Nina Simon explains:
Getting a good comment is like getting a million puppies in the mail. I am so so so grateful whenever you write back and share your thoughts with all those faceless people and with me. But I've also learned not to rely on or have an unhealthy relationship with that gratitude. I'm ecstatic when you comment. I'm thrilled when someone links to me. I'm elated by reader numbers. But what keeps me going is an interest in writing, learning, and sharing
Read the whole thing - it is detailed and good.
Technology
Comments
Awesome! This will help keep my high school students motivated. So, I left a comment. ;-) Puppies!
Posted by: Stacy | December 7, 2008 8:43 PM
I love getting puppies from you, Stacy. They are so cute, house-broken and well-behaved! ;-)
Posted by: Coturnix | December 7, 2008 8:47 PM
i hope you brought enough puppies for everyone. :|
Posted by: brooks | December 7, 2008 9:57 PM
Yes, look in the backyard: 101 Dalmatians and all the Chihuahuas from Beverly Hills!
Posted by: Coturnix | December 7, 2008 9:59 PM
Here's a puppy
Posted by: EricJuve | December 8, 2008 2:46 AM
I seriously doubt anyone would want to get a million puppies, most of which would arrive dead if sent by mail, and the rest of which would trash up your home, eat your shoes, and crap up your floors!
Having said that, Simon does seem to realize that it's the writing, not the comments, which make a blog, and it's also the writing which attracts the comments.
It's not so much a case of "if you write it they will comment", but "If you write it well, make it interesting and bring some novelty and humor with it, they will comment".
I think we're all grateful that you, Coturnix, and the majority of other bloggers on scienceblogs understand that, and understand it well.
Thanks!
Posted by: Ian | December 8, 2008 8:06 AM
Some of the most interesting post and popular posts hardly have comments... they are so well written that it doesn't leave much for anyone else to say. While I love comments, I love teaching more. Every now and again I make someone laugh or say "really?" and it's nice when they tell me. If they didn't, I don't think I would stop.
Posted by: Mimi | December 8, 2008 11:04 AM
I guess I should have said, "it's like a million puppies showing up, not pooping, and leaving when you are tired of seeing them..." but that wasn't quite as poetic.
Mimi, I agree that many great posts don't elicit comments. It is kind of strange, however, that blogging is supposed to be this 2.0 participatory medium, and yet the participatory part is the fact that non-credentialed authors (i.e. bloggers) can become respected writers, not that the comments become a big conversation hall. I work with several museums that are always hopeful that a blog will create a community discussion about their content. It very rarely happens that way.
Posted by: Nina Simon | December 10, 2008 12:58 PM