i agree, and i think disqus does a great job keeping the conversation going via email. its really helpful when you are notified of new comments, and not just from the bloggers standpoint. do you think there needs to be a better way to present the discussion? i wonder how many people actually read through an entire comment section. on blogs like techcrunch, engadget, etc, a lot of comments are repeated-- dont get me wrong, im guilty of this myself.
Fraser
· 1 year ago
When I think of my favorite blogs over the years I rarely recall the posts. It's all about the discussion. Chartreuse's site is the perfect example of this. Sometimes I wonder what Seth's site would be like if he enabled comments.
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
Chartreuse's posts invite the discussion
So do seth's
Fred
Cory Levy
· 1 year ago
Fred - What do you think the benefits of comments are? Both in your perspective as the blog publisher/moderator and to a blog reader?
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
They extend the post in all kinds of great directions. They make this two way media instead of one way
I learn so much from my comments. I am not sure I'd still be blogging if I didn't have them to keep me going
Fred
JohnSKim
· 1 year ago
It's interesting to see how 'micro-culture' of comments emerge. Visitors are aware of the context of the blog that they're visiting, so they don't just post 'you are an idiot' on all the blogs they visit (unless they are spam bots, of course). They tend to dive in when there's something that answers "What's in it for me?"
So as more comments accumulate, micro-culture begin to emerge in comments area. Even though the comment system may seem like it's totally open to everyone, people actually begin to feel that 'invisible barrier' to participation, thus eliminating in advance those that are not fit in the micro-culture.
It's really up to the content of the blog, then the initial settlers who post the early majority of the comments.
Kevin Marshall
· 1 year ago
I'm a big fan of discussions around blog posts as well. Blogs without comments are basically just books in development. They serve a purpose for sure, and can even be quite good. But they are still just a one-way communication tool best suited for 'teaching' not 'learning'.
When people can run with a topic, weather that's in a class room, in a debate, or say on a blog, that's when the real questions and answers can come out.
As a developer, I read a heavy does of tech. blogs - most of the time, my 'real' questions about a given technology or idea are addressed (or at least brought up) within the discussion (especially bug fixes and tweaks to presented code). That is where I tend to benefit the most, save the most time, and also gawk in awe of my peers opinions and intelligence!
I'm guessing that the same thing is true of all types of blogs regardless of topic.
McLarty
· 1 year ago
In the beginning stages of a blog launch, it can almost be depressing sending asynchronous communication into the world, without having any readers. But, I can't begin to put into words the high I got/get from from when readers started randomly adding comments, adding value, or better yet compliments. It's been almost half a year since I launched the blog at "blue moat". Since then, the comments have inspired me to actually write more, research more, and add more value to my own writing and thoughts.
I'm sure Fred already knows this, but I'm adding this comment for his readers and potentially the blog voyeurs. My point is, it's amazing how encouraging random comments can become. I can only hope that I continue to get the high from random value adding comments. I mean, I hope I never become too popular or too busy, that I get too many comments, and they simply become noise. *crossing fingers*.
Also, when you start taking digital relationships built from the comments, and doing things & networking, face to face...we'll, it's great.
BTW, I'll be switching to DisqUS, because of you and Howard, these features are great!
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
Amen brother
Kevin
· 1 year ago
your an idiot........!
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
LOL
johndodds
· 1 year ago
I think you just called your readership riff-raff. Thought I wouldn't notice?
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
i would way rather hang out with the "riff raff" that populates the comments on this blog than a fancy invite only conference.
scott crawford
· 1 year ago
Fred, Thanks for this. What a strikingly different expectation is set up when you invite someone to leave a comment vs inviting someone to join a discussion. We need to change the very labeling of the action.
Daniel Weinreb
· 1 year ago
On my blog, anyone can submit a comment, but I have to approve it. I like this system. I approve almost everything, but sometimes there are insulting comments, or even outright spam, and I appreciate the opportunity to remove that kind of uselessness so that the comments are more pleasant for everyone to read.
The comments are great. It's wonderful to find out that people are reading, and thinking about, what you wrote. It's instant gratification! When you publish a paper or a web page, you never get to find out how people are reacting to it.
S.t
· 1 year ago
WE RULE
Chris
· 1 year ago
It is easy to talk / riff / rant and make sense and be engaging. It is far more difficult to facilitate the conversation. Think about why it is so hard to find good moderators for a debate or a conference panel yet oh so easy to find people to be the panel.
