Is it rude to comment?

A big plus factor in blogging is, of course, the facility to have people comment on what you say – and the ability to comment on what other people say. But should you comment back?

I’m constantly in two minds about this. On the one hand, responding to every comment, or at least every comment by each person who comments, can seem like you insist on always having the last word – which is unnecessarily egotistical in my opinion. Well, that’s how it can come across, anyway.

On the other hand, to not comment might be interpreted as saying, in effect, “Your opinion is not important enough for me to waste any time on.” I know I get a bit “miffed” when I go to the trouble of leaving a carefully-crafted comment on someone’s blog, only to have it apparently ignored.

I usually respond to comments, but it often takes me a while because I like to mull over what people have said and answer in a considered fashion rather than attempt to answer instantly. But I’m still wrestling with this issue of getting the right balance between responding and not responding.

What prompted this post was a lesson plan I saw a few days ago, in which the author had written "Teach the pupils how to comment on blogs, and the etiquette involved."

It made me realise (again) that I'm not 100% certain of the etiquette myself!

Any thoughts?

Related articles

• Comments Are a Lot of Work (whatever.scalzi.com)
• No Comment? (ictineducation.org)
• 10 Blog Etiquette Tips for Blog Owners (LearnThis.ca)

Comments

[Julia Skinner]

I try to reply to my commentators. I think to think of it as a conversation. Not sure if they see my comments though. When I comment on the class blogs, I try to pose a question so would like the children to reply. It is part of the writing for an audience/ developing writing skill etc that the teacher & I are trying to promote

[Tony Parkin]

And its not only blog comments where opinion on netiquette is divided. On twitter many people send DMs to say 'Thank You for following' or similar, which seems very polite ... but because this can be automated others find such responses crass - even @dabelshaw has complained of it. Tricky waters indeed...

Now should I start agonising about having commented...? :)

[@CreativeEdu]

This is a really tough question and as a new blogger one I struggle with too. If you work out the answer please do let me know!

I highlighted your post in my Daily Digest of Education related blogs today as I thought other teachers would find it of interest. You can see it here: http://bit.ly/g8gvze

[Terry Freedman, Educational ICT Consultant]

@Julie I agree about developing the skills of writing for an audience. I too always wonder if people see my replies (and am usually mildly astonished when they respond!), but I think one has to assume they do. In any case, I think in a sense it doesn't matter, because replying is a good way of thinking through the issue even further.

[Terry Freedman, Educational ICT Consultant]

@Tony I think the Twitter autoreply is a difficult one. I use it myself as a sort of holding response, but am starting to doubt its usefulness.
How do I know your comment is genuine, as opposed to having been automatically generated...?!

[Terry Freedman, Educational ICT Consultant]

@creativeedu -- thx for featuring this post on your blog. As for figuring out the answer, don't expect a decision from me any time soo: I've been wondering about this for years!