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"It's my blog and I'll delete your comment if I want to..." BUT WHY?

By
Real Estate Agent with Alain Pinel BRE 01367196

In the three years that I've been on ActiveRain I think I've only had two of my comments deleted by the blogger.

The first time was a good spanking that I deserved. In my comment, I uploaded an editorial cartoon I found on the internet. Although I received permission to use it, the blogger didn't want to take a chance and deleted my comment. I later found out her stance on copyright issues.

This time, the blog is about ipad apps. I commented that Brad Andersohn said Zillow now has a mortgage calculator app, and I provided the link.

What did I do wrong for my comment to be deleted?

While reviewing "My Home" on Active Rain for my comments and responses, I saw that my comment to the blog about ipad apps was deleted. For the record, mine was the only comment at that time. I wonder if the blogger deleted the others, too?

Which got me thinking....I know that bloggers have the right to delete comments if they don't want them on their blogs. But isn't Active Rain about sharing information and ideas, of stimulating discourse?

My feelings are hurt

Well, not really. But I'd like to understand why my comment was deleted. If I said something out of line, let me know and I will do my best to make amends. If you thought I was disagreeable, please let me know. But I honestly thought I was contributing to the subject matter by offering an addition to the topic.

Reasons why bloggers delete comments

So I went back to see what other ActiveRain bloggers say about deleting comments on their posts. Here's a partial list of what bloggers have to say. Seems like this is a popular question and the subject of discussion, pros and cons. 

  • Remove Your Blog's Comment Spam Or Risk Losing Your Readers!

    Mar 9, 2007 – Being a good blogger involves many things: Writing interesting posts about things your readers want, good grammar, lively pictures, etc.
    activerain.com/blogsview/.../remove-your-blog-s-comment-spam-or-risk- losing-your-readers-

  • Deleting Blog Comments on Rain - Good or Bad?

    Dec 13, 2008 – What are your thoughts on deleting one line comments on your blog posts that really don't contribute to the post at all? ...
    activerain.com/blogsview/.../deleting-blog-comments-on-rain-good-or-bad-

  • Deleting Comments to Control the Debate is the New Right Wing Tactic.

    Oct 11, 2009 – John- Terry has been deleting comments that I have made for no reason, I have never deleted a single comment in 165 or so blog posts. ...
    activerain.com/blogsview/.../deleting-comments-to-control-the-debate-is-the- new-right-wing-tactic-

  • The Real View: The Bloggers Bible - head_left_image

    Re Deleting Comments: I think Maher's remarks refer to deleting someone else's comment on your blog (a feature that is not available here on Active Rain ...
    therealview.activerain.com/post/15839/the-bloggers-bible

  • Curious Comments - Is YOUR blog ever used commercially?

    Oct 23, 2008 – It's not a review it's a comment on a post. It's fake. My blog, my chance to .... I may have to remove comments or even my content if it is ...
    activerain.com/blogsview/.../curious-comments-is-your-blog-ever-used- commercially-

  • Mean Blog Commenter's Got You Down?

    Jun 21, 2010 – Die comment vixen! Is the comment worth having on your blog? If not, delete it, and move on. A lot of times, after deleting a comment, ...
    activerain.com/blogsview/1706108/mean-blog-commenter-s-got-you-down-

  • When your comment is deleted..how come?

    Feb 18, 2008 – If it is a professional blog sticking to the topics at hand may not .... is allowed and for good reason...deleting a comment is still one of ...
    activerain.com/blogsview/.../when-your-comment-is-deleted-how-come-

  • IT'S YOUR BLOG AND YOU CAN DELETE MY COMMENT IF YOU WISH, HOWEVER ...

    Jul 15, 2009 – South Austin Real Estate Blog (Sky Realty South Austin) ...... Deleting a comment just because that person doesn't agree with you is pretty ...
    activerain.com/blogsview/.../it-s-your-blog-and-you-can-delete-my-comment -if-you-wish-however-

  • "Don't advertise yourself in the comments of another member's blog"

    Apr 13, 2008 – "If you encounter comment SPAM in one of your blog posts, ..... AZ, CA , PA, etc . requirements) and deleting the comment is so much ...
    activerain.com/blogsview/.../-don-t-advertise-yourself-in-the-comments-of- another-member-s-blog-

  • How do we comment...

    Mar 24, 2011 – I read a blog post today, and I thought that it is very important to ... You can only do it by handling the comments, not by deleting them. ...
    activerain.com/blogsview/2204824/how-do-we-comment-




Comments(31)

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Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Pacita...

Typically, you should not include a link on a post that belongs to someone else. It provides a "jumping off" point that the blog owner may not wish to have on their post.

Jul 30, 2011 04:54 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Pacita, I've had one or two comments knocked down here on AR, and a few more on some other websites.  It goes with the Territory.

 Sometimes it's the Links or the Photos (or the Editorial Cartoon).  But often it is people who resent that you did not agree with them, or pander to their suggestions.

 

 

 

Jul 30, 2011 05:03 PM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

I've deleted 5 comments on my blogs and they were on a very controversial topic where the subject of the blog asked that it be taken down.  It's a long story but everyone understood why the comments needed to be removed.  The long and short of it is that whenever I get a comment I don't agree with, I keep it.  If someone posts something really "out there", I'll send a message.  Otherwise, I think deleting comments is really unnecessary.

Jul 30, 2011 05:08 PM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Richard -- your explanation is probably the reason why my comment that included reference to another ipad app was deleted. But still seems harsh, especially since there were no other comments on that blog. If that person was trying to win friends and influence people, that wasn't the way to do it.