The skill set and vision needed to facilitate are very unique b/c ego can't be in the way.
The reason the comment (discussion) threads here are good is b/c there is no ego in the way. It is an open environment designed FOR the discussion, not AGAINST the discussion.
RacerRick
· 1 year ago
You also have a knack for writing stuff that welcomes comments/discussion.
Don't know exactly how you do it but you do it.
RacerRick
· 1 year ago
Also, I just wish had a little more Jackson these days.
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
I do too
He kind of bailed when I moved to disqus
I don't really know how to get him re-engaged
fred
RacerRick
· 1 year ago
He's pretty funny. I miss that.
I called him a commie. Thought that might bring him back.
xavierv
· 1 year ago
Actually I think that your friend's velvet rope model of blog commenting is something we should get closer to.
If a site has 700 comments, I run away from it. There's good chances that the discussion has turned towards unrelated topics.
It'd be great if Disqus had a Fb app to connect your blog posts directly to your friends, with the option of directly commenting the post without leaving the social platform.
Is Daniel listening (you probably thought of it a thousand times)?
jackson
· 1 year ago
First off, I am a commie so, thanks, i guess.
The move to disqus didn't put me off, it was the 'two blogs' move. Before you started your other blog it was all right here, now this space is mostly full of boring tech stuff and charts I couldn't care less about. So I wait until there's call to comment. Read both blogs? LOL.......don't be an idiot.....
At any rate, long live the riff raff......
fredwilson
· 1 year ago
Everything is on fredwilson.vc
But the discussions aren't as good over there
Stefan
· 1 year ago
Hey Fred,
Do you guest blog on other sites? I would be honored if you wrote a piece for my new magazine, Liberalati.com
All Comments
So do seth's
Fred
I learn so much from my comments. I am not sure I'd still be blogging if I didn't have them to keep me going
Fred
So as more comments accumulate, micro-culture begin to emerge in comments area. Even though the comment system may seem like it's totally open to everyone, people actually begin to feel that 'invisible barrier' to participation, thus eliminating in advance those that are not fit in the micro-culture.
It's really up to the content of the blog, then the initial settlers who post the early majority of the comments.
When people can run with a topic, weather that's in a class room, in a debate, or say on a blog, that's when the real questions and answers can come out.
As a developer, I read a heavy does of tech. blogs - most of the time, my 'real' questions about a given technology or idea are addressed (or at least brought up) within the discussion (especially bug fixes and tweaks to presented code). That is where I tend to benefit the most, save the most time, and also gawk in awe of my peers opinions and intelligence!
I'm guessing that the same thing is true of all types of blogs regardless of topic.
I'm sure Fred already knows this, but I'm adding this comment for his readers and potentially the blog voyeurs. My point is, it's amazing how encouraging random comments can become. I can only hope that I continue to get the high from random value adding comments. I mean, I hope I never become too popular or too busy, that I get too many comments, and they simply become noise. *crossing fingers*.
Also, when you start taking digital relationships built from the comments, and doing things & networking, face to face...we'll, it's great.
BTW, I'll be switching to DisqUS, because of you and Howard, these features are great!
The comments are great. It's wonderful to find out that people are reading, and thinking about, what you wrote. It's instant gratification! When you publish a paper or a web page, you never get to find out how people are reacting to it.
The skill set and vision needed to facilitate are very unique b/c ego can't be in the way.
The reason the comment (discussion) threads here are good is b/c there is no ego in the way. It is an open environment designed FOR the discussion, not AGAINST the discussion.
Don't know exactly how you do it but you do it.
He kind of bailed when I moved to disqus
I don't really know how to get him re-engaged
fred
I called him a commie. Thought that might bring him back.
If a site has 700 comments, I run away from it. There's good chances that the discussion has turned towards unrelated topics.
It'd be great if Disqus had a Fb app to connect your blog posts directly to your friends, with the option of directly commenting the post without leaving the social platform.
Is Daniel listening (you probably thought of it a thousand times)?
The move to disqus didn't put me off, it was the 'two blogs' move. Before you started your other blog it was all right here, now this space is mostly full of boring tech stuff and charts I couldn't care less about. So I wait until there's call to comment. Read both blogs? LOL.......don't be an idiot.....
At any rate, long live the riff raff......
But the discussions aren't as good over there
Do you guest blog on other sites? I would be honored if you wrote a piece for my new magazine, Liberalati.com
Not often
What is liberalati?