you have to be victim, at least it’s nice to see that you’re a victim of your success at stimulating community.

    Andre Kibbe’s last blog post..One Week on the Low Information Diet

79. Avital responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 2:47 pm →

    Spam comments are horrible. They are expected in giveaway, as the readers are obliged to comment (hence not necessarily have something intelligent to say). However, there are spammer commenters on many other posts as well… Even if they write half a novel as a comment (not just ‘great post’), it’s a text they’re copying and pasting to death. I think it all starts with filler posts on pro-bloggers’ blogs… They have this ‘list posts’ with dozens of bulleted points, which are quite pointless. The idea of commenting on blogs and forums until you are “blue in the hands” (I’ve altered that a bit) always gets a place on those lists. Sometimes they do elaborate and say to add something of value, but if you are instructed to comment for the sake of commenting, how much value can you possibly add????

    Avital’s last blog post..Failure Is Success (at the risk of sounding Ing-Soc)

80. MomGrind responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 3:37 pm →

    @ Steve: I think many bloggers feel this way, especially those that – like you – have other stuff going on.

    @ Maya: “Blogging is also a part of my life (and not my whole life), so I treat it like I would anything else in my life – with passion, energy and hardwork ….but with a sense of reality and expectations out of nobody but myself.” What a beautiful sentence. You pretty much captured it. Except that I suspect I put more pressure on myself than you do. I need to take your example and adjust my expectations of myself. I am no superwoman.

    @ Rita: I agree. Anyone who knows you, knows that the only reason you’re doing this is because you do care.

    @ Tim: When I just started, aside from never expecting this to be so time-consuming, I also remember telling my husband how great it would be to publish my ideas and thoughts and be judged for them only – without the networking or politics that take place in real-life situations. I was so wrong! Sometimes I get really tired of the politics. But hey, I’m no saint. While I keep commenting on your blog regardless of whether you reciprocate or not, simply because your posts make me want to, I AM involved in several “tit for tat” blogging relationships. As for great-post-type comments, I get many of those on my Wordless Wednesday posts (people that find me through wordlesswednesday.com) – I simply don’t approve them.

    @ John Haydon: I’m glad you like my solution.

    @ Vintage Mommy: Trimming the feed reader has to be done. Otherwise it becoems insane. Yes, we grew up together as bloggers. It does make a special bond, doesn’t it?

    @ Marelisa: I am always amazed at the amount of research you put into your blog posts. You have a very unique blogging style. No wonder your blog is growing so nicely.

    @ Miguel de Luis: Thank you. I think your commenting policy is a very good one.

    @ Michael Martine: I agree that empty comments will get you nowhere, so even if someone comments as a marketing strategy, they would still need to write thoughtful, meaningful comments.

    @ Betsy Wuebker: The last paragraph made me laugh. Thank you. There are lots of people who comment just as a marketing strategy – whether they expect a comment in return, or they comment on a blog that gets a lot of visitors because they want to be seen by all those visitors. There are, of course, genuine comments. Almost all the comments to this post are genuine. So we still have hope.

    @ Andre: Ironic indeed. And yes, I do realize that there are worse problems than this. Still, it needs to be addressed.

    @ Avital: I wish I knew why they do it. It’s ridiculous.

81. Adam Shake responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 4:14 pm →

    I’ll let you off the hook here. Please don’t feel like you need to respond.

    I’ve only been blogging for about 4 months, and freelance writing for about 2. I think the whole question comes down to the fundamental question of why you blog.

    It looks like you have been doing this for a while as you have a great layout, lots of internal links that direct readers to other posts (yep, I have three of them tabbed up at the top, waiting to be read) and a clear, crisp style, while giving lot’s of credit to other bloggers through links to their sites.

    I also notice that you have just a few, well placed ads. According to you’re archives, you’ve had this blog, or maybe just this wordpress theme for 8 months.

    So you have to ask yourself, is this blog giving you as much back as you are putting into it? If the answer is yes, then keep doing what you are doing, including leaving you’re comments on. I notice that you average between 60 and 90 posts per article and 8 months ago you had 1 or 2. Unless you have an amazingly loyal commenter base, that means you probably average between 600 and 1,000 hits per article and probably about 10,000 hits a day.

    You’ve done an incredible job over the last 8 months, and there are a lot of people out there who would love to have you’re readership.

    You’re putting out what seems to be good information to a predominantly female and family oriented audience. You are not selling a specific product and you don’t bombard you’re readers with ads.

    I have ads on my site, but I donate all my ad revenue to environmental charities. But more than anything, you’re blog is entertaining. You’re not trying to change the world.

    I say, keep the comment’s open. If you get to the point where you want to shut them down, you should think about either starting a pure information dissemination (news) site, or retail site. As long as you have a community type cat blog, you should let people participate.

    Just my thoughts.

