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Why Threaded Comments Can Enchance Blogging On ActiveRain

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Go Beyond MLS - weblog.

Abundance of comments on a blog usually indicates that blog contains outstanding content and has vibrant community of readers. In many ways I am surprised how responsive ActiveRainers are when they find useful information or an intriguing post here on ActiveRain. Even a newbie like myself can receive 10+ comments. This of course is very encouraging. So much so I am contemplating to abandon blogging on one of my other blogs and instead begin writing on ActiveRain more frequently.

If you are one of those bloggers that enjoys comments on your posts, and maybe are trying to respond to every comment (if possible) you may wish, as I do, that we had a "threaded comment system" so you can respond to a prticular comment and you response will "nest" right under the comment you are responding to.

It may not be such a big problem when the number of comments is low. However I read many blogs on ActiveRain that on occasion recieve 50+ comments. If I were the author of such posts, I would love to acknowledge these comments or simply participate in the ongoing discussion. The current system on ActiveRain can be likened to walking up on a stairway while trying to keep conversation with some one 10 people ahead of you.

I often use "@UserName" trick to respond to a particular comment. However it would be so much easier if ActiveRain would implement the threaded comments, or use comment management system like Disqus that have this threaded comments feature by default:

Disqus Threaded Comments

Introduction of threaded comments on ActiveRain can contribute greatly to foster and encourage discussions as well as make the process easier and more pleasant.

Bryant Tutas
Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL
Selling Florida one home at a time

Hi Vlad, Welcome to AR. You are going to love this place. It's very addicting. Threaded comments is actually a pretty good idea. I'm trying to picture in my mind how a thread would read when there are tons of comments. It would certainly make responding easier, I would just want to make sure it doesn't interrupt the flow of the conversation.

Aug 30, 2008 09:29 AM
Mott Marvin Kornicki
Waterway Realtors® • Notary Public & Apostille - Sunny Isles, FL
Miami Notary & Apostille 786-229-7999

Active Rain is an incredible community. I understand where you're coming from about nested comments and replies. All in due time, I'm sure.

Aug 30, 2008 09:30 AM
Robert Vegas Bob Swetz
Las Vegas, NV

Vlad - This is a very good idea and I do it when I have more time when posting a blog. But when I am posting over 10 blogs per week it gets very difficult.

Aug 30, 2008 10:48 AM
Mandi Perkins
Pioneer Title Agency - Pinetop Lakeside, AZ

Active Rain does have some great information here. This is my very first blog site so I'm still learning but anything to make it easier to repond is great!

Aug 30, 2008 10:59 AM
Vlad Zablotskyy
Go Beyond MLS - weblog. - Jackson, NJ

Bryant,

It would be wise to put a limit. I think a solution that would stop nesting comments at 4th level would be enough- unless of course there is a very heated discussion taking place.

Aug 30, 2008 12:11 PM
Tim Maitski
HomeAtlanta.com - Sandy Springs, GA
Editor of MaitskiREport.com

Vlad,  That certainly would make it easier to follow.  It does get difficult to follow some responses when  you have to scroll up and down to read what someone said previously.

Aug 30, 2008 02:08 PM
RealBird Real Estate Marketing
RealBird Inc. - Santa Cruz, CA
All-In-One Real Estate Marketing Toolkit

Vlad - I agree. People developed some syntax on their own to mimic threaded discussions, the most common one being starting the response with bold name to address a particular commenter (or your @name approach). Of course, as you said, you can only manage this up to  a few dozen comments. I see many dedicated AR authors (those who try reply to every single comment) putting a great effort into addressing everybody.

Aug 30, 2008 03:09 PM
Shane OnullGorman
Eau Claire Realty, Inc. - Eau Claire, WI
Eau Claire Wisconsin, Real Estate Agent & Realtor- Buy or Sell

I like them and hate them! :) I find it very hard to read them on certain sites. It just gets plain confusing unless there is some way of controlling them better. Otherwise I think its a great idea.

