Can You Have Too Many Comments?
Sat, 15 September, 2007 – 12:13 pm
As a blogger we all love having comments on posts. It means that people are reading for a start, it also means that you've written something that someone feels compelled to remark on. However, can it get to the point where your posts are being swamped with comments and perhaps it's not so good? A couple of blogs that I read constantly get 15-20+ comments. One blog I've been reading for over a year, others are newer on my reading list. I think it's great for the author, clearly they're doing well with their posts, however it can sometimes put me off commenting.
Perhaps it's just me, probably is 
I may read exceptionally busy sites such as Shoemoney but I would never comment. Why not? Partly because I don't think that my comment would really have much impact, and that on a site such as that, some people just comment for the sake of commenting on a busy site and I don't like to be thought of like that. Also often when a post gets an exceptional amount of comments, your comment can be a little lost in the crowd.
I've never tried to belong to a very busy forum either, well I've tried places such as SitePoint, but I felt that the community feel wasn't there as posters didn't really know each other besides the main moderators. I prefer a slightly smaller tight-knit place, and I guess the same goes for blogs and the commentators.
Of course I don't want blogs not to grow for people, and I'm not saying that I'd stop reading a blog because it's suddenly popular, but I do feel a little intimidated when a blog continually receives a lot of comments.
I know, I'm strange
Hehe I reckon I have your mindset too. I only really comment on the blogs which I know the author will benefit from my comment. I know, it sounds strange, but I feel that in a JohnChow type blog, my comment isn't appreciated, so there isn't that much point in leaving one.
I just hope that my blog always retains that feeling of belonging to a community – which is why I always try and answer to the comments. However, that's getting a lot harder now…something for me to think about.
Adnan
By Adnan on Sat, 15 September, 2007
I can see what you mean. There are some sites I have stopped commenting on because they almost seem cliquish.
By Chuck on Sat, 15 September, 2007
Adnan, you do a pretty good job of acknowledging commentators. On occasion you'll have a post that I could comment on but because it's been said by someone else I often don't think it's worth repeating it.
Chuck, I agree on the cliquish sites. I don't want to appear as just one of the 'sheep', especially as I probably glance at comments on these blogs on occasion and think that of a few of the others who have clearly commented for the sake of commenting!
By Sarah on Sat, 15 September, 2007
I absolutely agree. If a blog gets 20+ comments, usually I don't even bother.
By Jamie on Sat, 15 September, 2007
Comments are great! If your articles are good, you'll always get praises and suggestions, which is very encouraging.
By goldfries on Sat, 15 September, 2007
Jamie, thanks for your comment. 20+ comments is a good cut off point I think!
Goldfries, while comments are great from a blogger's perspective, if people do feel a little overwhelmed by so many comments, making them not comment, then perhaps lots of comments aren't always great.
Of course if someone hadn't said what I felt needed saying I'd still probably say it. If it went unacknowledged then I probably wouldn't bother in the future.
By Sarah on Sat, 15 September, 2007
A large number of comments can put me off adding my own comment because I'd want to make sure I wasn't just repeating what someone else has already written.
Often the signal:noise ratio can be quite low, especially on some of the guru-ish blogs, caused by their following of sycophants who only serve to blow sunshine with at every opportunity.
Oooh, how long have we been able to edit comments? I'll bet it's been ages and I've just not noticed…
By Will on Sat, 15 September, 2007
Haha Will, cheers for the comment and yes you can edit comments. I added the plugin in May
By Sarah on Sat, 15 September, 2007
Can't please everyone.
I believe having more comments will drive even more comments in.
By goldfries on Sat, 15 September, 2007
Goldfries you're right in that a post usually needs some comments to get more. If you yourself are not put off with many comments on a post then that's great for the blogger
As you say, you can't please everyone. Some people will comment on an empty post, some will only comment if the post has a few comments, some will stop if there are too many.
I guess it's finding the right balance.
By Sarah on Sun, 16 September, 2007
I'm similar in regard to the amount of comments…kind of. 15-20 comments won't scare me off, but 50 or more probably will because I will feel the need to read through all of the comments before I make my comment and well, i'm lazy and don't usually feel like it. So it's easier to just leave.
By sara on Sun, 16 September, 2007
It can also depend on the post, but 20+ is the key number for me I think. Even if what I have to say is exceptionally important, I'd possibly just write my own post and mention the other during it.
By Sarah on Sun, 16 September, 2007
Perhaps there's a comment plugin out there that seperates comments to pages.
5 pages of comments with 10 comments per page is less intimidating than having 50 comments in 1.
By goldfries on Tue, 18 September, 2007
As someone who often receives anything up to 80 comments on an entry it panics me when people say they don't like commenting on entries that other people have already added their tuppence worth to!
I personally read each and every comment on my blog, and if necessary reply via e-mail. I don't mind when people repeat something that's already been said, it just shows me what the general opinion is. I hope that reassures some of you
By Jem on Tue, 18 September, 2007
Goldfries, that's a good idea. There probably is a plugin to paginate comments. I've certainly seen it in use on other sites.
Jem, thanks for your comment, I think it does go some way towards reassurance coming from someone with that many comments on each post! Am certainly impressed with your comment count
Thanks for stopping by.
By Sarah on Tue, 18 September, 2007
It's ironic that this post is almost reaching the threshold that would put some of us off commenting!
Fortunately, it's not as daunting when you've been following a particular series of comments from the beginning!
By Will on Sun, 23 September, 2007
I was beginning to think that myself!
By Sarah on Sun, 23 September, 2007
There's a blog I occasionally flick through that gets 80 plus comments on some entries. The blog owner now plans to reward the top 3 commentators each month with cash through PayPal. Some say that more spam/nonsense comments will be made by those clearly after the money and not well thought through comments or feedback. I agree with that. It'll be interesting to note the quality (and quantity) of comments left on there now. But yes, if a large amount of comments have been made on a blog that I'm perhaps not too familiar with posting on then it does put me off contributing.
By Sam on Tue, 16 October, 2007
I try to ensure that all comments on here are not spam, and I won't authorise any comment that is clearly an advertisement of the commentator's service, especially if it's in the mod queue and therefore their one (and probably only) comment.
I think if a blog wants to award top commentators then they need to keep an eye on spammy stuff. Especially where money is concerned!
I must admit, I'm still wary of commenting on a heavily commented post. Despite Jem's reassurances!
By Sarah on Wed, 17 October, 2007
No way. You can never have enough comments. Actually, I usually enjoy reading the comments as much as I enjoy the blog. I can think of quite a few blogs where some of the regular commentators are really good. So I like reading all the comments and follow the conversation.
Sare this is my first time here…lots of info. You must post like crazy!
By Christopher on Fri, 22 February, 2008
Hi Christopher. I think if a good discussion can get going then yeah a lot of comments are great, but as with a forum, if you're an outsider then it can be good to read but a bit daunting to post. Guess it's all down to confidence!
As for my posting, not really. I post a couple of times a week on this blog and my AIS blog, time permitting. Hope you like the site
By Sarah on Fri, 22 February, 2008