How do you get more comments?
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
Grand Junction, Colorado
January 29, 2007 3:07pm CST
So, I just read this discussion that asked, "How do you get more comments?" this was the heading of the discussion, so I went in and posted my response. In the body it wanted to know why people weren't commenting on his discussions. I decided that this needed a different look at the question.
Looking at this persons Discussion, they used IM spelling. The sentences weren't put together very well, words mixed up spelling errors. So I decided to start a discussion about what I look for when responding to discussions.
So this is what I look for when responding to discussions. I look for discussions that actually have content in them, that the person is asking about something that they genuinely want answers too. That they have given enough information to be able to give a response. I also look for proper English. I look at how many missed spelled words and whether I can even make sense of what they are trying to ask.
Posting one topic after another isn't the answer. I have said before in some of my repies, we should be getting paid based on quality not quantity, anyone can go out and answer a few posts with a few sentences and start a few discussion topics, about which do you like better?
You should try to think of interesting topics to actually discuss. When responding you should give intelligent answers that actually pertain to the subject of the discussion started. You should try and show how intelligent you are by trying to spell and write properly.
Do others feel the same way that I do?
9 people like this
10 responses
@jellylilyjujuluver (251)
• United States
29 Jan 07
It's funny because I was wondering the same thing as the person who was asking the original question. I have posted a couple of topics that I thought were pretty interesting but have gotten ZERO responses. One was asking a reader to state what they loved about their life at their age then followed it up with my own response. I didn't get a single reply; funny thing is I go back and read every response I do get and rate everything as well. I thought it may be because you need more friends or something...
I feel the same as you on some points - it's nice to read a topic that someone has posted and be able to understand what the topic is about. Often times it's hard because, as you said, the english is so broken that it's really difficult to decipher what it is the person wants to know. There are A LOT of really ridiculous topics just thrown on here like "Do you like guys?", etc, etc...
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
29 Jan 07
I know exactly what you mean. I thank you for your in depth view on this. I also love the fact that your response was well written with the proper use of the English language. I hope that more people feel this way than not.
I hope that the people at mylot will change some of their criteria to make it harder for people to just jump on and ask questions like you stated "Do you like guys?" The one I saw last night was "Do you like Coke or Pepsi better?" I think that more detailed discussions and better responses are the way to go.
3 people like this
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
29 Jan 07
I will start looking around for others that feel the same way about quality to invite as friends.
2 people like this
@ladyluna (7004)
• United States
24 Feb 07
Thanks for posting this Beaniefanatic. Like many others, I have also wondered about generating more responses to questions.
I posted a somewhat controversial question yesterday. In writing the question, I made certain to: cite sources, include adjunct questions to stimulate alternate views, use correct grammar and spelling. Still, not a single response until late this morning. It's also a time relevant and time sensitive question, as the event referenced takes place on 3/17/07.
As I'd also love to know the secret of getting more responses, this is a helpful thread. I'll keep my eye on this thread for more helpful info.
Thanks & have a great day all!
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
2 Feb 07
I have been wondering the same thing, I have not posted that many questions, but I think there are a lot of them and it seems like people maybe looking for easy things to answer, so the same questions keep floating to the top.
I understand that not all of the people on here have english as there native language and I think that it would be nice if mylot had a spell check and maybe even a grammar checker on here and I think it would help a lot. And you are right, some of these questions/answers make no sense. I, also just don't even read others - because people ask personal decisions that I can not really give help on.
Of course other people ask controversial questions just to get people upset, (they make the most money). So while the mylot system in basically a good system, it has it's flaws.
I find it frustrating to have to go through so many screens when I post, preview, submit, tag words, do you want to add.
Tag words should be put on the same screen where we type in answers. So should the request to add to interests. The perfomance on here is really bad sometimes and I find that frustrating.
2 people like this
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
2 Feb 07
Thank you for responding. I agree that spell check and a grammer checker would be helpful. I skip the ones asking for advise for something that I have no personal experience with. I want to be able to contribute to a discussion. Good luck to you here at mylot!