    Adam

    Adam Shake’s last blog post..Kayaking Pics of the Potomac Rivers – Pohick Bay

82. Tawnya responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 4:21 pm →

    I comment when I feel I can add something or when I feel motivated enough to at least leave my opinion. Sometimes, I just comment to let the blogger know I enjoyed reading their article. Why? Because I would LOVE it if someone left a comment simply complimenting me.

    Having said all that – I don’t think a whole lot about comments, even though it seems I’ve read a lot of posts about them lately. I do like to get comments and when I comment on someone else’s blog, it’s nice to get a response. But, I do what I do because I enjoy it. The minute I stop enjoying it is the minute I either stop doing it or change the way it’s done. So, I think if I suddenly started getting 200 comments per post I would probably say something in the way of ‘I can’t get to every comment because I have 3 hungry children staring at me and if I delay lunch one more minute there will be mutiny’ – because with that I think people will not only be amused (maybe) but totally understand if I don’t say something.

    I’m not there yet. Not even close, but I have enjoyed leaving comments lately (more than usual) because I am beginning to feel part of a community. When I first started, I read all the advice about commenting and tried my hand at it. Honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to comment just for the sake of it. And one of my favorite blogs – I’ve never commented on at all. I think if a person is stressing over to comment or not, to reply or not, then it’s time to slow down or stop.

    Tawnya’s last blog post..Save Money By Stocking Your Pantry

83. Squawkfox responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 4:36 pm →

    Is a blog still a blog if the ability to comment is removed?
    If a tree falls in a forest…

    Squawkfox’s last blog post..What are Inverse Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)?

84. Kikolani - Poetry | Photography | Blogging Tips responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 4:44 pm →

    I think there is such a thing as burnout if you feel you have to respond and comment back to everyone who comments to you. I personally won’t comment just to reciprocate – I wait until there is a post that really gets my attention that I want to comment on. Some days, I’m just in the read and chat mood, and I will go on a commenting spree. But it’s unfair to have to force yourself to reciprocate comments, and unfair to the site you do it to, as if you aren’t feeling good vibes about the post, you probably won’t write a meaningful comment to it. That’s what I think at least.

    ~ Kristi

    Kikolani – Poetry | Photography | Blogging Tips’s last blog post..The Sweetest Drug

85. Emsxiety responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 6:11 pm →

    I comment when I want and never feel that I have to comment. I read blogs that interest me and that I enjoy. I allow comments on my blog most of the time. Very rarely do I close comments. For me it’s all a matter of personal choice.

    I think people should do whatever is comfortable for them.

    Emsxiety’s last blog post..Fitness Facilities and Me

86. UrbanVox responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm →

    hummmm
    dunno… I LOVE to read and respond comments…
    I just hope I had more more often…
    hehehehee

    zya!

87. Karen Swim responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 7:19 pm →

    I started blogging (for myself rather than clients) this year and have noticed two key trends: there is less “pressure” to post daily and 2) commenting seems to rise and fall more quickly. This post is timely and written with great sensitivity. I have suffered from comment guilt. One of the reasons I did not install the comment widget is I wanted to relieve some of the pressure. I feel the pain myself so feel it for others. Commenting should not be a game of tag but a sincere desire to join the conversation. I am moving from what I was “taught” and am not at all offended when my readers drop in on occasion or tweet me rather than comment. I do not think there is a one-sized solution but like you we must all do what works for us and leave the guilt behind.

88. Raag responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 7:35 pm →

    Vered,
    Where to start on this topic is the question. It is a ‘catch 22 ‘
    but in a gist…your plan is a good plan. I have been there done that…for two years,. when I realized that while there was ‘no time to stand and stare’ , as it is said I was going through a fad in life. When I stopped blogging it took very little time to not miss it. Today I went to visit my blog after two years.
    Sad, isn’t it?
    Internet has changed so much so quick. Still, ‘Texting’ has taken over the planet like nothing I can think of.
    I am sure you would findeven more ways to use your creative urges.

    Do share what you do new, and next.
    Allsaidanddone, I love your involved sincere self in your blogging.

89. Stacey / Create a Balance responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 7:38 pm →

    87+ comments around not commenting! Amazing.

    Stacey / Create a Balance’s last blog post..Introducing My Authentic Self

90. Writer Dad responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 pm →

    Vered: Wow. That’s a lot of reading. I’m exhausted…. can’t… comment.

    Please, do not take this the wrong way. I don’t mean it condescending in any way, but I am PROUD of you. You have a forum, where people are listening to what you have to say, and you spoke with honest clarity. Good job and awesome comments. You deserve every one.

    Seamus: Vered is correct. Priorities in my time management have made a necessary shift.

