Hell, there are no rules here, we are trying to accomplish something.
Thomas Edison
My mother likes to tell people about how I went through a phase where I would introduce myself to other children and then hit them. Typically she follows up that nugget with a comment about how for a while I was also a biter and that more than 30 years later she still hears about it. I like to look at mom and remind her that in no short order it will be more than 40 years since these things happen. That generally ends the conversation. Mom really isn’t vain, but she is wrestling with a big birthday that is coming in a few years so she doesn’t like to be reminded of my age.
Some of you will read about my antics and shake your head in gratitude that your children never did anything like that. Or maybe you’ll nod your head and silently cringe because Sally/Johnny is a biter too. And if you don’t relate to either of those angles maybe the age thing will catch you and you’ll appreciate how some birthdays are harder than others. From my perspective it doesn’t matter which of those three grab your attention as long as one does. My goal is to write something that resonates with you and draws you in.
Ideally you’ll be moved/inspired to leave me a comment about the post. Maybe it will be a story about your children, your youth or some kid you knew. With a little luck you’ll be joined by others who will comment on my post and or your own comments. Perhaps if god smiles upon me and fortune graces me with her blessing you’ll start talking among yourselves- not just on that post but on many.
That my friend is a very rough outline of an idea and concept for building and executing the construction of an online community.
Comments and community make the blogosphere much more interesting. They are a big part of the reason why I continue to hang out and write. It is fun and educational and sometimes that is how I figure out what I want to write about. Posts like this make me think about why I write and what I want. They remind me that I consider myself to be part of multiple communities.
Here on my own blog I follow very simple rules. I write for me first and then for everyone else after that. I think of the comments here as being similar to a cocktail party or barbecue. I wouldn’t ever host a party and spend time telling people to shut up. That doesn’t mean that you can say whatever you want. This is my cyber home and if I feel you are violating I will grab you by the seat of your pants and the scruff of your neck and send you through the front door head first. Call that the intersection of graciousness and grumpy.
If you are one of the 17 long time readers you know that I write about anything and everything. Some people will be offended and I am ok with that. Doesn’t mean that I am going to go out of my way to offend you because I generally don’t. There is a good chance that I’ll engage in a discussion about it and do my best to be civil. But that doesn’t mean that I will let you write whatever you want either. Free speech only goes so far and in my home it is subject to my rules. But the comments and community that hang out here know these things.
It is long past time to end this but I’ll leave you with one more of Edison’s aphorisms to ponder: The value of an idea lies in the using of it.
Jack:
I think I found the reason the old comment ended up on the bottom. Your posting section is to narrow. So you need to widen the margins for your content area (i.e. where you write your awesome blog entreis) in the settings. Hopefully by increasing it, it should resolve the issue and the comment section in Internet Explorer should be resolve.d
Also, let it be known, I love this new commenting tool.
Michael
That sounds like a very reasonable explanation. I might have to adjust things just to see what happens.
Jack:
I think I found the reason the old comment ended up on the bottom. Your posting section is to narrow. So you need to widen the margins for your content area (i.e. where you write your awesome blog entreis) in the settings. Hopefully by increasing it, it should resolve the issue and the comment section in Internet Explorer should be resolve.d
Also, let it be known, I love this new commenting tool.
Michael
Jack:
I think I found the reason the old comment ended up on the bottom. Your posting section is to narrow. So you need to widen the margins for your content area (i.e. where you write your awesome blog entreis) in the settings. Hopefully by increasing it, it should resolve the issue and the comment section in Internet Explorer should be resolve.d
Also, let it be known, I love this new commenting tool.
Michael
That sounds like a very reasonable explanation. I might have to adjust things just to see what happens.
That sounds like a very reasonable explanation. I might have to adjust things just to see what happens.
My present comment platform sucks so I don’t tend to worry about spammy comments. Yeah, it might also mean that I’m not building a community around me. I’m even ok with that. I have this crazy idea about building communities around we. This is not a knock on you, Jack, or anyone building a community around them. It’s just a reflection of my own peculiarity and how I do an unofficial blog.
Of course, I understand that there is no brand if there is no community. Hence, I am in the process of building a better blog for my evolving novel. Because, yeah, I want the novel’s blog to be a place where everybody knows your name…
I haven’t made a worthwhile comment here. And I feel that I should be doing just that. Because, yeah, comments are the first step in building a community around a person, place or thing. Please accept my apologies, Jack. I’ll try to do better next time.
I wouldn’t worry about it. You understand the intricacies and nuances that are involved here. I am sure that you’ll get it done when you are ready.
Second! 😉
Ok, I got more than that. First, thanks for the trackback… much appreciated. Second, I get being a part of multiple communities. I blog mostly about my field (PR, marketing, social media) and yet I am also part of a larger blogging arena. Third, ITA your blog your rules. I’ve mixed it up in a few discussions… on comment moderation, what is and is not appropriate. You’re right to decide what that is for your blog and your community, and to publish it. If someone was being rude at a party, offending your guests.. by all means, show them the door if they don’t show some manners as you ask.
I eventually published a comment policy post, which I’ve kept linked in my sidebar; it helps explain how I determine what’s a comment and what’s spam, what’s ‘good post, thanks’ SEO fishing garbage. It explains my rules on profanity, on replying, etc… disagree all you want but 1) disagree w/ my post not me or other commenters ‘personally’ and 2) keep it professional, give reasons why you hated a post. FWIW.
A comment policy is often very effective at helping to moderate and facilitate discussions on a blog. I have used them from time to time and probably should put something together again.
First!!!
Your prize is on its way.