August 26, 2009
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Short Question
I want to do a little better at replying to my readers when they comment. I think trading comment for comment is a little silly, but I also don't want to forget replying to someone who is consistently giving thoughtful replies to my posts. That said, I was wondering--do you think it is better to reply directly to the commenter on the same post, or to go to their site and leave a comment on one of their posts? Which do you prefer?
Also, to make this more interesting, tell me about a memory you have of your grandparents.
Comments (36)
hmmm.... I think either way it's fine... going to the person's site and commenting is good if you have time... My grandparents... well my grandma passed away this June and she's was probably the most gorgeous woman of her time. I remember how she hated it when I wore artificial jewellary. Man! I miss her!
Well if the reply is specifically about what they said in a comment, it'll be more appropriate on your site, no?
haha umm. When I stayed in my summer house back in India, I was once in the shower when a huge furry long-legged spider crawled up the curtain. I screamed through the window (there is a window in the wall right by the bathtub) for help. Grandpa, who lives in the house next to my summerhouse, saw my distress signal from his patio and ran over, came up the stairs while I crouched in a corner of the bathtub, and without hesitation snatched the spider away and killed it.
I think it is better to reply in the post for most people. I know I don't do that but I think I like that method better when reading other sites.
I stayed with my grandma for a week once. She was abusive to my mom when she was little. She wasn't abusive to me but she was so mean that it made me wonder why mom let me stay with her for a week. I guess this story won't end up on a grandmother card at WalMart.
I prefer it when people reply to my comments on the same post - it helps me remember what my comment was about and who it was towards.
Also - I remember spending a couple weeks every summer with my grandparents. They would take me to the beach a lot.
I don't think it matters, as long as there is some mutual give and take.
memory of my grandma: the only time I ever heard her swear was when she referred to Democrats as "sons of bitches."
If you are wanting to answer their comment, then on your own site is better. If you are more wanting to acknowledge their comment, their site is better; it shows a little more time and thought.
One of my clearest memories of my grandparents when I was little is when we were at the zoo and them teaching me and my cousins NOT to feed the pigeons until we were done eating unless we wanted to get swarmed.
back before the reply feature, I would always just leave a comment on the other person's blog. I think the reply feature let's you respond directly to the person on your site, and they can reference their original comment better, but it ends up increasing your comment count and making them come to your blog to view the reply. some people like that and prefer the extra traffic and the discussion it generates, while others might feel that it's bit self absorbed. I just think it's good to keep in mind that someone took the time to read your entry and comments, so it's always nice to check out their site and see if they have content that you can respond to as well. reciprocity isn't required, but it's definitely a kinder way to blog.
It works for me either way. If the comment is something your other readers would want to read then you should do it on your site if not you can visit mine?....... Nona was my favorite grand she taught me to make pasta and in the process taught me a lot about life.
grandparents: erm..ever year my grandma would give us houseslippers for christmas. I hate houseslippers to this day. haha. moral: don't give a child houseslippers as a gift.
I prefer keeping the thread on one site. Otherwise, I forget what was said before and have to go back and look anyway.
My grandmother got mad at me once and said she wasn't going to let me come to her funeral. When I asked her how she was planning to stop me, it's the only time I ever saw her speechless. It was like a miracle.
Reply on your own site (and of course, use the reply feature so they will get to read it). If there's something further you'd like to discuss in depth, then you can send a personal message to follow-up.
My grandfather. I just recently posted a pic of him w/ me when I was young. When I was young (elementary school age), he would take me on his business calls w/ him. He sometimes me the "boss lady" (not in a derogatory sense). I didn't really do anything other than keep him company and carry the accounting books, but I felt special when I got to go along with him. He was proud to have me along with him.
I reply on my own site and then comment on people who I am not subscribed to. If I'm subscribed to them, it means that I'm probably commenting on their posts already.
One of the best memories I have of my grandma is all of the things she cooked. She had several recipes that only she cooked. I'm sad that I don't have those recipes now!
That depends if you want to carry on a discussions about an entry, if so you should keep it there. Greetings and salutations belong on the other persons site. Everyone likes to have their own writing commented on so while reading them if something comes to mind.
Grand parents are an interesting subject. Just talking about grandfathers I had one who was a hard working dairy farmer. He devoted his very long life to his family. And another who road a Harley around the country and had a girlfriend (make that a few girlfriends) younger than his daughter. He devoted his very short life to having fun.
