// post · 140

Should other peoples comments effect yours?

author: Michael Dale ·

Okay, So you've just read this large post on some blog site and you're about to reply. But wait, there are comments from other people too! Now should what these people have written effect your response?
You've pretty much made up your mind about what you're going to say before hand.

But what if what you're about to say has already been said? Should you be silenced!? Comments are good for feedback on a topic, but are they there for discussion? I don't know.

Should my comments link go to the first comment or straight to the comment post field? Should people read the other comments first?

A good example is here: http://mezzoblue.com/ The comments are very muchly separated from the post. You must click to read the comments. Good or Bad?

// comments

· Josh Street user
Definitely posts should affect other responses. If the effects of previous posts aren't felt, then feedback won't be as well developed -- discussion provides potential for the creation of opinions and understanding relating to a topic, as well as avoiding rhetoric. If the feedback form is above comments, people aren't encouraged to read what's already there -- this is stupid, because if people were aiming solely to communicate with the author of the post, then they should do so in a private manner (be this by email, contact form, instant messenging or other means) appropriate to the message. The very fact that comments on a post are made in a public arena on an established topic would suggest there is a value in the sharing of comments on this topic.

As an aside, bring back fulltext (or at least summaries) in your RSS feed! You're as bad as the SMH! ;)
#1 Comment Link
· Matthom guest
I agree with Josh. The other feedback must be read first.

But I don't think people should be discouraged from "talking directly to the author" if they feel they need to.

Dunstan (http://1976design.com/blog/)has an excellent method for commenting - where you can mention who inspired YOUR comment - whether it be the author himself, or a person who already commented. You can even alert that person that you commented - by simply clicking a check box, and an email is sent to them. Dunstan knows what he's doing.

I think commenting on blogs has a lot of "growing" to do.
#2 Comment Link
· Matthom guest
Ooops, that URL was supposed to be:

http://1976design.com/blog/
#3 Comment Link
· matthom trackback
When you read a web log entry, and you are ready to comment with your thoughts, should you read the current comments first, or just go right ahead and post YOUR comment?
#4 Comment Link

// leave a comment

> click for comments help

HTML allowed: <a href="" title="" rel=""></a> <b></b> <blockquote cite=""></blockquote> <em></em> <i></i> <strike></strike> <strong></strong> <li></li> <ol></ol> <ul></ul>
ie: <b>bold</b>

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