What should I do....Comment back or not?

I do not see the need to respond to every single response? Some responses just don't have enough depth and or I have no other thoughts to add. I would only respond if I had something worth saying or wanted to help someone out. Though at times I do wish that the creator of the discussion would leave some sort of remark when I take the time to type out an entire paragraph haha. Though in that case maybe he or she was too lazy to read such a big response :p

I sometimes get into that kind of situation wherein I started a discussion somehow, most comments that I get to receive would have the same content. When that happens I feel like I just keep rephrasing the same response that I gave on the other comments that I replied to. There are also times when the posted comment is already concise. It has everything, covered most, if not all the details that the discussion could possibly have. Getting a post like that would sometimes leave me agreeing with the person who made the post and a simple thank you seems to be the only reply that I can post. I tend to just agree on every detail that the person pointed out, try to imply an objection if ever I do have any to object on, and finally show my gratitude by thanking him or her. Then, there are those posts that simply had nothing for you to interact with. Most of them would be a few lines which makes me respond to a few lines as well. However, there are times when I just feel like posting that I can reply so much even when the previous response was quite short. Perhaps the words on that previous post just jolted me with more ideas. That's quite rare these days though.. For those that don't ignite me to type anything at all, I sometimes just leave them with no response. We can't avoid that.

Just thanking people for responding may seem polite but it does nothing to further the discussion. The object of the 'game' here is to DISCUSS! That involves: 1) A topic about which people are likely to have an opinion and which encourages them to express it in more than just a few words. 2) Responses to the topic which are descriptive, relevant and original 3) Comments (or replies) on the responses which are, likewise, descriptive, relevant and original and which further the discussion. If you don't have all three, then it is not a discussion. (1) and (2) only make it simply a 'question and answer' session (and, if earnings are your goal, you will earn very little, make few friends and won't be truly participating). If you can find little to say to any of the responses you get, then, assuming that they are good quality responses, either you have little interest in the topic or it wasn't a good discussion topic in the first place. Not all of the responses you get, of course, may be worth replying to, especially if they say nothing new, but if it's a good topic, most of the people who respond are worth a paragraph or two from you, surely?

It depends upon the response. IF you are asking for information and you get it I don't see a need to respond, but in some discussions the response deserves an answer to rebut the point or to prove the statement wrong.

Let me start by asking a question to your question..."WHAT is a discussion???" In my eyes, a discussion is the EXCHANGE of ideas between 2 or more people!!! When you start a discussion, you are placing your idea out there. When I respond whether it is in agreement or offering a different point of view, I am giving you my point of view. If I say something that you can expand on, I feel it is your duty as the OP of the discussion to continue your expression of your idea. Of course, this goes in both directions. There are many occasions where I respond to a discussion & when the OP comments back that it brings up another thought, so I add another comment. If they choose to comment back once again, I might add an additional comment. I have been known to keep up the "discussion" until either of us run out of anything to say. I read in the guidelines that you shouldn't thank everyone that responds to your discussion. What are your thoughts on this? I read the Guidelines to say that we should NOT just respond with the words "thank you", but I do NOT read it to say we should NEVER respond!!! It has been pointed out here that we earn from "what we say" NOT "from what others say". Back when my Mom was gravely ill with an unknown disease & dying, I started a discussion asking for information. I had over 100 replies & I responded to EVERY one of them!!! I really appreciated the information shared & wanted each & EVERY person who took their time & made the effort to assist me that I truly appreciated what they had shared with me!!! That was the BEST earnings day I've had on myLot!!! I don't think you're creating a discussion IF you don't make an attempt to comment to "MOST" responses. YES, there are ALWAYS a few that are done in such a way as there is just NO way to respond. The ones that truly have NOTHING to do with your discussion, you have the option of reporting & having removed from your discussion. I use that option as the absolute LAST thing I even think of!!! There are some members who will just leave gibberish in a vain attempt to earn something...or dare I say anything. I believe you can tell who those people are. Some are from a completely different culture where they just don't understand what the topic even is. Those I can forgive. If one is so far out that I can't think of anything of substance to say, I have been known to respond with "That doesn't make sense to me. Please explain further!!!" Regardless, I personally feel that once I start a discussion, it is my RESPONSIBILITY to continue it no matter which way it goes!!! Yes, there are times near the end, that I have said EVERYTHING I have to say on the subject & have NOTHING further to add, but I still give it my best shot!!! I've had members respond to one of my discussions that was 2 years old & still I went back to add my comment. That, in my opinion, is what a discussion is!!!

