Comments or lack thereof
Let's talk about comments. In an intentionally open post.
I've noticed a tendency on LJ in the past few years for two things to be the case, and I think it's something a lot of us have fallen into. I'm very, very guilty of it myself, so I'll use myself as the prime example.
Case 1: I read my flist during lunch at work or school on my blackberry or a computer, but I don't comment. Sometimes I don't comment when I check at home either - too often, actually.
Case 2: I make a long post that I feel should merit some reply. Maybe it's a rant, maybe it's quirky meta, maybe it's satire and/or snark, maybe it's just a really long post with a lot of thoughts - who knows? The point is, I post it, I'm glad I did... only to realize one person, if anyone, left a comment.
In the latter case, I feel like I'm being ignored. Every time it happens I'm less encouraged to post. Sometimes I've even said stuff that amounts to "... is anyone home?" And in the past few months, a lot of my friends on LJ have been saying the same thing.
The thing is, however, I check the comments I posted, and I'll have posted two a week. I have a pretty large flist - admittedly, a lot of people don't post that much, but still, I should be commenting more. If I feel ignored, why am I ignoring?
I think that ultimately, there's a few problems with LJ that affect commenting. And I know from other entries I've read on my flist and personal conversations that I've had with people that it's not just me. So what's going on?
I think the first issue is other technology. With easier access to the internet outside of the home, it's more common for people like me to read their LJ flists... well, outside of our homes. But there's a reason we're not home to begin with; we have somewhere we're supposed to be or something we're supposed to do. I know I'll see that a friend has posted a fic, and I have every intention of reading it the second I get home - except by the time I get home six hours later, I've ranted about work, fed the cat, made dinner, and I completely forget about the fic I meant to review. Or the post I meant to comment on. It's the same reason I suck at replying to emails.
And then there's the fact that I think the internet's tone has changed a little. I think that internet culture has become less about interaction and more about simply relaying ideas and experiences. On Facebook, a friend posted exciting news; instead of people saying "congratulations!" or "wow, that's great," they simply hit "LIKE." Although it may seem lazy, it's simply another way of patting someone on the back or grinning or whatnot. Sometimes people don't betray a lot in real life - I have friends who don't express much with words, but their facial expressions, gestures and other things express it all. Because you can't give someone a surprised look or apologetic look on Facebook, LIKE is one equivalent. And really, long before Facebook existed, forums had emoticons that pretty much did the same thing:
OP: I'm pregnant!
Ensemble: *Insert slew of emoticons here*
But LJ doesn't have such a function. You can type in :D and all that, of course, but it's not necessarily the same thing. So instead, it's easier to comment when you think of words. Which of course doesn't always happen. (Of course, there are always .gif images, but it's not automatic and... I don't know how it's done, my knowledge of online technology is pretty much stuck in 2002 or something, but it doesn't look easy.)
But you can't really LIKE or retweet on LJ. You can use :/ and :D but that's about it. LJ users can post .gifs and cat macros, but those aren't part of the site. You have to know how to make/get/post a .gif or cat macro. Does the lack of a quick "hey cool" reply function affect comments? Perhaps somewhat. There isn't a way to say "hey, I just want you to know I read this but don't have a lot to say (or a lot of time to say anything) about it."
There's other small factors, of course. Sometimes, people just lose touch, the way they do in real life. Interests change, lives change... and while we all like to say "that won't matter," the reality is, sometimes it does. Maybe for petty reasons, maybe for reasons that make a lot of sense - either way, it happens.
All of this being said...I do think that if you want people to comment, it's only fair to comment as well. Often I post and don't get many comments, but then I realize either I haven't commented much myself lately, or I don't respond to comments when I do get them. It isn't fair to want things that you're not giving. Plus, isn't it only natural to pay more attention to someone whom you've been interacting with a lot lately? It isn't even something we give a lot of thought to - that's just how it happens.
Edit 1: I actually decided to flock this entry, only because I'm posting from work. As soon as I get a chance, probably this evening, I am going to deflock it.
