Comments for Weekly Geeks 2010-7: Commenting

Weekly Geeks 2010-7: Commenting: 02/27/10

Commenting. It can be a fun way to connect to your readers. It can be the a source of frustration as a blogger. A comment can make your day. A comment can cause an argument. Today let's talk commenting.

Do you have a commenting policy? For example:

1. Do reply to all comments? If you do, how do you do it? Email? On the blog?
   
2. Do you use moderation?
3. How do you handle trolls? Flaming?
   
4. How much do you tolerate from a belligerent commenter before you close or delete comments?

My Comment Policy

Do I reply to all comments?

Yes and no. I reply to all on topic comments. Spam comments, of course, don't receive a reply. Belligerent comments don't receive a reply. I put the reply below the original comment on the blog and copy the reply to email if an email address has been left.

Do I use moderation?

Yes. I use moderation although not specifically to avoid spam comments. See most blogs run on a platform that is a mixture of a DHTML and CSS sitting on a database to track all the part pieces of the blog (posts, tags, comments, replies, widgets, images and so forth). Mine does not. Mine has HTML, javascript, CSS but is not dynamic nor is it sitting on a database. My blog started out in 1997 as a much different website and the current blog is sitting on the same foundation.

What does this mean for comments?

My comment form is an old perl script. Anyone who leaves a comment generates an email that goes to a special mailbox I have set up. They are not automatically posted to the site. I have to read through the emails and post them myself. As I post (or "approve" them) I compose replies that I post on the blog and email back.

How do I handle trolls and flaming?

I think because my blog doesn't automatically post comments it isn't a welcoming environment for trolls or flame wars. So far I haven't had to deal with them.

Closing Comments?

I used to close comments to avoid receiving spam but now I just delete the spam from my email in box and move on. I keep the comments open. It's rare to get a comment posted to an old post or review but not completely unheard of.

Have I ever received a comment from someone I admire?

Yes. I've receive comments from authors I admire or relatives of authors I admire. The most recent author comment I received was from Penny Warner. That lead to an invitation to her book launch party. That's never happened before. Before that I received a comment from the grandson of Chuck Jones and through his comment learned about the fantastic Chuck Redux blog run by Jones's family.

How do I feel about author comments?

Authors are people too. Most authors leave happy comments (even if the review isn't stellar). One out of ten or so will leave a grumpy comment.

Word Verification?

Nope. Don't need it since spam doesn't get automatically put on my blog.

How do we combat the evil that is spam?

I track users. Repeat spammers I block in my .htaccess file. If your site allows the use of an .htaccess file, learn how to make and use one.

weekly geeks

Comments (12)

Permalink

Comment #1: Saturday, February, 27, 2010 at 13:48:02

hagelrat

hey hun, i love this weekly geek, it's nice to see how people approach commenting. :)

Comment #2: Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 22:50:34

Pussreboots

Glad you're having fun with this week's assignment. I sort of feel like the lone wolf since I can't give specific advice about different platforms.

Comment #3: Saturday, February, 27, 2010 at 18:09:43

Care

I love the Weekly Geek button you have here! and it's obvious you are one of the more technically proficient bloggers. Which is great. Happy Weekly Geeks!

Comment #4: Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 22:53:08

Pussreboots

Feel free to just right click on the Weekly Geek image and save it to your computer. You can then upload it to your blog. Please just dont hot link to it.

Comment #5: Saturday, February, 27, 2010 at 22:35:54

Penny Warner

I'm so glad you made it to the KILLER PARTY! It was great to meet you!

Love your blog!

Penny Warner

Comment #6: Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 22:57:23

Pussreboots

Awww. Thank you.

Comment #7: Saturday, February, 27, 2010 at 23:36:03

Shannon McGee

I love author comments. Wow your website has been around since 1997 that's amazing!

Comment #8: Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 22:59:33

Pussreboots

Yes but there's not much left of the original website now. It's been through many revisions since it first went online.

Comment #9: Sunday, February, 28, 2010 at 02:06:58

Forgetfulone

Great policies and interesting post. I wish blogger had a way to block spammers. But, I get an email for every comment, so if I get a spam, when I get the eomment in my inbox, I just go to my blog and delete it.

Comment #10: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 12:04:20

Pussreboots

I love that I only get the annoying email and don't have to go in and remove comments.

Comment #11: Sunday, February, 28, 2010 at 11:51:24

gautami

I liked what you say here!

Comment #12: Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 12:07:15

Pussreboots

Thank you!