Comments Should be Relevant
Hi my lovely WA family,
I'm pretty sure when you read that title, I heard a community sigh. This subject has been discussed, and discussed and then discussed some more. Well, I think I should borrow Michael's soap box for this one. Scrreeeecch. Thanks, Michael.
However, I received a "comment" the other day that lead me to believe that some people still don't know the difference between a comment and feedback. And they don't understand that their comment should be relevant to the post they are commenting on.
Feedback is constructive criticism. It is solicited for either a single post or general for the whole site. (correct me if I'm wrong). This is where you can tell someone to correct grammar or spelling. This is where you tell someone they need more photos; or larger type. This is where you suggest that they need a logo or a brand. Feel free to add your own ideas of constructive criticism in comments below.
Comments are to speak directly toward the content in the post. If you have a criticism that you feel you must give; at least have the courtesy to do it with a PM instead of on the site comment. Also, if someone has requested comments on one particular post; they are not asking for a critique of their whole website. While I feel it is okay, if you really like the site, to mention that you do; most of your comment should be relevant to the post you were asked to comment on.
It isn't necessary; but I usually mention the name of the article or part of it in the first sentence of my comment. Then I comment (kindly) on parts of the post. If I learned something new, I tell them. I often relate my own experiences that are relevant. Sometimes I ask a question, or for more information. If I see an error in spelling or grammar; I know that this is not the place to mention it.
If I start to read a post and find I'm not interested in the subject matter; I click back out and click on the "I'm not interested" button to go on to something I am interested in. The post can then be commented on by someone who is interested in the subject matter and their comments will be relevant.
In the comment I received the other day, the person said that my subject matter did not particularly interest them. That was the only thing he said about the post. The rest was a kind critique of my website. I debated about rejecting; but I would lose that comment then and have to go give comments on 2 more sites before I could receive another. So I kept it and tried to soothe it over with my response. At least it was kind, right?
Comments are so vital to our sites. Please make them relevant; or go on to something you are interested in. Then your comments will just naturally become more relevant because of your interest in the subject.
If I have not explained this matter correctly; I am asking for feedback within your comment, or just your thoughts on this matter. Lol.
Okay. Mini rant is over. Michael can have his soap box back. Sccrreeeech. Thanks.
I hope this has helped those who don't understand. It wasn't really a rant; just a quest to get this information out there. :)
I hope you all are having a Wonderful Wednesday!
Keep on charging on; and don't forget to enjoy the journey!
At your service,
Jeannie
Recent Comments
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Thanks Jeannie for bringing this up again. I just received one yesterday that also did not apply. It would have been great feedback material but this was not my request. I don't know how it slips by the system as it supposedly is verified for relevancy. I guess for now we just continue to reinterate the point in our posts. Thanks again for the kind reminder.
Jerome
Thanks for commenting Evie. I didn't know you got the credits back when you rejected a comment. Thanks for telling me.
This is good to know. Thanks for sharing, Evie.
So far I´ve only solicited for comments in the Bootcamp course thread. But sooner or later I´ll try the other route too.
I´ve decided to follow you. Please feel free to do the same if you´d like.
Tessa
Hi Jean, I learned this the hard way and have always tried to be relevant to the task in hand since! Thanks for your post, Sue :)
While I give you high praise for keeping an irrelevant comment and "smoothing it over" with your reply, I must admit, I just can't do it myself. It frustrates and even angers me sometimes to reject one, and then go through the process of earning two more credits, but I just can't help it. Thanks for reminding me I'm not the only one :-)
I want people outside of WA to leave relevant comments. too. So it's important that the ones they see first set a precedent.
Fortunately it was a kind comment. I just didn't understand why they didn't click the "I'm not interested" button. I've actually been pretty fortunate with comments. Mostly they are relevant; thiough sometimes disappointing for lack of content. Lol Thanks for reading and replying. :)
Thanks for sharing, Jeannie.
The differences between comments and feedback aren't always understood. Until reading this post I didn't understand the difference either.
Cheers
Richard :-)
Thanks Richard. I was hoping it would help. I love your profile pic btw. Son or grandson?
Grandson......? Damn cheek lol!
It's both of my Sons. The little tennis ball looking thing in the middle of the photo is my youngest Son's head. He's 2 days old there! He's 6 years now and his older brother is 8 :-)
Please forgive me; but you see I am a great grandmother. I see things from that perspective. Any way it is a sweet picture. You are very blessed.
Thank you. Trick is, not to take a picture when you just get out of bed. In fact, I try not to look in the mirror any more than I have to. Lol
This is my problem that is don't known about it before.
Then when I was banned from comment.
I have learned that comment, not equal feedback.
Yes. There are many who don't understand; especially if they are new. That's why I wrote the post. Just trying to be helpful. Thanks for commenting, Golf.
Well, this definitely needed to be said. I still get feedback in my comments and I think the people that do it are just new and don't know the difference yet. Hopefully, they will read your blog. :)
Thank you. Yes. It is very understandable when they are new; but there are still ones who have been here a while who include feedback in comments; for what ever reason. I think they want to be helpful; but if it isn't relevant it doesn't turn out to be helpful.
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You explained it well, Jeannie
When I have feedback to give I´ll send a private message or type it in a reply to the comment request in the comment thread in the Bootcamp course.
Also, I don´t mind certain feedback like when folks (also) express in their comment how much they enjoyed reading my post and why so.
I really like Evie´s reply for when I go give and receive comments the way you´ve been doing.
How was Germany?
Thanks Tessa. I haven't gone to Germany yet. It was originally the end of February but was changed to the end of March. :)
Ohh, I see. I was already starting to think I had missed your blog about your adventures over there. Late March is better anyway because of higher temperatures etc.