{"id":781,"date":"2008-05-18T15:05:47","date_gmt":"2008-05-18T20:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/meredith.wolfwater.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2008\/05\/18\/31-day-comment-challenge-days-15-18\/"},"modified":"2008-06-08T16:11:58","modified_gmt":"2008-06-08T21:11:58","slug":"31-day-comment-challenge-days-15-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/meredith.wolfwater.com\/wordpress\/2008\/05\/18\/31-day-comment-challenge-days-15-18\/","title":{"rendered":"31 Day Comment Challenge: Days 15 – 18"},"content":{"rendered":"

comment_challenge_logo_2.png<\/a>
\nDay 15: Give a Comment Award<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’m supposed to recognize one or a few commenters on my blog today, and for whatever parameters I choose (they write good comments, they comment frequently, they make me think, etc.).<\/p>\n

I’m going to recognize a few commenters who really challenge me and make me think. Many of the comments I get challenge me, but these are the people who have done it regularly over the years:<\/p>\n\n\n
\nfantasticcommenter2008_150px1.jpg<\/a>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

So thanks for disagreeing with me and either making me think of things in a different way or challenging me to better defend my ideas. Supportive comments are always<\/em> appreciated, but I think sometimes people don’t realize that disagreeing is encouraged on most blogs and adds a lot to the conversation. So disagree away!<\/p>\n

Day 16: Go Back and Catch Up on Something<\/strong><\/p>\n

I think that’s what I’m doing today! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Day 17: Five in Five<\/strong><\/p>\n

This activity actually came from our profession’s very own Tony Tallent<\/a> from the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenberg County. The goal is to write five comments in five minutes without resorting to superficial “I agree” or “that’s good” comments. <\/p>\n

What I learned from this is that it’s impossible for me. I not only spend a good bit of time reading thoughtful posts, but I really do think about what I’m going to say in my comment. I want to contribute something useful, and I’m unwilling to do that for the sake of time. In fact, I’d say I spend more time per word on my comments than on my blog, because it’s like being in someone else’s house — it makes you a little more careful. God forbid I break something! <\/p>\n

I think it took me about 15 minutes to do this. First, I went through my aggregator and found posts I wanted to comment on, and I purposely picked two that had very few words and one I’d already read. Next, I composed a comment for each. Some required more thought and care than others. But I did manage to<\/a> comment<\/a> on<\/a> five<\/a> posts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

While I guess I was a dismal failure at this, it did make me think about how I feel about commenting at other people’s blogs.<\/p>\n

Day 18: Analyze the Comments on Your Own Blog<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today I’m doing a self-audit on my blog posts and the comments they do or don’t attract:<\/p>\n

Which of your posts have generated the most comments?<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In 2008, these are the posts that have gotten between 14 and 48 comments: <\/p>\n