Aug 30, 2008 03:18 PM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

Oh and here I thought ActiveRain had comment diarrhea and needed Kaopectate (spelling?)  

I like the idea of threaded comments, I don't try to respond to all comments but I do respond to a number and it would make the conversations easier to understand.   

Aug 30, 2008 03:29 PM
Shane OnullGorman
Eau Claire Realty, Inc. - Eau Claire, WI
Eau Claire Wisconsin, Real Estate Agent & Realtor- Buy or Sell

Ive noticed on occasion that I was thinking out a comment and the first one to comment and then all the sudden when I posted it was the 6th or so and it didnt even make sense anymore! I guess you learn to filter and learn to make sense of it all but it can seem out of context.

Aug 30, 2008 03:37 PM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Vlad, what a great idea, it would make following a post much easier. Sometimes when I read a comment I have to go back up to see what they comment was responding too. Of course many don't read all the comments anyway on a long post, if you catch it late in the game. There is a Activerain Suggestion Group here, you could join it, edit the post and resubmit it there.

Aug 31, 2008 01:06 AM
Leesa Finley
RED Properties - Wake Forest, NC
RED Properties - Raleigh NC Real Estate

Wow, Vlad - I had never thought of that and it is a really good idea!  Maybe someone will read this that can make it happen and do it!  Great contribution.  And WELCOME TO ACTIVE RAIN!

Aug 31, 2008 01:17 AM
Vlad Zablotskyy
Go Beyond MLS - weblog. - Jackson, NJ

Thank you every one for the comments.

Maureen, I think Kapthca (still no sure how to spell it) is absolutetly ridiculous specially when I am logged in. I see it's pourpose to protect from an outside spammers and spam boots but once you are logged in I see no reason for it.

 

Aug 31, 2008 01:25 AM
Vlad Zablotskyy
Go Beyond MLS - weblog. - Jackson, NJ

Missy,

Could you please leave the link to that group, or you can email it to me. I was looking if there was such a group just the other day but could not find it. Thanks in advance!

Aug 31, 2008 01:32 AM
Scott Mazza
Stewart Title of California - Ventura, CA

Thats good info Vlad. I appreciate the news.

Aug 31, 2008 02:54 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

The reference to Kaopectate has nothing to do with Captcha / Kaptcha...  Kaopectate is a drug to stop diarhea, ActiveRain has comment diarrhea.  There is a virus on AR that causes the vast majority of members to prefer having any comment (off topic, "great post thanks for sharing" , hijack, spam ) rather than nothing at all.  That's why some of the good stuff that get's featured ends up as a bunch of drivel when 40 people stop by to say "great post thanks for sharing."

I don't like Captcha much.. but I sure am used to it from AR. It comes and goes on AR.  I don't have to do one now but I'd swear I did at some point yesterday.

Aug 31, 2008 03:26 AM
Vlad Zablotskyy
Go Beyond MLS - weblog. - Jackson, NJ

Maureen,

That is quiet funny. Sorry I did not get it the first time.

 

I think it is just so easy to become a emeber on ActiveRain. Literally any one can join and start blog or comment. This of course is an opened invitation for spam.

Aug 31, 2008 04:04 AM
Karen Staha
Gaston & Sheehan Realty - Round Rock, TX
CRS, GRI, ABR, REALTOR, Austin & Surrounding Areas Texas

Hi Vlad - Thanks for shedding light on the subject.  Being new to AR myself, I've been more than a little curious on how to respond to comments so that my intended reader gets the response. 

Aug 31, 2008 04:16 AM
Vlad Zablotskyy
Go Beyond MLS - weblog. - Jackson, NJ

Karen,

I guess it is in the hands of those who comment on your blog. Whether or not they check off that box to be notified of new comments. I personally always try to follow the conversation if I live at least one comment on a post.

Aug 31, 2008 04:30 AM
Judy Greenberg
Compass - Long Grove, IL
Compass- Long Grove -Buffalo Grove

Vlad- what a great idea... Its pretty confusing to respond in order to comments made on your blog.

Sep 01, 2008 02:26 AM