91. MomGrind responds:
    Posted: October 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm →

    @ Adam Shake: Wow. I’m impressed and also very flattered. Thank you. I started blogging in February. It was an impulsive decision – I hadn’t really thought it out and just did it. I think part of the problem is that I’m not sure what I want to achieve through blogging. I do know that it gives me great pleasure – the creative process as well as the social aspect. I agree that a social blog should leave comments open – if I do close them it will be for select posts only – but perhaps I should try what others have suggested and leave comments open but participate less.

    @ Tawnya: I completely agree that once you stop enjoying blogging and interacting, you should re-examine things. I am enjoying it very much, but I worry that if I keep being so responsive to comments, it will become a chore. I don’t want that so I’m basically consulting with you – my readers – and asking you how should I handle it.

    @ Squawkfox: Well, there ARE blogs without comments. Even well-known ones. But as I said, this is about closing comments to SOME of the posts, not to all of them.

    @ Kikolani: I agree. The problem is, I can’t have everyone in my feed reader, so sometimes the only way for me to interact with a reader is when they leave a comment here and I pay them a visit on their blog. I really, REALLY don’t want to become one of those bloggers who basically ignore their readers. Desperately don’t want to.

    @ Emsxiety: You remind me of Denise. Both of you seem to not care too much about comments. I think it’s a very healthy approach.

    @ UrbanVox: Be careful what you wish for.

    @ Karen Swim: “Commenting should not be a game of tag but a sincere desire to join the conversation.” Amen to that. Leaving the guilt behind would be against my nature – but I’m trying.

    @ Raag: I didn’t realize you used to blog. Interesting that you don’t miss it. I can’t imagine my life without this blog, although I suspect there would be an element of relief if I stopped blogging – it is so time-consuming.

    @ Stacey:

    @ Writer Dad: Thank you! How could I take it the wrong way? You’re a friend.

92. Mia responds:
    Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 6:01 am →

    Vered~

    Well, since there are so many comments on this post, I’m thinking that you won’t have time to respond… and I certainly don’t expect you to. I have to say though that since I’ve starting blogging a short time ago, you are one of the very few blogs that I read that has been willing to respond to me directly both in comments and on email. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.

    When you’re first starting, you can feel like a gnat that someone may want to shoo away; you’ve never made me feel that way. Your comments and emails to me personally have encouraged me and helped me to feel as though I’m not just out here talking to myself. Thank you.

    As for closing your comments from time to time, it won’t bother me personally. I’ve seen this done on some other sites as well and really, it makes you reflect a little longer, or appreciate the sentiment of what’s being said even more when you don’t feel as though you have to rush to comment.

93. Urban Panther responds:
    Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 6:18 am →

    You are up to 92 comments on this one..so if you were ever going to burn out…*chuckle*

    So, I’ll make it 93. I have only ever commented if I have something meaningful to comment about. I try to avoid one-liners. If the post doesn’t spark a story from me, no matter how enjoyable the post was, I don’t respond. As for my own site, I LOVE comments. It’s all about the dialogue, and for now, I will certainly continue to promote commenting and respond to them. However, I totally respect the decision of fellow bloggers to turn comments off full time or part time.

    It’s all about finding balance between our day jobs, our family, and our blogs. I am still struggling with that one.

    Urban Panther’s last blog post..There is no Alice in the kitchen

94. MizFit responds:
    Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 6:51 am →

    where to start with regards to this post is right!

    Im starting with pondering

    introspection

    Ill be back….

    MizFit’s last blog post..Fat Fighter’s Fabulous Food (F)Musings.

95. CK Lunchbox responds:
    Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 7:47 am →

    Vered,

    Thanks for this post. I’m supposed to be editing a book right now, but I keep getting pulled away by blogging comments. There is a small group I will read no matter what and respond back to. But my site has been growing with new readers who have great blogs and good comments and I feel as if I’m being rude to ignore them. It’s a paradox of sorts given that one of the functions of blogs is to bring a sense of humanness to the internet through interaction, but once your site gets to a certain point you just can’t interact anymore (unless you forgo sleeping and eating). Then I guess you either cross the realm into that place one reader commented to me where your blog becomes cold and detached from your readers, or your blog just dies.

    Thanks for taking this subject on, and feel no need to comment back.

    CK Lunchbox’s last blog post..Lessons From A Blogging Blockhead

96. Oktober Five responds:
    Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 7:58 am →

    I’ll be honest, Vered. I see you everywhere. I’m not sure there is a post I read that doesn’t have a comment by you on it. What’s more is that my wife, who reads a completely different genre of blogs than me, also sees a comment from you on nearly every post she reads. You’re out of control. That said, it’s obvious how you get your readers, and closing comments would diminish your traffic. My opinion of you, however, would only increase.

97. MomGrind responds:
    Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 8:14 am →

    @ Mia: This is exactly what I don’t want to give up. The interaction and encouragement.

