I think comments and responses are important, but hopefully this post will help me be mindful of the “lurkers”.

Why do we blog and engage in this enviroment?

Because we are hopefully sharing good stuff and

we are looking for those who are looking for us!

And I think it is common courtesy to comment
Now I hear
my grandmother right now..
“If you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say it”

So for those who comment to complain they could eaisly just exit.

Just me..

JoAnn Donahue
http://www.SaveMeJoAnn.com
1-800- 772-9781 x14 (24Hrs.)

People think it’s their role to only speak up when they need to complain. But when you set it up differently, then people can comment when things are good. Or not so good. Or say something that’s not at all connected to the conversation.

It’s the ability to create a zone like you have with your friends, where you’re able to ‘criticise, or praise,’ or simply have a conversation.

The truest conversation is usually measured not by commenting, but on implementation or consumption. When a client not only talks to you about something, but then implements what you have to say, that’s when you know you’re truly communicating.

Otherwise it’s all talk.
Most of Web 2.0 is measured by talk and noise.

True relationships are built on ‘consumption.’

I would like to add that as I noticed for myself people often feel like leaving a comment or responding, if they are not satisfired with service of goods. If everything is OK, people usually take it for granted and don’t feel necessary to leave a comment or feedback. May be it is just about former USSR nations and our mentality… Did you noticed the same?

To me Web 2.0 is about being able to contribute if I decide to do so – I believe that there is great value in both lurking and contributing.

At the end of the day it comes down to why you blog – is it about getting comments from others of sharing valuable information?

If a commenter leaves something of value, don’t leave it there, turn it into another entry and cross reference.

As someone who buys into Web 2.0, I regularly start writing a comment, but all too often I realise I’m repeating someone else, going nowhere, that my thought isn’t fully formed, or that I’m spending too much time on it.

There are times I don’t want to comment, why risk the ire of Mac or PC fans, or reds or blues (politics or sports)? Then again, on a web design blog this weekend, I found myself impressed by the quality of the conversation, and with nothing I could contribute.

I feel there will be some people for whom contributing to websites is completely off their radars. Oddly enough, some will post photos to Flickr but won’t think of it as a website or service, merely something they access through their browser.

Finally, (sometimes what starts off as a single paragraph turns out to be quite a bit longer) Sean is dead right in saying “make sure you give out valuable information.” If a commenter leaves something of value, don’t leave it there, turn it into another entry and cross reference.