Quality Comments: Is It Really Worth Your Time?
If Triond is the boat you’re sailing on, then publishing and commenting are the oars you’re rowing with. Lose control of one and the balance might be destroyed making your boat slow down or even stop.
Finding the perfect ratio between publishing and commenting on the posts of others is essential, even though it does not seem a tricky task at first glance. However, as the list of friends grows and we still want to keep track of every single article written by a comrade, regular commenting becomes quite a challenging task.
No matter how time consuming it is though, there are several things one should never forget:
- Commenting and publishing are two forms of writing, both of equal importance: whether it is to boost one’s popularity or improve writing skills. Shooting quality comments into authoritative and popular posts of respectful authors will grant you extra points of self-exposure, recognition and eventually – your monthly petty cash.
- Commenting and publishing are both ways of expressing yourself and communicating with your Triond friends, and, it is a one way communication with the whole cyber world, since you can never know who will be reading your comments or posts. A powerful comment as well as an outstanding article might bring a potential client knocking on your virtual door.
Whether by coincidence or design, my ratio happens to be 1:1, which means that I spend an equally huge amount of time on both activities. Even though there is no ‘perfect proportion’, the time spent on seeding your affection by commenting vs. Inviting others to do the same by publishing, should be more or less balanced. Expecting from a flow of daily, quality comments to take only a tiny fraction of your time comparing to general writing is wrong. As many know, poor commenting takes little time. Fewer are aware, that poor commenting is mauvais ton. Just like litmus test, it ultimately shows one’s attitude to the author. Refraining from any comments on a continual basis will, basically, take none of your time but it is a high privilege of prodigies, whose writing talent and popularity are ‘beyond good and evil’.
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Tags: comments, publishing, triond
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October 17th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
You’ve made some very good points. Personally, I appreciate all comments and attempts to communicate within the writing culture we’re creating here.
October 17th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Very good insight shared here. Thank you.
October 17th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Very true Jessie. I get bored with the “nice share, thanks” sort of comments. I’ve observed that you live to your word – read the article and then comment what you feel – in many lines. Truly appreciate it. It is very helpful to the author and acts as motivator for writing quality content and deterrent to not write crappy articles. Thanks a lot. A nice lesson to all
October 17th, 2010 at 11:13 pm
Good suggestion
October 18th, 2010 at 12:34 am
I do agree, a quality post, is very important and thus should be thought about. Sometimes I get so annoyed that peopel response with great job, awesome, good post, great post. I want people to tell me truly what they think of my writing.
Great article that reaches out to the writers hear on Triond.com
October 18th, 2010 at 5:22 am
good advice
October 18th, 2010 at 8:15 am
you are right, Jessie.
Though we become friends only recently, but I really apreciate those comments you have given so far, I always enjoy reading them, feel very good each time. Also, when I commented on yours, I usually went back to read your comments to our comments too, as you are really very patient to comment every article and also response to each comment we give too. Keep it up!
October 18th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
When I read a good quality comment it makes me go check the author out. I am so put off by some people who put “Good advice” “nice post” what a load of rubbish, they obviously haven’t even read the article and just want you to visit their work! I’d rather they didn’t bother…If I haven’t got anything to add, I just don’t comment. Maybe this is because I enjoy Triond for the pleasure of reading other peoples work just as much as writing my own.
October 18th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Thanks, Starpisces
Yours too, are highly appreciated, and I have this habit as well, getting back to the articles of others and check out whether there have been any responses to my comments. It is becoming quite a vicious cycle though, I’m trying to think of process optimization… but haven’t come up with anything till now.
October 18th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Jamesrcoffey, I see what you’re saying about writing culture, and I agree with you about appreciating all comments. I’m just not sure, sometimes, whether it is really an attempt to communicate with the author (who represents the writing culture), or just another method of self promotion with minimum effort (how can you know your article has ever been read at all, with a comment such as ‘great share’?)
October 18th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Louise, I agree with you, I don’t comment as well if there isn’t anything meaningful I can add. If the topic is too scientific, I may dare to ask a question in my comment, trying to clarify something. I cannot say I’m not writing for money, but there is a combination between the pleasure from writing and the earnings.
October 18th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Elizabeth, you are just like me then
only that I passed the stage of getting annoyed. I’m thankful for these people for increasing traffic to my writing. This is far from being an Utopian writing-world, but I accept it as is. The reason I wrote this post, is to make a reminder. We all need reminders from time to time 
October 18th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
revisit :
Jessie, regarding this, I have actually suggested to Triond but no reply, whether there’s a way we can read back all our comments to individual writer at a glance, but may be too advance, so this idea is not taken into consideration and I also did not ask them further, anyway I just tried to ask but did not demand, hahaha.