It could work either way. If the comment/reply is relevant to the post, I think it's better to reply in the comments section of that same post. It might be confusing if you left a comment about your post on another person's post, which was about some other topic entirely. However, if the discussion goes off on a tangent, then I guess it may be better to discuss it in a private message. That's not to say it would be bad to visit the person's site. I try to visit the site of people who comment on my entries. Sometimes, I leave a comment and sometimes, I don't.
My grandmother used to live with us. She would take care of my brother and me when our parents were at work, and I would help her make bread.
- J. M. 713
i think a lot of that depends on the comment. sometimes comments are specific to the contents of a post, others are more generic. in any case, if someone leaves me a thoughtful comment, i try to respond and stop by their site. i just feel it courteous if i have the time. sometimes, i don't. it also helps that the number of commenters that i have is relatively small. i don't think you could possibly go to everyone's site, you have too many consistent readers.
as far as my grandparents, i remember this one day when i was a kid, maybe 4-6 yrs old. we went as a family (extended family and all) to this fishing place. thinking back, it was pretty stupid that this place even existed b/c fish were in shallow ponds for you to catch and take home with you. but, as a kid, it was kind of exciting. i remember running around there with my great grand parents, the two who basically raised me. it must have been tough for them, i was so energetic and young, always running around everywhere. my great grandfather was so patient with me, so careful. i miss them.
I was wondering--do you think it is better to reply directly to the
commenter on the same post, or to go to their site and leave a comment
on one of their posts? Which do you prefer?
It depends. I wouldn't comment on someone's post unless it was something I wanted to comment on. I wouldn't do it just to do it. Same for replying to comments. I reply only if the person's comment is something I want to reply to.
I hardly knew my grandparents. I remember visiting one of them in a nursing home.
Good question. I prefer replying directly to the commenter on the same post, that way others can also benefit from reading your comment. Depending on the comment, I will often then go and check out the commenter's site and then leave a comment if/when I have something to contribute.
My grandparents: my mom's parents are both still alive. They are farmers and live 4 miles away. My dad's mom died when I was younger. She had freckles. She gave them to me.
My dad's dad remarried a few years after my grandma died. He married a woman that I grew up knowing, so that was great. It took a long time to really accept that though and I still don't see her as a substitute (not that she would want me to) for my grandmother, but she makes my grandpa so happy. Right now my grandpa is in the hospital very sick from CHF and Pnemonia. This might be the end. 
How about both? Reply to their comment on your own post, and then go to their site and check their posts out.
Directly replying is better than going to their site. All comments about said post should be posted on the same thread so that all other readers can see as well. That's why that feature was created. Plus, there is less clicking involved-- more convenient for everyone!
I wasnt able to spend a lot of time with the grandparents but my grandmas used to always take be to the public library and bookstores when i was younger. She really influenced me. I'm such a bookworm now and I love it.
I like both. Reciprocation is nice.
My grandparents used to take me with them to the Mercadito in EasLos and we used to eat lunch and listen to mariachis. I miss them. They were the best grandparents anyone could ask for.
Also, it's funny that you say this, since I just got a comment from you on something from a week or so ago.
I was suprised. But I also got some replies from Laurelen from older comments too. You must be on the same wavelength.
I think it is better to go to someone's site and leave a comment there (or your reply), but it is convenient to just reply directly on the same post.
I prefer the convenient one, but it wouldn't hurt me either to go to someone's site and comment there.
About my grandparents? Well, I wasn't there when this happened, but its so funny, so I'll share it to you:
When my grandparents (mom's side) were still in New York at that time, they went to this mall and my aunt and uncle with their kids had to go somewhere so they told my grandparents that they'll just text or call them on the cellphone if they are on the way to pick them up. So after an hour of shopping, the cellphone rang, and because my grandfather is a very panicky kind of guy, he kind of lost it, so he went to the Customer Service section to ask the lady using the PA system to announce to my grandmother (who was shopping by herself and nowhere to be found in the big mall) that my uncle is coming to pick them up. But the lady was still busy, so instead of waiting, my grandfather picked up the microphone and announced "Amparo, Amparo, they are coming!" in a Filipino dialect and the whole mall grew silent. They probably thought it was some kind of terrorist. My grandma heard it and she was already lining up to pay for her items, but upon hearing it, she dumped all of her stuff and didn't buy it at all.
By the time my uncle, my aunt and their kids arrived, my grandparents told the whole story and one of the kids said that it was so embarrassing.
