Comment writing philosophy
After the huge success surrounding the downvote philosophy conversation, I'd like to raise another topic that, ironically enough, hasn't seem to have generated much of a pure discussion or analysis: comments themselves.
When do you feel compelled to write a comment? Whenever a video amuses you? Angers you? As a tactic to increase traffic to a video in the hopes of increasing its votes? Or to just give credit for the source of the video?
Or do you write in response to someone's rants? Along with many others, I've been a big proponent of encouraging people to keep their debate at the Sift civil; through a combination of cool heads and mutual respect, as well as the generally high intelligence of the user community here, VS has been remarkably successful in that regard, despite our penchant for heated debates about politics, religion, and other fun "not for the polite dinner table" issues. The level of discourse in an average comment thread here is like night and day compared to some of the inane chatter you get on the videos' original posting pages.
I've pushed my own views on this topic long enough - I'd like to know what other Sifters think: do you ever step back and think about the point of your comments and what their relationship is to the rest of your activity on the site? Are there any rules of thumb that you follow in your own postings?
When do you feel compelled to write a comment? Whenever a video amuses you? Angers you? As a tactic to increase traffic to a video in the hopes of increasing its votes? Or to just give credit for the source of the video?
Or do you write in response to someone's rants? Along with many others, I've been a big proponent of encouraging people to keep their debate at the Sift civil; through a combination of cool heads and mutual respect, as well as the generally high intelligence of the user community here, VS has been remarkably successful in that regard, despite our penchant for heated debates about politics, religion, and other fun "not for the polite dinner table" issues. The level of discourse in an average comment thread here is like night and day compared to some of the inane chatter you get on the videos' original posting pages.
I've pushed my own views on this topic long enough - I'd like to know what other Sifters think: do you ever step back and think about the point of your comments and what their relationship is to the rest of your activity on the site? Are there any rules of thumb that you follow in your own postings?
21 Comments
AnlizIf I publish a video on VideoSift, I try to provide an initial comment on it to lure in traffic. Often that comment will be something to either get the interest in the video or at least provide some background information on it.
Comments on other videos, however, are a different take.
When I watch a video on Google or [the now-stupid site] eBaumsworld, I typically want to know what other people think about it. This is why I love sites that provide comments for videos readily available without going to come forums and searching. To do my part, I always try to provide at least one good comment to the videos I upvote.
Responding to other comments typically aren't in my interest as much as just information comments, unless I feel obligated to correct someone, argue, or just flat-out agree with another person.
In regards to the entire comment operation of this board, I am VERY pleased with our mature this community is. Every comment is respectful and at least sensible. Grammar is typically very well written on 99% of all comments (blast it Westy, stop messing up the statistics). Hopefully this continues to be a tradition for a very long time on this site, even when its popularity brings in the crowd that do not feel they need to respect others.
joedirtI write the most contraversial things to lure in freepers. I like them to make an account and post 1 comment, and no votes and no submissions.
Not really, but I have been impressed with most of the discourse here. Seems very reasonable and mostly respectful especially when given the subject matter. Though I attribute the good behavior to a small community with intelligent people. As the site grows and draws more attention, you'll get more trolls and BOOM HEADSHOT types. (Those types of people will also abuse power, but that might not be an issuem cause I think it will be nearly impossible for a new account to get a gold star at this rate (new frontpage videos / total number of users)
I also don't mind westy. It's a something awful-type persona and it's funny how much his grammor and typos bothar people.
AnlizBOOM HEADSHOT!
darkrowan((((When do you feel compelled to write a comment? Whenever a video amuses you? Angers you? As a tactic to increase traffic to a video in the hopes of increasing its votes? Or to just give credit for the source of the video? Or do you write in response to someone's rants? ))))
Yes.... yes to all. I worry about those whom feel they must have a 'valid reason' to post. Mostly because in a free system such as ours ANY reason is valid.
mlxThis is all about me, right?
I probably shouldn't comment as much as I do: Y'all must think I'm a major bitch. But I've got to speak my mind. And I know I post some weird stuff and tend to defend my choices a little too vehemently...
