Comments - Pro & Con

Here's a question for you, and I really need your feedback on it. What do you think of a blog without comments? Does it upset you? Do you feel that it's a freedom of speech issue? For a blog that is sharing information, are comments necessary?

I've seen some people turn comments off because it either interferes with the blog or they just decided that it was about the author being able to write interrupted. I have to admit, I can't blame a few websites especially when the topics are controversial. It becomes apparent that commenters are either in competition with the blogger or are trying to distract people with a phony point.

But does turning comments off prevent a community from being established?

This is not a throwaway question. Nor is it about turning comments off on Gasp. But I would like your feedback on it. I have my reasons...

Comments

[freeman]

Personally, I think the beauty of blogging is that there aren't any rules and each space is personal and privately run. If someone turns off their comments, I don't take offense or anything.

I do, though, think that comment moderation is so easy, and the medium is so vibrant WITH comments, that turning them off is a very peculiar move over all.

[Scott Walters]

It's an interesting question, Laura. Is a blog without comments still a blog, or just a website? Seth Godin, author of "The Dip" and other marketing books, doesn't have comments. But he publishes his private email, and responds to every email he gets personally and darn near immediately. Personally, if I read a blog that doesn't have comments, my interest tends to be lower because I feel left out of the conversation. That's me, though -- I'm looking for conversation, because I read books and articles constantly and don't need to read more on-line.

[Elizabeth]

I think you have to do what works for you. That might be running w/o comments or maybe having them sometimes. One blog I read turns them off when it's a sure thing that she's going to get nasty/flaming comments. Why bother if there's no chance of a conversation? It doesn't bother me either way. It's usually clear why a blog operates the way it does and I can respect that.

[Elizabeth]

You might find this article interesting.

http://reconstruction.eserver.org/064/boyd.shtml

Here's a quote:
" Blogs too have an addressable location, but unlike rooms set up for conversation, bloggers speak of it being their blog. Bloggers discuss their blogs as though it is their home and others are invited to come over, provided that they abide by the norms devised by the blogger. The speaker controls the style, access, and whether or not listeners can comment. While anyone can access most blogs, it is this sense of ownership that makes the blog feel like a personal space."

[Joshua James]

I like comments, real comments, not the spammy ones, but real people comments. I think it brings the writer even closer to the audience.

but it's really whatever you feel comfortable with.

[trav]

I agree that comments should be on. I guess if your old posts get spammed a lot, it'd be understandable to turn them off. But when I run across a blog without comments, it just feels like a press release or a flashing site saying "me me me", not hi, nice to meet you, let's talk about cool stuff.
It's no fun that way and no way to create a community. Now you can get plenty of attention without comments, but not a community, like you mention.

[Malachy Walsh]

I used to like them.

But in the "theatro-sphere" - where I blogged most - Hunka was right. They've become boring and bracing at once. Lots of people with little ideas and big resentments.

So I've commented less and less. And enjoy them less and less.

However, for me, a blog without them is closer to a newspaper column in digital form than anything else.

And I read columns when they're smart, so... it wouldn't keep me from coming back