A comment on comments

I love the comment system on Scatterthought…and I hate it.

Which doesn’t mean you should all stop commenting…I’ve put too much effort into promoting it for you to stop now.

Yesterday, I was telling someone how I think the comments have changed the way I write, because I want to control the feedback to some extent. Basically, I don’t want to be caught too badly off guard. And then when comments appear, sometimes I just don’t want to read them.

My friend’s solution was to turn off comments, which I have the ability to do on specific posts. But that just feels wrong. If you’re going to have the ability to comment, then you should be able to exercise that ability on every scatterthought I post. If you’ve got something to say, then you should be able to say it. Even if I don’t feel like hearing it.

I suppose I feel like it would be arrogant for me to turn off comments sometimes and not others. The equivalent of me saying that your opinions aren’t important, or that I don’t think you can tell me anything useful or relevant.

Even if that is the case.

(that’s a joke)

In the old days, I wrote whatever I felt like writing and no one could comment. Sometimes I’d get e-mails from friends or site visitors to discuss things I wrote, which is cool. Then I feel like I’m getting into a dialogue. I thought the comment system would be an improvement, but it’s not. It’s just different.

So here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to write. Whatever I feel like writing, as I used to do and want to do again. You can comment if you feel like it…you’re definitely encouraged to. And I’ll read the comments, because you’ve taken the time and your opinions should be heard. Maybe the next scatterthought will incorporate your thoughts, and maybe not. Either way, I’m not going to feel like I have to respond to the comments.

Now, if you want to actually discuss something with me, your best bet is to send me an e-mail and we’ll chat. Even if I’ve never met you–I like talking to new people, especially when they find me through Scatterthought. Same as with the comments, I may or may not incorporate our discussion into a subsequent scatterthought.

Does that work for you? It certainly feels better to me. So comment away, or send me e-mail or call me if you’ve got the number. Whatever you choose to do, you will be heard.

And that’s what really matters.