Very true, and that's why many blog authors don't want them. They only want people to comment who have something worthwhile to say.

Sometimes with fun groups the blog comments end up being more entertaining than the original blog...

What do you think? Do you usually read blog comments?


Yeah, but that's mainly because I just started blogging. I have been a member of Active Rain for awhile now, but I wrote my first blog the other day and was excited that I got 3 replies in 5 minutes...hopefully my exitement won't wear off

I only read comments if I'm looking for different perspectives on the topic. I guess you could say the more controversial the posting, the more likely comments will be posted and read by other users hehe.

I do

The blogs that i favor the most are usually more intelligently written and managed. The fact that the authors are active in the discussion seems to generate better quality comments that I do indeed read and sometimes participate in myself.

On the best blogs the authors follow the comments themselves which make the comments a continuation of the original blog post. On blogger type of blogs there seems to be more of the "drivel" and attempts to get back links via spamming the comments section.

For instance the comment section on bloodhoundblog and Activerain have been very helpful to me in the discussions that I care to read on those sites.

Like anything interactive on the web, active moderation that nips any BS is the key to success.

I have all my comments on Wordpress.com on moderation to cut down on those pesky spammy links.

I moderate all of my comments as well...I find quite a few people who mean to "email" but used the comment form as it was convenient. I'll respond to them via email and then delete the comment.

I agree with Doug, though...from what I've seen forums are much more about open discussion - but then that's kind of the difference between a forum and a blog. Forum's are designed to create discussion...blogs are soap boxes from which you tout your views...and honestly, if I turned my blog into a forum...I think it'd be a pretty lame example of what a forum should be...but it's a pretty decent blog