Edit 2: And deflocked!
I've noticed a tendency on LJ in the past few years for two things to be the case, and I think it's something a lot of us have fallen into. I'm very, very guilty of it myself, so I'll use myself as the prime example.
Case 1: I read my flist during lunch at work or school on my blackberry or a computer, but I don't comment. Sometimes I don't comment when I check at home either - too often, actually.
Case 2: I make a long post that I feel should merit some reply. Maybe it's a rant, maybe it's quirky meta, maybe it's satire and/or snark, maybe it's just a really long post with a lot of thoughts - who knows? The point is, I post it, I'm glad I did... only to realize one person, if anyone, left a comment.
In the latter case, I feel like I'm being ignored. Every time it happens I'm less encouraged to post. Sometimes I've even said stuff that amounts to "... is anyone home?" And in the past few months, a lot of my friends on LJ have been saying the same thing.
The thing is, however, I check the comments I posted, and I'll have posted two a week. I have a pretty large flist - admittedly, a lot of people don't post that much, but still, I should be commenting more. If I feel ignored, why am I ignoring?
I think that ultimately, there's a few problems with LJ that affect commenting. And I know from other entries I've read on my flist and personal conversations that I've had with people that it's not just me. So what's going on?
I think the first issue is other technology. With easier access to the internet outside of the home, it's more common for people like me to read their LJ flists... well, outside of our homes. But there's a reason we're not home to begin with; we have somewhere we're supposed to be or something we're supposed to do. I know I'll see that a friend has posted a fic, and I have every intention of reading it the second I get home - except by the time I get home six hours later, I've ranted about work, fed the cat, made dinner, and I completely forget about the fic I meant to review. Or the post I meant to comment on. It's the same reason I suck at replying to emails.
And then there's the fact that I think the internet's tone has changed a little. I think that internet culture has become less about interaction and more about simply relaying ideas and experiences. On Facebook, a friend posted exciting news; instead of people saying "congratulations!" or "wow, that's great," they simply hit "LIKE." Although it may seem lazy, it's simply another way of patting someone on the back or grinning or whatnot. Sometimes people don't betray a lot in real life - I have friends who don't express much with words, but their facial expressions, gestures and other things express it all. Because you can't give someone a surprised look or apologetic look on Facebook, LIKE is one equivalent. And really, long before Facebook existed, forums had emoticons that pretty much did the same thing:
OP: I'm pregnant!
Ensemble: *Insert slew of emoticons here*
But LJ doesn't have such a function. You can type in :D and all that, of course, but it's not necessarily the same thing. So instead, it's easier to comment when you think of words. Which of course doesn't always happen. (Of course, there are always .gif images, but it's not automatic and... I don't know how it's done, my knowledge of online technology is pretty much stuck in 2002 or something, but it doesn't look easy.)
But you can't really LIKE or retweet on LJ. You can use :/ and :D but that's about it. LJ users can post .gifs and cat macros, but those aren't part of the site. You have to know how to make/get/post a .gif or cat macro. Does the lack of a quick "hey cool" reply function affect comments? Perhaps somewhat. There isn't a way to say "hey, I just want you to know I read this but don't have a lot to say (or a lot of time to say anything) about it."
There's other small factors, of course. Sometimes, people just lose touch, the way they do in real life. Interests change, lives change... and while we all like to say "that won't matter," the reality is, sometimes it does. Maybe for petty reasons, maybe for reasons that make a lot of sense - either way, it happens.
All of this being said...I do think that if you want people to comment, it's only fair to comment as well. Often I post and don't get many comments, but then I realize either I haven't commented much myself lately, or I don't respond to comments when I do get them. It isn't fair to want things that you're not giving. Plus, isn't it only natural to pay more attention to someone whom you've been interacting with a lot lately? It isn't even something we give a lot of thought to - that's just how it happens.
Edit 1: I actually decided to flock this entry, only because I'm posting from work. As soon as I get a chance, probably this evening, I am going to deflock it.
Edit 2: And deflocked!