Comments? You got them? You give them? How and Why!

[jckatz]

I am wondering what COMMENTS offers to you as an Epinion reader/rater/writer.

As a writer I love to receive comments. It tells me that someone has truly taken the time to read my review, and when they say they are going to buy something that I recommended I am ecstatic.

Here is an opportunity to explain what makes you write a comment?


What you do to encourage comment writing, if anything?
(I feel if I make the story person people will try to "talk" to me, via comments. Some times this works most of the time it doesn't)

What your reaction to people writing you a comments is.
(Some times I reply to e-mail because I know they won't read my comment reply.)

If there is a time that you JUST won't write a comment.

(If I see 20+ comments I strongly doubt I have anything new to say)

[Workingmomof2]

I **love** getting comments. It tells me that someone has been touched or moved by my review, not always in a positive way but at least it affected them. I get hate mail on occasion too which I don't care for nearly as much LOL.

Anyway I leave comments when I can to help new writers -- usually when they're making "newbie mistakes" and could improve their ratings with a few simple changes. I don't know that all of them care, and it probalby offends a few but I also get a LOT of emails saying "Thank you!" It has always bothered me when I read a review by a brand new author that has 10-20 SR (or worse) ratings - by experienced authors and/or advisors - but not a single comment helping explain WHY the ratings are low. I guess that - to me - is part of being an advisor, and I take it pretty seriously.

On the other hand I also leave little quips and comments on occasion, just to let people know THEY moved me or made me laugh. There are some authors where it's a toss up whether the review itself or the comments are funnier....certain authors I can always count on to make me laugh and to have a string of equally giggle-inducing comments. I love to get THOSE comments on my reviews too, again, just to know that my time and effort made someone else laugh. My husband left a rude comment on my Pregnancy review ages ago and there was some real outrage about it -- until I came clean and admitted that this was my husband (and that he was probably 100% justified in being embarrased and a little snippy over the review LOL)

THAT comment STILL makes me giggle.

[quasar]

I do comment just to tell people I really liked a particular review, but the majority of my comments are suggestions or corrections of technical information in reviews (see the Comments that Correct thread in Epinions Discussions).

Janice

[Prepoia[$]]

I'm kind of a combination of the above poll questions. I write comments to:

HELP: Either to assist a newbie in recognizing what the community expects for better ratings or to let them know that certain aspects of the review aren't detailed enough or clear enough to help a consumer get information for a purchase.

ENCOURAGEMENT: Sometimes I leave comments that state positive aspects of the review. Especially if the reviews are either improving or I feel other comments are a bit harsh.

BECAUSE I PARTICULARY FOUND HUMOR OR CONNECTION: Sometimes something strikes me funny or the humor of the review adds to it. Sometimes something stated does remind me of something that I want to share with the reviewer.

SOMETIMES I guess I do add a comment that I feel needs to be added about the product that was omitted by the reviewer but this is usually only if I feel harm can result if readers are unaware of something.

BECAUSE I LOVED THE REVIEW

I thought that because I read a lot of reviews in the areas that I'm an advisor that it would generate more reads from these people but found out quickly that it didn't happen that way. So commenting to get reads shouldn't be a priority.

I love getting comments. I try to respond to those that require or spark a response. Sometimes I just respond with "Thanks for reading and commenting". I like to acknowledge that I've read the comments. But sometimes it's difficult to respond to all of them in a timely manner.

Many people here have said previously that they don't go back and read if you respond or not. Only if the review is controversial. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. I always tell people that I'll come back and reread any of the lower ratings and I always do go back and read/rerate if they email me.

But I get a lot of pleasure from reading comments because they are the READER'S RESPONSE TO WHAT I WROTE AND THEY JUST READ. Important for improving and lets me know I'm writing for someone.

Sandy

PS. I find it really hard to comment on more than a few a day because it takes a lot of time! That's why I also appreciate that a reader took the time to comment.

[sibhreach]

I use the comments section a number of ways, myself.

Most of the time, it's just to chat it up with the person if their review made me think or laugh or feel something strong enough to react.

Rare occasions I will correct or inquire "more info please" on the product they've reviewed. Most of the time, if I've put a low rating on something, I will try to Email the writer and not just leave a comment. This is very rare, however.

I had done this once for a book review and the response was actually very good. At least, the reviewer didn't bite my head off...

I love comments, myself, and I do try to leave them on reviews - even if it's just to say "great review, made me think". I'm kinda lame about making any sort of witty comments, like I see most do.

As Sandy said previously - it does take a lot of time, but I think it boosts the writer a bit that a reader made the effort to say something. It boosts me, anyway...better than getting the feeling you've been skimmed.