    @ Urban Panther: “It’s all about finding balance between our day jobs, our family, and our blogs. I am still struggling with that one.” EXACTLY. I hope we will both find our balance soon.

    @ MizFit: Glad I made you think.

    @ CK Lunchbox: I used to think bloggers who were non-responsive were jerks. I will never ever think that again. I now totally get it. But I’m still hoping to find some kind of a middle way between spending all my time interacting with readers and just ignoring everyone.

    @ Oktober Five: And I thought it was my great content that brought people here.

98. miscellaneous things. at apricot tea. responds:
    Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 am →

    [...] Vered, from Mom Grind, talks about the conspiracy of commenting on blogs. I feel like every blogger needs to read this. It changed my whole perspective on comments [...]

99. Dr. J responds:
    Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 10:47 am →

    I really am amazed at how many blogs some people manage to vist and comment on! I could never do it. Thanks for the few visits you did to mine! I will still read yours, as it’s on my short list

    Dr. J’s last blog post..Nibbles: Eating fast makes you fat, plus supplementing with D and UK Olympics sponsor sweets

100. vodkamom responds:
     Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm →

     you know, I am with you on this. It is SO hard to visit everyone. The big problem, for me, is that there really ARE tons of talented writers out there. Some make me laugh, some make me think, and some WOW me with their photography. I can’t seem to stay away. However, my real family misses me. or so they claim. Thanks for the visit. I feel very honored, after reading your post.

     vodkamom’s last blog post..Kindergartenese

101. Influence and Responsibilty on the Web | Words For Hire responds:
     Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 12:16 pm →

     [...] for myself and for my own readers.  Because of my own angst, Vered’s wonderful post about Blog Comments really rang my [...]

102. Joanna Young responds:
     Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 12:50 pm →

     Hello Vered

     I think I’d be burned out with commenting if I had as many comments as this! Phew. Didn’t even have time to read through them all. You have my sympathies

     For me, commenting is what makes the whole thing work. I learn the most from the comments I leave and the comments other people leave for me. I try only ever to comment on posts that move me or I feel I can add something. I try always to answer the comments on my own blog (but it’s a much smaller volume). I have 6 blogs that I visit and comment regularly – but even then it’s not a ‘should’, only if I feel it. I read many many more but only comment when feel moved or interested, not as a routine.

     I hope I don’t ever get enough comments that I have to switch commenting off. It might be a sign of success to have that level of conversation going – but it would spell the end of a vital dimension of my blogging.

     Anyway, just wanted to say hello and thanks for prompting such an interesting conversation.

     Joanna

     PS Followed Karen Swim’s post over here

     Joanna Young’s last blog post..Thinking About Working With Me?

103. Chanel responds:
     Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 1:20 pm →

     You gotta do what you gotta do, Vered!

     I don’t always feel pressured to respond to my comments or leave a comment on the commenter’s site, but I will always visit it. If I find something I feel like commenting on, I will. I try to return the comment karma whenever possible, but sometimes, I have absolutely nothing to say and I will never leave a “fluff” comment. That’s one of my policies. I haven’t even gotten close to being burned out yet!

     So that’s the gist of how I view blog comments on my own website right now. Having said that, I don’t get nearly as many comments as you do, and I am still trying to get my blog “out there”, so comments play a vital part in getting the traffic circulating at this point in time. Judging by the amount of comments you get on your site, I’d say that isn’t the case for you.

     Does it bother me when I click through a post to see you’ve turned off comments? Sometimes, but I’ll live. To be honest, it has bothered more in the past when blogs NEVER allow comments; sometimes I really feel like saying something, but I can’t, and I end up feeling like my voice is stifled instead. I really don’t like that feeling.

     I think you’ve struck a good balance, though. Close comments on lighter posts, open them on discussion-worthy posts. Ultimately, it is your website and your writing, so only you can make the best decision of what’s right and appropriate for your blog.

104. Friar responds:
     Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 1:28 pm →

     My GOD!!!

     How did the World EVER survive 15 years ago?

     …when there were NO BLOGS, and there was NOWHERE you could announce every thought and idea you had and to the whole Planet?

     People must have lead lonely, isolated, miserable, unfulfilled lives, with NO sense of friendship and community.

     Right?

     

     Friar’s last blog post..Things About the Workplace I Don’t Wanna Understand

105. Dave Fowler responds:
     Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 1:55 pm →

     LMAO @ Friar’s comment.
     15 years ago seems like a different lifetime now. I can’t believe how much my life has changed in that time. It hasn’t panned out the way I thought it would and nowhere in my future did I EVER picture myself becoming a typist. Hahahaha.

106. Dave Jones, CPA responds:
     Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 2:24 pm →

     I offer this comment to maybe restore some sanity:

     1. We admit we are powerless over commenting
     2. Came to believe that a Power greater than us could restore us to sanity.

     and so on till # 12

     12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to commentholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

     I’m Dave and I am a commentholic. I will see you at next Wednesday’s meeting.