October 18th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
I must disagree with you. I would love to make long comments on every article but if I do that, I won’t have time to comment on others, so I do the best I can.
October 19th, 2010 at 10:24 am
Now I’m pressured to give a good comment.lol.Giving and receiving is part and parcel of life. If you make people feel good here, you will feel good being here. If we all give robotic answers sooner or later we will feel how cold it can get. Well if that happens we become robots ourselves or we can say goodbye Triond.:)
October 20th, 2010 at 1:13 am
Your work is great. Keep it up!
October 20th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Hhh, Sharif, I remember one of your posts about writing on Triond, some really great post, and I felt I must give a good comment as well
Some people are not bothered by robotic answers 
October 20th, 2010 at 9:25 am
Ruby, quality does not necessarily mean long. Of course, you are right, we can’t write essays on every single article. I absolutely agree. But even a short comment can be precise and show that the article had been read,
October 20th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
An amazing point, and I love how it has incited so many people to reply with meaningful comments to it. You’ve made a name for yourself in making good comments which shows you actually read the article, and who can argue with that!
Thanks Jessie!
October 22nd, 2010 at 4:57 am
I do love your comments specially because of the humor you use to have. I think it’s so important to joke even about important things. It’s a way to keep positive thinking going on..
October 22nd, 2010 at 7:55 am
Ha, Skout, yes you are right, it is a trivial method of inciting people to write good comments
Thanks!
October 22nd, 2010 at 8:01 am
Thanks, Margaridab, I have a purpose for whatever I’m doing, whether it is here on Triond or in real life. I see commenting as a part of something I’m trying to build out of myself.
October 22nd, 2010 at 6:03 pm
What you have written were all true. But I also agree with Ruby Hawk.
October 22nd, 2010 at 9:23 pm
I value comments left from my friends whether short or long cause I know they took time to leave something just to let me know that they are there to support me.
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:49 am
Somehow most of us writers tend to dissociate the two. We fail to realize that even a comment carries our name to it. I try my best commenting on fellow writers works at times even my own publishing suffers. But i enjoy it as it is a way of conversing with different artists. You presented your case well Jessie Will.
October 23rd, 2010 at 8:28 pm
A Triond writer once said, if you spend all your time commenting on other writers’ articles, you are just wasting your time. I don’t agree with him. Were it not for the support of my fellow Triond writers, I would have stopped. It’s good that we get to talk about these things here.
October 24th, 2010 at 7:56 am
It is good to hear a factual comment about what someone thinks about an article you have written. If it is good tell me that, if it needs improvement tell how you think it could be better. Like many others, I’m here to improve my writing skills.
October 24th, 2010 at 8:40 am
Thanks, Lwandas tale, I appreciate your comment
As some wrote, such topical posts incite ‘good’ comments 
October 24th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Yes, Rhodora, this was my question exactly – what is the proper ratio of writing your own stuff and commenting on others? The question arouse when I realized I’ve been spending a great amount of time on commenting… even though I know it is worth it, still, I could have used the time to write my own things. So, what is the correct allocation of time? (question is still there for me
October 24th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Yes, Larry, just like I wrote in my profile – criticism is the best reward I can get. I see myself as a very beginner in the writing sphere… especially after reading some really great articles. Therefore, meaningful comments is something I can learn from and are very welcome.
October 24th, 2010 at 1:33 pm
I don’t waste time on comments when I have writing to do. When I don’t feel like writing or doing other important things, I spend time to satisfy my curiosity to read others’ articles much in the same I spend browsing online.
October 26th, 2010 at 9:23 pm
Ohh now i have to think of a witty comment. Haha. Actually I really would love to comment but, lately been soo busy that I haven’t been able to. Sometimes I do just drop a short comment so at least the author knows that I did take a little time to drop by.
October 30th, 2010 at 6:16 am
I only comment on those who take the time to comment on my articles. I was spending hours commenting on people who never comment on any articles. In the process I found I was ignoring people who really read other’s work.
November 17th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
It’s important to leave good feedback to another Triond member so that they can understand the quality of their content. A yes or no or even Liked It is very basic and does not have depth to it.
Thanks for the article!
November 27th, 2010 at 6:01 am
Very good points.
I still post far more comments than articles,so I suppose I have to work more on writing more articles