Also: sorry westy, that I ranted at you about your spelling. I'll try to lighten up with the Grammar Nun from Hell bit. James and Dag can vouch as they've even been on the receiving end of it privately.
I do enjoy reading the comments. At first people didn't say much around here. Yeah, I know...in may case maybe that's not a bad thing.
mlxWhat, no editing in the blog? But I HAVE A SPELLING ERROR!!!
Slightly compulsive, sorry.
KrupoActually, mlx, I hadn't even thought of you when composing this blog posting (sorry).
The whole point was just to get other people's points of view and see if there's any competing views or ideas I hadn't thought of behind commenting.
Having said that, you inadvertently sort of point something else out: people will not always be thinking the same thing you have on your mind, which leads to hilarious instances of miscommunication.
darkrowan makes a really good point about not needing a "valid reason" - I guess I'm just wondering if people do have certain specific reasons for posting or whether it's done "just because"
Other reasons - technical clarification, context and background - are valid too. I think I must've considered them "too obvious" to mention initially - which is the other reason I was looking for people's comments, to kick out those 'too obvious' points my mind suppressed...
And then you have comments from the "TMI" category: http://www.videosift.com/story.php?id=8610#20228
AnlizIll be putting this in my idea blog, but how about the option to quote somebody?
Also, whats with the automatic indent?
KrupoOoh, I kind of like that indent...
Also, mlx, edit does work - try signing in with a different way of capitalizing your user ID (known bug) and see if that changes anything.
dotdudeI write when the inspiration and/or compulsion to do so comes. And I just assume not repeat what’s been covered with a “me too” or “ditto.”
deathcowWho is in the lead on comments? Certainly Anliz on comments per hour.
AnlizSorry guys, its been a slow day...the past few days
Typically I surf the web instead of doing what I should be doing (Physics homework, Java programming, etc) which causes me to pretty much spam the heck out of whatever site Im on.
I realllly wish this site had more traffic because I'm very much enjoying it but sometimes refreshing it several times in an hour won't even bring up a change.
joedirtOk, of the top 15, most comments go to:
dag 2093
siftbot 1635
Krupo 1442
JamesRoe 863
ant 661
Anliz 214 (in 5 days)
Krupolol, no worries - an active community is a healthy community. People come and go; when you're writing intelligent comments or otherwise doing productive things no one will complain.
Adding this comment to this thread for its succinct view on commenting and the community in general: http://www.videosift.com/story.php?id=7316#21422
Wow, that *is* a lot of comments. I'm #2 human? Damn. For another week or two, anyway.
AnlizWow that Siftbot is a spammer...
bnsaFor me, When I write comments, it usually compliments other VS users directly. Because of them, they have enlightened me, entertained me, or made me think (etc.). I thank them because just like them - I know it takes effort to find good stuff and it also takes some responsibility to decide what shouldn't go on there. As we do post for numbers/votes, we're also competing on putting up better videos, which in turn makes VS a better place then those "other" sites.
Sometimes, I may not agree with the video but will not downvote because I have the power but instead pass on the video for others to decide. I do this out of respect for others because I know how much it sucks when you are trying to get a video that you like off the ground and someone who's trigger-down happy shots it dead.
Sometimes I also narrate what I think of this so you understand why I posted it to provide you with a little more insight. In many ways, VS is also an experiment in video/social interaction. (Like this? check this out!)
joedirtKrupo,
actually, you are incorrect, the main blog post is the only thing that is not editable for some reason. the blog post on the front page incident yesterday is proof of this.
When you do edit a blog post, it gets confused and converted to a video post. I won't enumerate how, but it's not too complicated to figure out what the correct URL is.
joedirtOh an I logged in with all caps, and now I cannot edit the comments within a blog.
KrupoEr, we're in complete agreement - blog comments can get edits, postings can't be - those need an admin edit.
joedirtNo, were not. I guarantee you that you *can* edit a blog posting. Problem is that it will end up on the front page as a video that can be voted for. Oh and 'blog command won't work. It is likely that discard will once you end up on the frontpage
KrupoOh, gotcha; I believe you. Recommend removing that link to avoid disastrous abuse.
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