107. MomGrind responds:
     Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 3:07 pm →

     @ DR. J: Oh, I’ll be back. I can’t have your blog in my reader right now – it’s already at top capacity – but this is exactly why I visit my commenters on their own blogs. I like your blog. You have an interesting way of thinking about health and fitness.

     @ vodkamom: See? That’s exactly the problem. I saw your comment on Ron’s blog, was intrigued, clicked over, LOVED what I saw – how can I NOT leave a comment?

     @ Joanna Young: Nice to meet you. I really REALLY don’t want to turn comments off. I do like the interaction. But turning them off to SOME posts might work. We’ll see.

     @ Chanel: “Ultimately, it is your website and your writing, so only you can make the best decision of what’s right and appropriate for your blog.” True. But ideally, I’d like to find a solution that would work for my readers too.

     @ Friar and @ Dave Fowler: I completely agree. It’s difficult to imagine it now, but hey WE WERE JUST FINE.

     @ Dave Jones: I think I’ll join you: I’m Vered and I am a commentholic.

108. Giyen responds:
     Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 6:38 pm →

     Wow, there are a lot of comments here. I am a new blogger and get so excited when someone posts a comment. It just signals to be that someone else besides my family members are reading my blog. Sad, I know. : )

     Giyen

109. MomGrind responds:
     Posted: October 23rd, 2008 at 9:33 pm →

     @ Giyen: I don’t think it’s sad at all. I think it’s very normal.

110. Mike Goad responds:
     Posted: October 24th, 2008 at 12:16 am →

     Do I think there’s such a thing as commenter’s burnout?

     Yes

     Do you like my solution, or will it annoy you to click through to a post only to find out that you can’t leave a comment?

     The solution is fine, but I do get annoyed if I get to the end to find that comments are closed.

     I am starting to wrestle with some issues myself related to blogging, comments and time. I’ll resolve them in such a way that I can continue to grow my blog and include comments. I just have to figure out how.

     Mike Goad’s last blog post..Overflow

111. Scott McIntyre responds:
     Posted: October 24th, 2008 at 2:08 am →

     …. I’m creeping in here at the last minute, Vered!

     I think that you’ve developed a very good way of dealing with comments.

     Not every post you publish needs comments so it doesn’t seem to be a productive use of your time to manage them.

     On the other hand, many of your posts are meaty and thought-provoking and the discussions they generate are fantastic. In these cases, your contribution helps the flow.

     I guess the main thing is that your readers know what to expect- always a good thing

112. MomGrind responds:
     Posted: October 24th, 2008 at 8:04 am →

     @ Mike: Let me know when you figure it out.

     @ Scott: Yeah, I think I will have to close comments once in a while. When they’re open, I just can’t stay out of the discussion.

113. Nurit responds:
     Posted: October 24th, 2008 at 9:27 am →

     112 comments so far. How is it possible to read them all to be involved in the discussion? Not possible. It’ll take my whole day.
     And isn’t blogging supposed to be fun? What a cliché.
     It started as fun, for some it turned into a business. We spend a lot of time blogging so maybe we want to make money out of it. But if it’s the money you/me are after, are comments important anyway? I don’t think so. It mostly about traffic or shopping for those blogs that have a store.
     Commenting should be out of real interest, I think.
     I like to get comments too, mostly to get feedback from readers so I can do a better job on my blog and see if I connect with them and make their time useful and fun.
     Looking at the statistics about traffic and increasing number of subscribers makes me happy too.

114. Tammy Warren responds:
     Posted: October 24th, 2008 at 11:42 am →

     Hey…I can totally relate to this. I am trying to juggle the family and reading blogs that I love to visit. In the meantime I find others in the comment section that I click on and I find them interesting as well. I just add them to my bookmarks folder and move on. I do comment a great deal and I am finding it hard to keep up with the replies on my blog. I am so glad you expressed your view on this. It makes me feel much better. We are all human and I think too many of us are letting our lives just be all about the blog world.

     Tammy Warren’s last blog post..Offer love to someone else

115. Advertising Sucks | responds:
     Posted: October 24th, 2008 at 11:44 am →

     [...] Wednesday’s discussion on blog comments, I will TRY to mostly stay out of the comments section today. I’m not making any promises, [...]

116. Kmommy @ The Poopie Patrol responds:
     Posted: October 24th, 2008 at 12:07 pm →

     I loved this post. I think I am in comment burnout mode I spend way too much time reading other blogs… and I’ve totally lost touch with my feedreaders… using google, ie, and now with the blogger following deal. I know that I have hundreds of feeds in each of them. I can’t possibly keep up I have tried to narrow it down to just visiting those who comment on mine, or those I really enjoy reading. But there are just too many good blogs out there! I enjoy reading them all And I have been doing the whole commenting on comments and then visiting those that comment and commenting on their blog. It’s so time consuming that I’m sure my blog content has suffered from it. But its hard not to feel obligated to do so. You are right about the pressure.