Commenting is a good thing. It bonds us here. It is not that there will be nothing to be said. You can always find something. More than commenting it is responding to topics is more important which I find is grossly missing here. I have so many friends but I hardly see them on my page. I sometimes wonder what the purpose is of accepting friends!!

It depends. If I only receive a handful of replies, as is usually the case, then I'll respond to each and everyone, especially if they are from friends of mine here at My Lot. But if there are many, many replies, which is a rare, then there are times I'll neglect to do this. However, as a general rule, I think it's nice to reply to each one, as they've gone to then trouble of bringing your question to life.

In the real world...in a real discussion...I would respond to each person involved in "said discussion!" NO MATTER their input, even if it is just a courteous.."Thank YOu"! I see NO reason, to change my manners in the cyber world! The "responder" took time to stop by your discussion..AND acknowledge you by responding...therefore, in my books---they deserve acknowledgment, for who am I to JUDGE the quality of their input, even tho' it may be repetitive..their response may have meant the world to them! I have been the "brunt" NON-acknowledgment in an active discussion...and it truly hurts "one's" feelings, and I always keep sensitivity in mind! Maybe, the initiator of the discussion "has felt it all has been said,"....but I still will recognize their response...and take this opportunity to learn a little bit more about them/their existence. Something like; "Thank you for your opinion, and I really respect that you took the time to stop by..and add your comments! Your comments seem to aline (with/against)the myLot population and given me new food for thought! By the way, just hear on the news, (such and such is happening in your world) and how is that with you?" I think it makes a person (cyber friend) feel valued...and that's a nice warm feeling. For me...I do not ignore any responses! Take care..and Cheers!

Hi.. I reply back to each and every response of my discussions even i take part on interactions too... it makes a bridge with my friends. I do not ever think that i have nothing to reply back to some one. You may give a look to any of discussions where maximum responses i get. Have a nice day.

If I started the conversation, I do my best to reply to each person who comments. I feel it's common courtesy not to ignore the fact that someone took the time and effort to comment on my post. However, sometimes I may be so behind in my online and offline activities that it may take me awhile to respond.

hello, Actually, that true you dont have to thank each of the respondents about your topic all you have to do is to say what you want to say that is related to your topic.It is really depends on you what will you say but in that way you can earn more. alright? good luck

thanking mean that you care and you loved them to replay their discusssion. surely you wont replay to much 20 max i think, and it won't spend a lot of time. But if you post 10 discussion and get 20 comment of it that's different think

For me ,I always say thanks to all persons that comment on my discussion with honest.

Hmmm.. I actually just comment on some posts and sometimes I don't check if they replied to what I said. Replying to all comments can be tiresome if you don't have anything to add and especially if your discussion got a lot of comments. :/ I guess you should comment back when you have something to add or something relevant to what he/she said. :)

It is usually best to comment. I find that I do not go into great detail when I start a post, and also when someone responds, it is their respond you are commenting on, not the original post. Sometimes things need to be explalined and somethings the post takes on a new turn that you did not know about.

Personally I try to say something to everyone that responds to any of my discussions. Sometimes I have very little time but sooner or later everyone gets some kind of a response. If they make the effort then so will I. Have a great day!

I usually to the responses that I get in my discussions, if I don't have anything to say back to the responders, I just say thank you.

I response some of the comments in my post but I can't response all of them. I love to communicate with those people who commented on my post but sad thing I can't reply them all back...

I have only started a few discussions but I try to respond to every response. Before I start a discussion I try to evaluate my time in case there are a lot of responses required. I feel if there isn't a reply to a response, it is just a question and answer. I sometimes have a problem thinking of something to respond, but if I think about it awhile I usually do. I think if the person took the time to respond, then I should respond to them. It is rude not to. There is one person that never replies to anyone. I don't bother responding to his discussions, because I know there will be no feed back.

I started a discussion like this a few weeks ago and it was an eye opener for me. Apparently, a lot of people on mylot don't like it when you don't reply to others that have replied to your discussion. Now I always try to respond to people, unless I really have nothing that can be said.