You’ve probably heard that saying, “When you point a finger at someone else, three fingers are pointing back at you.” Yes, it’s rather cliché, but like many clichés, it’s also rather true.
Here’s an embarrassing example.
For quite awhile now I’ve been mildly annoyed each time I’ve commented on a blog that doesn’t send an e-mail notification, or even give you the choice of opting in to receiving a notification, when someone replies to your comment. I mean, part of what we as bloggers are trying to cultivate is community, right? And a place for connection and discussion? So assuming their blogging platform allows them to do so, why wouldn’t any blogger address such a silly little detail and make their blogs more interactive and discussion-based? I mean, really!
Well, guess what? Just today I discovered that my OWN blog doesn’t send notifications of replies to my visitors’ comments, nor does it give them the choice of opting in to receive a notification.
I pointed a finger at others, and as per the cliché, three fingers are pointing firmly back at me.
Boy, do I ever feel like an idiot.
I knew that writing more would help me learn more, but never imagined a functional technicality would teach me a life lesson and remind me about the danger of judging others, even in a very tiny way about something as silly as blog comment notifications.
So anyway, I’ve now remedied the notification issue in my blog, but more importantly, I hereby apologize profusely to any of my fellow bloggers who have unknowingly received a frustrated mental tsk and virtual pointed finger from me. I have been sincerely humbled by those three fingers pointing accusingly back at me, and in future will endeavour to pay attention to the plank in my own eye before worrying about some perceived speck in yours.
And now I will slink off in thoroughly chastened humility.
Tim Casey March 5, 2012 at 9:17 am
I sometimes have had my inbox overwhelmed by this function as I throw my 2 cents around all the time, and have had to go back and turn the function off just to keep my inbox manageable. Btw if something bugs you it bugs you, you are a human.
Dawn
Twitter: ABCsalad
March 5, 2012 at 10:14 am
I know what you mean – particularly in this “100 comments on your blog” event that I just participated in, my Inbox has been flooded!
Dawn recently posted… Keeping me humble
Leslie March 5, 2012 at 9:54 am
Wow — I’m off to check my blog and make sure it has that feature. (Frankly, unless I leave someone a comment that includes a question, I don’t tick that box because my inbox can be flooded with comments for days later with some of the more popular blogs I read.)
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Dawn
Twitter: ABCsalad
March 5, 2012 at 10:16 am
It depends for me – I don’t think I’d do it with really busy blogs (I learned my lesson in the recent “100 comments on your blog” event!), but it’s really nice to know someone’s response to what you posted in their blog. I guess I just like having the option.
Dawn recently posted… Keeping me humble
Classic NYer March 5, 2012 at 12:33 pm
Yeah, well, shit like that happens, and accepting it gracefully makes you awesome. No judgement here.
Plus, I’m pretty sure my comment system doesn’t have email notifications. Actually, I’m not sure at all. I’ve never checked up on it…
Classic NYer recently posted… On strawberry cheesecakes
Dawn
Twitter: ABCsalad
March 5, 2012 at 8:31 pm
Thank you!
Dawn recently posted… Keeping me humble
Sabrina March 5, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Good one! I don’t check those boxes because I also scatter my 2 cents all around the web. I thought subscribing would keep me in the know but it didn’t help either. Of course, constantly checking for replies to our comments does help with stats but we’d prefer that those stats actually reflect true visitors and not someone stalking the same post hoping it’s owner has responded to a comment.
What’s funny is since I don’t use the check box you’ve referenced, I assumed that others don’t as well. So, ahem, in all my smartness I went and installed the WP plugin Comment Reply Notification so that people will receive an email when I respond to their comments because I too want to encourage conversation. So now anyone that’s checked the little box probably gets two notifications.
Oh, well…it’s all rooted in good intentions.
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Dawn
Twitter: ABCsalad
March 5, 2012 at 8:33 pm
I don’t always use it – but it’s nice to have the option, you know? I just can’t believe I didn’t realize my own blog didn’t even offer that option!
Good intentions are what it’s all about.
Dawn recently posted… Keeping me humble
Susan
Twitter: susandusterhoft
March 5, 2012 at 11:42 pm
There are so many little details to remember, it’s simply too difficult to keep up with them all. I set up my blog to make it as easy as possible for everyone. While the set up criteria may not always be perfect, it works for me at this point in my life. I understand the importance interacting with each other, but with as many blogs as I follow, my email inbox would be overflowing with all the comments made back and forth with each other. With all of my writing commitments, I simply do not have time to respond to every one of them. I will, however, check my setup to see if this option is available and will make it an available option if my readers would like to use it. Thanks for sharing your insights! I appreciate it!
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Dawn
Twitter: ABCsalad
March 6, 2012 at 10:01 am
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Susan! My thing about the comment notifications is really rather silly – it’s all about personal preference, really, and we all have our own ways of doing things!
Dawn recently posted… Keeping me humble
Elise Davis March 6, 2012 at 12:25 am
I have no clue if mine has the option or not. I think I assumed it did, but never really thought about it. I always want to know what someone commented back so I can return the comment if appropriate, but the inbox thing and our slow internet makes it all so cumbersome. Often, I do a mental note telling myself I will go back and check, but of course, I forget because I’ve got ten million mental notes already in the queue. I don’t mind if people don’t comment on every thing or respond back to everything, but I stop commenting on blogs when I see the author rarely responds to anyone.
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Dawn
Twitter: ABCsalad
March 6, 2012 at 10:03 am
I’m the same, Elise – I understand that on bigger blogs the author won’t have time to respond to everyone, but if they never or rarely respond to anyone it’s a bit of a turnoff to me. I like to know that they appreciate their readers!
Dawn recently posted… Keeping me humble
Kathy March 6, 2012 at 4:06 am
You know, I have no clue if I have this or not!! LMAO Maybe I should try to figure that one out.
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
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Dawn
Twitter: ABCsalad
March 6, 2012 at 10:03 am
LOL, you know, it’s probably not a big deal to anyone but me! I get silly ideas about things.
Dawn recently posted… Keeping me humble
Masked Mom March 6, 2012 at 10:12 am
You know I didn’t even make it all the way through this without opening a new tab to check my own blog, right? I’m all about finding life lessons in unexpected places.
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Dawn
Twitter: ABCsalad
March 6, 2012 at 10:43 am
LOL! And me too.
Dawn recently posted… Keeping me humble
Sylver Blaque March 6, 2012 at 1:49 pm
You have a wonderful blog, Dawn. And I enjoyed this post. Am impressed by your self-accountability, and the way in which you incorporated it into a helpful, informative article. Nice work!
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Dawn
Twitter: ABCsalad
March 6, 2012 at 6:09 pm
Thank you so much for your kind words – very much appreciated!
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