Fred -- I try to stay away from political statements because that's where the zeal and the fervor become way too intense and as a result, ugly retorts transpire.

Bryan --- I think we have enough ActiveRainers who look out for each other....and will report truly offensive comments.

Thanks for all your feedback and opinions! Much appreciated.

Jul 30, 2011 05:17 PM
EMILIA B COOPER, REALTOR® SFR.NCHSE.AHWD
LAROSA REALTY - Orlando, FL
Short Sales, Foreclosure & Bank Owned Real Estate

I like your post Pacita, Great point of view, I hope I keep my comments cordial and respectful!!

Jul 30, 2011 05:28 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Pacita, I don't know how to check if a comment is deleted.  I have deleted comments from people that [ ___________________________] you see ... I can't even say it! You are right about Active Rain being about sharing information and ideas ... even of stimulating discourse.  We have all seen it, read it, felt it and .... you know ... we have had mini wars about comments where people feel "called out."  Bottom line is ... we can jump in the boxing ring ....or delete.  I choose delete.  

Jul 30, 2011 05:30 PM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Emilia --- as Aretha said, R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Kathleen --- the only way I found out is when I went to My Home, clicked on the comments I made (to check if the blogger responded to my post). When I clicked on my comment, it took me back to the blog. And that's where I saw that my comment was deleted. I don't do this often, so perhaps some of my other comments were deleted, too. But truthfully, I do try to be respectful and positive.

Haven't been in a mini-war yet. Chose not to participate. But gosh, the worst it got was on politics! That's where I merely lurk.

 

Jul 30, 2011 05:47 PM
Ruthmarie Hicks
Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Road #101, White Plains NY 10605 - White Plains, NY

I commented on the reblog- I've been deleted and sometimes it makes very little sense.  When I delete there is generally a valid reason .  In some casese people are critical of my business model...on a public blog designed to attract business.  That's a problem.   Most of the time people can post freely on my site.

Jul 30, 2011 05:52 PM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Ruth --- guess the only guarantee not to be deleted, or not to invite obnoxious comments is to blog about non-controversial issues, and not to appear too political/partisan/religious. What do people say about topics to avoid? Politics and religion.

Jul 30, 2011 05:56 PM
Stacey Smith
Keller Williams Realty - Aliso Viejo, CA
Your Orange County Beach Cities Realtor

There are only two reasons why I delete comments... If it's spam and if it's just a rude, meanspirited, insulting comment... There is no place for that in this community..

Jul 30, 2011 05:58 PM
Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

Pacita, I agree that the blog belongs to the blogger and they are free to delete comments. If I mention a particular website in a comment on someone else's blog, I do not post the link in comments. I've learned early on this is considered rude because you may be taking readers away from the blogger's blog.

Jul 30, 2011 06:04 PM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Stacey --- you're right. There's no room for rude, mean-spirited and insulting comments. We all try to be helpful and informative. Always focus on the positive.

Pamela -- I'm learning that now....but I honestly thought mentioning Brad Andersohn, as helpful as he is, and the Zillow mortgage calculator ipad app was being helpful! Guess I was wrong.

 

Jul 30, 2011 06:12 PM
Tim Lorenz
TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA
949 874-2247

I have not experienced a comment being removed.  However, I have had a person remove their own comment.

Jul 30, 2011 06:52 PM
CA COASTAL ESTATES Lauren Selinsky Perez CRS
California Coastal Estates - Aliso Viejo, CA
"Your Real Estate Broker" #oclauren

Pacita~ I think this is a great blog and very detailed~ of your thoughts... <SUGGEST> I found your blog via Kathleen Daniels and as I mentioned to her... I barely have time to wash a dish, much less go back and see if someone deleted my comment.... LOL~ don't sweat the small stuff, but YES I will DELETE if someone is not being very nice! I think I blogged on that once....

Jul 30, 2011 06:54 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I've deleted very few comments in my day, and one, well, the author of the comment that I deleted wrote and asked why.  I told him I didn't think that he'd understood the post and was just looking for a place to leave a link to one of his posts.  Not a nice thing to do, leaving links in comments.

Jul 31, 2011 05:30 AM
Don MacLean
New England Real Estate Center Inc. - Easton, MA
Realtor-Homes for Sale- Easton, Mass 02356

Pacita, people do not always think when posting a comment and even in some cases posting period.

What some find helpful or humorous some find offensive.

To each there own

Enjoy the day

Jul 31, 2011 06:39 AM
Patricia Beck
RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realty

Interesting topic Pacita.  I didn't think about Richard's point but it does still seem odd that it was deleted.  I think it's a good idea to email the commenter if their comment is deleted and there is a chance that the reason for it being deleted is unclear (like your situation).

Jul 31, 2011 05:19 PM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Tim --- I learn something new everyday!

Lauren -- it wasn't a really big deal..but I was honestly just curious.

Chris --- definitely something to keep in mind for the future

Don --- we just never know how people will react to certain situations.

Patricia--- the link wasn't even about someone's blog but about an app that would have enriched the blogger's list.

Jul 31, 2011 06:28 PM
Hella Mitschke Rothwell
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Pacita: Luckily I've only had one spam, and it was so obvious. Must say I had one comment REPEAT about 6 times, I took all but one down.

Aug 01, 2011 03:05 PM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Hella -- that happened to me too, when it seemed like my post didn't "take"...instead, it kept repeating....

Aug 01, 2011 06:55 PM
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