     Kmommy @ The Poopie Patrol’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: Sweetness

117. MomGrind responds:
     Posted: October 24th, 2008 at 7:22 pm →

     @ Nurit: It’s very difficult to find a balance between blogging for fun and interest, and seeing it as a business. I can’t say that I have found my balance – yet.

     @ Tammy Warren: I’m glad I brought it up too. I think it’s something that many bloggers are having trouble with.

     @ Kmommy: “It’s so time consuming that I’m sure my blog content has suffered from it.” This is exactly what I’m trying to avoid.

118. Michael Martine - Remarkablogger responds:
     Posted: October 24th, 2008 at 7:31 pm →

     Are you people still here commenting?

119. Jannie responds:
     Posted: October 24th, 2008 at 8:44 pm →

     Oh boy, be careful for what we wish for, eh?

     Jannie’s last blog post..How much more of a hint do I need?

120. MomGrind responds:
     Posted: October 24th, 2008 at 8:51 pm →

     @ Michael Martine: Yep, and I’m still answering.

     @ Jannie: I guess this is a good example of be careful what you wish for.

121. Small Things Can Still Eat You | Catherine Lawson responds:
     Posted: October 25th, 2008 at 3:23 am →

     [...] At Least I Don’t Have Zits – A guest post by Rita, comparing blog commenting to High School. Is There Such A Thing As A Commenters Burnout: Or Why I Sometimes Close Comments – Vered of MomGrind discusses commenting burnout. Time Management For Creative People – Free e-book [...]

122. Linda Abbit responds:
     Posted: October 25th, 2008 at 1:39 pm →

     Hi,

     Just got back from my cross-country trip and found your link love. Thank you, Vered! I read your post, but not all of the 121 comments, so I hope I’m not repeating what others have said.

     I will read your posts whether or not you allow comments, because I love your writing and point of view. I will comment when I feel I have something to add to the blogversation.

     For 5 out of 8 days on this trip, I was completely without computer access, and you know what? It made me realize that being away from the blogosphere isn’t life and death for my blog, and no one really would miss my comments on their blogs. I will be commenting less and concentrating on growing my own community more as a result.

     My trip was fine and seeing my precious elderly aunts in NY & FL was priceless! But it’s so good to be home.

123. MomGrind responds:
     Posted: October 25th, 2008 at 7:14 pm →

     @ Linda: I’m glad you enjoyed your trip!

124. Tom Volkar / Delightful Work responds:
     Posted: October 26th, 2008 at 9:19 am →

     This is such a valuable discussion and I only had time to read about half of the comments. So I guess that raises another issue. I do believe that commenting without reading the all comments is silly but I’ve just done so. You have a great knack for stimulating these outstanding discussions and I’m sure that your dedicated commenting allowed some folks to notice you in the first place.

     I agree with what so many have already said. Do I have commenting burnout? No because I just stop when I’m not completing what I set out to complete. Yet I do wish that I had more time to give to comments not so much to give traffic but to give emotional support. It means so much to new bloggers.

     I don’t have a reading or commenting fixed time so if others are keeping track and return commenting based on my habits then so be it. Some weeks I give alot and some weeks almost nothing. It is what it is.

     I like your decision to close comments on the lighter posts because even though I liked the entertainment if something has to give those are the ones I don’t bother reading. But the value you’ve provided here I could read all day long.

     I do love community building and I admire you for yours.

     Tom Volkar / Delightful Work’s last blog post..Leveraging Community

125. Jannie responds:
     Posted: October 26th, 2008 at 11:14 am →

     meant to add, … because I have this dream to crack 100, 000 with Alexa (Currently hovering a bit over 300,000,) but what will I give up to get there? And if I ever made it, would I be satisfied then? Oy vey. (Sorry, I’m liking your blog so much and adding to your Comments questioning.)

     Jannie’s last blog post..My Big Eye

126. J.D. Meier responds:
     Posted: October 26th, 2008 at 1:59 pm →

     Hey Vered

     That’s a great question and I think there’s two angles to check:
     1. Too much load?
     2. Not enough fun?

     If it’s too much load, that’s one thing. Something has to give. If it’s not enough fun — meaning it’s more draining than catalyzing, that’s an important check. You gotta have fun. Maybe it means not commenting unless you feel like it. Never kill your passion. You don’t burn out from hours or time — you only burn out from doing what you’re “supposed to do” versus what you really want to do.

     J.D. Meier’s last blog post..Be Aware of the Larger System

127. Dave Fowler responds:
     Posted: October 26th, 2008 at 2:10 pm →

     J.D. Meier’s: “you only burn out from doing what you’re “supposed to do” versus what you really want to do”

     Now THAT is an interesting thought, and a little disturbing becasue it raises some questions within. I shall go and ponder this.

