Show Me The Comments

I wrote last month about how I ♥ questions (we still need some more answers on that one by the way).  Some of the thoughts people have sent to me by email, or in the comments, have been so helpful to me.  The same goes for comments full stop.

Here’s 10 reasons I like comments:

1. It shows me somebody has actually read / watched / listened to / seen the post.
2. It shows other readers somebody else has actually read / watched / listened to / seen the post (aka social proof).
3. It encourages me.
4. It sharpens my thinking.
5. It starts a good discussion.
6. It takes away the feeling of *awkward silence*. It turns a monologue into a discussion.
7. It lets me know what is helping people the most.
8. Because I haven’t got all the answers.
9. Ocassionally, they make me laugh.
10. It pushes this thing away from product – consumer. Perhaps even builds community??

So, yes, PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS.

Some other thoughts on comments:

- “Thanks, I appreciated / liked the post” is an amazing comment  Please don’t not leave it just because it’s short!
- Look – it’s your space – write whatever you want!
- I’ve found some of the longer comments a bit difficult to respond to because they are so full! Feel free to leave them but don’t be dissapointed if not every point gets responded to… perhaps continual lengthy commenting is a signal to start your own blog and I’ll come and comment on yours?
- Feel free to link to your own blog / stuff – if it’s related. If you’re just here to sell your book, that’s fine, but it’s quite obvious!
- I love getting comments from people I haven’t met before. Perhaps give yourself a short intro – who you are and how you found the blog?
- I’m a big boy – feel free to disagree and do so passionately.  Poke a little fun if you don’t mind some push back.
- Please treat other commenters with the utmost respect.
- Lets keep the language and tone civil and not abusive. I follow the Narky Nazarene and won’t have a problem shutting the door to someone if they’re not being cool.
- Questions are amazing, and there are no stupid ones.
- Regular commenters (and irregular ones!)  I would like it if you took the trouble of putting a little profile pic in your Gravatar thing.  I like your pretty faces!
- I try to respond to most comments – although sometimes it takes me 2 or 3 days, please be patient.
- If you’re a regular reader of Brimming Over and you’ve never commented… BOOOO. Why not take the opportunity to do so on this one?

Did I mention that I pick a comment each month to win ‘comment of the month’ and the winner gets a £10 itunes Amazon voucher? Because I’ve read the megachurch boys and they say, “celebrate what you want to replicate”

Here’s to more great discussions!