I have lots of healthy, and some not-so-healthy, debates, discussions, exchanges of ideas and sharing of interests with people here. However, in trying to help out one of the groups dedicated to commenting on certain members' posts each day/week/year..., I was struck by a nice photo I saw that had a ton of page views and only 4 comments. It was a perfectly nice photo. So, I began wondering, and came up with a hypothetical top 10 list for why someone wouldn't take a second or two to comment, or even longer, on a particular image, article or video. In my strange and probably unrepresentative experience here, I find that if I click to page, I leave a comment unless all I can say would be personally rude. Here goes:
Top Ten Reasons for Visiting a Page but Not Commenting
1. The content wasn't written by me
2. I don't have anything to ... sorry, were we talking?
3. This !@$%^# ain't getting no points from me!
4. I am too offended for words. / Social networks are for socialists, it says so in the men's room at the lodge.
5. What a boring post. This person may be depressed or lacking in confidence. Let's keep it that way.
6. What, me worry?
7. Hey, the jerk only comments back when he or she isn't at work.
8. I don't type.
9. I'm not the giving, nurturing sort.
... and for number 10, it's a tie amongst:
10 a. She or he has responded to only 90% of my endless requests for more information, so I'm done with that relationship.
10 b. I thought this was a SoCal network, what is this "Social" thing anyway (dude)?
10 c. I'm shy, so get off my back and be thankful for your page views!
This is fiction folks... or is it? Please offer your favorite reason(s) for not commenting on something you are actually looking at, or actually reading. All the best, as always.
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Comments: 55
Your Top Ten Reasons for Visiting a Page but Not Commenting.. just cracked me up. =)
I've fallen into a few of your mentioned reasons above. :)
BTW, please do not think I am expecting apologies from individuals! Everyone's life is complicated, we're lucky if we're working multiple jobs, and I'm not making assumptions except that we do what we can, unless we don't.
However, Melanie, I'm so naive (in some areas) that I didn't even realize what you explained about views vs. comments! Talk about LOL! Think of all the time I'm wasting trying to say something, or even leaving a drive-by, supportive comment.
I actually enjoy talking to myself, so I can understand people only commenting on their own posts. I mostly respond to comments on my posts by commenting back on the other person's work, though sometimes I'll repeat the comment on my post for archival purposes (have to help out those historians of so-called, I mean social, networking).
BTW, 39 views and 5 comments is a situation that doesn't really faze me- it's the cases of many hundreds of views with 5 comments that leave me scratching my... I'll let the non-commenting readers fill in the blank in their own minds. (Really, where is your mind? I'd never...., well maybe).
Invisible ink clues will be left for all those who comment, along with treasure maps and.... no, I'm kidding!!!! I don't want to buy love. All the best, and those of you who think I should have gone to bed hours ago can feel free to chastise me at length. :)
2) Outrageous libertarian rant.
3) Custom photofinisher for 29 years, but never comment on photos. Don't have them on my group either. Why all groups have photos and video, I'll never know.
4) Small talk challenged.
Pretty wordy, huh???? LOL
Tanya, you did say a mouthful, and I have no arguments with you. I don't really have arguments with anyone (on this topic). I certainly don't expect people to justify themselves to me. What I hope is that some thought is given to the matter.
However, I do have my doubts about the fabric of this community. One of the most obvious courtesies in social networking is actually responding to people's work. This a well-documented expectation, and failing to respond will get people in trouble, get them treated as pariahs, at many sites.
I've never seen anywhere on the web where a mere page view is considered much of a response. One of my blogs is syndicated and has some huge page view numbers via syndication, but they don't mean anybody actually read my work. On the other hand, don't get me wrong: a page view is far better than no page view. View to your heart's content, and then some!
As for generic comments, sure, who can love them? Not even their mothers. On the other hand, I certainly don't see them as demeaning to anyone, and if some people are trying to make a living partly off of this site, which it certainly seems some people are, then a comment might be worth something real to them, even a generic comment. Generic comments can also represent what you really think, and "nice photo" isn't the worst thought in the world (who has the energy to be brilliant and original every second of the day?).
Tim, I don't get your point about the photos. People post them because they want to. Why should they need another reason? Personally, I'm glad to see the photos, or many of them. Of course, not everyone is a professional photographer, and some don't have a clue about technical issues of forming or processing an image. So what? There are lots of great photos on the site, covering nearly any subject you might be interested in.
Also, I've helped a few people with image processing that has improved a photo here and there (not that I know very much, but I can, say, fix the color (at least the white balance) with some success). With your expertise, Tim, you could help many make the transition from the world of crummy snapshots to the world of near proficiency, or beyond! Not that I think you have to do this or should do it- you should do what you want.
Frankly, there are times when I really want to comment on someone's work in return for their kind comments, and the photos serve as valuable common ground, no matter what the quality.
As for videos, I almost never watch them, and often watch them with the sound off (because my speakers are almost always off), but it doesn't bother me that people post them. They are doing want they want to do. This is a good thing (assuming it doesn't violate any laws, etc.).
Well, I didn't measure my word count against Tanya's, but I don't think I have more to add, except to say that what I suspect most people want is for others to read their content.
Given the way the site works (not that I really know much about that), there seems to be some benefit even to a generic comment. The benefit is not just to the recipient of the comment, it is to the person commenting who, by virtue of the comment, expands and solidifies his or her social community. (Or, in other words..., in many or most cases..., they'll comment baaaack).
Thanks to all!
I enjoy art in museums, but rarely (ok, NEVER) write a critique on the wall.
But it has been the way it is for too long, and people are used to it.
Well, I almost left without leaving a comment. Really.
Good topic. Generated lots of comments. :)
I do rate it though.
Commenting for Paying It Forward!!!!
Thanks, Dorothy, Peter J S and Ginger. Yeah works for me!
I do personally do leave a comment on 99% of the pages I visit, essentially everything that doesn't cross my own lines of hate, racism, etc., but that is irrelevant to everyone else on the planet, and it probably costs people valuable page views because I'm taking the time to offer my comments on the page where I find myself . That's just me. I want to engage and to build a community by doing so. I'm probably the villain here. Shun me if you want!
God Bless and have a wonderful Sunday!