128. MomGrind responds:
     Posted: October 26th, 2008 at 6:54 pm →

     @ Tom Volkar: I often comment without reading the other comments. I’m sure I often come across as a complete idiot, which perhaps I am, but time is short and something’s gotta give. I think your appraoch to commenting is a very balanced one. I do feel a huige sense of obligation to “comment back” but it looks like this has lead me into some trouble so I’ll try to cut back.

     @ Jannie: The problem with these milestones: whenever you reach a new one, you’re happy for a very short time and then you want to get to the next.

     @ J.D. Meier: I agree with Dave. You are such a smart guy. Indeed, it’s fine to be busy doing something fun and rewarding – the problem is when it’s not fun anymore. But sometimes even something fun can turn into a chore if it takes too much of your time.

129. Christina Narciso responds:
     Posted: October 27th, 2008 at 11:04 am →

     Hi Vered!
     I understand what you mean about comment overload. You have been a wonderful support to other bloggers. Even if you comment less on other’s blogs, you have gained my respect, and I will continue to be an avid reader and frequent commenter on momgrind. I don’t think you will suffer a loss because your content is always good for discussion!

     Christina Narciso’s last blog post..Take Off [pic]

130. MomGrind responds:
     Posted: October 27th, 2008 at 5:34 pm →

     Thank you so much for the support, Christina!

131. Suzanne Bird-Harris | vAssistant Services responds:
     Posted: October 27th, 2008 at 10:48 pm →

     Wow, after reading all these comments, I have….no comment.

     I’m here from Tom’s Leveraging Community experiment…ironic, actually. My time is limited to read, much less comment, so I read a lot more blogs than I comment on. Given that, I don’t trip too hard about how many comments I do or don’t get on my own blogs. I figure we’re all pressed for time and are doing our best to use it wisely and productively. No skin off my nose if you don’t leave a comment. I appreciate the fact that you came by and read…period.

     Suzanne Bird-Harris | vAssistant Services’s last blog post..Project Powerful and Positive

132. kat responds:
     Posted: October 28th, 2008 at 3:08 am →

     Here’s another point of view from the very casual blogger.

     I like reading blogs because I like reading what other people have to say and I like learning new things. I hop, skip around blogs, leaving comments for various reasons… sometimes it’s to give my opinion, other times just to let the author know I read their post.

     Honestly, I have no interest in blogging for a living. And when I read posts about jealousy and making money from blogging, or about increasing your readership, it is really a turn-off for me. When you go into a cafe for a coffee, how would it feel if the owner was there complaining about the shop down the street? Or about how ways he was trying to increase his profit? Blech.

     This will probably come across mean, as I know there is some rule that someone came up with (like I said, I purposefully avoid this kind of stuff) but I find it slightly offensive when I leave a comment at a blog and then the next day I find a random comment on my personal blog. It feels insincere.

     kat’s last blog post..Salt mines, Krakow

133. Nancy Boyd responds:
     Posted: October 28th, 2008 at 8:33 am →

     Wow I love this thread! It really makes me think about what I really want for and from my blogs, and what am I willing to do and not do, to see that it all happens.

     One blogging “guru” suggests having commenters make at least 3 thoughtful posts (that is, more than “great post” category) before allowing links back to their sites. Sort of like an ethical bribe. And I could go with that except for the fact that this takes admin time, especially as comments start to build. Each one is going to take me time to think about and respond to. So, am I willing to do that?

     I like your solution, about choosing which posts to allow comments. But then what I’ve found is that sometimes the posts I would never imagine to be intriguing to visitors are the very ones that collect longer threads of exchanges. And there I sit behind my computer screen going, “Who knew???”

     So I don’t know. This dilemma is actually a sweet one to have, isn’t it? Because it means that you are getting targeted traffic, interest, and. . .perhaps . . . sales???

     Now I have to go away and think about this some more. Should I thank you for that? (or not???)

     Nancy

134. MomGrind responds:
     Posted: October 28th, 2008 at 12:17 pm →

     @ Suzanne Bird-Harris: “I figure we’re all pressed for time and are doing our best to use it wisely and productively.” Exactly.

     @ kat: “I find it slightly offensive when I leave a comment at a blog and then the next day I find a random comment on my personal blog. It feels insincere.” Kat, I find your approach fascinating. I actually do it often: I try to “visit back” commenters on their own blogs. It seems like the right thing to do, plus often I really am curious to see what their blog is all about. I wonder how many commenters feel that I am being insincere. Isn’t this a situation where you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t?

     @ Nancy Boyd: It’s true that when I close comments, I risk closing comments to a post that would have generated a great discussion. But right now, it seems like the only solution that would work for me. I also agree that there are worse problems to have.

