“We read to know that we are not alone” is a line from Shadowlands, a play by British writer William Nicholson, which was also made into a film. We would add that “we write to know that we are not alone.”
Why read a blog post you like, if you are not going to comment? When you comment, you leave an impression for all to see which includes the writer, those who subscribe to the blog, and the public at large. Commenting is a way to engage in conversation with the author. It is letting them know that they are not alone!
That conversation can lead to a discussion. Discussions can often generate a new understanding for both the author and the commenter. It can lead to a friendship. The ones who read the comments also benefit from additional information that may in turn spark a desire to join the conversation. Good conversations and discussions lead to intellectual satisfaction. A post may inspire someone to write a related post.
Commenting is also a way to acknowledge and appreciate the writer’s time and effort in writing a post. The writer of the post has just given you a gift. It resonated with you. Just liking it is not enough. It leaves the author wondering, what did you like? The least you can do say is “thank you.” Thank you, for that book recommendation, thank you for the information on this subject, thank you for the beautiful picture that made me smile. Here is a picture that may make you smile. Or you may have a suggestion, here is a book I liked and would recommend you read, etc.
Commenting is a feedback to the author, on the post and on the commenter. The author may choose to comment back if a question is asked. The author may be sparked by the comment into a further discussion. And as the blog post catches the public’s eye, they learn so much about the author and the commenters.
Do not forget, we read to know that we are not alone, and we write to know that we are not alone. We are all in this together!
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