@snowflake5 (1579)
• United States
2 Feb 07
The thing to remember is that MyLot has 65,000 memebrs. Even if just half are active, that's a lot of people posting discussions, and sometimes some very good discussions can get lost in the crush.
Try and post some discusions under "interests" rather than "general discussion". Some people will check on their interests every day and if there is something interesting, they will respond. Also, develop a network of good friends who will pop in and look at your discussions and respond to them.
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
2 Feb 07
Thank you for your response and the advise. I'm on a fact finding mission here trying to find what works. Everyone has been most helpful with there responses. Working on the network of friends. Good luck to you here at mylot!
@fabwisp (1327)
•
25 Feb 07
Yes i absolutely agree. There is nothing worse than those days were the only posts you can find to answer are those that are ridiculous or one word answers only.
I do feel for those who english is not their first language, perhaps mylot could introduce some way to help them.
1 person likes this
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
25 Feb 07
Spell check would help immensely, I just downloaded Firefox and am LOVING it. I have no idea how I've survived without it. :)
@Denmarkguy (1845)
• United States
25 Feb 07
I use pretty much the same criteria to decide whether or not to comment on someone's discussions... and if they consistently start quality discussions, I ask them to be on my friends list, so I (hopefully) will have easier access to consistent quality content.
Sometimes I find it difficult to come up with "original" material-- so in lieu of posting a new discussion, I end up posting responses to other people's discussions about topics I originally intended to write about. Besides, I don't have all that many "questions" I am really looking for answers to.
I have recently been considering writing more "blog style" discussions, following a short article/commentary format, adding my own conclusions, and then asking others what they think.
1 person likes this
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
25 Feb 07
Oh I think that I like that idea. I will be sure to keep an eye out if you decide to do that. I don't start a lot of discussions, and even after doing a search and not finding the discussion after posting several will pop up, not sure why that is if people aren't tagging correctly or what. I hate to feel like I'm duplicating someone else.
@Fishish (696)
• India
25 Feb 07
i do thin k u are right in saying that people dont make much sense , neither in their discussions nor in their responses. they sometimes are completely out of tune. when i go through my responses i get so confused about whta the other is trying to say. people should be more aware while answering. i dont bother about spellings adn grammar adn minor mistakes though, its ok with me..
1 person likes this
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
25 Feb 07
I'm not as bothered by it as I was when I started with the spelling mistakes. I'm still bothered by a discussion that looks really good and then the person stops doesn't like finish the discussion so I have no idea what they are wanting to know. Or the discussion title sounds interesting and I go in and there are three words that make no sense to me and don't go with the title. I also am confused by some responses, it's like "did you read the discussion that you just responded to?" LOL :) Happy mylotting!
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
4 Feb 07
Many others feel as you do...I certainly do. If I can't give a quality response to a discussion (or if someone else has already said everything I would have said), I just by-pass the discussion if I can't think of another way to word my response. If I can't understand what someone is posting, I just ignore it. I do take into account the fact that myLot has members from all over the world and that many of them don't know English very well. However, I have also found many foreigners who use better English than some who were raised speaking/writing it. As long as I can make out what they mean in their topic (and if it interest me), I will respond.
1 person likes this
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
4 Feb 07
Thank you for your response. I agree with you 100%. You obviously are doing something right from the looks of your responses and your 10 star rating, congratulations. Good luck here at mylot!
@maferick (1583)
• Brazil
24 Feb 07
to get more comments in your discussions,make quality questions that you think that people will be very interested in asnwer,its hard ,because,you have to think in what people like to talk,take a look at your interests,and see how many people are there,as more people,as more interest..
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
29 Jan 07
Interesting comments are the key to keeping a discussion going. Thank you for your response.
@ashleypastor (173)
• United States
29 Jan 07
I agree with you, they should use proper English when typing responses. People don't care about oppinions on Pepsi or Coke. I would like to answer questions that actually matter, or that of intrest to me.
1 person likes this
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
29 Jan 07
Thank you for your response and I couldn't agree more.