135. Hump Day Reading for the Restless Soul — Write From Home responds:
     Posted: October 29th, 2008 at 12:21 am →

     [...] Is There Such A Thing As Commenter’s Burnout? at MomGrind [...]

136. kat responds:
     Posted: October 29th, 2008 at 6:17 am →

     @momgrind Haha. I guess it could seem that way. I think though, that comments are better, feel better, if they aren’t obligatory. You did leave a comment on my blog and it didn’t feel obligatory, but I have had comments that feel that way, and they are left within hours of my comment… and it left me feeling a little meh… like I’m playing some sort of game or something. Of course maybe some sites just want traffic. I think my opinions on this may be out of the norm on this topic – sorry!

     kat’s last blog post..Salt mines, Krakow

137. Shevonne responds:
     Posted: October 29th, 2008 at 12:47 pm →

     I comment just cause I really like what the person wrote. I could care less if he or she visits my blog. I guess for other people it’s a different story.

138. Why GTD Contexts Are More Work (For Me) | Productive Flourishing responds:
     Posted: October 31st, 2008 at 4:48 pm →

     [...] thinking, I entreat you to take note of this blog post. This one’s not about the whole “To shut off comments or not to” discussions – rather, it’s an example of how two bloggers keep conversations [...]

139. selina responds:
     Posted: November 3rd, 2008 at 12:22 pm →

     I’ve just found this post through apricot tea and enjoyed reading your take, i did a similar post a while ago here:

     Tell Me About It!

     I now think of comments more of a tool for the people that want to make a comment, rather than a neccessity or the ‘polite’ thing to do once reading a post someone has written. For example, if comments didn’t exist, then alot of people would read and want to put forward their say, but as they do, it’s not a rule of reading blogs to say you haaaave to comment. I’m not sure, my thoughts change too much to be totally solid, but I do think that if people are finding it a competition, then they are looking at it as a competition-it doesn’t have to be just because numbers are involved.

140. Tabitha (From Single to Married) responds:
     Posted: November 7th, 2008 at 9:28 am →

     Personally, I’m torn on this issue. I can see how it can be a problem and how one could become “burned out.” I recently started my own blog and have taken others’ advice to heart in that I should comment on other blogs as a way to get myself out there. I won’t lie to you – it works. That’s how I get most of my readers since I am fairly new. Not only that, but I really enjoy the blogs that I read. I started out by looking at the top a-lister’s blogs just to see if there was traffic, but now that I’m developing my blogging stride, if you will, I am reading those blogs that I truly enjoy and commenting on them because as a new blogger, I appreciate comments myself. I also realize that I need to be careful because I find it all too easy to spend hours and hours just reading blogs which can be a big time waster.

141. Kevin responds:
     Posted: December 2nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm →

     Very interesting post, Vered.

     As an avid blogger-reader, here are my personal guidelines for reading blogs, leaving comments, and interacting with bloggers: (1) follow closely the blogs you truly enjoy reading on a regular basis; the moment you realize you’ve been skimming the titles (usually after a week or so, or sooner), drop it like a hot potato; (2) leave comments on posts that (a) resonate enjoyably with your understanding of what really and truly matters to you, and (b) allow you to clarify your thinking and/or feeling more deeply on some issue; and (3) gauge your interest in a blog by how compelled you feel to return to the comments section to either (a) read the blogger’s response to your comment or (b) leave another comment that furthers the discussion and/or more deeply clarifies an issue for you. Addendum: email bloggers who resonate deeply with your way of understanding the world to express appreciation for their work, while remaining respectful of their time, i.e., be very forgiving of them if they don’t or can’t respond quickly and/or deeply to your appreciation and/or desire for interaction.

142. Michael responds:
     Posted: December 3rd, 2008 at 4:59 pm →

     interesting thoughts. I get annoyed with the whole highschool mentality of all these grown up people that somehow have hours and hours to sit around and do nothing… I guess thats why I do the journal thing. Its for me, not for a comment that I write. some days just the word blog annoys me.

     You have a lot of interesting posts here, obviously a lot of work, I appreciate it. Thought I would let you know.
     Peace

143. asrai responds:
     Posted: December 11th, 2008 at 11:11 pm →

     My biggest problem with commenting (link love to write from home for sending me to your blog) is I never go back and read follow ups. I don’t care if the blogger replies to me most of the time.

     I like forums because they encourage discussions and debates. Blogs and comments don’t do that as well. You post something, I comment and then I don’t come back to your blog unless you’ve written something new.

     y’know for the most part.

144. Ten Ways To Create a Balance While Commenting on Blogs | Create a Balance responds:
     Posted: January 29th, 2009 at 11:03 am →

     [...] comment just for the sake of getting your name out there. You will eventually get commenter’s burnout. Comment to add your voice to the [...]

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