I know this is not the case most of the time - I don't leave as many comments as I would like to, but there are times when I just can't formulate the words in my brain to my fingers. It's just that since it does take some extra effort and thought, the comment section is golden to me.

...Cairlí
Feel Chatty Today, No?

[rich2003dm]

I rarely leave comments, and I feel very guilty about it.

For some reason, I'm usually at a loss for something really clever to say after reading a review. I don't want to say just "Great Review!" even though I know that would be appreciated by the writer.

For lack of something witty and special to say, I just kind of wander away, oftentimes from great reviews that are deserving of high praise.

I usually feel like a real craphead afterwards.

Maybe I should just go with the "Great Review!" just to let these great writers know I appreciate the work they put into their reviews and the enjoyment I received from reading them.

Rich

[hadassahchana[$]]

It would be even more special if you would sign it ," Love, Craphead".

just a thought...

Cindy the Unusually Helpful

[rich2003dm]

I would, but I don't want Epinions member craphead to get all the return reads.

I'm selfish that way.

Love,

Craphead

[purplewiz]

I checked "Other", because the majority of my comments don't fit those categories. Most of the time, I leave a comment just to say thanks, that I enjoyed reading their writing, or that this is something I should check out (and I often do), or just to let the author know they've been read.

That's what I appreciate most about comments on my stuff - that people actually read what I wrote. (It still blows me away that people are really READ stuff I created. Wow.) Perhaps more importantly, it means they want to communicate something back to me, even if it is that I've made another stupid error.

Sometimes I'll go back a day or so after rating a review and leave a comment. Some reviews stick with me like that, and perhaps the author might like to know.

[timdunn]

I'll come clean. I am a newbie (7 weeks or so), and for a long while, I was leaving comments (especially on recent reviews) in hope of reciprocal views.

(Pauses while everyone puts me on their block list.)

Having started to "buy into" the community aspect of Epinions, I still do this, but simply because I reload the recent reviews list frequently when I have free time at work (and even when I don't -- which way is the Epinions Anonymous meeting?)

However, the intent behind the comments is now different. Rather than hoping for reciprocal views, I'm just browsing to read, and to contribute to a 'discussion' if it appears there to be one. My comments now fall into four distinct categories, slightly different than the surveyed ones:

1) I'm explaining why I gave a low-rated ranking. This is a restating of the first choice on the survey, save that I promised always to leave a comment for a NH or SH, even if to say, "It was too superficial - you need more details."(1)

2) I'm offering support for the author in some Oprah-like fashion. On certain essay topics, there are many members writing for catharsis, to expunge or at least share their lives burdens. Many are personal, painful burdens. I feel that a comment to commiserate, to say, "You are doing the best you can," can only but help.

3) As someone else stated, I leave it to open conversation with another member. I almost always select the comment notification link as well whenever I leave a comment or write an opinion.(2)

4) I try to reply to comments on my Epinions. If someone is going to take the time to commit to words his or her thoughts, it is only fair I return the favor. Sometimes I am at a loss to reply, because either I am not sure how to proceed, or I how the other member's comment was intended.

I love comments on my reviews. I'd rather have them than ratings. If your mouse has but one click left on it ... well, you won't be able to leave me a comment without selecting the "Publish Comment", so ...

(1) I made this promise after earning two NH's on a review with nary a peep. I imagined myself the victim of a drive-by!

(2) Like the other EAddict, I have not found starting a "conversation" across reviews in comments to be very spontaneous.

[hypotenuse]

I LOVE the comment section! After reading a review I always go to the comment section to see what's up.

Comments on my reviews - I try to always respond to comments, but don't always know that I have one on some of my older reviews. I know, I know, I should go back and click the notification alert. And I will, one day. Reviews are where I *write*. Ok, *report*. But the comment section is where I talk. Have conversation. Shoot the breeze...

Comments on other reviews - I probably leave the worst comments on epinions, but that doesn't stop me. I normally leave a comment on most every epinion that I rate (not that I rate every epinion I read, but that's another topic of conversation). Leaving a comment is how I express my thoughts on a reviewer's work. Yah, sounds obvious, right? But this is your chance to say - Hey! Never thought of it in quite that way.

Anyhow - Long Live Comments!

Lynne

[AnnieBananie]

I think that comments are one of the best parts of Epinions and one of the reasons there is any sense of "community" there.

Comments are how I get to know other writers and their styles, also how they interact with other writers, personalities, idiosyncracies, etc...

Some people write great reviews, but when it comes to interacting with others they're not so nice.

I know how much a comment means from the few epinions I've written, so I like to return the favor when someone's review has been extra helpful to me, or especially meaningful or even inspirational. And that's what it's all about for me.

Annie