They are a big deal
Blog comments are crucial for attracting readers on WordPress. When someone leaves a comment on your post, they are introducing you to the readers who like and comment on their posts. How you treat that commenter reflects on their readers.
I work full-time. I spend even more time writing content on WordPress and on Medium. Additionally, I actually read the posts that I like, and there are many. If I have taken the time to leave a comment, it is because I was enthusiastic enough about what I read to share a thought or two. I will never engage just to leave a self-aggrandizing reply, or to draw attention to my own writing. The idea is to support the community of fellow writers by giving them the respect they all wish.
In exchange for this common courtesy, I won’t allow anyone to use my comments as some sort of grist for whatever axe they have to grind, or for whatever axe they don’t have the nerve to address.
I am referring to the person who overthinks a response to an innocent comment by someone who not only took the time to read their post but was thoughtful enough to reply with genuine consideration. There are many misplaced emotions among writers. That much is evident at times, all too clearly. I can acknowledge it in myself. However, no reader is going to read you anymore if they leave a positive comment on your post and you interpret it as an incongruence. They are providing you with their experience, their interpretations. You don’t turn that against them and say, “You got it wrong.”
What the fuck is that?
A little advice: anything someone says about your work that is positive works for you. Sad, I have to point that out. And don’t insult them by saying you have googled something they said and you think they are wrong. You have no idea the amount of study and research that goes into what that person is saying. They are not bragging about themselves. They are trying to brag YOU up!
But you react with a solipsistic retreat into the misunderstood writer. Tiresome.
Also, if you are a Christian writer and think god directs your words, then say so. But don’t infer in everyone’s remarks that this is so, or should be so for them. Or that they should agree with you in any way. Especially when they make a positive comment. When you turn a positive comment into a shitpost about what you are not, it reflects on who you are. You only need to make that reflection once for my readers to see.
If comments make you uneasy, then you should probably disable them, as you will likely turn off potential readers. Alternatively, you could click ‘like’ without commenting on their comment. Nobody means you any offense personally. And no matter how much you might think others have gotten you wrong, it is you who is rejecting the thoughtful opinion of others when you take comments they make and, instead of addressing them directly in the remarks, write a new blog post about how an innocuous positive statement left on your post somehow was wrong conjecture. Ask yourself, if someone does this to you, would you bother following them anymore, let alone liking any of their posts?
4 responses to “A Note on WordPress Comments”
What you say is true. To be argumentative or unkind and less than gracious to someone who takes time to give you support and encouragement or even acknowledgment makes zero sense on a public writing site.
I have had my share of hecklers though over the years, but otherwise, people will get sensitivity and grace from me. Also, appreciation.
Comments on these sites can be tricky and gone are the days when I tried to gauge people’s sincerity. Now I just assume every one is that and answer accordingly. Even to the obvious robotic responses. lol
Good post. I enjoy reading comments left on my blog–most of the time. And you make a lot of good points. Common courtesy is never to be underrated.
Nice post! I couldn’t find a way to post from the website. I had to go back to the WordPress Reader to write a comment, though.
Thanks for bringing that to my attention.