I'd say replying to the person in the post is good, it keeps the discussion going if it's a topic for dicussion, and doesn't confuse other readers who like to read through the comments. I also think that going to the readers site once in a while, when time is available, and commenting on a post they have written is nice as well.
When I was younger, my grandpa (on my dad's side) and I would have "races" in my front yard when he came to visit. I would ask him to race and we would stand on one side of the property and would have to run to a tree on the other side of the yard and then back. We would say "ready, set, go" and I would take off running. My grandpa would take two steps forward, then turn around and go back. When I would run to the finish I would always exclaim that he cheated and he had to run all the way across the yard and back and he would tell me that he did, but he was just too fast and I couldn't see him. I'd ask for a rematch and the same thing would occur. I don't know why I would expect different results from the same situation, but I guess that's part of being a kid, you're quite trusting. I thought it was quite funny at the time (albeit a bit frustrating), but now I find it even more hilarious.
reply on the post they commented on so they can quickly refresh their memory on what they said.
my grandma had me convinced she was magic when i was in pre-school. she did it on purpose.
Better on the same post, IMHO.
My grandfather was a police inspector during the Japanese Occupation of my country. I admire him and respect him very much for his sacrifice and duty to our nation. I miss him so - he passed away when I was 12.
reply to your blog comment in your blog
read thier stuff and comment on thier blog
... they were once young and are now old, LOL
On the same post that person commented on. For me if a person comes to my blog and comments on a random post that they are being rude, because they are completely off topic. Also, directly replying helps jog the memory. There is way too many other sites we go to to be able to remember each one.
Another thing. For me I feel it is something I need to do. I will reply to each one even if it means just to give a smile or to say thank you. If that persons comment is off subject I might tell them kindly to keep on the subject of the post or I wont respond but that is the only time I wont respond.
i was actually just thinking about commenting and commenting back! i really don't like it when i constantly comment on someone's xanga, but they never comment on mine. it's like i'm getting to know them, but they're just ignoring me.
it might be silly, but i think my opinion on that stems from back in the day when every one had a xanga and trading comments was just courtesy. hahah
If they comment on your post, reply on your post using the reply button to the specific issue. Then, swing around to their site and give it a look-over, and comment there if anything interests you.
Surely leaving a comment on the same post would be better. "Hi, about what you commented on my post on 4th August (here the link), I wanted to say ..." is a little confusing.
My grandfather used to pratice calligraphy on old newspapers before throwing them away.
Okay I am only replying to the commenting thing. I think if you have only a few comments it is nice to reply on other people's pages. But once you start getting alot of comments it is hard enough to reply on the same page.
For me, replying on your own post (by clicking the 'reply' button on their comment) seems to be much easier. It's easier to track, personally, and if I want to read someone else's conversation before I so politely interrupt with my POV, I can check to see if it hasn't been said yet.
The earliest memory I have of my paternal grandparents is when my family and my grandparents went for Umrah [wiki] back in 1990. My grandma and granddad were both in wheelchairs and my parents were pushing both. I was 4, so they kept telling me to sit on one of their laps but I kept jumping off and running ahead. My granddad, being the funny guy he was, kept challenging me to a race whenever I'd run and would keep yelling at my dad to go faster so that he could win. But of course, he'd let me win every time.
back in the day my friends and i used to reply on each others sites, on their most recent post. i tried that once recently and the person got confused about why i kept going to her post to reply.lol.
i don't remember any really interesting stories at the moment, but i do recall that my grandparents had a nieghbor who had a turtle farm. when we visited them we always liked to go visit the turtles too...lol. i've never heard of a turtle farm before or since, it was just those neighbors.
Commenting on the same post does provoke discussion and good interaction but I think also it is good to visit the other persons blog, read their post and leave a comment. Accomplishes two things, gets people talking about a similar idea regarding your post and also makes the other person whose blog you comment on feel their words are important and pertinent.
Sometimes I reply on the post sometimes I reply on their site. It depends on a) the situation and b) whatever tradition that Xanga and i have set up.
My grandfather recently had a stroke, so now when I spend time with them, I remember every moment. I like to pretend that they'll be here forever, but stuff like this happens and suddenly I remember I can't.
I prefer a reply on the same post....otherwise i'm not always sure what the person is talking about.
And...grandparents...I only ever knew one full set. Sundays were grandparents days. We went there after church. I liked grocery shopping with grandma sometimes, too. Certs and Clorets were always in supply. Then they moved to Kansas. But I was allowed to play bingo there, so I was still a happy kid.
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