Returning Comments, Generic Comments, And More

I'm apparently a horrible Gather friend, because I don't return each and every comment left to me. Frankly, I wouldn't even begin to know where to find the time! And if someone leaves me a comment, and I leave one back, doesn't it become an endless cycle?

I enjoy reading a lot of different things, but I am not going to go out of my way to hunt something down that I wouldn't be interested in reading or viewing, just for the sake of leaving a comment. Additionally, are we supposed to return the endless galuge of generic comments?

Last night, someone posted an article complaining about being a one sided friend, basically. They disconnected from a lot of friends who didn't take the time to comment back- yet, after sorting through over 9 pages of that person's own comments, 90% of them were to games, or commenting on their own stuff. Which doesn't bother me- but can you really complain about other people not commenting to your own posts, if you aren't commenting to theirs?

To each their own, is my thought. When I comment, I take the time to comment on what I saw, or read, and I try hard to avoid a generic sounding comment. I've never once participated in the whole "Sorry I can't leave a better comment, but I assure you, your picture/video/article was great, but I have to go!" that people tend to copy and paste in.

Those comments, to me, are point seeking, 100%. Otherwise, take 2 extra seconds to actually come up with a thought about what you viewed. Maybe that's how people keep up with their friends, but personally, I like to think a personalized comment about the item posted is worth far more than a generic post.

Now, occasionally, I do only say something like "Great picture!" But, because it's not a copy and paste, left on 200 other items in a single day comment, I don't consider something like that to be generic. Maybe without as much thought, but still more thought than "Hey, I stopped by, but I'm busy catching up so I can't stick around and say anything else about what you posted!" comment.


So... I suppose my thoughts are this-

If you expect me to return each comment you leave, you'll be disappointed, and may as well disconnect with me now. I won't do it, because I'd rather look at what I want to- and yes, I will look around for that stuff.

If you think I'm self serving on Gather, disconnect from me. I try not to be, I try to go around, view new content, and comment to it- whether the person is a "friend", or not.

If you think I expect you to comment to everything I post, I don't. I don't post things here begging for comments. The comments are nice, but I'd far rather know that 2 or 3 people actually looked at and enjoyed what I posted, than to have 15-20 people leave a generic comment just because they feel the need to trade comments.

I don't consider it bad ettiquette to not return each comment. I consider it point whoring to expect people to do so, and to only leave comments to garner more comments for yourself.

Gather is a fantastic community, filled with a lot of fantastic people, articles, images, and videos. I think it should be up to everyone to decide just how they use the site, and enjoy the site.

Judge me if you'd like, but that's my thoughts on it.